Twin bump size- how to cope?

[44PumpLane]

I'm currently 21 + 4 with twins and over the past 3 weeks or so I feel like my bump has jus exploded!
A few people have told me I'm as big as they were when they were full term with one.

The issue I'm having is that I'm starting g to find it difficult to manoeuvre and could really do with some coping tips.

I'm hugely fortunate, I am totally mobile and able to walk around no bother and for hours on end (I'm very grateful for that)- but I've no longer any idea what my bikini line looks like, I had to get my husband to help me sit up in the bath yesterday as I couldn't get from lying to sitting position.
I'm finding I can't bend to get my knickers on easily or to moisturise my legs with de puffing cream.

I appreciate this all sounds trivial, but with twins I imagine this will only get worse and (if I'm lucky) I have another 15 weeks of this.

Any tips, hints and suggestions would be gratefully received please!

[leoniethelioness]

I don't think this will offer much comfort but the twin mum to be I know has started her maternity leave as early as possible. She's expecting the babies early for various reasons. I'm about 6 weeks further along than she is and we're both a similar size so I can't blame her.

[44PumpLane]

I was hoping to start my maternity leave as late as humanly possible- even discussed with my manager that if I was put on bed rest it would be great if I could just work from home! I'm a management accountant so will be doing budgets and forecasting in the last 2 months before I have the babies and didn't want to leave work in the lurch-but given the last 3 weeks I'm starting to think that's going to be impossible and ill be lucky to be able to get dressed in the morning, never mind actually do any work! :)

[sidonie1]

I'm 28 weeks pregnant with my second set and completely sympathise. I feel the same and am terrified of what it will be like in the next weeks. I didn't feel like this with my first set, but I think it just depends on their position.

Hoping it depends on attitude a bit as I plan to just keep going despite the discomfort, and ignore people's unhelpful comments about how huge I am.

Really hope you feel ok and positive - people always say unhelpful things about size I think!

[April241]

Hiya 44 congratulations on your twins :)

I'm currently 29+3 with twins and know exactly where you're coming from. My baby bump (I.e no longer bloating) started at 13 weeks and by 15 weeks was extremely obvious and quite big for the stage I was at. Now i definitely look full term and people are always a bit shocked when I say I've got 8 weeks to go.

Things I've had to modify a bit when dressing, don't do anything standing on one leg like putting on knickers and don't bend at the waist, you'll end up dizzy and top heavy, I sit on the bed or couch to put anything on like knickers, jeans, jammies etc. I can only get my leg up so far then need to pull it up .

For getting in and out the bath I need my OH to help me, I've given up on baths now though as I had to drain all the water then slide myself onto all fours. Tres dignified! The only thing I moisturise now is my bump up, can't reach anything else

As for mat leave, I'm a nurse in a busy theatre dept and had planned on finishing up at 30 weeks, using 3 weeks annual leave and then starting mat leave at 33 weeks. I was fine until 24 weeks, just typical tiredness etc them ended up signed off work at 25 weeks due to pelvic/hip and back pain so I've been off work just over 4 weeks already. I'm bored as heck but I really struggle to get about most days so it's actually been for the best.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy, I hope it's smooth sailing! Feel free to PM me anytime if you want :)

[EarthboundMisfit]

Keep up the gentle exercise as long as your midwife/consultant are happy with it. Prepare for the strong possibility that you may need to start maternity leave early...from this point you'll measure 10 weeks ahead of a single pregnancy. I went from being a fitness enthusiast to being able to walk or stand for 15 mins max by the time I delivered at 37 weeks. Any more caused contractions and bad backback pain.

[44PumpLane]

Thanks ladies- appreciate the replies and congratulations to you all on your twin pregnancies too!

It's nice to hear that others are in the same boat and it's not just me being soft!

Some great coping tips too- when I get home (I'm currently on hols hence the delay in reply) I'll have to really think about making sure I can keep exercise in my day and also how to modify my morning routine so that I don't have to do anything on one leg (def struggling with that now)!

I feel an ikea trip coming on for a chair for my dressing room! :)

[Iwantagoonthetrampoline]

Yep, don't underestimate how tough lugging around two babies is going to be on your body.
I planned to stop work at 30 weeks. Felt fine until about 26 and thought I could easily carry on longer than that ... then it hit me. By 30 was def ready to finish as back, pelvic pain & sciatica. The journey to work was a struggle, sitting at a desk all day was a struggle, I was shattered as couldn't get comfy to sleep at night. Ended up then having an 8 week wait but did not regret it one bit :-)
Don't worry too much about how your work will cope, try and let go! You would probably even be better off planning to finish early than being forced to unexpectedly. There is higher risk that babies will decide to arrive early or that your health forces you to stop. As a compromise can you work from home? Could you use leave to wind down the no. of days you do a week gradually?

On exercise, I'd really recommend pregnancy yoga :-)