Just been told I'm having twins... I'm in shock!

[NotAClue82]

Went for an early scan today (am 9+2 weeks) hoping to see one healthy little baby... Only to be told I'm having twins!!!

Needless to say I'm in shock! I already have a preschooler and wasn't expecting twins!

It's not really the thought of having twins that scares me (yes, I'm probably naive!), I'm more worried about complications that might occur during pregnancy.

My twins are monochorionic (I had never even heard this word before and had to google!). The sonographer told me she can't say whether they'll be identical, but Dr. Google tells me this type of twin almost always is identical. So I'm confused!

Just looking for reassurance from anyone who's had twins - And specifically from anyone who's had (or knows about!) the monochorionic type!

How many weeks did you get to?
And can they be born vaginally?
Did you ever sleep again?

Thanks guys!!!

[slightlyinsane]

Firstly congrats!
In answer to your questions
36 weeks
Yes but I wouldn't recommend it (one to think about in the future)
Nope
Mine are nearly 2, mcma (identical) girls, this type of pregnancy is more complicated but again one to think about in a few weeks. Let it all sink in first.
At the moment the best advice I can give you is to STAY AWAY FROM GOOGLE.
Have they booked your next scan yet?

[NotAClue82]

Thanks for the reply slightly!
Your third answer made me chuckle. How old are your girls now?
I don't know yet whether I'm mcma or mcda. I've read mcma (your type) is more complicated, but that mcda is more common? I expect they'll try to tell me whether I'm mcma or mcda at my 12 week scan (in about three weeks time, not booked yet though!).

People have been advising me to stay away from Google but I find that hard! I'm very much a believer in "knowledge is power" though in this instance I think Google can be really unhelpful! I had the fright of my life reading about all the things that can possibly go wrong.

It's reassuring you went to 36 weeks though

Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

[timeforheroes]

Slightly different as my girls were didi (non id) but I went to 36+2 and that was only because I had to have a c-section due to very low fluid.
The girls are now 9 months and despite being very small in weight when born, are a right pair of bruisers now!

Congratulations on your news, it's amazing! x

[NotAClue82]

Thanks for sharing Time, it's nice to hear your girl are doing so well!

[neversleepagain]

I had dcda girls, they will be 4 in September.

I delivered by emcs at 34 weeks, they were a big 5 pounders which were good weights for that gestation. They spent 2 weeks in scbu, one had an infection due to no amniotic fluid when she was born, they couldn't maintain their temperatures and had to learn to feed.

I had a good healthy pregnancy with the usual niggles, morning sickness (which was pretty horrendous).

With twins you get big very quickly, I measured term by 30 weeks, I was enormous!

Despite searching early baby clothes for 3 months my girls are enormous now and in some 5-6 clothes.

Congratulations! I got my twin shock on the 1st of May 2012 (13 week scan) and remember it clearly.

[slightlyinsane]

Knowledge is definitely power however, no research until you know what type you are having. There is lots of scary stuff out there.
Non id's are more common, I can't remember exactly but I think it was 25% of twins are id.
Fingers crossed for a smooth pregnancy and there's always people on here to help answer your questions x

[AlpacaLypse]

Congratulations!

My daughters aren't identical, they were born vaginally at 33+5, just over four pounds each, they spent three days in intensive SCBU then three weeks in the less highly dependent bit of SCBU.

Between the two of them they got 23 GCSEs last summer... (totally non stealth boast here!) They are both considerably taller than me too. Being prem and small clearly did not have any long term effect.

YY stay OFF Dr Google!

[NotAClue82]

Thanks so much guys for all the lovely reassuring messages! So great to hear all your twins are thriving🙂

Keep going between thinking "it's going to be fine!" and thinking "what have I done?!?!?".

[HamNJam]

Congratulations NotAClue.

I have dcda girls, who turned out to be identical. They are now 13.

They were born at 37 weeks via c section, around 6lbs each. They were my only kids and we had a lot of help from my mother, so I did get some sleep - but the first year was definitely a blur.

Get yourself some help if possible (Homestart, nursery nurse trainees or paid help etc.).

Take a look at the TAMBA (Twins and multiple birth association) website and also find out if there is a twins club locally - it's a great way to meet people in the same boat. Good luck with the pregnancy.

[NotAClue82]

Thanks Ham. 6 pounds is a very good weight for twins! I'll have a look at TAMBA once I stop pretending this isn't really happening...!

[NotAClue82]

Thanks Lumpy and thanks again everyone else! Your stories are all really uplifting and inspiring. They've definitely helped me to process me news, and I'm sure they will benefit anyone else who searches for a thread like this.

[JSSB]

Congratulations! Yes it is overwhelming at first and there is so much to take in medically. I have 6month old MCDA twins and a 4 year old which has been interesting ;) like you I think when I was pregnant I was so focused on the medical side I almost didn't think about once they were here. As others have said you should be scanned every 2 weeks. I hadn't appreciated initially how long these scans would be. I thought it would be a case of a quick scoot over each one to check they were still well but each scan took around 1-1.5 hours as they measure everything as at the 20 week scan. My consultant advised to deliver by c section at 36 weeks which I know is his common practice. I was disappointed initially as really wanted "natural" birth after I had to have a planned c section for medical reasons with my daughter. One thing I hadn't been fully prepared for was the fact it was likely they would need to go to special care if only for a day or so. Again I think the consultants team are so focused on the pregnancy and getting you to your target date they don't spend much time taking you through after they are born. Every day I feel so privileged to have my babies and still pinch myself that I've had twins!!! It seems so crazy. If you want to PM me with any questions don't hesitate. Do you have a fetal medicine centre nearby?

[obviouslymarvellous]

Hi I had a 3 year old when I found out I was expecting identical twin girls.I developed ttts at 16 weeks and spent most of my days at the hospital. I was so worried about them being ok I didn't really think about the when they were here bit they were delivered by c section at 35 weeks and were 6lb and 4lb and the larger spent 3 weeks in Nicu and the smaller 4 weeks. We moved house the week after they were both home too (as if I wasn't stressed enough ) I'm a big believer in knowing what you're up against so no surprises but dr Google isn't the best!!! Congratulations and good luck on your journey xxx

[thelionsleeps]

Congratulations! I had mcda twins born exactly at 37 weeks.

Like previous people have said try not to look at google too much but I know it is hard. I thought I'd had a miscarriage so we only found out at 11 weeks that we were still pregnant and with twins and it was very daunting at first.

You will have lots of scans (I also went for some privately at the fmc in London) and will be looked after very well hopefully.

My consultant let me try for a natural birth (as I had one with my previous child) but in the end the dopplar readings got too high as the placenta.was starting to fail (v common) and I had a cs which was fine.

Twins are life changing and hard work but everyday I think how lucky we are.

Check out tamba as they have loads of good information and also do courses about breastfeeding if you are interested. Check out your local twins group when you are ready - I asked loads of questions on their facebook group before I had mine.

I was lucky and had no problems at all apart from getting tired much earlier on in the pregnancy. I tried not to worry about ttts or anything else but it will be hard. Look after yourself and good luck!

[Cel982]

Congratulations! It's huge news to take in, don't feel under pressure to be 'OK' with it straight away.

Monochorionic twins are always identical as they come from one egg which has divided. Lots of fun ahead!

[SteppingonLego]

Congratulations. Twins are amazing. DCDA but identical boys here. Now 10 (where did that time go!).

I remember I cried when they told me it was twins as DD was only 17 months and I did;t know how I was going to cope. Pregnancy was OK but I was sick as a dog until 20 weeks. No time off work but kept having to go and throw up. We were also building a new house at the time and moved in shortly after they were born. Seems crazy now.

Born 35 weeks due to pre-eclampsia. 5.5lb each. DD had just turned 2 when they arrived so was pretty full on. Very little recollection of that first year. Don't think there was much sleep. I did breastfeed them both until 5 months though by which time I'd had enough!

Regarding the scan, see what they say at the next one. A good friend of mine also has ID twins which were DCDA but at her first scan was told they were MC. Turned out the placentas were just right next to each other and that wasn't obvious until later on.

[NotAClue82]

Wow thanks everyone! I love hearing all your stories!

JSSB - I'm much the same as you were - Totally focussed on the pregnancy & haven't thought a lot yet about what will happen after! I'm in denial, clearly
Luckily I do have an excellent fetal medicine unit near where I live & the midwife has already referred me to a consultant there which is brilliant.

Obviouslymarvellous - Wow, your situation sounds similar to mine! My boy is also 3, and I'm also about to move house! (Though hopefully before the twins arrive!). It must have been really hard to spend so much time in hospital when you also have a 3 year old, though I'm, pleased to read your babies turned out fine (that's the most important thing!).

Thelionsleeps - I hope I'm lucky like you were - 37 weeks is a brilliant gestation for MCDA twins from what I've read!

SteppingonLego - I like your username . Building a new house & getting used to the idea of 3 under 3... Yikes! Great to hear you somehow survived all that! I love the thought of 10 year old twin boys, I bet they are such a lot of fun.

Thanks again everyone for your inspirational stories. They've actually made me feel a little tearful, but that's probably the pregnancy hormones x 2! I'm in awe of all of you. I think nobody ever expects or plans to have twins, but when they are there you just do the best you can! I hope to do a great job like all of you:-)

[NotAClue82]

Oops I didn't see your message there Cel982. I think it's interesting that you point out that I don't have to be okay with it straight away. It was so strange because I felt so happy to discover I was pregnant, and then when I found out it was twins... I was still happy but I was also worried, stressed and anxious about lots of things. It's a difficult thing to admit to yourself that, given the choice, I would not have chosen to have twins. (Yikes this is making me tearful again, and I'm ashamed of this admission).

However now I think I'm realising that some of the most amazing things that happened to me in my life were things that I did not choose... They just happened to me & I got on with it! I'm hoping that having my twins will be the same, and that - if they both arrive safely - I will not be able to picture my life without them.

[Alicekeach]

Hi, NotaClue. Would you like a hand to hold? I've just found out I'm pregnant with twins too! Scary, isn't it?

[NotAClue82]

Alice, hi! Congrats on your twins! It's definitely scary! And exciting! And terrifying! And amazing! I go through the same rollercoaster of emotions every day since finding out. When did you find out and how are you coping with the news? Are these your first? I'm 10 weeks now with monochorionic twins and I already have a little boy. My due date is December 7th. Hope you are feeling well!

[Alicekeach]

Found out this afternoon, but knew it was a possibility as I had IVF and they put two embryos back. I'm only seven weeks, so a bit behind you. I'm a first timer so it's all very new anyway, and the twins thing just makes it all feel even more daunting!

[NotAClue82]

Wow, IVF twins, how exciting! I know, it is daunting, but I'm sure it will be fine! Are you consultant-led, too? Do you know when you're next appointment will be? I don't know when my next appointment (12 week scan I guess!) will be yet.

[Alicekeach]

Would have been consultant led anyway, due to other health problems, so twins just add a bit more excitement to the mix. I have another scan in two weeks, not sure what happens after that. I've been trying this afternoon to imagine our quiet house with two children playing in it and it just doesn't seem possible!

[NotAClue82]

Hi again, I think I would have been consultant led, too, even with a singleton, as my previous baby was premature. Enjoy the quiet house will you can! Though personally I think there's nothing better than the sound of little toddler feet & giggles filling the house followed by the sound of a bottle of wine being uncorked when the little buggers are finally asleep!