I was terrified about having twins. Years later, I have to admit that it was easier than having my firstborn.

"I was so shocked that I kept telling my husband not to get his hopes up. I reminded him of the pregnancy loss we had just experienced, about how sometimes pregnancies start with multiple embryos, but only one baby makes it to the end, and at one point, I even suggested that one baby could eat the other in my uterus."

"My fear was rooted in that I really struggled after my first child was born. I was utterly unprepared for the monumental shift that comes with motherhood. Compounded by the fact that I cannot operate without at least eight hours of sleep, I fell into a spiral of postpartum anxiety and depression that went completely undetected at my multiple check-ups."

"Knowing my struggles, my doula suggested that we focus on myself when it came to preparing for postpartum the second time around, instead of the babies."

After experiencing postpartum anxiety and depression following her first child's birth, a mother initially feared that having twins would severely exacerbate her mental health struggles. She was terrified upon learning she was pregnant with twins, initially denying the diagnosis and worrying that doubled babies would mean doubled anxiety. However, her perspective shifted by the 20-week mark. Rather than focusing solely on preparing for two infants, her doula recommended prioritizing the mother's own wellbeing and mental health preparation. This approach to postpartum planning proved transformative, and contrary to her expectations, having twins did not worsen her anxiety and depression as she had feared.

Read at Business Insider