The 'We are brooking no arguments whatsoever for an uneventful pregnancy and pain-free birth' thread

[Biscuitsandtea]

Ladies, our previous thread was getting full so here is a lovely new shiny home for us all.

I've put some comfy cushions around and plenty of pregnancy safe snacks and drinks. The Segway park is in the corner over there next to the stack of glittery vom buckets (plenty of extra buckets too for all the newbies).

In the corner over here you'll find our library of leaflets including sections on early pregnancy private scan clinics, pushchairs and car seats.

Hope you all like it very much :)

Great news dream glad the scan went well and wowsers twins! Is that the first set of brooking twins?!

They're non-identical the sonographer thought, she said there's 2 placentas and quite a thick membrane between the babies. (sp?).

Err, no. we will not fit 3 RF car seats in our car. DH is already sighing and talking about changing it before the twins arrive for a people carrier, specifically for ease of getting 3 car seats in. We'd struggle with 2 babyseats in back beside our BeSafe I reckon. Certainly with the strapping in of the one in the middle, and our car cannot be adapted to take an easy click-to-fit isofix in the middle. I hear the European Parliament voted this week on whether to make it legal for all under 3's to travel RF... wonder what the outcome was...

Thanks for the positive story about your friend scarlet, I think if I choose a section (DH dead keen now he knows its twins, both for making sure they both get out safely and in case I do tear again, and a bleeding like a stuck pig like last time and there's another to deliver) there could be 18 months between them... And it's true. No more pregnancies to suffer through!!! Which would be wonderful. A girl and a boy would be perfect

I am already torturing myself with the thought of things going wrog because it's a multiples pregnancy though... I'm a paediatric physio and see loads of twins. Loads. So I associate twins with problems and special needs, strongly... I had a little cry I got myself so worked up about the risks, but DH assures me it's only because of my job and it'll hopefully all be fine. I think the cry was also due to the grimness. Another day where I have a hadache because I can't drink... or eat. Off to hunt out the buccastem again- I'd been off it for a good few days, I'd convinced myself it was passing. Sigh.

Anyway, a very long message all about me, me, me. Sorry guys.

musical, I never considered an independent midwife but DH is scroogey

Sympathy for all those struggling to sleep. Add me to your ranks. It totally sucks when it's so tiring growing a baby as it is. DH wouldn't get up with DD this morning, til I shouted rude things at him about abandonned babies on changing mats in between throwing up in the bathroom and her starting to cry...then he got her dressed. Said he was tired. Good job I was stuck in the bathroom, thats all I can say!!!!!

too, hope you're feeling ok.

O.M.G. Dream!!

You have been brooking hard. How delightful though - am very pleased for you.

And clever Scarlet knowing this about bf and twins!

I did a bit about the car seat question - I bet though with 3 a bigger car would be worth it anyway, even if you weren't going rf, I wouldn't fancy getting 3 car seats in most 'normal' cars.

Wowsers though! Do you think you'll find out the sex?

Did the sonographer not prepare you at all for there being 2 - you would think it would come as a surprise to a lot of people!

Are there twins in your family?

Anyway, hope everyone else is ok xx

Scream and Biscuits- CUBS is just what the hospital calls the nuchal test plus blood test and other factors (I think it stands for Combined Ultrasound and Biochemical screening).

Purple I hope the physio helps. Back pain plus a toddler sounds like a nightmare. So exciting that you are feeling movement! I am really looking forward to that point. Hopefully it won?t be too far off.

I?m with the non-sleepers, too. It?s rubbish. Plus, DD has been sleeping really badly and was in with us all night Tuesday night. I always it being snugly but she is a wriggle monster. And I only stopped breastfeeding a couple of weeks ago so I have no magic trick for getting her back to sleep anymore.

Dream OMG! Twins! That is amazing! We have some very good friends with twin boys and a daughter. They had the twins first and then their daughter was a rather large surprise. The twins were just two when she was born and I think whilst it was hard to begin with they are all really happy now (the twins are nearly three). I was enviously looking at their family photos on facebook the other evening.

(I had a giggle at the car seat question. Our friends are in Sweden, so all rear facing until 4. They upgraded their car to a Ford Galaxy and all fit fine- including the mega buggy ).

But wow! How are you feeling? How is your DH feeling?

I really hope your sickness eases soon. Perhaps today?s is partly attributable to shock?!

Good lord, no one can underestimate the power of No Brooking now!

Thanks hawthers! More and more excited the longer it sinks in for!

There are no twins on either side of our family, ever... No preparation. The sonographer literally asked me if I had a full bladder (she called me through early when DH was still parking car and not there as was lashing so we leapt out) said grudgingly we can wait til your scan time and no later (fine!), then when I was busy apologizing for too much vomming to keep water down and not having hardly anything a full bladder, whacked the thing on and said 'There's your babies'. She was nicer afterwards while she was making the scan for 20 weeks- the twins get a time each, one is 1:30 and one 1:55- makes them seem real, seperate people already. I think she was just wanting to get on with it, it's just a job for her isn't it? Oh, and DH wasn't there for most of it, she sent him out with DD and she was wriggling and squarking. I'm a bit sad about that. She also said we mustn't bring her to the 20 week scan.

Checked my notes- says 2 foetal heartbeats and movements seen for both, probably dichorionic/diamniotic- I didn't ask any of these things, I was too shocked. And I thought I was 12 weeks tomorrow, but they both measureed 12 weeks today, so EDD is currently 19th April. I just kept asking if they both looked ok though... Which she said yes, they did. Don't think we'll find out the sexes. Would love a girl and boy though! But maybe, if it's twins we will. Not sure yet.

Very clever scarlet, i'd researched getting knocked up while bf and never saw anything about twins, just harder to concieve due to abnormal hormonal axis/ prolactin due to bf poss suppressing ovulation etc etc.

Now, with my twin paranoia, can someone stop me stressing about stats i've googled like 51% of twins born prem, and 17% with cerebral palsy and admissions to SCBU rates?!?!?

and i will i need a huge, enormous buggy with 3 seats if DD is 18-19 months?!?!?!? There was me, wanting to sling the baby and not have a double at all, sigh...

Did you get to swimming biscuits?

DH says dichorionic twins delivery before 32 weeks is 5% chance. (from his obs and gynae book he's just dug out). Only 1:20 risk of that then...

Got to swimming fine (just!) although I have lost my house keys today which is proving a bit of a puzzle... I lost them before I left the house this morning so think they are in the house somewhere. DS keeps helpfully suggesting i look in my handbag....

Don't panic Dream - you'll be kept a good eye on with twins. I think there is a higher chance of twins coming early but then again they are used to dealing with this. And prem doesn't necessarily = bad news! I mean, i'm not saying it's good news exactly but it can be just fine. We will brook you through this all together. And they might just come a bit early, not loads. Just keep brooking away and getting checked. xx

I know it can be fine, but I only see those that weren't!!!!!! My friend is a twin, and they came at 7lb and 5.5lb at 41 weeks!!! But thanks biscuits. You are clearly superhuman for getting out the door that quick and getting to swimming. I bow down to your superior skills . Hope those keys turn up...

dream, if MrDrDream is a BMA member, there was a good article about twins this week. It was all rather reassuring, particularly if you have DCDA twins. (I read it thinking of my friend.)

You're right Dream of course - that you see those that have had a problem. I suppose it is a little like if you came on these coneption boards before ever ttc you'd think it was much harder than it is for most people. If you see what I mean. ie MN has a great cross section of the population but is skewed towards those that have had a problem of some sort or another (does that make sense?) So you'd see all these people having problems and panic perhaps.

Now you of course see the twins that do have problems but there are probably plenty that don't have problems. And we are all brooking that you'll be in that majority.

Oooh! Twins! How lovely and exciting and scary. you must be on an emotional roller coaster right now dream
I now have my app with midwife at home on 19th.

dream - Congratulations! Twins - how fabulous! (and scary at the same time)! I think it was you that said it was about time someone on this thread had some? ;) Must be nice to have an explanation for your epic sickness levels too.

Try not to panic about stats - we'll be brooking for you throughout! I've heard so many lovely stories about how lovely it is to have twins as second and third children - how they keep each other happy and occupied, and are generally wonderful!

I must admit to being a tad jealous - I would have loved twins, after having some time to think about it - but at the same time, a single happy healthy bean is plenty enough for me (and more than enough for DH!).

Scream - Hope your lack of sleeping gets better soon, too! I actually slept better, after using a tremendous amount of lavender spray, which I noticed afterwards says pregnant women should only use it after discussions with a doctor -oops! Oh well!

Feeling a bit guilty today. Have taken over a recorder club at one of my schools - found out today that their old teacher got pregnant and left them! They don't know I'll be disappearing yet.. oops! Plus I have a rehearsal tonight where there will probably be discussions of all the concerts coming up this year. Trying to think of ways to say I can't completely commit to anything after Easter...

Oh wow, dream, twins! How lovely! Am a bit tearful with delight for you (although I also cried in House of Fraser because all the non-wired bras were so horrid so it's possible this is partly hormonal). So pleased for you!

Eek dream, twins how exciting! I'd read about the increased chance of twins while Bfing too actually.

is it weird that i got excited and scampered across the lab to tell my friend about your twins? she knows about my threads i like to hang out on. she has a DD just a wee bit older than yours so was trying to imagine it i think!

really impatient for scan next week now. worried about DH having to take DS out if he's jumping about. maybe he'll like watching my tummy on tv will also take chocolate buttons.

love, are you just getting a non-underwired bra because you are pregnant. You can still use underwired bras, just as long as it doesn't press anywhere. Bravissimo have been great at fitting me through pregnancy and/or breastfeeding!

Seconded and agreed on the bra front Bartlet - I wore underwired throughout the whole of my last pg (properly fitted at Bravissimo). I did wear non wired for feeding (and hated them as I had K (yes, K!!) cup boobs while feeding) but have been refitted for underwired this pg too. Just make sure not digging into anything anywehre as Bartlet says :) xx

This is all well and good if you can get said bra. For me, there is one, yes one small M&S which sell maternity bras. No choice, they only sell one minging, ugly twin pack... I drove 50 miles to a Debenhams, and got 2 others, still non-underwired, as they also didn't have any. I wonder where my nearest bravissimo is...?! Good luck Love!!

bartlet, DH is not a BMA member, boo! he says it'll all be fine, but he's already saying he thinks I should have a section...

jaggy, DH thought it was really wierd that I was looking for you and DS on our hol, without any real way of spotting you!!! So, no, I don't think it's wierd.

I'm looking forward to the Scanathon next week, and wonder if there'll be any more twins on this thread?!? did they say just one for you then, definitely musical? And knowing how hard my first was, I think better to have a singleton first, then twins... Plus you only have 2 arms to hold one brand spanking new baby without head control, what are you meant to do with 2?!?

and ahh!!! jaggy, I was so shocked I forgot the chocolate buttons I HAD IN MY BAG!!! That might have meant DH and DD could stay in my scan. I wish I'd left DD with a friend. I wanted her there in case it was bad news so I could cuddle her and remind myself how lucky I am. Should have left her for 45 min with my friend round the corner from the hospital...

Quick question.

Lucozade. I know it's a lot of sugar and I hardly ever have it anyway. But earlier on today I just really fancied some. The original fizzy one. So DH got me some on his way home from work. I'm not intending to go overboard with it and won't be having any more than 1 glass per day (if that). Do any of you know if there's any reason to avoid it altogether? I just googled but couldn't find an official answer. I guess if there was any proven risk it would say on the packaging, right?

BTW I hardly have any caffeine, 1 cup of tea per day and that's it.

I've just had 1 glass of it and it's sent the nausea packing straight away.

I think that apart from jaggy the rest of us in next week's scanathon have been scanned already? There was definitely only one for me.

So unless jaggy also laid 2 eggs I think it's just you dream at least until the next lot of 12 week scans.

I have an 8 week scan on Wednesday night, so i get to join the big scanathon.

scarlet, i have drunk more fizzy things in the last month than in the last year (as in maybe one fizzy drink every day or few, when normally, I'm not a fan of fizzy), I say knock yourself out!! It won't be for the whole pregnancy. Whats a bit of sugar going to do?! Does it have much caffeine in? Or any? I'm a bit thick there. Someone I knew had green tea throughout her whole first trimester, not realising it had pretty much as much caffeine as normal tea! Her baby was just fine (an ex colleague)

Hooray bartlet!! And, as a fellow BF-er, maybe twins for you too?! How are you feeling? Puking yet? I know you were 10 weeks last time but it was certainly earlier for me- though of course, that could just have been the twin thing. And jaggy of course was BF when she conceived, so it's not over for the twin count yet!!

yeah i was only just still bfing when i conceived. so probably didn't lay 2.

i think I'd forget the chocolate buttons in your shoes! i was totally looking for you too, keeping an eye out for anyone being led by a finger. next time we'll have to wear a conspicuous hat or something...

only a few pukes here, much queasiness though. this time it's soapy /perfume smells that make me heave. i am working with lots of men who have gone mad with the aftershave this week, my sensitive nose finds it minging. i also hate the smell of my own hair and deodorant, just went and bought fragrance free stuff!

i have no idea where I'd keep twins if i had them. DH would be most annoyed as he just bought a car this year.

as far as i know there's no caffeine in lucozade, just lots of sugar.

i don't drink tea or coffee, i do love a wee Irn Bru now and again though...

Ooooo Dream how exciting! Congratulations! If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? That's a totally personal question, so please please ignore me if you don't want to answer! I'm just curious because of the correlation between age and twins. I'd love to have twins the second time around!

Yay for Bartlet joining the scanathon!

I am now wearing the only blimmin' bra in Mothercare which fit me, and the woman in House of Fraser wouldn't sell me an under wired bra for use in pregnancy! Perhaps Bravissimo is beckoning... I did have some Rigby & Peller vouchers for my birthday which I haven't spent yet but think I might save those for when my boobs aren't expanding weekly! Thanks!