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

Claire do they think there will be nothing there in the breast you had treatment on? I don't personally (and i'm always scared of being flamed when I say this) think it matters one bit if you bf or ff, or mix, you should just do what is right for you, if you wanted to try bf and are limited to one side you could alternate giving one boob, one bottle for each feed then swap. I wanted to bf both ds ad girls but also had bottles, formula and steriliser ready for when they arrived so there was no pressure on me!

Bb3 they cant tell what kind if damaged has been done really and there is little research out there. The little I've found ssys that at best women have reduced supply but this can be very frustrating for the baby and they dong like to feed from the treated side much.

I am also open minded about thr whole bf ff thing but I really enjoyed bfinv the other two and am quite keen to at least try this time too. Can I ask what bottles are you using?

Just remembered a girl I met in pregnancy yoga first time round - one of her breasts hadn't developed properly due to a severe car accident, so she was exclusively feeding from one side. Admittedly, that's with just one baby to contend with, but she said her supply built up almost straight away to provide what he needed. So maybe BB3's idea of one baby going on breast while other gets ff or ebf might work quite well.

I have no idea about bottles/expressing as I found bf so easy last time round I didn't bother finding out, so I'd also like to hear any recommendations as it'd be good to have options.

I know what you mean claire about having two older children demanding time :) I didn't get to grips with bf those 2 so worry how I'll manage with 2 but would like to try, I'm sure you'll find something that works for you :)

I'd like to do something similar to you bb3, I've never used a bottle before so bit nervous about getting bottles and sterilization etc- seems a lot more complicated than bf. Hope mixed feeding goes well for you Claire if that's what you go for, I think it sounds like a good option. For most twin mums probably!!

Oops rednellie, don't know how i got your details so wrong, I do know you're 3-4 weeks ahead of me. Sorry for your temporary panic, on phone so can't copy, paste and correct right now...

Today I bought a baby jogger city mini double by spotting a couple plus two kids plus single buggy, in our village, in the dark (while 'exercising' dd pre-bedtime!) and i thought it might have been the same family I'd seen with this double a few months ago. Imagine a heavily pg lady, 16 month old in arms, running after you shouting 'erm, excuse me? EXCUSE ME?! Do you have a purple double buggy?!'... Well they did, and she said I could have it for £150 and I couldn't resist. A small tear and a bit grubby, but should clean up and a 2011 one I think. I'm pleased! I do love the look of the mountain buggy duet, but the city mini double is still a good option I think and its not comparable at all price-wise (did see it for £522 in winstanleys pramworld, free postage, if you're interested buonasera, or bigboobs, can't remember who wanted one?!) . And we do have the Monster Buggy as an off-roader

goingmad and Claire, feeding two even with one other child is a concern for me... Plus she's below the age of understanding about waiting, and is a typical first-born; wanting 25 hours attention a day, 8 days a week!!!

Thank you all for suggestions and support !

My two wont be ad demanfing ad the toddlers some of you have, still they need mummy time too, they are mummy's gurls!

With them I had lots of milk, so we'll see how it goes, lets take one step af the time (even though I dong really, cant help making plans to cover all options )

Hope you all (and your children) sleep well!

Just a quick pop in. We started with bf with dr prescribed top-up of nutriprem for dt2 who was 3lb 13. Dt1 quickly went onto the same due to jaundice. He then got us readmitted for hypothermia which had caused his poor feeding and came out entirely on nutriprem. Dt2 was meanwhile valiantly keeping up my supply but had a nasty blip due to tiredness. I got help from a bf counsellor who recommended nipple shields for dt2 as the poor dear didn't have the energy to suck past a certain point. Dt1 (who generally refused to open his mouth for bottle or breast) was complaining through a closed mouth while I was feeding dt2 and when I came off with a shield full of milk tried putting it in his mouth and he quickly got the hang of it. We mix-fed for 8 weeks with both including 6 weeks of tandem feeding until they were 12 weeks. Dt1 then refused again. I pumped for him for a while but eventually gave up so dt1 is now bottle fed and dt2 is still mix fed although he's going through the irritating refusing to feed because the world is too interesting phase atm.

So that's our story. I ebf ds1 for just under 6 months until I went back to work and then we continued morning, evening and 2x night until just under a year so I did know the basics. Saying which dt2 has been the best feeder out of the 3 of them, a complete natural. All that rubbish they fed me the last time about the baby knows what to do it's you who's doing it wrong is not correct. SOME babies know what to do. Others seem to have misplaced instincts or as I put it dt2 was sitting in the front row of baby school with his hand constantly raised and dt1 was sleeping in the back row.

Good luck everyone and what ever way keeps your sanity is the best one.

Just saving dream a job:

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, ELCS 23/12/11 Rosie and Hollie
Quempin #1&2 EDD 27/1/12, ID boys, T1 5lb5oz, T2 just under 5lb, ELCS 36 weeks
Ravenlocks DCDA, #1&2, 6.01.12 T1 Boy, 4lb 12oz, T2 Girl, 6lb
Tabbycatt, DCDA, 2 boys, DC 2 & 3, 9/1/12 at 36 weeks, VB, T1 5lb 5oz, T2 5lb 11oz
Claireinmodena DCDA, Boy & Girl, DC 3 & 4 (!!), EDD 23/02/12
StinkingBishop 2 &3 DCDA girls EDD .....
RedNellie DC 2&3, DCDA boys, EDD 28/3/12
DreamingOfPeace, DCDA boys, DC 2 & 3, EDD 19/4/12
BigBoobsAtLast, MCDA boys, DC 2&3 EDD 23/05/12
Buonasera, 1&2, DCDA, EDD 22/05/12 (???)
Lilyni DC 4&5, DCDA, EDD 12/06/12
GoingMadTrying, DC 3&4, MCDA, EDD 5/08/12

Thanks for the info tiggersreturn - always really useful to hear how others have done it.

tiggersreturn thank for taking the time to share your experience. I agree with you: a lot if babies do not have aclue! My dd1 just wouldnt open her mouth wide eniugh and kept chewing in tip of my nipple (very ouch!!) we got there eventually but it took some learning a very supportive midwife!

Dd2 was easy though.

mild panic setting in... noticed this morning that my boobs are leaking (sorry if tmi!). This did not happen with DD until very close to having her. Is this normal / ok / to be expected? I am worried it might mean body is getting ready to have babies - but it is far far too early :(

Re breastfeeding, I had zero success with DD - she would not latch on (I have very flat nipples apparently, and even with a nipple shield I had no luck). I expressed for nearly two months but it was really hard work expressing and then feeding every time - doubled up the time. I am not holding out much hope of breastfeeding this time but am really going to try - but at the same time I am not going to stress about it. If no luck latching on then I will express for as long as I can and use formula as well. Last time I had LOADS of milk so hope I do this time to make expressing a little easier at least for a few weeks.

bigboobs, I have leaking too. I think it can be that you've also had one baby and fed them may make you more prone... On another thread I saw someone who was a bf supporter, trained and doing continuing training saying it can happen at any time in your pregnancy and doesn't mean anything to do with final milk supply etc. She certainly didn't say anything it being an indicator about prem labour, and I've had it since about week 20??? No sign of my babies going anywhere so far, 6 weeks on. Try not to worry, but you could always ring the mw for a 'proper' opinion?

I was worried about feeding last time as I am not gifted in the busom department and wondered if there'd be enough room for sufficient milk- clearly a stupid worry in hindsight, as though I only ever went up to a D cup in the height of bf, there seemed to be plenty for DD. I am more concerned about getting bottles right, and not giving them gastroenteritis or something, but hope to do all EBM bottles or ebf for 12 weeks like bb3, if at all possible... It's really helpful to read about your experiences tiggersreturn. How early were your babies? Need to update you on this stats thread too, I just tried to check! I assume they were quite prem at 3lb 13?

Collecting my new |baby jogger city mini double buggy today- they live 200m from me, I'm so excited. Thought I'd better go quickly before they look on ebay and realise buggies a good bit older than theirs are selling for way more than £150 (like £280 buy it now price). I feel slightly guilty, as I think I really am getting a bargain, but not guilty enough to offer more

They were 33+4. Dt1 was 5lb2 but found it tougher going than dt2 who is a great eater.

Claire I use tommee tippee closer to nature bottles and have always (whatever age) used first size teats, never progressed to the older ones with bigger holes and worked for ds ok.

I leaked through my pg too and they stayed put until 37 weeks

Asda's baby event started today and they have loads of bottles and sterilisers (and loads of baby stuff) on offer, I got some more bottles and these mirrors that go on the headrests so you can see the babies when they're on rear facing car seats which will be great when I'm driving alone.

Hope everyone is ok - it's chuffing cold outside I couldn't face leaving the house or zumba tonight so am curled up feeding the girls instead

I'm snowed in here. Gingerly tried to walk down the street and then turned around due to complete lack of pelvic floor muscles/balance/bravery!! Lovely DH has gone out and covered our entire garden and pavement with salt so at least I can wander around our house. Stupid houses here are all up about 12 steps so when it snows you literally get stranded inside. This happened when I was pregnant with DD when we lived in Kent, two years ago now - at least I had the sense this time not to shovel snow 8 months pregnant!

BB3, interesting info. What expressor does everyone use? And any technique tips? The two times I tried to express I only ever got an ounce, but am sure that's because I was impatient and couldn't see the point. You've all scared me a bit with the whole some babies know how to do it and some dont, now thinking I was just lucky with DD and me being blase about the DT's is a bit misplaced. I hope I'm wrong.

bigboobs, I think you're going into it with the right attitude. It's almost like, if you don't put pressure on yourself and you know its not a disaster if it doesn't happen then it's probably more likely to work?

Well done dream on the buggy. Don't worry about the price - it's so much easier for them to just sell it to someone who approached them rather than bothering with the whole ebay stuff. I'm jealous now you've got two!!! Options.

Got appointment with a chiropractor tomorrow to have a look at the spd and see if they can do anything to gently encourage the boys into a better position. Fingers crossed.

I use a tommee tippee hand pump at home but after using the medena (I think it's that!) electric pump at the hospital, I wish I'd got one of those instead!

We've tried avent, tommee tippee and eventually stuck with nuk. Because of being prem they had tiny mouths and dt1 was a very slow eater. Nuk required least effort and seemed to have a fast flow. We're still using them.

Rednellie having a good bf for your first is great as it allows you to get the hang of it and be more capable of dealing with any difficulties other babies may have.

Eek, I never got more than a drop expressing with an avent hand pump with dd. I tried as i find getting to sleep the time consuming part, and dd fed every 2 hours, then had to be held upright for 30min for her reflux, so 90 min to sleep, and I'd regularly still be awake when she next woke up... Obviously it'll be totally different with these babies. I haven't moved on to thinking about the details of feeding them etc. I probably should, I feel like there's so long to go, but I guess they could be early like tiggers. I agree with rednellie that you'll be fine however you end up feeding with a good attitude to start with bigboobs.

Can I ask, did you have problems in your pregnancy tiggersreturn, or any warning signs you might have gone into labour early?

Snowed in rednellie!!! Sounds kind of fun and exciting in theory, but in reality it must be awful. Good luck with the chiropractor tomorrow. I hope it can help a bit. Let us know how it goes!

Could it be the medula electric breast pump bb3? .I've heard of that being good and winning lots of 'best buy' awards. I need to write these recommendations down before the thread moves on and i forget...

Got the buggy, its date of manufacture is stamped on it, 2011 and even though its a bit scruffy for a newish buggy I'm chuffed, like it! Options indeed. I'm very lucky.

None. We moved house on the weds and my waters went on saturday morning over a cup of tea just as my mother agreed with me that they needed to hold off until the 1st Sept (this was 13 Aug) . I had felt tired and achey the day before but no more than anyone with twins who's 33 weeks pregnant and has just moved house should feel.

Oh my goodness tigger! Was your first dc prem? I suppose I have to accept it really can happen to anyone with twins/ multiples. Maybe I'm not preparing too early!

I met a mum pregnant with triplets today at a toddler group. She'd had some sort of fertility treatment as she said she was told there could be up to three but she never expected three. Her little girl will be 2 1/2 when they're born, and my friend who introduced me said she'd had fertility treatment for her too. I guess if you've done it once and had one baby you really don't expect triplets next time! Made me think i should stop worrying about coping as it'd be harder again with 3 babies! She has her 20 week scan this week and seemed amazingly relaxed about it all.. she wanted to look at my Monster Buggy as its the one she wants too, but left without taking my number . Anyway, I was suitably impressed by her calmness (but suppose i don't go around saying 'HOW will I cope and not feel I'm spread too thinly to give each enough attention?!' !!!)

Yes that was it dream - it was brilliant, you literally sit and let it do all the work! Ive just replaced my old tt pump with a new or and I can't get anything out with it! I'm so annoyed! I'm thinking of buying the electric one but wonder if it's worth it now the girls are almost 4 months old.

Tigger, how are the boys now? Has it sunk in completely yet? I sometimes still look at the girls and think, 'yep, there really is two of them!'

Dream - wow triplets! I can't imagine how big I would have been with three in there! I think it's true that if you've had a singleton, you don't expect to have a multiple pg (fertility treatment or not). Even though you know it's a possibility x

bb3 I definitely didnt expect a multiple pg with my third pregnancy :)

How is everyone doing i feel rather well which brings its own worries!

Nor did I goingmad!!! It never crossed my mind!

Well, I saw my dr last night and I have told I can now resume a notmal life! Which would be great if it wasnt that just because of that outing (and having to undress standing), I was totally wiped out and in agony with pelvic pain! I dont hold much hope that I will be able to do anything remotely resembling "normal"!

Monday I have to go to the hospital fir my cs booking in app. I havd provisional date of 13th feb tbc.

I do have a strong feeling I will not get that far though. Had a small bleed last night (maybe a show?) and a couple of contractions...
Dh is away for a few days nxt week and I'm terrified I'll go into labour when ge's away... He will be 6 hours away so not much chance he can make it... My last was 2 hours!

Ds1 was induced at 39 weeks for medical reasons. Dts would have been extracted at 38 wks but obviously had other plans......

I do have moments of just looking and thinking are there really 2 of you plus checking while driving to make sure I remembered to take both babies.

Triplets is my idea of a nightmare

Oooo, Claire sounds exciting!! have you got any one else around to help out if DH is away? I do hope so. Sounds like you will have some exciting news for us in the next few weeks either way - as your CS date is not that far away - you will get to meet your babies soon!

I used a tommee tippee hand pump last time which was fine although my hands REALLY ached after a while. I used the electric mededa one in hospital and that was fine but I am not sure I can justify the cost when I really dont know whats going to happen re feeding. Have bought a new avent hand pump so far (half price!) so have got it covered for now.

Pleased to hear you are happy with the pushchair Dream - you can start practicing!! How is DD? I have been having a difficult week with my DD crying and crying at bed time and only 'mamma' will do - difficult for me and poor DH as he is upset he can help as much as he wants to.

I have got a hen do coming up in 2 weeks time - a weekend away (2 nights!). Not sure if it is the right thing to do - being away from home. What do you think? Am I taking a risk going away? I will be 25 weeks. I wont be doing the nighttime activities, only going out for dinner - so it actually shoujld be quite relaxing - its just the being away from home that does not feel right. I am probably being stupid.

Off for a scan now. Nerves and excitement, nerves and excitement!