Author Interview with Khanh-Van Le-Bucklin, M.D., M.O.M Author of Twins 101:  50 Must-Have Tips for Pregnancy through Early Childhood from Doctor M.O.M.

We are very fortunate to be able to interview very busy author, doctor, and M.O.M. (Mother of Multiples), Khanh-Van Le-Bucklin, M.D.   Dr. Le-Bucklin's new parenting book is the first by a pediatrician who is also a mother of twins. No other pregnancy and parenting book for multiples offers this unique and much needed perspective. Twins 101 features practical advice and well-researched information in an easy-to-read format. From maintaining a healthy twin pregnancy to meeting the daily challenge of caring for twins, Twin 101 guides families through each stage with insightful tips, useful resources, and inspirational stories. 

1.  Thank you for taking the time to talk with us.  I think our customers will enjoy learning more about Twins 101 and about you personally.  Can you tell us about yourself and why you choose to write Twins 101?

I’m a pediatrician, medical school professor, and proud mother of a singleton and identical twin girls. I’m also the founder of TwinsDoctor.com, a website with health
information exclusively for multiples. I wrote Twins 101 because I wanted to offer parents of multiples a resource with medical information and practical advice from the perspective of a pediatrician and mother of twins.

2.  Your book provides an interesting insight considering you are both a physician and a mother of twins, was it helpful or a challenge being pregnant with twins knowing what you know about medicine?

Multiple readers have commented to me that Twins 101 was amazingly calming in the way it covered potential pregnancy complications. I believe that stems from the fact that I found medical knowledge to be stress-relieving during my pregnancy. Twins 101 was a way for me to share with parents the same comforting and empowering information I had access to as a physician. 

3.  You recommend in your book that women who are pregnant with multiples reduce activities and take it easy during their pregnancy, are there any other pieces of advice you would tell a newly pregnant woman expecting multiples?

I advise mothers who are pregnant with multiples to reach out to other mothers of multiples through local clubs and online communities. Mothers of multiples are a fantastic resource for support, friendship, and ideas. 

4.  Your chapter about the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is informative, yet comforting.  My twins spent 2 and 4 weeks in the NICU and it was still a scary time even though we knew they were healthy and just needed some time to grow.  What is one thing that parents of twins can do to get through this difficult time?

I recommend establishing a close relationship with the bedside nurses. The nurses in the NICU adore the babies they care for, and they know them intimately. They are knowledgeable people who can provide a great deal of support and reassurance for parents with babies in the NICU. 
 
5.  Your book includes 50 wonderful tips for Mothers of Multiples, can you share one of the tips in the book with our readers?

From the moment parents find out they are pregnant with twins, I recommend starting a pregnancy journal for each baby. It’s a great way for parents to document their feelings and exciting events related to their babies. The journals make wonderful keepsakes for twins when they’re older.  

6.  Juggling a career and a family while writing a book is an accomplishment to be proud of, do you have some helpful advice on time management skills?

Every day, I make a short list of what I want to achieve that day and then I tackle each task one by one. I make sure the list is realistic. One thing mothers of multiples quickly learn is that they have to focus on the essentials. A realistic list means prioritizing and knowing their limitations. For example, I gave up the dream of having a clean office years ago. I also never cook elaborate meals anymore. These days, I focus on my top priorities—like achieving my work objectives and spending quality time with my family. 

Getting help is always acceptable. In fact, I recommend accepting all offers for help from trustworthy and capable people. I’m very fortunate in that I have an extremely supportive spouse and a very involved extended family. I’m able to pursue a variety of projects because of their support. 

7.  What are you working on now and do you have any other plans for additional books?

It was such an amazing and fun experience to write Twins 101.  I have been tempted to write another book. My agent and editor are very supportive of the idea, and it would be a privilege to work with them on another book.

However, at this time, I’m channeling my energies to getting to know other mothers of multiples, expanding TwinsDoctor.com, and supporting the TTTS (Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome) Foundation as a member of its medical advisory board. I welcome parents to join me in the above efforts, and would love to hear from them through my website at http://www.twinsdoctor.com/.

To read more about the book or to order your copy, visit the Twins 101 page on this site.