Customer Reviews

Twinspiration: Real-Life Advice From Pregnancy Through the First Year (for Parents of Twins and Multiples)

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

My wife and I found out we were expecting twins late in the game... at nearly 20 weeks along. We were both shocked! After reading many of the reviews of different twin books, I blindly selected this one to give my wife as a gift for Xmas.

I opened it and started skimming the pages before wrapping it... but three days later, ended up finishing the entire book!

Now, my wife is wondering why I've gained confidence in knowing the items we'd need to buy, and how to respond to people who say "Double Trouble" or ask, "Do twins run in your family?"--'No, but they do now!'. She wonders why I suddenly flipped on the idea of getting a food processor to make our own baby food, and our parents have admired and are amazed my sudden knowledge of raising twins and what to expect in the first year. Some of my burning questions that were helped by this book are... get two cribs from day one? How much clothing to buy? How many diapers to expect? What to expect during the first year? What kind of stroller? How to deal with the soon to be annoying comments and questions from strangers (if you've heard "double trouble" enough to explode, just wait until your twins are born.)

Fathers-to-be, the humor in this book will keep you reading -- I liked how the medical stuff was embedded, though. There's even a chapter on intimacy and what to realistically expect. Throughout the chapters, there is a "daddy perspective" that I liked reading, and although the book is probably aimed more towards moms, you'll impress your wife!

This book does not cover the deep scientific nature of twins (e.g., twin language), the birthing process (just read the message boards for data on that...the book appropriately skips something that too many other books already cover), nor the step-by-step on how to breastfeed twins (which I felt was appropriate--the book recommends how to go about breastfeeding, such as hiring a lactation consultant), though it discusses the techniques that worked for the author, which might help a person to get a start on things. It certainly remained within scope of the whole twin-experience that answers the most immediate fears that newly expectant parents are looking for (at least for me).

The reason I'm writing this review was because we're currently looking at strollers and have been swamped with the features out there. I found the author's website and posed a question to her...and she responded, with the same sort of writing style that she wrote the book in (informative, touched with humor, and realistic). I've never emailed an author before, and wouldn't expect a quick response from any, but feel like the author is in it for helping people in this situation. The twin message boards have been helpful, but I feel like this book was a "primer" to start with and then extend with the message boards and support groups.

The true "test" of this book will come after the twins are born. But let me say, this book has certainly answered a lot of my concerns (and of course, generated more, but we'll just take it a day at a time!).
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UPDATE: Our twins were born 8 weeks early. We've returned back to this book and the "What to Expect" chapter. It's been extremely helpful (and fun to review the chapter on how to respond to people who say the obvious -- the first time we read it, we never saw those phrases coming!). The author's pregnancy was near-term, whereas ours was very pre-term. At the time when buying this book, I hadn't realized how "high risk" a twin pregnancy was.

Twinspiration has offered just what the title says -- inspiration for dealing with twins. After having them home for just 5 weeks, we are still on 3-hour sleep cycles, and the tips Cheryl offers will help us stick to a routine once that option is available.

As a money-saving penny-pencher, I have to say that Twinspiration has been worth it. Check out the author's website, too -- she has a nearly weekly Q&A. I think I'm going to go over there and ask how she had the time to write a book, as right now, my wife and I see no time left to even eat!

If you're looking for medical knowledge during your pregnancy, this is not the book for you. This is best for after the babies are born, but I'd advise reading it before they're born. Because once they are, you'll be too sleepy to enjoy it.

Cheryl Lage's "Twinspiration: Real-Life Advice From Pregnancy Through the First Year for Parents of Twins and Multiples" is an outstanding resource for expectant parents of twins. She covers all the stages of pregnancy and what to expect, pre-natal testing, birth, and all the real life scenarios that come after the babies arrive. Cheryl writes from real-life experience with wit and humour. She does include cautions about things that can go wrong, but what I really love about it is that she does this in a NON-alarmist way. I had ZERO panic attacks while reading this book, but at the same time, I feel that I have gained INVALUABLE information from Twinspiration. The writing style in this book reminds me of a big sister telling it all how it is. Let's just say that I was freaking out when I found out there are two in there, but now I am ready to face it all head on and I can credit a lot of that to this book. Thanks Cheryl, you have done a great thing with this book!

I STRONGLY recommend Twinspiration to any expectant parents of twins.

As a new parent of twins, I could not read this book fast enough - flipping pages while nursing, and even sacrificing much needed sleep to read the informative chapters. Lage writes from the heart, making you feel like she is with you through your own twin trials and tribulations. It is so refreshing to read the true-to-life account of her experiences in the early days - the good, the bad, and the ugly. She shares the mistakes and triumphs of motherhood with twins with honesty and a level head. While drawing from her personal experiences, she does not give too much information as to exclude those with different circumstances, i.e. not telling you the exact time her babies started sleeping through the night!
I have a five year old, but like so many others upon coming home with newborn twins, I too wished I had a manual for my beautiful boys. If you are expecting twins, this book is a must-have to put you in a positive, yet realistic frame of mind. My only regret is that I was so obsessed with labor and delivery, I did not read this book sooner. However, the great insight into the logistics, emotions, and wonder of twin parenting will have me revisiting this book frequently throughout the first year.

Too many books about pregnancy and in particular, multiple births, have scary facts and issues that really make you not want to read them. This book is funny, amusing, and very informative. Some of the things mentioned in her book worth looking forward to... "Turn the computer off", "Baby's first bloodshed (daddy did it!)" and all the oops' and laughs along the way. It makes up for all those horror stories that seem to pervade the pregnancy shelves of every book store.

I thoroughly enjoyed Twinspiration! Cheryl's honesty, humor and helpful advice was great. She covered sooo many topics. As a mother of sixteen month old twin boys, I read and kept thinking to myself, "yes...i agree there...and that is sooo true...yep, I've been through that!". It was a true joy to read even with my boys being past that one year mark. As I read, I fondly reminisced of the joys of pregnancy and those difficult first couple months with our wee ones home. It was interesting to read Cheryl's perspective, and how she got through some of those early months. I enjoyed the guidebook of helpful advice as well as her personal added touches. I also liked how she was very openminded on what works for twins. She didn't try to push her advice on others (like so many books do). If something works...great, but if not...You're not a failure. I appreciate hearing words similar to those because every family is different..and some things work for some, and some things don't. It's just a fact of life. Cheryl Lage's book was very encouraging, enlightening, and truly a joy. Thank you!
Jessica
St. Louis, Missouri

Real Life Advice, Indeed!

Twinspiration is must have for parents of twins and multiples, end of story. Cheryl's refreshingly candid voice and calm approach to dealing with pregnancy and the first year with twins, not to mention breastfeeding, the 'days of haze' (AKA first few weeks at home), maneuvering, finances....and air travel(?!) make her not only a reliable source for great twins info, but an oasis of calm amidst a potentially stressful time
in a new twins-mom's life. The father's running point of view
throughout the book is a nice feature as well. I feel totally ready for twins after reading this! Cheryl Lage's fantastic website twinsights.com is also a helpful resource and community for parents of twins and multiples.

Twinspiration is just that...inspiring and chock full of practical and proven tips on how to manage the joy of twins. Cheryl's no nonsense tips and hilarious tales immediately put the reader at ease with their new found state of being. The Daddy perspective is an added bonus. Cheryl provides an excellent roadmap for the journey of twin pregnancy through the first year with boatloads of anecdotes and laugh out loud moments. Everyone expecting twins should own this book. Her website is also an amazing resource. www.twinsights.com

Any expecting twin family should get this book! This is an honest to the point book that was written from the heart. It guides you through pregnancy and the first year of twins with a personal touch. I enjoyed the views of the father that were included. I also appreciate the tips the author has regarding twin pregnancy and after birth. This book takes away a lot of built up anxiety that a twin parent may have. I have read 3 Twin books but this one I could not put down. Twinspiration is very informative through pregnancy and after. I would have loved this book during bed rest. Thank you Cheryl (www.twinsights.com) for writing this book! Written by a twinfabulous family. (Family with 10 month old twins)

I'm the mother of a toddler boy and am expecting twin boys. So I was looking for a reference book specific to twins to expand my knowledge. This has really helped a lot in that regard. Sure, I skimmed the first few chapters about what to bring to the hospital and what to expect at your doctor's office, etc. But the chapters on what you need doubles of and don't and Cheryl's birth experience have been very valuable. I definitely recommend this book.

Out of all the books I've been reading as I expect twins, I wish i had only purchased this one. It really is all you need. It brings you through each trimester and after the babies are born, with real advice and tips from someone who went through it.