Questions about twin pregnancy/birth - not answered at booking appointment

[babybabynamechange]

Hi All,

I'm 10.5 weeks pregnant with twins (don't know what type, quick scan at 8 weeks was too early to see much other than that they have separate sacs). I had my booking in appointment with the midwife yesterday and was looking forwards to getting lots of questions answered but unfortunately my midwife had only even seen one twin pregnancy in the past and didn't know many answers. I thought never mind, I'll ask the consultant but apparently won't see him/her till after 20 weeks. So if you have experience and can answer any of the below questions (I realise there are a lot) then I'd appreciate it. I understand that lots depends on how I am, how babies are, how pregnancy goes etc and some depends on different trusts and consultants but an idea of how it might work would be good.

1. Did you have any extra tests with twins, blood tests etc?
   
2. Did you have the downs syndrome test? In what form?
   
3. How many scans did you end up having?
   
4. How often did you see the midwife? How often the consultant?
   
5. Did you have a GTT?
   
6. What gestation did you give birth at (mainly for curiosity)?
   
7. How long were you all in hospital for?
   
8. Did you have a private room? Was your partner allowed to stay to help overnight?
   
9. (If you wanted to) did you feel you were ADEQUATELY supported in breastfeeding?
   
   Finally, more of an opinion one I guess. I'm booked to go on holiday when I will be around 25.5 weeks, coming home at 26.5 weeks. To Cyprus, a five hour flight. I will ensure I have excellent insurance coverage. I will loose money if I cancel now but not as much as I'd loose if I cancel in a few months. If its relevant this is my second pregnancy, my first (a singleton) was very easy and straight forwards, I was very healthy and my son was born at 40+12 after induction.
   
   Thank you for any comments...

[SunnyBaudelaire]

Did you have any extra tests with twins, blood tests etc? - yes more appointments I think

2) Did you have the downs syndrome test? In what form? - yes nuchal fold test

3) How many scans did you end up having? - about five I think

4) How often did you see the midwife? How often the consultant? - cant remember

5) Did you have a GTT? - what is that?

6) What gestation did you give birth at (mainly for curiosity)? 38 +

7) How long were you all in hospital for? - ten days

8) Did you have a private room? Was your partner allowed to stay to help overnight? yes and ....I think so but we did not think of it.

9) (If you wanted to) did you feel you were ADEQUATELY supported in breastfeeding? - yes

[babybabynamechange]

Thanks Sunny

Follow-up:

Did you have the blood test with the nuchal fold test or just the scan measurement?

GTT= glucose tolerance test, test for diabetes that involves fasting, having bloods taken, drinking a bottle of Lucozade, waiting two hours and then having more bloods - you'd remember if you had it :)

Thanks again!

[SunnyBaudelaire]

as I recall, it was just the scan measurement....

GTT - oh yes that, I know what you mean - no not in pregnancy.

I hope it all goes well for you babybaby, what part of the country are you in?

[babybabynamechange]

I'm in Surrey/near London. When I had my son I was in the midlands and the procedures were different anyway, let alone the differences involved in having twins!!

[SunnyBaudelaire]

well I found I was treated extra specially well if that helps .....

[lokijet]

There is a MN multiples topic where I'm sure you will good advice also a chat called Tamba

[babybabynamechange]

Aren't I in the MN multiples topic loki??

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

Hi I'm 35 weeks with DCDA twins (non ID, seperate sacs) and have been having scans and consultant appointments every 4 weeks since finding out its twins at 12 weeks. I've had 6 scans so far with another booked for a couple of weeks which will probably be my last if I stretch to that. The scans do take slightly longer than a singular but it's nice seeing your babies squirming around. My anomaly scan took about half an hour to do, but was completely worth it. I had a blood test to check for Downs Syndrome quite early on. I also had bloods taken at my booking in appt where I was just under 6 weeks pg and again at 28 weeks. I imagine you'll be transferred to the consultant led team. Babies are in position so I'll probably be having a vaginal birth if all goes well. I think I drove the consultant mad last time with all my questions but I haven't been given much info. I asked what I should do at the first sign of labour and was advised to go straight to hospital. Many congratulations!

[lokijet]

Sorry phone playing tricks on me...

[Twicethehugs]

How many scans you have depend on type of twins. Mine are identical so it was about every 2 weeks. DS test was from scan and a blood test I think, nothing invasive. I can't remember any extra tests. I did have a GTT and it made me faint bizarrely. Twins were induced just before 38 weeks, spent 5 nights in hospital, they were in SCBU (nothing major) and I didn't have a seperate room or have my husband stay over - better he go home and have some sleep before the babies get home! There was some support for breastfeeding esp from the lovely nurses on SCBU. It took a while for my milk to come in and so I had to be quite determined and firm on wanting to breastfeed ( had emergency CS in the end so wasn't feeling the best while in hospital). They wouldn't let me take them home until I agreed to mix feed them as they were on the small side. When home, I was fortunate to have a friend who is a breastfeeding counsellor and also rang up NCT and TAMBA for advice esp as I wanted to move to exclusive breastfeeding. Congratulations!

[neversleepagain]

1. Did you have any extra tests with twins, blood tests etc? Two blood tests, one at 13 weeks and one at 28 weeks
   
   
2. Did you have the downs syndrome test? In what form? They measured the nuchal fold and did bloods at 13 weeks
   
   
3. How many scans did you end up having? 8 scans in total by 34 weeks
   
   
4. How often did you see the midwife? How often the consultant? From 16 weeks I saw a midwife once a fortnight and s consultant once a fortnight
   
   
5. Did you have a GTT? Yes at 24 weeks
   
   
6. What gestation did you give birth at (mainly for curiosity)? 34+5 weeks
   
   
7. How long were you all in hospital for? Me 5 days (emcs), twins 13 days in scbu
   
   
8. Did you have a private room? Was your partner allowed to stay to help overnight? Yes, a private room but do couldn't stay overnight, he had to leave at 10pm
   
   
9. (If you wanted to) did you feel you were ADEQUATELY supported in breastfeeding? No, not at all.

[2015isgoingtobeBIG]

1. no extra blood tests
   
2. Nuchal and blood tst at 13 weeks
   
3. scanned every four weeks from 20 weeks (DCDA fwins. If identical it would have been fortnightly)
   
4. I saw the midwife every four weeks in the multiple clinic in the hospital. I saw the consultant at 16 weeks then would have seen them again at 32 weeks but I moved area. Birth options were only going to be discussed at this second appointment when the position of twin one would have determined my choices.
   
5. GTT at 28 weeks. Repeated by new trust at 34 weeks adr glucose seen in m urine sample but still all clear (think it was too much fruit for breakfast that day tipped me over )
   
6. booed in for elective section at 37w4d, waters went spontaneously at 36w3d and had an emergency section instead (twin one breach so no option for Vaughan delivery but did go into labour while waiting for a theatre slot)
   
7. 5 days mainly because twin one developed a bit of jaundice. Both babies were low weight for gestation so needed a lot of feeding in the early days to maintain their weight. As a result I was under transitional care which is like a step away from scbu. I could have gone home on day three if I wanted to but I said I wasn't easy and as it turned out the jaundice leveks meant. Stayed for an extra two days anyway.
   
8. single room with en suite because if being under the transitional care. I had a lot of support from the staff as part of this and I think it would have driven the other mums mad being constantly woken. The trust didn't prioritise th mums for the individual rooms though ordinarily so I conside myself lucky. My sb and stayed over one night so he could see what it was like looking after them over night but I agree with po-better he gets some decent sleep in the bank by ging home.
   
9. hit and miss with breastfeeding, some of the nursery nurses were completely unhelpful but I had two whi were fab and who made such a difference at encouraging me to keep going so t days/nights they were working I felt confident enough to persevere for the days they weren't around if that makes sense.
   Apologies for any typos or grammatical erros. I'm 8 weeks post birth so it is all still fresh in my mind but also means I have a sleeping baby on me which does limit my view of the screen!

[babybabynamechange]

Thank you all for that, really appreciate the range of views and experiences. Am just information gathering really I guess...

[babybabynamechange]

Thank you all for that, really appreciate the range of views and experiences. Am just information gathering really I guess...