FAQs Twin Mum's get asked

As a twin mum, if you thought you could pop to the shops and return swiftly, think again! You are no longer invisible now that you have two babies. Expect to be stopped and quizzed on the way to the car, in the supermarket, in the toilet, in the lift, at the check-out counter, whilst eating your food... pretty much everywhere.

I've come to realise that being approached is part of my life now; for some strange reason twins are like aliens that people have never seen before. I am often asked the same questions; some people are genuinely curious, some are well-wishers, and some people are just really nosey. All the same, I appreciate the love.

Below are 10 frequently asked questions a twin mum probably hears on a daily basis.

1. OMG, are they twins??

Nope, I just like pushing this double decker bus around the clothing aisle for fun. This is my favourite question, and probably the easiest to reply to with a simple yes, a smile and a nod. To be honest though, there are two babies in a double pram who look the same, and very much appear to be the same age, so 1+1= yes most likely, but I can also confirm this for you if you're still unsure. Maybe one is a baby, and the other is a dolly?

2. Is it a boy and a girl?

There are many fraternal twins whereby one is boy and the other a girl. In my case, with identical twins, I have two girls. I love to dress them up in feminine colours such as pinks and purples. They also use pink blankets in their prams. Whilst i'm not one to gender stereotype, it's probably more likely that there are girls in the pram and not boys.

3. Are they identical?

I don't mind being asked this question actually. As a twin mum, I know the difference between identical and fraternal (non-identical) twins. Some fraternal twins have a strong resemblance with one another, so it's ok, ask away.

4. Do twins run in your family?

Yes, I have twins in my family, although identical twins are supposedly spontaneous.

5. How do you tell them apart?

As a parent, you just know your child. You spend hours looking at them loving everyday, so I think it's safe to say you know exactly what your child looks like. It's the same with twins, you just know! HOWEVER, I'm not going to pretend that I don't get them mixed up at times, and actually, when they were born I had to keep their name tags on for two weeks and dressed them in opposing stripes and spots lol.

6. Gosh, how do you cope?

I could perceive this in two ways. Are you asking because I look like i'm struggling, or because you think I must be a superwoman in disguise? I cope because i have to. You have to be strong willed, patient, and trust in yourself that you can handle difficult things. Having twins has definitely changed my life in many ways, for instance just going to the loo can be a struggle; however, thankfully I've just managed to take to this 'motherhood' thing quite naturally.

7. Pray for me, I want twins!

So, you've asked how I coped, but you'd also like twins? I'm not sure everyone thinks this through before they say they want twins. People are not aware of the sacrifices and difficulties you face when you have two babies at the same time. Perhaps some people like the idea of twins more for the amusement and entertainment of others? If you genuinely would like twins though, good luck to you, i'll pray extra hard :)

8. Double trouble! I bet they're a handful?

I also believe people just like this saying because it rhymes lol, fyi It's not cool guys lol. I really don't want to put negative self-fulfilling prophecies on my children...they will be anything but trouble, fingers and toes crossed! Double the love!

9. Are they natural?

Hmm, what does this question mean please??? Did the embryo splitting occur in my womb or in a test tube? Did I go into labour or have a caesarean? Are they real babies or clones? I don't fully understand the question, but i'm also not sure it's something that twin mum's would want to discuss with a stranger in Tesco...

10. Are you breastfeeding?

I get asked this question a lot, and it's quite a controversial one. I think people should be a bit more sensitive when asking because ultimately so long as their child is being fed, that's all that is important in my opinion. Some women breastfeed, some babies find it difficult to latch, some women find it difficult to breastfeed, some women are expressing, some are using milk banks and bottle feeding, and some just like plain old formula powder over breastmilk. I do believe that breast milk is great, it's the most healthy and nutritious food you can provide your child with; however, if a mother is not breastfeeding they should not be made to feel bad. Ask this question with caution. i'll talk about my personal feeding efforts in another blog.

And here's a bonus FAQ for you...

Do they cry at the same time? Yes, inevitably.

As a Mum or Dad, have you been asked any other curious questions?

Have you asked someone a question which should also belong in this list? Let me know :)

H x