I Survived Baby Group!
Today, I took the plunge and went to baby group! I decided yesterday that I wanted to go today, so in preparation I packed the changing bag ready! My plan was to feed the girls breakfast and be out of the house by 830am, so that I could have an hours walk with the girls in the pram so they could have a nap and then head over to the church for 930am.
The reason I decided to let the girls nap in the pram is because I know they will sleep! I could have stayed home and tried to get them to nap but I have to rock them both to sleep which sometimes can take up to an hour and in between putting one down asleep only for them to wake up seconds later crying and then starting all over again!
So, how did my plan go?
Well, I was out of the house by 840am! Not bad! Of course, I washed my hair the night before to save time, meaning I could have a super fast shower first thing this morning!
On the way to the church I started getting nervous, wondering if I should bother or should I just go straight home. The girls didn’t take their breakfast very well, so I was concerned they would both be hungry by the time I got to the church and I worried what I would do if they were both crying for food and no-one offered to help? At home I don’t mind because I can deal with it but I have never been out on my own with the girls before where they have had to be fed. Of course, twin daddy and I have given the girls bottles when out but that was when we were together. I had never done it on my own.
When I walked up to the church, the doors were locked and taking a look inside I couldn’t see anyone. Maybe it was a sign? Should I go home? I thought about it, but decided to wander around the side of the church and I saw another building with people going in and a baby in a car seat on the floor, so I assumed that was the place to go!
My initial intention was to stay for half hour and then go home to feed the girls as they would both be due a feed. I arrived and asked if I was in the right place, to which a lady advised yes and asked if I had been before. Explaining that I hadn’t and that it was my first time, the lady was lovely. She said that she would show me where to go upstairs and that usually the mums leave their buggies downstairs but I could take mine up and leave it in one of the rooms off the corridor and she would help me carry the girls in. No turning back now!
As we entered the room, I couldn’t believe how many people were there! Mums with babies, mums with toddlers and a few dads also. There must have been around 20-30 people there!
I was shown to the ‘baby corner’ which was a play mat in the corner of the room. A few mums were sat on the play mat with their babies and the woman who showed me where to go introduced me to the other mums and told them all I had twins.
Every one was so friendly. I was worried about how the girls would be in a loud, unfamiliar environment and to start with as I lay ‘R’ on the play mat and then went to take ‘M’ off the lady, ‘R’ looked a little concerned but with some reassuring smiles and cuddles she settled well. In fact, both girls seemed to really enjoy it. Interacting with each other and the babies, playing with the toys etc.
I chatted to some of the mums and the woman I mentioned in a previous post that I had bumped into on one my walks arrived, so it was nice to see a familiar face, even if I had only chatted to her for 2 minutes in the street 2 weeks ago!
30 minutes later and I said that I was going to make a move as the girls would need feeding soon. One of the mums said that I could feed the girls there and that they would keep an eye on the one who wasn’t being fed. I’m so glad that I stayed and fed them there. My initial intention of only staying for half hour ended with me staying for the whole duration of an hour and a half!
When it came to nappy change time, the other mums were great and kept an eye on the girls for me.
I’m so glad I took the plunge and decided to go. I was very nervous before hand but there really wasn’t any need for me to be. The girls enjoyed it, I enjoyed it and as one of the other mums said, it’s good for the girls to help with socialisation before they go to nursery.
That is the longest that I have ever been out with the girls on my own, and also the first time that I have fed them both away from home on my own!
After baby group finished, I went on another walk for an hour, so again the girls could nap and by the time I got home they would be due for some lunch. All, in all, I spent 3 hours away from home with the girls and I survived!
I will be making baby group a weekly occurrence and am thoroughly looking forward to going again next week!
How did you find your first trip to baby group?
