Baby #5 & #6 have arrived.

[MultipleMama]

They arrived last Tuesday at 31 weeks due to preterm labour and currently in the NICU.

It's only just sinking in that daily routines will now be a challenge! We planned our DC and regret nothing just still hormonal and hyped up.

Things like going out will no longer be a simple task. How do I take 6 under 5yo outside without it being traumtic??

I tandem feed and don't plan to stop. Anyone breastfed four?

Kind of a pointless midnight rant... I should just sleep.

[holidaysarenice]

Congratulations on 5 and 6!! Hope you are all doing well!!

6 under 5...wow!!

[Goandplay]

You'll make it work. You know you will. It will be traumatic sometimes but it's traumatic taking 1 child out sometimes.

As for the breast feeding I don't have any advice.

Good luck and congratulations!

[mumof5plusazoo]

Congratulations.
Going out will at times be chaos but not always. I have 5 dc, due again in June. 2 years ago I had 5 6 and under and I found it harder to get my dh ready and out the door than the dc! I could and still can get all 5 dc and me up, dressed, breakfasted and out the door before dh is ready.
Feeding I'm sorry no advice even though I've bf all of mine they so far have all self weened when I've been 4/5 months pregnant.

Congratulations again

[Annunziata]

Oh congratulations mamma! I have been thinking about you. I hope you are getting some sleep and you aren't up at 1am worrying too much. You just need to recover and get home just now. You can take them all out when you're more able.

Kisses to everyone

[5kidsnobump]

Congratulations! Wow 6 under 5! I had 5 who were 6 and under when DC5 arrived, and that was a challenge! DC3 & 4 were 2 and 1 when DC5 arrived, so had 3 very young ones to deal with - so I just imagine how hard it must be with more than that to cope with!

My top tip would be (if you don't already!) sign up for shopping online - it's so much easier than worrying about dragging around the supermarket with everyone!

I must admit we have done alot of playing at home since DC5 arrived, as even going to toddler groups can be a challenge - and that was with 3 little ones. Do you have much help from family/ friends? I have just resigned myself to living in a messy house until more of the children go to school, as I find trying to do housework and look after all the kids is nearly impossible!

[MultipleMama]

I have. My dad stays with us so we can spend more time at the hospital and my cousin also has a daughter so she's on hand if I need her. We're moving to Germany at the end of the year so I need to explore at some point but we wil live half an hour from DH's family so we're sorted until oldest 2 DC start school in August.

I will looked up the online shopping, why have I never thought if that?! :)

[WinkyWinkola]

You're amazing. That is what you should say to yourself everyday in the mirror.

[harrygracejessica]

Congratulations :-)

I had 5 under 4 and can recommend online shopping and a decent buggy so you can get out for fresh air xx

[LongStory]

oooohh many congratulations on nos 5 and 6.

On 'tandem' feeding with four ... sounds courageous!

When I was pg with DC2 the health visitors advised that I stopped feeding DC1 to prioritise nutrition for the new baby. I followed this advice and prioritised the baby. but let DC1 have a sneaky feed at the end of the day so he could keep the closeness for a while / not feel rejected.

I have also b/f twins for 16 months although I found that having a bottle from time to time (introduced @ 6 weeks and only a few oz) allowed the flexibility we needed to work the timing around other commitments for my work and the other kids.

Brilliant that you've got supply established which will really support your preemies. I guess in your situation I'd be working on a plan for the next youngest to be sure they're not making too many demands on you nutritionally, but possibly keep that sneaky feed option around for a while. All the best for the juggle of the next few weeks around hospital schedules, and the big juggle after that !

[NAR4]

Congratulations. You're still feeding your older set of twins too! Wow. Just shows what our bodies are capable of. You must be extremely fertile because you must have had twins less than 6 months old, who were breastfed when you fell pregnant again. So much for breastfeeding being a contraception for 6 months.

I don't know anyone who has fed 4 at once but when you feed a toddler and baby you would normally just let the baby feed first. Highly recommend you speak to a breastfeeding advisor so you can ensure your Prem twins get all the milk from you that they need. Numbers online under Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, La Leach League and National Childbirth Trust.

There are some great 4 seater pushchairs on a few websites. Prob very expensive, but I think you are going to need to invest in one so you can get out the house without going grey.

Good luck.

[YomAsalYomBasal]

Congratulations! How are the twins doing given that they were prem? I'd second the online shopping, get a cleaner and seize anyone who offers to help!

[littlecloud]

Congratulations. I have no useful advice I'm sure you'll do a fabulous job.

[changeforthebetter]

Wow! Congratulations

[MultipleMama]

Hey ladies, sorry took ages to reply. Switched to online shopping, it's great! Thanks for the recommendation :) We have a house keeper who comes on Sunday to help around the house :)

We already have a ABC quad adventure buggy and two twins so we're sorted on the stroller area :)

NAR4 Breast feeding is a poor contraception for us but we had planned for a baby when the twins turned 6 months, and worked first try, and ended up with twins again!

Still breast feeding the twins. Down to feeding when they wake up in the morning and nurse them to bed, in between they have breast milk in their mOmma straw cups.

As for the new arrivals named, Artemis (3lbs 1oz) and Apollo (1lb 9oz) both are in different leagues but proud of them.

Artie has been b/f for 3 weeks along with tube feeding, she's doing amazingly well, she needed help with her temp and 02 levels at first but has been moved from NICU to SCBU. Hopefully she's home soon.

Apollo who was born with symmetrical IUGR has been on the ventilator since he was born. He had a large PDA which was repaired by surgery and Grade 2 bleed, and then got another. He developed RDS which has cleared up. He has a harmless heart murmur and is now dealing with constant Brady's episodes throughout the day, they believe it to be caused by either his Grade 2 or Sepsis. We hear the results tomorrow. He's taking small amounts of b/m which is great news. So hoping tomorrow brings good news too.

xx

[Shatteredmamma1]

How's it going multiple mama? Any news
on Artemis? I'm still on mat leave with
Number one so am in awe of you!!
Really hope all is going well for you.

[LongStory]

thinking of you multiplemama, hope Apollo and Artemis are doing well, and that you're juggling the many emotional and practical demands. xxx

[Kitten3]

You are bloody phenomenal.

I had 5 under the age of 10 and I can remember evenings being absolutely mental! Tiring mental.

I think the best thing to do while you have so many is to live in the moment. I wouldn't stress myself out with the logistics of going out unless I absolutely had to. I was super lucky as I often used to leave older kids with my mum when out on errands.

Lots of luck on the breastfeeding- would def say let little ones prioritise and feed first as you probably know there is a difference in the fore and hind milk.

[Kitten3]

You are bloody phenomenal.

I had 5 under the age of 10 and I can remember evenings being absolutely mental! Tiring mental.

I think the best thing to do while you have so many is to live in the moment. I wouldn't stress myself out with the logistics of going out unless I absolutely had to. I was super lucky as I often used to leave older kids with my mum when out on errands.

Lots of luck on the breastfeeding- would def say let little ones prioritise and feed first as you probably know there is a difference in the fore and hind milk.

[MultipleMama]

Just a little update; Apollo is officially being discharged today after 20 weeks in hospital! :)

[Mistletoenail3]

that,s wonderful !
Welcome home little Apollo

[canyourearme]

Brilliant. You are amazung!

[MultipleMama]

Thank you :)