Twins Club 3!! All welcome :-)

[dreamfeeder]

Hello to everyone expecting twins!
Join us here for some mutual reassurance

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, born 18/11/11 EMCS 6lbs 6 oz and 6lbs 9.5oz
xkatyx , ID girls, DC 8,5,9months, EDD 21/12/11
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
Dreamfeeder, DCDA, DC 2 & 3, EDD 12/4/12
BigBoobsAtLast, MCDA, DC 2&3 EDD
CarrieInAnotherTWOBabiTWINS DCDA DC 2&3, EDD 28/06/12
Caesnake, DCDA, DC 2&3, EDD

Well, we have indeed swapped my mini for what feels like a minibus!! I haven't actually dared drive it yet, defintely going to have to pay for parking sensors!!

bigboobs, dd does still nap, usually around 1-1:30 for up to 2 hours. Try to make sure she's up again by 3:30. Too late? The only other thing I can think of is in the last 3 months we have started letting her watch In the Night Garden after her tea (recorded so not late for bath!) I wonder if tv is over stimulation, she's never watched any til now??
And she's very determined Claire, very nearly 16 months and my dad reports that with him today she has navigated and walked all the way to the playground, over half a km refusing to be carried when really he'd just wanted to take her puddle stamping in the road we live on!! Bossy little madam springs to mind

I think quempin had her babies, I can't wait to hear, keep checking expectantly!!!

bigboobs I totally empathise - my DD just started dropping her naps too and she's 2 in Feb. Why now?!!!

BTw, I don't know whether you have these in the UK too (am sure you do), but we have a local twins club and through them we've got loads of free stuff. We got two car seats for FREE off of another twin parent. That was pretty amazing. I think parents of twins are generally quite generous as they know how expensive it is paying twice for everything.

dream, I think you're doing everything right (i.e. putting DD down early, having a routine etc etc). The tv bit might be something to skip just to experiment - who knows what's happening in her head, but maybe it is too much for her at that age? Try skipping it for a week and see what happens? Also congrats on the pimp mobile. I'm so jealous - we have a company car that we have to share with about 6 other people, all smelly twenty something men who snowboard so god knows what I'm going to do once these twins turn up. Am convincing myself it'll mean I do lots of walking and get fit that way...

I've decided to get a doula for the birth. No matter what kind of birth it is I want someone to be my advocate and help me and DH feel comfortable with what's happening. she's a mother of twins (had one at home and one at hospital - funny story) and a breastfeeding councilor so I feel like she'd be a real help...

Can't wait to hear some more birth stories...

Dropping naps, what a disaster rednellie and bigboobs, just when an hour or so's rest would be most appreciated...

I am still on the Bedtime Battle... To be fair, I've been downstairs quite a bit, and Dh has been up- just to the landing to shush shush when crying worse... Not winning. Crying more. I really don't know what I'm.doing wrong, I though consistency and persistence would start sorting this out quite quickly. We've had nearly 2 hours of intermittent crying, shouting, singing, raspberries, standing up, shaking cot bars, no sleeping in sight. Dh has man flu and wants to go to bed but Her Majesty is too bloody noisy for that.

Will have to see if there's a local twins club here rednellie, sounds good. Think the doula a good idea.

I think I'm going to crack with the crying and give dd a cuddle, I've had enough but spoils all the effort so far...gah!!!

YEY! Well done quempin. How exciting and I can't wait to hear all about it.

dream, don't lose faith, keep going, you are doing the right things and giving a cuddle once in a while wont undo the good work you're doing. She's had a long period of being ill on and off and it's also a really transitional time for her developmentally. If you keep putting her to bed early, being consistent and letting her know she's safe and secure then she will start sleeping. Sending hugs your way. This too will pass etc etc blah blah! Here's an article to make you feel better: Don't Carpe Diem xxxx

Congrats "quempin" !! Cant wait to hear it all!

"rednellie", interesting article, though I have to add it does get easier at some point and you DO stop counting the minutes til bedtime. At least it happened to me.

Wow fantastic news Quempin - can't wait to hear all the news, names, how they (and you!) are doing.

Dream, as I keep saying I am FAR from an expert so please feel free to ignore me (I am not sure I would listen to someone who still has to get up every night and has to stay with DD until she is alseeep!) - but things to try could be shortening her daytime nap, or moving her bath forward and then having some 'down time' in front of the tv or having a story read - presuming she gets quite excited in the bath?? Just a thought, although rednellie is probably right and if you stick to your guns things WILL get better. I really feel for you as it is so hard. The recent illness may have left her a little anxious being away from you / DH - but that will pass.

There is a fairly local twins club near me which I will contact soon and thinking of joiniung TAMBA - any one else joined? I wanted to join and contact the twins club before but it just felt too early - may be now the time has come though!

Oh, and congrats on the car Dream! I am also jealous - clapped out, dirty Zsara Picasso here which is fine and big enough for 3 car seats but is old and smelly and leaks!

Oh wow, congratulations quempin, how fantastic!! We've all been waiting to hear from you . You were right about your boys. Will be waiting to hear weights etc and how you're all getting on. Xxx

Thanks everyone for the sleep tips. Tonight I will try no tv, longer stories (I aleady do 2-3, will up it to 3-4!) and longer cuddled. She likes the bath but isn't a wild splasher- she gets more excited afterwards running away and escaping getting dressed... If a week of no tv doesn't help I'll go to moving bathtime forwards. Love the article rednellie

I have joined TAMBA, largely to look st the for sale boards. I like the advice on the boards too. Will contact twin club- if it exists here- soon. I thought it was too early before too!!

Just worked out how to get this on my mobile! V pleased about that.

Just had an hours sleep - which I really needed, its been a long day! Fell out with dh while out looking at pushchairs coz he insisted on looking at the ones where one sots on to of the other rather than side by side. I know these work for some but they are not for me. Why don't men listen!
Good luck for this eve dream

Yaaaay quempin huge congratulations on your little boys xxx

bigboobs I bought our buggy without dh for that very reason - we'd argue then I'd get my own way about it anyway as some things I won't give in on so it saved a few days of grumpiness! I did phone to check before I did the deed as such as it was so bloody expensive - oh and to check what colours he wanted (that I then ignored as, well, he was wrong!! )

Good luck dream!

Rednellie - good call on doula xxx

Hello bb3, how's your ds? I hope he's still improving and putting some weight on at home. And how about the girls? Did they take the change in their routine when you were in hospital with ds ok? Hope things are settling down at your house...

No tv here tonight, and Dh is playing an ancient Chilled Ibiza album on the landing for dd. Less.fussing but she's not asleep... Still, only 8:15 I guess...

I agree bigboobs. Men don't get the buggy thing. We bought nothing bar new Moses basket and cot mattress for dd, I've never bought a swish new pushchair (we did get dd's baby jogger city mini new, but on John Lewis vouchers given at our wedding Dh never let me spend!!) Yet he won't agree to me getting a city mini double, and definitely not a duet, for having an option that's smaller and easier to use for good weather. Very frustrating. We have had to spend much more this time as I've ordered cot beds, and a changing table (never even had one of those before, just in case I have CS), have had to buy some furniture for dd as nowhere to put any more baby clothes, plus the car of course... But I don't think we're being frivolous.

Rubbish dd kicking off. Into the fray it is...

urgh. 9:20pm. Still not asleep. No tv has made no immediate difference but we'll stick with the week. To escape the noise I tried a drive in the pimp-mobile for the first time. DH had to get it off our driveway for me. It has a turning circle like the Q.E.II and feels like a minibus. I am not confident. I got it back on the drive, just, but doubt whether I can get it off again!!! Still, other than not being able to drive it it's going to be great!!

dream, driving big cars/vans gets easier. I used to drive a transit van for work and sometimes with an animal trailer attached. You have to get the mentality that everyone just has to wait for you to do things slowly and carefully. I'm much more chilled driving a large van as I feel no one has expectations of me and the views normally much better. When I'm in a little car I feel like I can't see anything and that everyone expects me to parrallel park in under a minute. Stressful! And sorry bedtime's kicked off again. xxx

Men are funny about baby stuff, but frankly, unless they're the one pushing the kid around all week I don't see why they should have a say! My DH was brilliant this time and was like, just get whatever buggy will stop you moaning and I shall be happy. Sensible man.

Had dentist appt. today (got to make the most of free dental treatment!)... needed 2 fillings. Dentist said I should try to have them without aneasthetic as I have low blood pressure and the injection wld make it lower - I agreed and PH MY GOD the pain!!! Had to have the injection in the end and then it was ok and no fainting fits or anything. I have never felt the babies squirm so much - they will be put off from going to dentist from within the womb!

At least my teeth are sorted.... must spend more time energy and effort on my teeth!

hope you are all having a better day than me!

My god bigboobs, you're a hard nut! Getting dental work done with no anesthetic - blooming ada, makes me feel queasy just thinking about it. I'd rather give birth to twins than do that, oh, hold on...

We're doing alright here. I watched an episode of One Born Every Minute just before bed last night (downloaded the first series as I'd heard people talking about it). I ended up basically having a panic attack in the middle of the night and not being able to sleep till after 2am. I think it was seeing a little baby in the ICU and another who didn't breath straight away - seriously, I'm never watching that program again. In fact, I'm not reading anything about birth anymore, I'm going to only read PG Wodehouse and Jane Austen and watch pleasant programs about baking or gardens. I think this is the only way to stay sane!!!1

Right, hope you're all well. BB3, hope the LO is getting better. xx

rednellie, I'm with you on the Jane austen. Do love a bit of Jane... I don't dare watch OBEM either, I know I'd panic. I had a dream about having the twins,the night before last, and i had the first one just fine and then everything went wrong for the second , and that, a mere dream, has totally freaked me out (it did seem very realistic at the time...)

bigboobs, I'm also impressed you even tried without anaesthetic. I don't think I'm brave enough.

I should be getting dd and I ready to go to the midwife. She's quite scary and i don't have a pee-pot and think I'll get the disapproving look at the minimum. But after a 10 something pm bedtime for dd everyone's tired and not moving fast! I'm wondering if she does in fact have more staying power than me?!

Hope ds much better and fattening up again bb3 and thinking of your baby boys quempin

Hello ladies and sorry for radio silence, finishing off the last 2.5 weeks at work, woo (now 28W + 5 days).

Scan yesterday, both girls are head down so let's hope they stay that way, and were mugging for the camera including Twin A grinning away and Twin B seemingly trying to yank her cord off (looks a bit dangerous to me!)

On the equipment front above, maybe I've been lucky, but the buggy and the new twin-sized car are the two things DP has been really focussed on...being sexist here, but maybe it's because he can look at specs, things like width of the pushchair vs doors etc. We've ended up with the Out and About 360, which seems very light and manoeuvrable. Got it from the A3 BabyBarn in their sale. And he's traded in his lovely sports car for a Ford S Max :)

Joined TAMBA and also our local twins' club has been a great source of virtual help as you can email everyone eg on local night nurse/mother's help reccs. My MIL has been fantastic and has said she is going to pay for help for our first 6 week (her niece has twins and in MIL's words 'everytime I called her or went round she was asleep or crying and I want you two to enjoy this!), so about to interview maternity nurses for the first 2/3 weeks, then dropping to a couple of nights a week respite care, and then either MH/doula for a month or so to help with cleaning/shopping/cooking etc (painfully conscious that my DS is about to do A levels and still needs feeding on something a bit more solid than milk! plus looks like DP is going to get a new job which will put him a 3 hour train ride away for most of the week) Will report back on what's been the biggest help. Am very aware this is a HUGE amount of money, and we can only do it because of MIL, so most people here won't be able to, but there may be some top tips coming out of it! Interviewing a lady at the weekend who's looked after 30 sets of twins so hopefully she'll know her onions!

We're also going to a (6 hour!!!) TAMBA expecting twins' workshop this weekend so, again, will let you know if it's worth it. Am hoping given it's that long it'll be very practical and hands on eg bathing two at the same time.

Rib flare is still a b*stard and my left hip seems to have fallen off the planet so am walking like an elderly plump lady ie waddling. Still being sick now and then (does it EVER go?!) Was in the Maternal Assessment Unit before Xmas in tears because of the pain. They said I needed to see a Physio. Have just been sent an appointment for when I'll be at 34 weeks and it's not even an appt but a group advice session! Thanks. Not.

Have also started my birth plan. Any tips on that? Anyone got/had a really good one? How do you get the attendant staff a) to read it b) to stick to it?

Oh, and moving house on the 28th. Dear God. Have started packing slowly. Whyohwhyohwhy are we doing this...They were 2lb 11oz yesterday at the scan so need to double in size, no? Exactly how big am I going to be?! Can barely fity through doors as it is!

quempim we need all the details when you surface! Names? How was it? I can't WAIT until I can breathe in the sweet milkiness of my new girlies...

x

Hi stinkingbishop , good to hear from you! Your MIZl sounds livrly! Mine would rather be here herself then pay for someone dlse, but ger udea of helping us cudfling thd newborn while I do the rest (happened with dd1).
I am very jealous of you ladies in the who have tamba, nothing like thst here, except a small internet forum (like a mumsnet for twins but MUCH smaller), where you can talk to othet parents, but that's as far as it goes!
Well I coildnt even do a "normal" antenatal class because of my bedrest, which I would have sincr I have never given birth in Italy and feel likd a newbie! Please share any tips/wisdom you learn at your workshop!

I am also getting somd paid help, despitd Mil and mum being very happy to help becsuse:
A. I've had one or the other here since week 27 (now 33+5) except fir a short break during xmas holidays and frankly, I'vd had enough.
B. Neither of them drive, so not much help with older dds activities shopping etc
C. I feel if I pay I can ask for what I want while with relatives you need to compromise a lot!
D. I found this girl who has just trained as a midwife, she's fun for older dds and i can trust her to look after the rwins uf need be (while I'm not sure about how my mum/mil would cope with 2 newborns!

Since I have been stuck in the house for 6 weeks now, I have not spent as much as I would normally so thats where that money is going!

With my births in thd uk I found no ond bothered to look ag birth plan (actually didnt even write ond with dd2). But had agreed in advance with dh what I wanted or not, so hd coilc fight my corner in case I wasnt able to, and also mws were pretty good at asking before doing anything.

bigboobs I CANNOT believe you had dental treatment without aneasthetic!! I'm such a wimp at thd dentist, I always ask fir a top up at thd slightest hing of pain! (im much better in childbirth though )

dream let us know how you get on with mw! I have my scan in abiug 26 hours, but who's counting?? Please pray t1 had turned for me!!! Even though I dont hold out much hope, judging from stabbing pains in my groin that feel a lit like tiny feet rather than headbutting!

Hope quempin and bsbies ard fine and bb3's son recovering well!

Have a good day!

rednellie, on the Mountain buggy duet - can you not get carrycots for that one, or is it only for the duo (their other, wider side by side buggy)?

We're thinking of getting the duo (will have to clear the hall though as it'll just squeak through) - I wanted a bit of space under the seats so's I can walk to the supermarket etc - we're going to Kiddicare next week to check it out.

buonasera the Mountain buggy was our other contender with the Out and About. Had the same concern as you with fitting shopping etc underneath. Tbh, after testing them both in the shop with the seats flat down, and imagining the bulk of a baby in them, not sure either would be brilliant, but the Out&About does come with an extra tray attachment and I got some grips for the handle so can hang shopping off it.

Looks like it'll be online deliveries for me...which is mental as the new house is exactly 10 minutes from a HUGE Sainsburys. But I don't drive, so...

Decided not to get carrycots etc as the seats go so flat, are well cushioned, and there's a massive rain/sun cover. Frankly if we're just walking to someone's house for tea they can sleep in the buggy or would take a playmat if they're awake; for longer visits we would be going by car so I guess would take Moses baskets.

God, what a palaver!!!

stinkingbishop, I might have a look at the Out and About, although I would prefer a facing one as I'm hoping I can get out for some long walks with the small people (unlikely I'll be doing any other exercise). But for us it'll probably end up being what we can manage to fit in our less than ideal 3 door Alfa. In the end I'll probably find nothing fits in the motor and we'll end up with the McLaren twin techno because it folds like a piece of origami...

I'm going to be relying on online as well mostly, at least at the start. I tried to find out if any of the big supermarkets had trollies you can put twins in but they've not got much info on their websites and even if they do have one or two of those trollies, it's a bit much driving to the store to then find out someone's using them/they got thrown in the canal.

It is a faff isn't it? I was even thinking twin sling/baby carrier things but haven't found any yet. Is that a bit mad to think of carrying two infants? I've carried heavier rucksacks than that across various European mountain ranges (to be fair though rucksacks don't tend to wriggle).

Oh actually, just had a quick google and there are tons of twin carriers out there! My memory's not the best these days... still though, there is the danger of going around looking like the guy from Meet the Fokkers...

LOL buonasera!!

I looked into twin baby carriers, but have a feeling that they will become very heavy very quickly! Also I remember going to sainsburys with dd1 in a babybjorn and being unable to reach inside the freezers! Found ig very impractical ( not to mention should you need the loo...), I found I much preferred going daily (and use as excuse for walk) anc do smaller shops. Bulky itens I would get at weekends (or ask dh) without childrdn!!

Dropping in quickly to let you know my twins are here! Born Friday 6th. T1 boy and 4lb 12oz and T2 girl 6lbs. We have just found out that we will all be discharged in a couple of hrs so going home! Will read up the thread and share more deets soon!