HOLY FRICKING COW WITH BELLS ON - I'M HAVING TWINS.

[Schmauskin]

Very freaked out by the news and the fact I coped so badly when my dd 4.5 yr old was tiny, through the lack of sleep - God knows how I'll do it with twins AND the school run. I've also got to relocate from LA to the UK before the birth just to add to the stress. What I need is advice, so I can prepare myself. What twin pram/buggy to buy, breast feeding advice, anything that will help inform me and get me prepared. Emotionally and psychologically I'm f*ed up about the prospect, so I may as well be organised and practically prepared.

Thank you.

[nooka]

No advice, just wanted to bump your thread with a good luck! Moving countries is stress enough without being pregnant, let alone with twins. They run in our family, so something that was very much on my mind when I was pregnant.

[dooneygirl]

It has a weird title, but please check out this thread as they are the ones who can really help you.

[SuperBunny]

No advice but congratulations.

There are lots of MNers who have moved from the US to the UK and will be able to help.

[Schmauskin]

dooneygirl - I will check out that thread as I feel in need of all help advice on offer. I some ways coming home to England wll be a blessing it's just all the relocation shit that feels daunting.

[Schmauskin]

It's seems marslady is the chick I need to talk to...

[beforesunrise]

i have no experience of having twins, but i did have a very very difficult dd1, who never slept, and i really struggled with her as a baby... dd2, who came 2yr and 3 months later, was a breeze in comparison, despite also not being a brilliant sleeper. i think that the fatigue and exhaustion of subsequent children is harder on your body but sooo much easier on the brain and soul (if you have struggled with your first, that is). So just a bit of encouragement that you will not struggle twice as hard with the twins, I am sure. It will be hard logistically but you will cope.

what helped me a lot during my second pregnancy (i got terrified at some point i was going to sink into that despairing place again after the birth) was to seek counselling before the birth to address my feelings and fears. it really helped me.

good luck!!!

[Schmauskin]

beforesunrise - I think our experiences were very similar. Thank you for for your encouragement... fingers crossed.

[NotsoHoHoHO]

My first DS was a nightmare baby. The twins were a piece of cake compared to him. Slept through at 11 weeks and ate everything I put in front of them. It was physically exhausting though. I find them harder to cope with now they are 6 and gang up on me!

[piximon]

Congratulations on the pg Schmauskin, how far along are you? I have b/g dts who will be 2 on tues. I remember freaking out when I found I was carrying them, I posted on here and found the girls on the thread linked, they got me through the tough days, the rest I managed. I also have ds1 (5.11) and dd1 (4.3) and it can't be that bad as I also have ds3 (nearly 9mths).

You'll manage because you have to. Take all offers of help you can get and rest as much as possible. I had a student helper for a few mths through the local college and also a surestart volunteer when I moved earlier this year who's become a great friend.

Buggy wise we have a Jane Powertwin which was fab when the dts were little but I'm falling out of love with it the older they get. I love the Phil & Ted but only suitable after 6mths. I had a side by side to start with but just couldn't get anywhere with it.

As for the school run, it'll force you to leave the house which will be good for you and the dts and you will probably get loads of offers of help from the school mums.

I've never moved country but I relocated from London to Devon earlier this year (dh still works in London), and have moved house 3 times this year so I know how hard it is. Plan like mad and try to set up a support network before you leave if you can.

The early days were tough and I still have days when I struggle now, but I wouldn't change a thing. Having twins is a blessing. Come join us on the multiples thread linked, it's a bit quiet at the moment, but it'll pick up after everyone forgets about their families and get back to the thread the festivities are through.

[Schmauskin]

Notsohohoho I'll need the details of EXACTLY what you did to get them sleeping though at 11 weeks!!! piximon, thank you, I feel better getting the fear of my chest and knowing others were scared too, but made it through. Off for my scan, to find the heartbeats.....

[ChristMarsSleighdy]

If you call me I will appear! PMSL!!!!

You can email me on lovelymarslady at aol dot com

There's lots of support to be found on the multi mum threads. Do check out the antenatal multimums thread as well. Can't remember what it's called.

[Tortington]

congrats. there is a twin thread, i am sure you would be most welcome - it begins " do you ever...." they change the end of the sentence form time to time.

[ChristMarsSleighdy]

And when they become teens you'll need to look out for the lovely Custard as she knows all things teen! She's my guru!

[pinkfrogsroastingonanopenfire]

Many, many congratulations - definitly give the D'ya multiple birth thread (linked earlier) a try - we are quite a strange good bunch of mums. Always someone on there who will be able to help. We have 3 (I think its 3) mums with triplets. Several mums with what seems like a couple of hundred babies

It is quiet at the moment on the thread - anyone would think us mums had multiples in our families

Good bunch of mums with very, very good sense of humours!!

[duckyfuzz]

congratulations

It took me weeks (some might say years!) to come to terms with the fact I was having twins as my first (only) children, but they are great fun and I wouldn't want it any other way - you'll be fine, if slightly insane for the rest of your life!

[accessorizequeen]

Mars sent me over here to invite you to the 'ladies expecting twins or more' thread We have a couple about to pop right now actually All going through the same issues of preparation, purchases and PANIC. God did I panic when I found out but it's so much better once they've arrived. I have the school run to do as well and that is the difficult bit, no way around it. I have a part-time nanny to help with that so she stays with the dt's whilst I take ds1 to school and ds2 to nursery etc. Help makes a huge huge difference to everything if you can afford it.

My dt's are sleeping through (10 & 12 hours respectively) at 12 weeks when ds1 didn't go through until 15 months so it is possible!I tandem fed them until last week when they got too big.

How many weeks are you Schmauskin?

[Schmauskin]

Ladies, thank you for the warm welcome. I'm 7 weeks and just had a scan this morning - 2 nice strong heartbeats and lurking in the dark was a little 3rd sack!!!!!!!!! However, it appears triplets are not my destiny and a 3rd foetus failed to develop.

Mars I will be plaguing you for advice, thank you from the bottom of my panicked heart.

Hoochie - I love being beseeched (especially as I live in LA right now and they think words like beseech are latin) I am, as they say here, all over the D'ya threads, so I will grace you with my nauseous presence.

accessorizequeen - I am in awe of just the phrase 'tandem fed' although unsure of the physical logistics. Maybe your tits just get so vast anything is possible, but respect. thank you for the thread invite - I love that Mars 'sent you' over, a handmaiden style, to invite the next poor wretch about to start down the long dark tunnel.

[Schmauskin]

As I'm in the US, I figured I'd buy a twin stoller/buggy thing cheaper here to bring back to the UK- Mountain Buggy Urban Double looks good, especially the twin carrycots you can add on. Opinions?

[kathryn2804]

Hiya, congratulations!

I'm a breastfeeding peer support counsellor too. Go for it, it's hard work but very rewarding! Try to get some advice on tandem feeding before you have them. If you have time after you move and before the babies come, hook up with your local twins club and talk to some Mums who breastfed, they are the best people to give you advice unless your lucky enough to have a twin Mummy breastfeeding supporter like me in your area!!! A list of Twins Clubs is available here: www.tamba.org.uk/twins-clubs.php

The EZ-2-Nurse breastfeeding cushion is worth the investment. Def buy that in the States as they cost a fortune over here. Go for the inflatable one, very transportable!!

Good luck and keep posting, we're a friendly bunch!

[twinmam]

Hello Schmauskin and congratulations! We have the Mountain Buggy Urban Double and generally I've been really pleased with it. My girls are 10 months now. We used the double carry cot for the first few months and that was really lovely as they would snuggle up together. It's really easy to push but it does occasionally get stuck in doorways and knocks over those stupid extra bits of display shops like Mothercare seem intent on leaving in aisles. It is fairly heavy to get in and out of the car but I think that's probably the case with all double pushchairs (?) I find it pretty easy to get up and down and I'm a complete imbecile when it comes to anything like that. I'm hoping they'll invent a double pushchair that floats in and out of the car boot and that goes up and down when you push a button... and has a motor... and slims down to get through tight spaces... and is impregnated with a powerful sedative... but until that date I think the Mountain Buggy is a good buy. Good luck!

[accessorizequeen]

Hoochie, any help with this welcome but I'm finding that I can't manage them on the v-pillow if one is feeding and the other winding. Primarily because ds3 (dt1) is awful, I think he may have reflux which I am investigating. So he hurls himself all over the place, it's hard enough feeding him on his own really I cannot tandem feed them anymore. Getting them into position really difficult as well, they're 12 pounds each. I use nipple shields and can't do any other position than rugby for both with this restriction. If you or anyone else has a brilliant idea be happy to consider it (I know Mars did offer to help get them off nipple shields but haven't managed to contact her yet!). I much prefer feeding them singly but it takes up an age and not sure if I can keep it up with the school run. They're still both feeding 6-7 times a day plus formula before bed.

I have an MB double with the single carrycots AND the double one. Double by far the best, the singles are really narrow and they're not snuggled together which is lovely . It is v.v.heavy to lift and put in the boot and you'd need a huge one to fit it in with double carrycot tbh. We got a baby jogger city mini as well. If you're not hung up on carrycot, consider a baby jogger as they're lighter than MB's, very easy to fold. Duowalker also takes carrycots and made in the US so much cheaper if you bought there. A bit smaller and lighter than the MB as well.