Some Economic Truth About Twin Pregnancy

Most parents do not see twins coming. Yes, some of us imagine it in the abstract after watching The Parent Trap. For most, the news arrives at the end of a radiology scan where a doctor or technician shows you two tiny beating hearts instead of the one you were expecting. The good news is that your body is already providing the essentials to keep these little beans growing. You are now discovering that the joy of pregnancy comes with the financial anxiety of parenthood. Here are some points to keep in mind as your pregnancy progresses.

Food

You do not need to completely overhaul your food budget. Now is not the time to try a macrobiotic diet or sign up for an expensive meal service. Start by integrating a few more nutrient-rich snacks into your daily routine. Do not aspire to goddess stature by spending all your time in the kitchen cooking “perfect” meals for growing twins. Stop trying to guess what you or the twins will be craving at any given moment. Keep your pantry stocked with easy-to-prepare basics. Macaroni and cheese which you will enjoy at midnight is infinitely better than stalks of organic kale rotting, uneaten, in your fridge.

Medical

You have many medical appointments in your future, so it is time to understand your insurance coverage. Twin pregnancies usually require more medical monitoring from maternal health experts, neonatal doctors, radiology scans, nutritionists, genetic counselors, and more. In addition to seeing more specialists, each visit involves examination of, and discussion about, two separate children. Mapping out what your insurance will cover in advance gives you the chance to ask all the financial questions before you have two babies wriggling in your lap. It also allows you to probe, challenge, and appeal insurance decisions that do not line up with your financial expectations.

Career

If you are working, now is the time to calculate your medical leave and maternity leave benefits. Taking time off for necessary pre-natal medical care may well have an economic impact on your income. There will be days when you need to take time off because you are exhausted, or have an unplanned medical visit. Find out now whether you are entitled to pregnancy medical leave (not to be confused with maternity leave). You may be entitled to pregnancy leave either as a matter of state law and/or your employer’s policy. Collect this information now so you can financially advocate for yourself later on.

Resist the Urge to Buy All the Big Stuff Now

The human imagination is powerful. You are pregnant with twins and perhaps fantasizing about that charming 5-bedroom house in the suburbs with a gorgeous yard and big minivan. Exercise patience. Do not create an artificial deadline of “finishing” big-ticket items before a delivery date. While there may be property and vehicle purchases in your future, building a strategy (and not acquisition for acquisition’s sake) is the immediate objective. Do not lock yourself into massive financial commitments until you have thoughtfully considered your timeline, resources, energy, and big picture goals.

Resist the Urge to Buy All the Little Stuff Now

You are joining the ranks of parental consumers, and wow are you a juicy economic target. The retail industry loves to tickle your parental guilt to induce immediate purchase of everything, all at once, and in brand new condition. Do not fall for this. You will not need two of everything (and it certainly does not need to be matchy-matchy or color-coordinated). Friends and family will likely help with your baby registry. The best advice about gadgets, clothes, and accessories will come from other twin parents, not from advertisers.

Continue to Invest in Yourself

As you embrace your identity as a twin mom, you may notice a natural urge to put your children’s interests first, second, and third – especially when they are at their most vulnerable moments of growth and development. But you are not a vessel who exists solely to ferry passengers. You are the captain and commander, and as such, your sanity and comfort is a high priority. You will need clothes that fit your changing body, brunch with your besties, an extra hour of sleep, and time to occasionally pursue non-pregnancy interests. When balancing your household economics, please factor in self-investment to prevent short-changing yourself. 

As with all big changes, keeping a cool head is essential for your own sanity.  Money is a hard topic and it gets so much harder when it involves the people we love and our plans for the future. Do not be afraid to collect information, ask follow-up questions, and persevere.  We are rooting for you, here at The Twintellect.

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