I've just found out I'm expecting twins! And they're identical! Help I'm in shock!

[Weegle]

I posted a thread a while back about horrendous sickness - well this is why! We just had a scan this morning (10+5) and there's 2 little beans and looks like they are identical (same placenta, separate sacs). We are just so shocked. We already have DS who is 3. I was kind of expecting it to be twins because of the sickness and family history and I conceived on clomid - but this has nothing to do with genetics!

I know nothing about identical twins! Anyone know any good books - I've never even met any! Or just where to start on getting my head around having 3 children! Or anything I need to know?

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

I know absolutely nada, I just wanted to say huge congratulations.

[Lizzylou]

Wow!
Huge Congratulations (sorry no experience).

[giraffescantdancethetango]

Congrats

[poorbuthappy]

Congrats! I don't think the Clomid will have made any difference cos its the egg spliting which makes id twins. Lots of information on here, try multiple births topics as a place to start!

Welcome to the wonderful (and manic) world of twins...

(I also have id twins plus a 4 year old who was 3 when we found out!)

[twoplusone]

congratulations xx

[MadBadandDangerousToKnow]

I have no experience but you're in the same situation as my friend was 4 years ago. Her twins are a joy and a delight. Congratulations!

[Confuzzeled]

Wow, I'm so jealous, I would have loved twins, huge congrats.

I can imagine it'll be a hand full but it's such a gift.

Good Luck

[Weegle]

thank you all, it's just a huge shock! a good shock, but a shock nonetheless!

[MadBadandDangerousToKnow]

I bet it is! My friend was in a daze for days. All her dh could do was mumble 'twins' weakly. But now, as I said, they are a joy.

[stillstanding]

Oooh - am v jealous. I would have loved twins. Would have been a bit panicked if they came first but think that it will be much easier given that you already have a DC. Congratulations and good luck!

[Weegle]

yes DH said "at least I know what I'm doing with a baby this time round" - the guy is useless at multi-tasking, I think he's in for a shock!

[stillstanding]

One of my good friends had twins at the same time I had DS and there was no question that it was tough especially for the first year but in some ways she did seem to have a better ride than me ...

For example, she got loads of extra help (a night nanny for the first 2 months, mother's help for three days a week) which I couldn't justify for myself and also was forced to sort things out that I took ages to do, such as teaching her boys to sleep. She wasn't able to carry her two around and so they each had to learn to entertain each other/fall asleep on their own/wait their turn.

Her life was much more sorted than mine, much earlier. Through necessity rather than anything else I expect but it did make me quite jealous!

[Baisey]

No experience just wanted to say congratulations.

[thatsnotmymonster]

Massive Congratulations!

I'm very jealous too as I always harboured a secret hope for twins. My 3rd was born when my first was just 3 so in someways it has been similar- (always had 2 in nappies etc). I am sure they will be a delight!

[l39]

Congratulations! My identical twins are 8. You'll be having a lot of extra scans as they share a placenta. It's good to know they're doing ok, but always a bit worrying in case something shows up. My main bit of advice would be to keep the hospital name bracelets on for a few weeks after they're born until you are sure you can tell them apart! Twins are harder work than one easy baby, but quite honestly my oldest niece was more work (she had colic) by herself than my twins ever were! (No nannies or cleaners possible or needed for us.)

[Weegle]

thanks again everyone

l39 I will remember the tip about the bracelets! I'm a little worried as a BIG THING is made in our family about ensuring very distinct personalities for my fraternal neice and nephew. But surely with identicals there's going to be a very large element of shared identity? Or do they become obviously different in personality? Or mostly the same? I really know NOTHING about identical twins - I tried googling earlier and it just gave me loads to worry about twin to twin transfusion etc, and that's not what I want to read! I want to read what it's like parenting identical twins! What are they like, do they walk at the same age, like the same things etc etc?

[hattyyellow]

Id twins are separate people with their own personalities. My id girls are 4 and are like chalk and cheese.

There are some simalarities due to them being together a lot of the time. For instance, there are certain foods they both love, films they enjoy but thats due to my feeding them the same meal at the same time or letting them watch the same film.

It's very important, in my view, to treat them as individuals. I refused from day one to dress them identically (and can't understand why anyone would do so with id twins but I guess it's a matter of personal choice).

My girls started sitting up a month apart. The one who sat first was last to crawl and they swopped again at walking time. They tend to copy eachother with stages like these, one walks and the other is desperate to because their sibling is.

Congratulations and good luck!

Please please try to ignore the horror stories on the net, they will look after you very carefully. I got to over 38 weeks with no complications at all.

[hattyyellow]

www.amazon.co.uk/Double-Trouble-Twins-Survive-Them/dp/0007153988?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Good book, very down to earth (although I am so sick of the phrase double trouble! - they're not trouble, they're lovely!)

[Littlefish]

My identical twin nephews have had completely different characters right from the start. My dsis has always dressed them differently and supported their different emotional and physical development stages.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

My sister had id twin girls who are 3 1/2. They really do have their own personalities and it's important to see that and recognise that too I think.

She dresses them similar but not the same - so the same outfit one in pink and one in purple for example. One will have bunches, the other will have a ponytail etc.

She has found some good sellers on e-bay with older twins but a similar way of thinking and has got loads of clothes for them from there.

She developed high blood pressure at 37 weeks and they were both breech so delivered by cs. No special care/NNU needed.

Congratulations and good luck.

[Weegle]

That's so great to hear all your positive stories - I've been feeling really worried that I would just have two children the same, so it's so lovely to hear they will be individuals and will endeavour to nurture their own identities. I won't be dressing them the same (not least because I don't plan on going and buying a whole load of new clothes from scratch, I will be using DS' old ones if poss - if boys, and hand me downs). Will have a look at that book too - I really feel like I need to do some reading as I don't want to make any assumptions about something I clearly don't know anything about!