If you have twins/triplets, how did the doctor/nurse/midwife tell you?

[TheTERFnextDoor]

And did any of you have a hunch before the medical professionals told you?

I'm just curious as this is always such a significant moment in films etc.

I'm a twin and I half expected to have twins and was feeling very bloated by my 12 week scan. When she announced "ohh there is lots of babies in there" (triplets) that was quite a shock. I swore and cried. It sunk in many weeks later.

I’d been really sick with the pregnancy but despite being older (37) and having twins in the family I didn’t for one second think it would be me, but the chap doing the scan very excitedly said ‘oh look, here’s why you’re so sick, look, one (as he pointed) and two! Never forgotten it!

I was very unwell in early pregnancy and being told to prepare for the worst (again).

Had a scan at around 6-7weeks to rule out ectopic pregnancy / cyst and the doctor said "ooh that's a relief.... you see that dark spot, it's a heart beating and it's in the right place"

I looked at the screen and said "well if that's a heart then what's that other dark spot?" Not really suggesting twins, just baffled.

She paused, laughed, looked closely and said "Oh yes you're right!" and we both laughed nervously.

It was all so surreal as I was sure this would be another failed pregnancy and I felt so so poorly. I wasn't very excited at that point, just relieved.

I had had my head in the toilet for my entire pregnancy with DD1, and was showing very early. We made jokes about twins but were relieved that there was only one. Then I miscarried twins (and was secretly relieved because I knew how hard it was to have a healthy baby, and couldn’t imagine two of there was something wrong.) I got myself knocked up very quickly again and was bleeding a lot. We assumed it was another miscarriage. Because of my miscarriage and hemorrhage history I had a very early intra-vaginal scan and she was pointing out the egg sac and I pointed at another “blob” and said “That had better not be what I think it is…” She nodded and grinned at me. I cried and said “You’d probably better go and get DH who is out in the waiting room with DD1. Unless he sees it for himself, he’s not going to believe it.” The lovely sonographer pointed out twin one’s sac and foetal pole (heartbeat?) and he was super excited. I said… “Hang on… you’d better show him.” she then said “And here’s another little sac and another foetal pole.” He puffed up like he’d done it all himself. Very cute!

Had the 12 week scan and the lady said "there's your baby........and there's your other baby"
Me: "you're joking?!"
Her, very seriously: "I wouldn't joke about that"

I found out their sex at the next scan and the lady said "they're two little chaps"

Those two little chaps are 18 now.

I was at the 12 week scan lying on the bed and she said "I'm glad you're lying down....because there are two babies in there". DH nearly keeled over.

I'd been really really sick all day, every day since I discovered I was pregnant, but as this was my first just assumed it was normal morning sickness.

They're 16 now and about to do GCSEs.

@RSintes - mine are 16 too. Must have been a a year for it!

I had no morning sickness or anything even with DS.

I had some spotting at around 8 weeks so went for a private scan and DP, my mum and at the time 2 yo DS came with me.

When she was scanning across she quickly flicked away and I'm sure I saw two heads side by side and looked at DP and my mum and they were just watching normally so I thought 'maybe not' then the sonographer said 'bare with me just a second, I just need to double check something.. pinkbuttercups you don't just have one baby in there you have two!'

What she wanted to double check was that she saw both HB's. They're 5 months old now! 🥰♥️.

I was shocked when she told me but so excited by the time I left the room! But didn't feel any different to what I did when pregnant with DS. Didn't have the slightest clue but looking back my pregnancy test should've been a clue for me as it was so dark the lines at the stage I was at in pregnancy.

I had a bit of bleeding so went for a private scan during lunchtime at work. Fully expected to be told I was miscarrying. I told the sonographer our history, including tragically losing dd the year before. She told me I wasn’t miscarrying, that this was the best part of her job and I was having twins. We both cried (and laughed).

In total shock, I told DH over text. DTs are now 3

Ah this is such a lovely thread

I fell pregnant accidentally while on the mini-Pill. I knew the relationship wasn't long-term, and my dad had very recently been diagnosed with a pretty awful genetic condition that I hadn't yet been tested for.

I was also living about 100 miles away from all of my family as I'd relocated with work.

I realised I had no choice but to have a termination. The sensible, level-headed decision, right? It would give me the chance to have genetic testing and to find a long-term relationship etc. I was 34.

I went to the termination clinic for the first appt and they do the scans differently - the screen isn't visible or shown to the patients, for obvious reasons. I was about 8 weeks pregnant - and the radiographer sort of blurted out, "oh - there's two heartbeats, it's twins". I completely broke down in tears - my grandad was a twin and it was all just too much. She sent me off to the toilet to have a proper sob while I did the usual urine STI tests.

After the scan, she asked if I wanted to see their counsellor and I sniffled yes. The counsellor was amazing.

I then went through to see the doctor who was supposed to be booking me in for the procedure, and all I can remember is that I kept asking her what foods I shouldn't be eating if I decided not to have a termination, and other pregnancy advice questions. She looked at me very hard and said - "do you want to have a think about this? I can call you later to book this in...."

I sat in the car outside and rang my mum. I said "do you fancy moving to XXX to be near me? I'm having twins...."

I puked all the way through the pregnancy. Went into labour at 32 weeks while I was in hospital for something else, and no one noticed until I was almost fully dilated! 😅

That was 13 years ago. I have the most beautiful son and daughter. I honestly feel sick to my stomach when I think they were very nearly not here. And yes, my mum, my stepdad and also my dad all moved to my city when I was pregnant! My dad passed away about 9 years ago now and because he was nearby, it meant I was able to look after him in his final years. Mum and stepdad love it here - and we're just about to all move in together as we're building a granny annexe!

Even 13 years on, it still feels so special to have twins ❤️

Ivf viability scan at 6w5d: we had had two embryos put back in but only because they weren’t on schedule so they put two back to give us best chance of having one 😍
ivf nurse laughed and said “double trouble!”
My husband laughed hysterically and I laughed/sobbed… best news ever.
They are turning 6 soon and the best thing that has ever happened to us.

Isn’t it just 😊

I agree - really heart warming!

@PinkButtercups with 5 month old twins your use of those emojis is definitely remarkable, DC2 put us through hell with sleep regression at that stage so I'd imagine it can't be easy with 2 

@SpidersAreShitheads that made me all teary. I know they're 13 but still feel like congratulations are in order xxx

This is a lovely thread, still brings me out in a cold sweat though!

That was 13 years ago. I have the most beautiful son and daughter. I honestly feel sick to my stomach when I think they were very nearly not here. And yes, my mum, my stepdad and also my dad all moved to my city when I was pregnant! My dad passed away about 9 years ago now and because he was nearby, it meant I was able to look after him in his final years. Mum and stepdad love it here - and we're just about to all move in together as we're building a granny annexe!

That's fabulous.

An outing story, but I went to the doctor because I was so sick. In the waiting room there was a woman who looked at me and said 'you look terrible, what's up with you?' I said I was in early pregnancy and she said 'ah yes, it's twins, I promise you, I can tell.' I totally ignored her and was a bit annoyed by the comment!! No twins in the family and absolutely no reason to suspect twins. I was only 8 weeks at this point so not showing.

Lo and behold, I went for an early scan during which the midwife said "are you absolutely SURE there are no twins in your family?". I watched the colour drain from my husbands face, then I immediately asked for a bowl to puke in to!! 🤣

I had Fertility treatment and was assured the risk of twins was minimal at 3%, not much higher than the general population.

I felt sick by 5 weeks and was watching twin videos on YouTube constantly so may have had a hunch.
Went to the viability scan at 7 weeks and nurse turned the screen around and said there's one babys heartbeat... and there's the other babys heartbeat.
I think I said uh huh and then nothing else for quite a while.
It took me a few weeks to accept and to rebond with the pregnancy if I'm honest and was quite detached but started telling everyone around 10 weeks and started planning.

Twins are now 6 months and all very happy.

All 3 of mine are good sleepers thankfully.

The twins sleep from 8pm-6am.

My eldest DS (3) also sleeps about the same sometimes a bit later to go to bed but all good.

I had a miserable run of luck fertility wise including multiple losses and we were on our last run of ivf. Just as that treatment cycle was starting we were sat in the waiting room and a couple came out with him in shock and her all giggly telling reception it was twins. DH looked at me and was like 'poor sod, that would be a nightmare etc'

We had yet another iffy cycle and only got a few embryos. We were asked how many we wanted to put back and as it was our very last attempt dh let me choose as we were not going to freeze any. After a lot of deliberation I say 2.

9 days later the day before official test day I threw up. Tested and got a very dark line. Next day the same thing happened. Then I stopped testing but continued puking. It got worse and worse. Went back to the clinic at 7 weeks for my scan and one lovely healthy little heart beat. Then my lovely consultant said 'well you bought one and got one free' because there was a tiny little blob and flicker in the corner.

We were warned that second one was a bit small and slow and may not make it but 2 weeks later she'd caught up. DH spent the whole of that scan with his head in his hands muttering whilst the consultant laughed at him. Even now 14 years later he mutters 'well you put two back' if one of them plays up.,...

Oh I love this thread!!

I was 5 weeks pregnant and went for an ultrasound to check on my kidney stones. I started crying all over the staff asking what they would see because my daughter had been stillborn 2 years earlier.

The sonography assured me she would only be looking at my kidneys! Anyway, scan finished and she says 'nothing to worry about but you should make an appointment with your consultant', two weeks later we went for a scan and there were two babies, they are 9 now. I only ever wanted one child and I do think it's a bit woo that twin1 looks exactly like her big sister did when she was born sleeping

Went for 12 week scan.
Sonographer asked me "is there a history of twins in your family? (Very conversationally as if musing and not in relation to what she was seeing).
I said no.
She said "well there is now!"

I did say to dh 'what if it's twins?' very early on.
Absolutely no reason to think this. This possibly goes through every pregnant woman's mind?

I had spotting, so an early scan at 8 weeks.
Whilst scanning the sonographer said, very quickly so I almost missed it, to the nurse recording info 'there's a second heartbeat, I'll just check for a third!'

If I wasn't lying down I would have fallen down in shock.

It was twins btw.

I had no idea, went for an early reassurance scan after a MMC. Sonographer said 'theres the heartbeat and...there's the second one!'.

I looked at DH and said oh fuck, before giggling hysterically. Then we were both in stunned silence for a while.

Went on to have a hideous pregnancy, they had TTTS, had to have laser surgery on the placenta, then I had a placental abruption and they arrived at 31 weeks.

12 years down the line and they are lovely kids and the relationship between them is fascinating to watch.