Expecting twins!!!!

[Hodds89]

Hi, i want to make sure im not the only one in the world expecting twins!!!! Second pregnancy and its so different!!!! I have so many questions and no one to ask apart from midwife (who has never actually had twins!!!) anyone out there !!!!???

[Rebecca1608]

I don't have much advice as this is my first pregnancy so don't have anything to compare it to but i'm currently almost 33 weeks pregnant with identical twins and have 3 weeks left and just wanted to say congratulations. How exciting

[NanaNina]

My cousins daughter has identical twin girls. She said recently that identical twins aren't hereditary but just occur at random and I was surprised. She has very firm ideas about not dressing them alike as she thinks they need to be treated as individuals (they are 7 now) and I think I agree with her. Also she said that when they were little and she first dressed them alike she kept getting stopped by people "oohing and aaahing" and after a while it all got too much, and once they were dressed differently she was still stopped but not nearly as much, and once they were out of the pram no one seemed to notice very much.

They are identical but I can always tell them apart - one has slightly bigger eyes than the other. When I was talking to the girl's mom recently (she would be horrified if you referred to "the twins") and she said about identical twins occurring at random I wasn't sure she was right so I googled and there is a plethora of information available, but very complicated, about whether the babies share a placenta or not and not just about whether there are 2 eggs or whether one egg splits. Apparently fraternal twins are hereditary which I'm sure you already know. I'm sure there will be a lot of mothers of twins along soon.

[ejclementine]

Oh wow, congratulations. I can't offer any tips because I'm pregnant for the first time and I have no idea how many are in there until my first scan. Just curious though, did you have any inkling beforehand or any different symptons?

[Hodds89]

Rebecca: hi oh how exiting!! How are you giving birth? Sorry if abit personnel!! Im 19 weeks and hopefully find out what they are next week, mine are fracturnal so could be 3 different combinations lol!! When you see your midwife does she listen for heartbeats?? With my first pregnancy i loved going to the midwife to here the heartbeat but my ladt two appointment she hasn't done this? Maybe it's to difficult with twins?

Ej: congratulations Hun!! Umm not really i bleed early on so had a 7week scan and thats when we found out! Sickness and cramping was a million times worse than with my first but no tell tail dings really!! X

[Rebecca1608]

Hi. I have a section booked for when i'm 36+3. ELCS which was recommended for me due to positions plus my twins share a placenta which means a higher risk of complications. Just want them here quickly and safely as possible. My midwife does listen to heartbeats but not at every appointment. Sometimes it is just chatting. You'll be closely monitored though as i have had fortnightly scans since around 14 weeks. Possibly same for you? Or monthly perhaps. You will probably be consultant led. I also had a 7 week scan as they thought it was an ectopic pregnancy turns out the pains were everything stretching quicker and i was having twins. Bet you can't wait to find out what you're having.

[RummidgeGeneral]

Have you looked on the TAMBA website? There is plenty of info on there and message boards. Congratulations! It is an amazing thing having twins.

[Hodds89]

I will have monthly scans because theres two placentas (i think thats why ) and i see a specialist midwife! I agree as long as they arive safely its all that matters!! Can i ask what buggy/pram you have chosen? They are so expensive for twins!!!! X

[littlesupersparks]

I am currently feeding one of my beautiful twins born 3 weeks ago - such a blessing!

Fraternal twins, one boy, one girl - born vaginally twin 1 head down, twin 2 footling breech. I was induced at 38 + 2 (hospital wanted 38 exactly but we hung on until after my eldest's birthday)

The pregnancy was much harder thank previous onesbut the babies are and absolute delight and the birth was very straightforward.

[Rebecca1608]

Have you thought about how you'd like to deliver? I definitely find pregnancy with multiples reaaally hard work but hearing 2 heartbeats. All the extra scans and kicking is amazing. Red kite twin stroller. It was £190 from Asda but it got great reviews. I originally wanted a britax double buggy but it went out of stock everywhere with some sites discontinuing it. I couldn't really afford the crazy prices of "named" strollers like bugaboo etc especially when i need to buy double everything else. X

[ARV1981]

I don't have any advice, but wanted to say congratulations! I'm an identical twin myself and it's a wonderful thing. Your twins will always have each other.

[littlesupersparks]

Oh yes and I heard the heartbeats at every appointment from 16 weeks.

[neversleepagain]

Congratulations!

My fraternal girls will be 3 in September. Born by emcs at 34+5 (both transverse).

You are in for a crazy adventure!

[Eigg]

Find your local twins/multiples group (TAMBA) have a list.

They always welcome new members and you will be able to go while pregnant.

They other group members will be very happy to share experiences and advice with you and you might be able to borrow twin specific baby books.

Lots of groups also have selling lists so you might be able to pick up second hand double prams etc.

I would also recommend 'Mothering Multiples' by Karen Kirk Gromada. You can get it in Amazon.

[Hodds89]

Just looked up TAMBA, what a great website!! Thanks for sharing ladies!!! My first birth was natural but it was pretty traumatic! So im pritty scared about having twins naturally but even more worried about a section??! I suppose it will all depend on were there laying at the time! Ill look up those buggies! The big named ones are so dear, i need a new car that fits 3 car seats so ill be pinching penny's in all directions ! So nice to here your stories! Cant wait to meet them!!

[Eigg]

Please don't worry too much about a section - obviously you'd prefer not to have one but it's ok and not the end of the world.

[OneLittleManOneInOven]

Identical twins but one has bigger eyes than the other? Well they aren't idential then

[RockerMummy184]

OneLittle the term 'identical' - when referring to twins - means they share the same DNA, i.e. it was one egg that split into 2 embryos, rather than 2 separate eggs being fertilized, therefore it is possible for them to look slightly different.

[OneLittleManOneInOven]

Well you learn something new everyday ha! I never knew this, ive always believed they were identical in every physical way, I feel stupid

[RockerMummy184]

Don't feel stupid. :)

It is quite common for 'identical' twins to be mirror image rather than exactly alike as well, so if one twin has a freckle on their left cheek, the other will quite often have it on their right.

Silly fact I recently learned - Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are actually fraternal twins who just happen to look very much alike! haha!