Twin's Club 2! All Welcome! :)

[holidays2010]

Continued on from Here
Tried to update best I can with limited info and time, but here's the list on the new Twins Club thread, please update if I've missed anything!

Sassy34264 #2&3 EDD 12/09/10, Lancs, Jacob and Isobel born 13/8/10
strawberrylace #2&3 EDD 1/12/10, Suffolk, surprise Zoey and Lucas born 23/10/10 by c section
jjkm #1&2 ADD 29/1/11, outside the UK, Girls born 25/10/10
Lavitabellissima #1&2 EDD 13/12/10, SW London, Identical girls Born 04/11/10 c section (early 34&3)
smokeybacon #3&4 EDD 25th Nov, Nottingham, Freddie and Tobias born 06/11/10, natural birth after induction.
Jenzopos #1&2 EDD 23/11/10, Charlotte & Anna, Manchester 15/11/10 6lb 7oz and 7lb 5oz
Swazzee #1&2 EDD 02/12/10, South London, Adem 6lb 3oz and Rafi 5lb 13oz 21/11/10
Amberc #2&3, Madeleine (6.3lb) & Isabella (6.11lb) , delivered by C Section on 07/1/11 at 37 weeks, Kent
Thingamajig #2&3 EDD 20/3/11, Cornwall, identical girls Hannah (5lb4oz) and Louise (4lb4oz) born 13/2/11
Magic8ballhastheanswers #3&4 EDD 22/3/11 South London, ID girls born 27/2/11
Cerubina #1&2, SW London, Sebastian (3lb 4oz) and Rosamund (3lb 9oz) born 8 weeks early on 26/2/11 by emergency c-section
Holidays2010, 2 Baby Boys born 06/03/2011
CantDrinkAnyMoreMilk, Scotland, Baby Girl and Baby Boy born 01/03/2011
crazydayz, Thomas and Isobel, born on 28/4/2011 by C-section at 7lb 3 and 6lb 14

Tabbycat76 #1+2 Edd 21/02/11, Suffolk, surprise
VictoriaSecrets #1&2, EDD 17/05/11, Basingstoke, Prob Non-ID twin girls!

Snowfalls108 #2&3 EDD 29/05/2011, SW London, ID surprise
MissyMolly #1&2, EDD 29/05/2011, Midlands, non ID boy and girl
RestingKitty #1&2 EDD 15/06/2011, South London, boy & girl
Propercrimbo #2&3 EDD 16/07/11, North Lancs, not finding out
Brassicababe #1&2, 22/07/2011, Lincs, non-id, surprise
MorningsMadness #2&3 EDD 14/08/2011, Surrey, Non-ID twin girls
MrsStevo, #1 & 2, EDD 23/08/2011, Lincs, MCDA ID
Redshaw, EDD Sept 2011, MCDA ID
Tiggersreturn #2+3 EDD 26/09/11 NW London DCDA - not finding out
DoubleDiffedDachs, #1&2 EDD 5/10/11, Twyford (Berks), DCDA, too early to tell!
Fluter, EDD October 2011, Non-ID
PeelingmyselfofftheCeiling #1+2 EDD ... , DCDA
mybootsaremuddy 6+7 EDD 7/7/2011, surprise
silverangel #1+2 EDD ..., ID

quemp I have just one bit of advice for bf and that is don't put any pressure on yourself for it to work. Both times with ds and girls I had bottles ready and just 'tried' bf and was fortunately able to do it with both of them without any real problems (don't get me wrong nips were sore as buggery for first few weeks with both but soon settle down). But had it not worked I'd have just gone over to formula.

Also (I lied, two bits of advice) don't expect it to be easy your nipples are likely to crack, your boobs are sore as your supply sorts itself out and it's knackering being the only feeder during the night! But it soon gets easier and is a very lovely convenient thing to do (I personally hate the sterilising of bottles especially when babies are screaming and I can just shove them on and keep them quiet ).

quempin, I agree, don't worry if you can't but its so easy compared to my bottle feeding friends after the first month! And always comforted dd, it was the only, and i mean only thing that calmed her when she was colicky. Walking, hugging, jigging her, a finger for her to suck, tried dummy, but bf was instant comfort for her. Even when quite old. My only friend with twins did mixed feeding and pretty much stopped bf when her girls were 4 months but said it was more that she couldn't tandem feed and was worried they weren't getting enough that she stopped. She said if they'd not been her first children she maybe wouldn't have worried so much but her girls are lovely healthy 7 year olds now so she must have done something right!! Lansinoh after every feed stopped me getting cracked nipples. They were sore at first, of course, but i put it on from day 1 every feed, as advised, and it protected them. Plus no faffing wiping it off before you feed again. That was the best bit of advice I was given! I got cracked nipples at the 7 month mark when i ran into bf problems but that's another story entirely!!! Couldn't believe I had to get the lansinoh out again!!

And eeeeee, twin, how exciting!!! Let us know.

how exciting twin, best of luck!!

BB3 it soo good to hear how ell you are doing to exclusively breastfeed...I loved bfing my first two and really hoping to be able to do the same with the twins, but I have had breast surgery and radiotherapy and worry my left breast just won't produce enough...I will just have to try and see how it goes. But I am determined to try, despite lots of people telling not to even bother and make my life easier.

Do you tandem feed? I think I prefer the idea of feeding one at the time, more time consuming but at least they both get some one-to-one cuddles, besides if just one boob is operating I may not have a choice.

Will be thinking of you twin!!!

quempin, I watched a cherry healey series on childbirth for first programme, then the next was 'is breast best?' on feeding. The mum who surprised me most was a totally career centered 35 year old, very high powered business woman who'd had a boob job and said there was no way she was breastfeeding, her breasts were for her and her husband. She was nagged into 3 days by the mw at the private hospital she gave birth in as the best thing she could do for her baby and she ended up bf for 11 months!!! So even if you never thought it was for you until recently you might surprise yourself! I do think twins will obviously be harder than one, but I'll be giving it a try too. (That was meant to sound encouraging not patronizing...)

I had a rude bump comment today. I took dd to a playgroup we'd not been to before, and a mum commented on my bump, and asked when i was due etc and she couldn't believe i was only 18 weeks (even when i said its twins) and came out with 'well god, you're so big, you couldn't possibly keep growing at this rate!' And then I overheard her pointing me out to her friends saying she's only 18 weeks!!! felt like a bit of a freak show. Shame dd loved it, I'll probably end up going back too.

Hey ladies twin any news? Am hoping from your silence that you're lo's are on their way.

Re bf, I don't tandem feed - I have and will if both are really really kicking off but prefer to do it one at a time so I get time with each of them but mostly feel less like a milk maid!! For first 8 days it wad every 3 hours (bit longer at night) until they reached birth weight then it was every 3-4 and has stayed that way since (although ede will go 5 hours at night time, Ayse wont).

I'm on my way back from London after having my hair done by my lovely hairdresser and catching up with friends over a couple of spritzers - it'll be 11 hours by the time I'm home and I can't wait to see my babies (all three of them). I want to scoop them all up and put them in my bed for cuddles but I know I'll regret it at 3am so I'll settle for sleepy kisses and morning cuddles x

Sorry should have said every 2 hours for first 8 days

I've also popped on to see if your girls have arrived twin!!

bb3, I really am going to try and follow your example. I also like the idea of the time with each baby individually. Having a dd who never took a bottle meant, obviously, I never left her. In fact, I first went anywhere without her when she was 11 months, but I'd like to be able to spend some time just with her once the twins arrive. Hope your hair looks fabulous and you enjoyed your brief freedom! X

Katy is still posting on 'really quick help needed' or similar in pregnancy.she is out of hospital, babies still in, their fluid levels normalized. I think she's still suffering though, with return of morning sickness too... And is still worried about her waters even though their fluid levels are ok- I would be too!

I'm like you quempin, carry as all bump and you can't tell from behind. I was 96th centile with dd, like a 2 stone bump up my jumper. I was huge. Does not fill me with confidence for twins!! Dh bumped into my consultant at work yesterday who was asking if I'd got really big already (from my 15 week bump she thinks I will be)...

So excited for the baby announcements that will be coming soon!!!

Hate to say this ladies but I was all out front til about 33 weeks and then my goodness I just exploded!!!

Quemp if you go back on the thread you'll see an almost identical post from me - I was so frustrated with my consultant who would not give me any definite answers - 32 and 34 week appointments were when it all became clearer and a proper discussion had about delivery options and timings. It's hell up until about 34 weeks and then suddenly you switch and actually are much more able to cope with them being in there a bit longer so don't worry about coping

As for downs, I too was very worried as I didn't have the tests so had no idea what I was in for. Your results are incredibly positive. Obviously there is always that one chance but with those figures, it's very very unlikely x Without sounding patronising in anyway, there is nothing you can do now either way so my advice is try not to worry until you have too - there is enough worrying to do in a twin pregnancy without adding to your stress levels! xx

quempin, there is a very low chance of something going wrong. That doesn't affect worrying though IME! I think your low risk result for Downs is great. Is there a particular reason you're worried? Is there Downs in the family, or are you what the NHS class as an 'older mother'?! The chances of it happening aren't high anyway, maybe slightly higher as it's twins (from what I've read). I wasn't able to have any testing, as I didn't find out it was twins til I was 12 weeks, then by the time I'd found out I'd need a nuchal transulcency scan to determine risk for twins and asked my midwife and been informed it's one of the reasons our trust has a red alert for maternity services, I was 13+2 and it was too late to organise a long travel elsewhere for testing. So like bb3, I've had no testing. Most of the time I think thats fine, occasionally I worry about chromosomal abnormalities. My SIL came back with with a 1 in 30 chance of Downs from a blood test with her first born (now 6) and similar for her second- she was also 36 and then 38 herself, so had amniocentesis with both her children and both absolutely fine, if that helps?

I am also a worrier, and just can't wait for them to be here so at least I can look at them and make a proper assessment of whether they're ok myself... Much easier in my experience so far with my 14 month old! My main worries are around placental problems later in the pregnancy causing reduced foetal movement and one dying in utero and me missing it as I don't know which baby is moving and assume both are... I also can't believe I could be lucky enough to deliver healthy twins...

I am lucky with my consultant who is lovely, plus she vaguely knows DH who is a GP in the area and did some obs and gynae in the hospital with her many years ago. I still think she only even mentioned delivery as I was initially referred to her before we knew it was twins because of my difficult delivery/ third degree tear history. She let me know she didn't think I'd necessarily re-tear, and said with my history and twins there's no problem if I want an elective section. The talk frightened me though as she said she wouldn't let me go past 39 weeks, where everyone on here and the NICE guidelines say twins' placentas start packing up after 38 weeks, and maybe I could have a section at 37 weeks, especially as she thinks I'll be massive etc etc. But it sounds like no decisions will be made til I'm at least 32 weeks either. In my head, I am not going past 38, and maybe not past 37 though. I don't think any consultant will be more specific until quite late on... I think it should be discussed at least earlier with twins though, as there's a bigger chance they could come early!

I think knowing it'll be no later than 38 for you is a good start quempin, and they may well come a bit earlier- BB3s showed up a bit early, bang on the day of 37 weeks! No signs of anything wrong on scans so far for you, low risk for Downs etc, and you're in the much safer third trimester if they do decide to arrive. I think it'll all go as smoothly as a twin pg can from here for you, and you will have two beautiful babies

Was it obvious they were coming bb3? A placenta coming away and bleeding sounds really scary and like a total emergency situation to me. Was it like that? Again, a big fear for me is missing some important sign and compromising the babies...
No idea how I'll get to the end, and I'm also worrying there's not really anyone on here regularly who's anywhere near me, and most of you on here now will be too busy with your bigger twins and I'll be worrying with no reassurance!!!! Clearly no hope for me...

p.s. sorry for the whopping post... I am ignoring DD not eating her tea again next door with DH and resting my sore back- we totally overdid it, for me anyway, with a walk in the Lake District today, and I was literally hobbling with back pain before we got back to the car... a bad sign at 18 weeks!

I agree bb3, I really, really hope you're still posting here or somewhere when I'm nearer or I'll have to seek you out and PM you!!! And you quempin, you'll be another wise old hand at the twins business by then!

And you can ask to wait and see the actual consultant if you ask, if by any chance you think you're getting fobbed off ith a registrar again

MrsStevo, #1 & 2, EDD 23/08/2011, Lincs, MCDA ID,
Tiggersreturn #2+3 EDD 26/09/11 NW London DCDA - not finding out
silverangel #1+2 Sophie, 3lb3 & Alice3lb1 born at 31+2 on 01/08/11 EMCS
PrincessScrumpy #2 & 3, girls
BB3, #2&3 (#1 DS) DCDA girls born 20.09.11 by EMCS at 37 weeks exactly - Edith-May 5lb 11.5oz and Ayse-Rose 6lb 1oz.

PeelingmyselfofftheCeiling #1+2 EDD, DCDA, Boy and Girl, Born 14 Sept
Twinnerves, DCDA, #2&3, girls Francesca and Isabella, EDD 22/11/11
xkatyx , ID girls, DC 8,5,9months, EDD 14/1/12
Quempin #1&2 EDD 27/1/12, ID surprise
Ravenlocks DCDA, #1&2, EDD 28/01/12
Tabbycatt, DCDA, 2 boys, DC 2 & 3, EDD 30/1/12
Claireinmodena DCDA, Boy & Girl, DC 3 & 4 (!!), EDD 23/02/12
Hells1908 DC 2&3 girls EDD ??March 2012
Dreamfeeder, DCDA, DC 2 & 3, EDD 12/4/12

Just updating and trying to add hells in but thats all I can remember of her info...

Oh yes, just realised you're MCDA quempin when i did the stats bit. Katy is too and is def delivering at 36 weeks, if she hangs onto them that long. My Dh was adamant I should have a natural birth first time round, and got cross when i joked I was scared and hoped dd would be breech. This time he is equally adamant i should have an elective section, regardless of the babies positions. He's worried I'd re-tear with the first and have a crash section for the second, plus just the two being a higher risk delivery. I know natural isn't awful risks, or they wouldn't let you deliver twins naturally, but i worry. The consultant mentioned assisted breech delivery being significantly more painful, which they will do for twin 2, and i though normal was excruciating...plus she talked about the chance of twin2's placenta coming away while you deliver twin 1, so small risk of hypoxic brain injury for twin 2. Like I said, can't be that big, or they wouldn't let you deliver naturally, but I'm a paediatric physio, so they're the kids I meet! Plus twins, loads more prem twins, so I see affected twins all the time. I really don't want another big tear either. Was 7 months til I was pain free, and i was in theatre (for over an hour) having the op within 15 min of delivering, so missed the early skin to skin and time with dd I felt. So I'm not convinced I want an elective section, but I'm also scared of a repeat! She was 7lb 5 so not too massive either.

I did worry with my dd, didn't buy anything bar 5 white sleepsuits and a Moses basket til.after she was born (had a borrowed pushchair and was waiting for a cot to be vacated to have to be fair) but overall I thought we'd end up with a baby (was sure a boy til Dh said 'It's a girl!) . This time I don't really believe I'll have two healthy babies...not yet anyway. Yes, we're North West. I'm hoping the consultant will see me herself all the way through as a courtesy as she kind of knows dh... Bit cheeky but hey!

I wouldn't be able to help dropping the new NICE guidelines and my worries in at the consultsnt appt if i were you... (My Dh would be cross with me and elbow me in the ribs but I'd still do it!!!)

I think it is partly that quempin, I almost feel sorry for anyone not having twins, and every day I can't believe my luck!

Overall the delivery was fine, as i have a healthy dd. She didn't even spike a temp despite being born 58 hours after my waters broke. It was only me going home on antibiotics, 2 types of laxitives and some good painkillers! We'd both decided (dh and I) to try for another vb for the baby before we realised it was twins- partly because we wanted 3 children and i wouldn't want 2 sections but now dh says this is my last pregnancy all the time!!!! so I'm tempted. Most people don't have a third or fourth degree tear though, so my experience isn't the norm at all. I'm having trouble going to the loo now again though- TMI, sorry, but loads of pain, and bleeding, not just on wiping, dripping freely into the loo, clots etc again if i get slightly bunged up, so the tear recovery has come flooding back!!!!
Have you not been offered an elective section?! I requested my consultant. Is it too late to say you'd feel much more comfortable with a nice lady doctor?! Mine had an elective CS herself for her only child so is understanding. He was a miracle baby and she was 41 though.