Sil having twins as her first children - what practical gift should I get her?????

[Jazzicatz]

What could you not live without as a parent of twins???????

[inamuckingfuddle]

a freezer full of meals

will now have a proper think and alert the other multiple mums

[Jazzicatz]

Thank you

[frumpygrumpy]

ditto dingdong (inamuckingfuddle) for the meals

also, for the first couple of weeks a friend took full responsibility for laundry for us - picked up dirty stuff, returned it the following day wash, dried and ironed. A GODSEND (especially if you are pernickity (sp?)like me) and if I am ever in close proximity to someone expecting twins I will do the same for them.

a voucher for a body treatment combined with an offer to babysit (there comes a time, you desperately need to feel like there is something just for yourself) I would have found it helpful if someone had insisted and pushed me out the door when they recognised that time had come, instead of me shouting at the world

An offer to babysit, COMEWHATMAY, when the babies are around 6 months. Overnight, with expressed milk if needed.

[frumpygrumpy]

(I am a fussy cow) Also, if buying for the babies.......think about the season if you are buying ahead. No use summer clothes age 6 months if it will be winter when they are 6 months.

[frumpygrumpy]

couple of beautiful blankets to top the pram/buggy. No-one ever gives them and they cover up all manner of poo stains/ sick stains.

I will shut up now

[inamuckingfuddle]

I would add a cleaner, ironing service, babysitter...anything that enables her to continue to function vaguely normally

[Jazzicatz]

Yes - I remember feeling the same with just one - never mind two!!!!!!!!

[inamuckingfuddle]

FG how did you manage to type all that in the time it took me to do a sentence

[inamuckingfuddle]

and avoid matching stuff, unless she is desperate to have the match that is...

[Jazzicatz]

They are pretty wealthy so all the stuff like cleaners and that they have and blankets they have an abundance of. I don't have much money, so I suppose the offer of baby sitting will be the best thing!

[frumpygrumpy]

dingdong, my fingers are the only fit part of me

I relished time, on my own, with my babies. I loved when people popped in and dropped off food or picked up laundry. I hated when they visited for two hours. But then I am an antisocial wombat.

[frumpygrumpy]

one last thought........

I wanted time alone with them, because I wanted to enjoy them. I already had a DD.

If it had been first time round, I might have wanted someone to hold them so I could put my head on straight. Need to ask.

[inamuckingfuddle]

I'm antisocial too, hated visitors, loved going out for walks, even tho mine were dec babies, and I had to drag the pram through the snow, time on their own will definitely be appreciated, also help with taking them out later on once they're more mobile, so she doesn't have to run in 2 directions at once!

[inamuckingfuddle]

And mine were my first (and last - don't tell her that though, don't want to scare her too much )

[ChubbyShcotsBurd]

I have no idea how these multiple people do it. I can only suggest that paracetamol, a bottle of vino and maybe some earplugs would be appreciated. But then I only have one and I would have loved the above

[Jazzicatz]

Thanks all - I think the meals will be the thing to do.

[frumpygrumpy]

ChubbySchotsBurd, you sound like me!! I'm guessing you are north of the border

[MarsLady]

a postnatal doula!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or set up a food/laundry rota.

If you get her a postnatal doula she will not only thank you, she'll give you her last organ to keep you alive should the call come

[Jazzicatz]

Think that may be a little out of my price range Marslady!!!!!!!!

[Meeely2]

point her in this direction - if i'd found mumsnet from day one of being home with my two, I may have felt a little more normal than I did.

Offer her the baby sitting, the meals, but if you want to get something to unwrap too - multi packs of vests and baby gros, can NEVER have too many believe me.

One of the main things I wanted to do in early days was normal stuff, make a cup of tea, wash some pots, make a sandwich....I had people doing it for me thinking i needed to stay with the boys, but tbh I craved for them to stay sat down watching boys, while I made the tea or lunch....I had a touch of the ole pnd, and resented the boys stopping me feeling human.

I remember going round to my friends when she had just had her lo and i was 27 weeks with the twins - i waltzed in, put kettle on, picked up some dirty clothes from floor, threw hoover round and she burst into tears.....I was aghast, but when she finished sobbing she told me she had wanted to do that but hadn't been able to put baby down for hours.....she was desp for me to take him off her, so she could do the chores - it shocked me, but rang so true when people visited me after mine were born.....

[frumpygrumpy]

Aw Meeely, so true! And you're here now

[MarsLady]

In lieu of a postnatal doula... Mumsnet all the way!

Meely... if I'd've known you I would have dropped my doula principles and cuddled your wee ones. Something about cuddling DTs.... sigh..............

[bellabelly]

Strongly endorse what others have said about the importance of help as opposed to stuff!