Twins Club

[Amberc]

Here's the new thread!

Cantdrink - congrats on your new arrivals! Hope they won't be in hospital for too long - my two were born at 34+3, and stayed in NNU for 12 days - was great to get them home, but definitely more tiring when I had to do all the feeds myself!
I am still bfing mine, but I don't tandem feed - i do one (the one that's crying the most! the other one gets a dummy...) and then the other straight after to keep them in sync. It means I can go out to all my playgroups with my older one and feed the twins while i'm there - I didn't find tandem feeding subtle enough to do in public!
jenz - yours are a great size now - how many times do they feed a day and for how long? mine are 10lb 11 and 11lb 11, and feed for about 20mins each 5 times a day.
re: sleeping arrangements - mine are still side-by-side in the same cot, in grobags (well, tesco cheaper equivalents) - they seem to settle each other this way (and they look cute) - but I am dreading having to put them into separate cots when they get bigger. They can sleep apart, as they do in the day, but I think they like the warmth of each other at night..
Hello to everyone - hope you are all ok. Off to feed mine again now x

Jenz - i'm 5'1, carried the twins to 38 weeks which is when the hospital booked me in for induction, lucky too because the next morning i was already 4cms dilated when the midwife came to use the gel! Oh and they both wieghed just over 6lbs.
Mine are non-id.

Midwife came today, apparently the boys havent put on any wieght in a week...then she worked out that the last midwife wrote down the wieghts wrong! Plus they're still abit jaudice so shes coming back on Tuesday to check them. If theyre still jaudice we'll have to go hospital. 'sigh' I thought they were out of the woods..
She said she isnt worried about them though and not to let them wake by themselves at night but to make sure they dont go past 4 hours before their next feed.
i knew it.

Well hope everyone else is ok?

Mine were breech/transverse so didn't get the choice. Recovering from a cs is not fun with twins to care for so go for a vb if possible (wish I had the choice)

Anna had jaundice for ages but she is fine now...she had to have her levels tested once home as a precaution, but as levels were dropping they were not worried.

strawberrylace My twins feed every 3-4 hours in the day and every 4-6 hours at night and feed for about 20 mins but sometimes up to 40 mins. I also add an extra feed coming up to bedtime as this seems to help them sleep better. I have added blackout materail to the window...this has stopped Anna 'singing' at 6.30am!

Crazy I haven't seen a consultant - apparently my first appt with one is when I go into labour - but I did get some good info on the multiple policy at the hospital twin antenatal course. I understand that at my local (large, central London) hospital, the policy for non-ID is to induce at 38 weeks.

Is anyone using/did anyone use a maternity support belt? My bump is really starting to weigh me down!

So DD is going back to school tomorrow...she doesnt seem to care?
oh well at least it will give me a break!

I wondered if anyone had any questions for me about the birth of my twins?
One thing i thought worth mentioning - i was constantly told the room would be filled with drs etc when i gave birth...do you know i only had 2 (female) drs and 1 midwife there! Oh and another to cut the cord and take blood samples from it and there was one guy to check over the babies once born. Now that really isnt a room 'full' of people...but all went well anyway so not complaining. The delivering midwife and drs were nice so :)

Hols Were they both head down prior to labour? Were you induced - if so how long did it take for things to get going? How long did it take for the second of your twins to be born after the first? Thanks.

Crazy - both were head down, i was going to be induced which the dr told me could take 6 hrs before things 'get going' but when they examined me i was already 4cm dilated.
Twin 1 was born at 12:53pm, twin 2 at 1:30pm. Oh a little tip; the harder you push the quicker they'll come!
Also i had an epidural, was put on an iv drip to get the contractions going, ended up having the max amount and still only 3 contractions in 10mins, ideally i should be having 4 in 10.
Just ask if you want to know more :)

Holidays what was the blood sample for, if you don't mind my asking?

Holls did you deliver in theatre?
I had a room full of people and was in a normal delivery room as my labour was so quick, no time to get to theatre (for an emcs as my consultant wasn't there/general policy for ID twins) - I needed to push as soon as the registrar had walked out the room with the consent form that I had just signed!. There was about 10 people in with me...........The first time they checked me I was fully dilated LOL My labour was 4&1/2 hours - so any 2nd timers out there don't wait at home get your butts to hospital! I agree with you about the pushing, I had an epidural with DD1 and a similar thing happened with my contractions but I didn't have an epidural this time and I can't tell you how strong that urge was to push! - I think I was SO desperate to have them out as I felt so trashed at the end they just flew out 5 minutes apart!

Hope your DD is ok tomorrow.....hows the jaundice?
What hospital are you at Kitty? I had a support belt for SPD but found it more uncomfortable :(
Ahhhhh Jenz the early morning singing is cute! I remember DD doing that :)

Ask away! :) I believe the blood sample was just a standard check, i dont recall what they told me exactly but its basically to make sure all is well. Sorry if that isnt a helpful answer!
Magic - i was on labour ward because it was a vb, it took over 20-odd hours for these two to be born because naughty twin 1 had his head to the side slightly plus he wasnt far down enough so i ended up having to stand up just before the dr came in to let gravity pull him down, and it worked. She had to massage my cervix out the way and they just told me to push from there. I really had no idea there intention so refused gas and air and an epidural top up so went through the pushing stage literally without any painkillers!
i paid for 20 hours of examinations though, my vagina was so swollen i had to waddle and have an ice pack (the pain there was worse!). But that went down the next night.
Oh and i couldnt eat for those 20+ hours, was starving & of course sick after birth - if that happens ask for anti sickness meds, it helps

DD seemed to enjoy school. She has a new teacher too (seems nicer than the last 1)
I couldnt walk 10metres without being stopped and i didnt even have the twins with me! They were with DP in car. But everyone wants to see them and cant believe how well i look after having twins :D

Id say the jaudice is all gone, am hoping theyve put on wieght for the midwife tomorrow so she can discharge me but we'll see..
Im happy with them anyway - both are breastfeeding well and sleeping fine and looking about more and more each day so im not worried.
Just have to remember to pay DD lots of attention whilst everyone else coes over the twins...

I'm at St Thomas'. I'm going to mention it to the MW (again!) as I went for a 10 min walk yesterday and was almost crying by the end. Am only just 28 weeks and really worried how I'm going to cope for potentially another 10 weeks. Was there anything you found helpful Magic?

Hello!

kitty not climbing stairs/getting in out of the car helped and I only really noticed a difference once I was in hospital and completely resting for a few days at the end (we have a downstairs bathroom so nightmare when you are peeing all through the night.......but we also have steps into our kitchen and the down into the bathroom). Sorry this isn't much help I just put up with it and was a moaning old so and so! :(

Hi !!!! I am still cooking them, 34 and 5 days today...cannot believe it myself with a rush on the babies that seem to have come in the last few weeks. !!

feel ok./..but I am getting more uncomfortable by the day, especially by the end of the day.

Saw midwife on tuesday this week. she encouraged me to go for VB as she said that it can still be done even though one is breech, juts have to be prepared that they might have to give me an episiotomy....

Saw consultant last week. he encouraged me to go for a VB as well.... he said the slightest hint of trouble for either or the boys {id} I would be wipped in for a csec anyway. less time recovering and all that he said even though one was breech it was still possible for a VB and that they could try to turn the baby anyway..... I am going in with a totally open mind. We are going to try for a VB and see what happens..... I am not planning on doing it naturally, my pain threshold is ok but I have no idea how I will cope with labour and part of me is a bit excited about how I will manage it. And what it is going to feel like..... I am not dreading it at all...... juts really ready too meet them now.

I was also lucky the fact that they are both still growing and look good I managed to persuade my consultant to let me go to the start of 37 weeks instead of induction at 36. I realisie that they could be here before then....

I have to say its so funny as we have spent most of the last couple of months expecting them to arrive thats all you hear oh twins...they will come early, and its true they do come earlier than a single preg but then not for one minute did I think that I would get this far.....so am delighted I think they stand a good chance if they are born at this point anyway????

SPD is a pain but am using the support belt tying to keep my legs crossed and seem to have good days and bad days..... one thing I will say I am actually BORED being on mat leave....I am so going to regret saying that I know. Its been two weeks or so now and it feels like ages..... am reading a book called the baby whisperer finding it quite interesting..... not much else to say.... Just how is everyone getting on.......????? and hope your all enjoying the weather.....xxxxxxxx now we have internet will deff keep u updated....x bring it on........thats what I say. !

Thats great hippy! i told you you'd make it past 32 weeks didnt i!?
Its great your excited about the birth. Keep as calm as you can throughout labour and your twins will be calm too.
I was so relaxed throughout mine that the boys were too and that meant i didnt have to go for c-section. But then both my boys had their heads down. But its true, they can deliver twin 2 breech. Good luck with everything though and keep your feet up! x

Has thingamajig delivered yet? i cant recall...

Holls sorry Ive been out of the loop for a a while or so what with having no internet...are u still in hospital?? ...did u have pain relief...??..I am sure you have written about this on here ...... how did you not know u were contracting???, did you say u were 4 cm dilated when you went into be induced....?? thats mad....

Am planning on trying to be as calm as possible, thats why I am going to keep an open mind...no point in worrying what will be will be..... as long as they are ok I am juts going to do what women have been doing for centuries.... and give it my best shot. Have to trust in my body and trust the doctors....

just so so excited now.... still dont think I have had any braxton hicks..but I must have surely by this point....????

am glad to have internet back can keep updated... am now the size of a house by the way am 34 weeks and apparently my stomach is no measuring at 44 week pregnancy, BUT still no stretch marks !!!! i know so bloddy vain......! chat soon......x

There seems to be a few people who dropped off this thread.... ? and that we havent heard from in ages...just hope everything is ok for them.?

Hey poppy, i only have my mobile phone for getting on mumsnet as my pc is at DP's place!
Yes i posted about my birth before but no not in hospital - left on day3. I had the same thing with my firstborn, i felt tightening of the stomach and assumed it to be braxton hicks but on the day i was to be induced,i had just woken up and the midwife examined me, ready to use the gel to induce but i was already 4cm as you said.
For pain relief i had an epidural. Didnt want to, planned to go gas and air like with my first but i had to have an iv drip and it was a good job i took the epidural because i was on that drip for nearly 24hours as my contractions were,coming in 3 every 10minutes but they wanted it to be 4 in 10.

You have a great attitude for birth-keep it up! Will you have anyone there for the birth? i did mine alone, i find having someone there makes me more stressed.

i have no idea where everyone has gone on this thread...jr

I did make a continuation forum for us once we have had babies but it's all gone quiet...
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/multiple_births/1137679-twins-club

I just remember there being a rush of twin pregnancies whilst i was pregnant but have no idea where everyone is!

The only reason i have time to post is because i use my mobile whilst bf'ing! if i could only use the pc i doubt id post much so maybe its the same for others? Hope everyone is well though..

My DP is going to be there he is so excited he is beside himself...he wants to be involved i.e. cut the cords etc...and wants to be there for the whole thing ! we have a very strong relationship and I couldnt imagine him not being there to be honest with you....

have consultant appointment again next week and im going to have a good chat with them about the actual birth.. and risks etc....

still feeling the boys move lots but not as much as a couple of weeks ago, spoke to the MW who said this was all normal as there is hardly any room left for them to move about in anymore.

im waiting for a health visitor to come today and give me my red books...jhave no idea what the hell these are at least I will get a chance to find out exactly what it is that they do... and the sun is shinning here if I wasnt so tired and uncomfortable Id go for a walk along the beach but itll kill me..... cant wait to have my body back again...lol.....

Well I'm back from a 48h stay on our local maternity ward for high blood pressure - it seems to have gone down now and I don't seem to be showing any other signs of pre-eclampsia so I am free to keep cooking these twins a bit longer.
I'm 33 weeks today and want them to get to at least 35 weeks if possible so I guess I'm just going to have to chill out a bit at home although I still feel like I've got loads to do before they put in an appearance!
Fellow SPD sufferers - has anyone bowed to stronger pain relief than paracetamol?
Holls How long was you labour in total and how long did they keep you in after the birth?
Hippy I'm with you on the 'can't wait to get my body back'!

Hi all

Just checking in quickly - the last 3.5 weeks have been a whirlwind so hardly anything has got done unless it involves expressing or being at hospital!

Congratulations to holidays and Cantdrink on your new arrivals - and hippy, my twins twin, well done for still going! You are doing really well and have a good attitude for their birth I think. I would have liked mine to stay in for longer and have a more orderly delivery, but in the end what will be will be, and they came out safely so that is the main thing.

All is well with us - they're still in special care but putting on weight, I have been breastfeeding them for around 10 days I think and although both are inclined to be over-enthusiastic with the nipple (ouch) we are getting there. The doctors are saying we may be able to 'room in' with them next week, with a view to taking them home a few days later.

So the end may be in sight for our days at hospital. It's a really knackering routine as I get there for about 8am and stay until 7pm but don't get any opportunity to nap, my husband has a bit of time with them before and after work, and there is only an hour or two once we get back to deal with a whole day's worth of house chores, admin, speaking to family, dealing with emails etc before bedtime (pretty early because I'm still expressing every 3 hours during the night). And yet obviously there are hours every day when I'm not looking after them so it'll be interesting to see how much more/differently knackering it is when they come home...but if nothing else, the time in hospital has been really helpful for learning the ropes from the nurses and the staff are so brilliant.

Got to get on so will leave it here - good luck to all still to deliver, and glad to hear everyone is enjoying their twins! I certainly am.

Hi Crazy - I'm having physio and accupunture to help with the SPD. So far that combined with the paracetemol has been enough. I've got awful blocked sinus' though now that are making me feel like I've been wacked round the head with a baseball bat - anyone any tips for that?
We move house tomorrow. I can't wait. Finally we'll have a bath. 4 years with just a shower is a killer.