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

Nor did I goingmad! But I'm very pleased :-)

What a shame about the pelvic pain claire, maybe it'll be marginally better if you haven't aggravated it by having to undress in an awkward way for an appointment? (Being wildly optimistic)

Anyway, I should be working, third last day, so must go and do some...

Bigboobs I went on one around that time and it was tiring but fun although I overdid it walking round Brighton and ended up contracting for the entire evening when I got home! Hope scan goes ok.

Yay for date Claire xx

X posts bigboobs my dd still has a really rattly chest and cough, but after much fuss at bedtime slept all night!!!!! Refusing all 'proper' nutritous food, but that's another issue...

And didn't really twig Claire, a possible show?! Imminent babies?! The excitement!!!! Really looking forward to the next arrivals

must get on with work...

I'm being a bit wussy this pg bigboobs, but if its more relaxing than exertion, your hen weekend might be good! It's partly whether you'll end up over doing it though, it's hard to say I can't do that on a hen weekend I found ( I did one at 21 weeks pg with dd) . bb3, I'd be a bit worried if i made myself contract all evening!!! I have never left dd overnight though, so its all theoretical for me! Hope the boys waved nicely on their scan and it went well.

Whooooo claire, exciting!!! I hope they stay in a bit longer for your sake, but still really exciting that it's all coming to an end soon. Please take it easy with the SPD, best advice I've heard yet - walk as if you're wearing a mini skirt and no knickers! Does make you think about how you walk and get in and out of cars.

bigboobs, I wouldn't worry too much, just don't go crazy. Me and DH had a night away at a hotel before Christmas (first night ever away from DD) and we essentially just ate, watched tv and had lots of baths. It seemed like pure luxury. I would also say, go away now rather than later - much as it would be nice to have a night away, I wouldn't be able to make the most of it now I'm humungous and creaky.

dream and BB3, how are the poorly LO's? I've been thinking of them, poor things.

Its still snowing here, I braved taking DD to nursery, but it's a bit scary...glad I've got winter tyres. Had a bit of a minor bust up with my Mum re: names for the boys. We're Welsh so are going down that road, but she reckons what I've chosen are a bit too 'out there'. Now don't know what to do, I don't want to deliberately saddle them with bizarre names, but at the same time finding two boys names that both DH and I agree on is HARD. Hate choosing names...always think I'll get it wrong and there are so many nice ones out there....grrrrrr. Has anyone ever posted on the baby name threads? I'd be a bit scared myself.

The baby names thread can be a bit brutal... I haven't, but may resort to it. Finding 2 we agree on is nearly impossible... My mum hates my favourite boys name, but I'm desperate to use it (even though its a top 100 name now). What are your possible names rednellie, if you want to share of course? We've got a super common surname, so I think we need slightly more unusual names, but dd's is up at number 16 or somewhere round there on the baby names list from 2011- I'm a bit horrified. Plus the only two names we can vaguely agree on for the boys are both top 100 names- the one I love, plus a really common first name Dh liked, and says if i get the majority vote on one he should on the other....

My dd is getting better, but still got a bad cough and streaming nose. She must be improving to have slept all night last night though, not a peep from 9pm to7am

Love the thought of trying to walk like you're in a mini skirt and no knickers! I can see how appropriate that is for spd though.

I think going would probably be good bigboobs, I tried to do everything (bar the harnessed up Go Ape the others did) plus go out when pg with dd. I was quite fit through my pregnancy with her though, I stopped running but upped my walking (could still just about do 5 mile walks at 40 weeks) and swimming under the notion if i was fit and active to the end I'd breeze through labour more easily (ha! What a waste of energy!). Still found the hen weekend knackering though, but if you insist on walking round all day, s meal out and bars/clubs I think anyone would!!! Your plan sounds much more sensible, plus a weekend away without a nearly 2 year old must be more restful than with them!!! How was the scan? Hope they're growing well for you.

13th Feb was my first date with my Dh too Claire, a lucky day- if you make it that far.

I'm twitchy about blooming twin 1 being a bit quiet again (though I may have felt a squirm literally as I type this on my phone!). Having bought all these things for them and getting really excited about them arriving has made me really nervous something bad will happen. Dh can't get his head round why I get so worried about it either and says 'statistically they're by far most likely to be fine' and brushes it off if i try and tell him!

We've got an arabic surname and I have a classic Welsh name, my DH has classic Arabic name (no, not that one ). Anyway, I tell you this as it explains why neither of us are afraid of slightly random names as we've both gone through our lives spelling our names at least 5 times over the phone and both consider it to be character building! BUT, what my Mum says about the names I've chosen is that even Welsh people would think they were odd. Bearing in mind she's in her late 60's so is coming at it from a different generation...It wouldn't bother me if it was anyone else, but I really do respect my Mum and her opinion (even though she is turning into a militant old bat)

Anyway, I might post them later to ask you lot if I'm still having doubts...bit superstitious about coming out with them now!!!!

Names are hard, names for twins are near on impossible to decide on! They have to go together and with other dcs!

Dh and I cannot ever agree on boys names - we argued so much over ds then when he came my name just didn't suit him and his was just right and I was so angry i didnt admit defeat for a week but we had one girls name set from the start. As the girls were due on my nans birthday and she was a twin and where I got the gene from, we were always going to call the first girl (if there was one) after her - well her middle name (Edith) and my grandmother's middle name was may so that seemed to make sense. I got my way with that because of the sentimentality of it. As for the others we just couldn't agree dh wanted Turkish names for them (ds has a very rare Turkish name) we finally agreed on another boys name but if it was two boys we would have been screwed. I wanted to have rosalie as the second girls name (we have a Rose-named tradition in my dads family) but dh hated it so Ayse is named after his mum (pronounced eye-sha). Her middle name is Rose in Turkish so it worked out for us all in the end! It all works well actually as Edie looks English and Ayse Turkish. Wow sorry for the epic explanation then!

I'm a firm believer that you should have options as not all babies look like their planned names! Ds definitely didn't!

Ds is getting there - he wet to nursery today for an hour then slept all afternoon. He has a rattle in his chest that I want to get checked but he is eating and getting stronger each day x

Glad dd is improving dream x

Oh and do share names! I Love eating baby names!!

Hearing - obviously not eating!

Hi everyone!

I haven't caught up with the thread completely but did see that quempin and tabby both had their twins too - we were all within a few days of each other - massive congrats. And I have to say to tabby - r.e.s.p.e.c.t! VB and just TENS?? Hugely impressed!

With me I had my 36wk apt (I was 36+4) on 4 Jan and I am not sure if I had mentioned it before on here but I was being driven crazy by itching since just before Xmas. Every square inch of my skin was itchy (including eyeballs, inside my ears!??) and I was spending so much time in the bath and slathering cream on and demanding DH scratch the soles of my feet etc etc it was really uncomfortable. I mentioned it to the Dr at my apt, and together with the fact they had noted my blood pressure had gone up, I had ++ protein in my urine, I gave blood and they noticed that the itching was linked to liver funtion problems - all in I was developing pre-eclampsia. So they monitored my BP and the babies heart rates for an hour or so - their heart rates were fine but my BP stayed v high. So the Dr said she wanted to admit me and deliver the babies. I was really shocked as wasn't expecting it and hadn't properly finished packing my bag - hadn't even had lunch before I went to hospital. But to be honest I was quite relieved. I was prepared to be 'debating' with the Drs trying to convince them to deliver me just before 38 weeks and to agree to a c-section despite T1 being head down. Instead there was no challenge to my request for a c-section atall and it was all going to happen really soon.

So I was monitored for the rest of the day and put on nil by mouth from midnight (including no water) and put in queue for theatre. It was 11:30pm that night I went in and the babies were born just after midnight so technically made it to 36+6.

I found the section itself ok. I was shaking and retching for lots of it in reaction to the spinal but all in all it was better than I expected. We had classical music playing, the team in theatre were amazing - every last one of them. DH got to see them come out and I heard our little man let out a little cry when he came out before he was whisked off by the doc, and then our little girl was pulled out by her ankles and was shown to me very quickly, she was stretching her arms above her head and blinking away as the lights were all of a sudden v bright and then she let out a little yelp too! An amazing moment. DH went off to cut cords and see them cleaned and wrapped and brought our wee boy out to see me. Neither of them needed SCBU and they were both with me the whole time in hospital. They did want T1 fed up on formula pretty quickly as he was low birth weight. We are mix feeding. I am BF when and for as long as I can and then either DH or I top up with forumla if needed and I tend not to BF at night. As others have said the nights are v hard and in the first couple of nights it was clear that the twins both wanted to feed almost constantly and I just didn't have the energy to BF exclusively and get no sleep night after night. With formula they at least go down for 3 hours ish at a time.

C-section recovery was gradual and it was frustrating at the time that I couldn't move well, pick them up, change them etc for a few days, but already I have forgotten most of that. DH slept with me in hosptial for the whole time I was in and did a lot of the leg work in those early days to compensate.

We are totally in love with them, so smitten! They have just brought so much joy to the extended family too and are beautiful. Our little girl has the most perfect face and profile and lovely eyes you can forgive her anything, and our little boy is the cutest little monkey - DH couldn't look at him without welling up for a few days as he was so small and dependent yet so bright and alert he just amazed us.

Love to everyone - being a twin mum is the most special thing ever!

oh wow raven, I feel really emotional reading about your birth and experiences. Amazing. You had mentioned the itching, but still a surprise to have them then clearly! You sound like you're doing really well with the mixed feeding. I'm getting more nervous about my ebf plans with a toddler too. oh, I just want to fast forward to having mine!!! Safely and not too early of course . Did you manage to name them without argumments?! ANd please do share with those of us bottle novices after advice- what bottles are you using? and if you're expressing, with what pump?! (if you have time of course!)

Right- bb3, what about Sebastian and Benjamin (mine and DH's favourites)? I do think Ben is too common, but he says its a compromise! Mallory? Finian? Alistair? (add a Sebastian to any of those I hope, I really, really like it!). Common English short surname. DD is Isla. Glad your DS is getting better. Hope his chest rattle is nothing serious.

Oh ravenlocks, that's so amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your birth with us, I especially loved your description of how your little girl came out. What an incredible experience. Congratulations and I'm really glad you're enjoying them so much. You've also made me feel more comfortable with the idea of a) c-sections and b) that anything can happen. Right, I'm off to pack me hospital bag people.

dream, Sebastian and Benjamin are GREAT. I love the name Ben and even though it is common, every Ben I've ever known has been lovely. would you call Sebastian Seb? Seb, Ben and Isla sound lovely together.

Ours so far, hold your breath people, are Bran and Math. Both characters from ancient Welsh folklore - Bran was the god of life and death and it also means raven in Welsh. Math was a bit of a bad ass warrior king who always had to have his feet held by virgins when he wasn't in battle! BUT, apart from all that, i think they go together and are simple to spell and say (unlike my DD's name Arianwen which people seem to make a meal out of, even though it is phonetic). So there you go, I've come clean!

Hello, lots of posts here tonight, I hope I wont forget anyone!

First of all hugd congrats to raven like rednellie said you make reconcile a bit with thd idea of cs!! I was also moved by your story, I'm also having a girl and a boy so can totally relate!!

dream well done with the pushchair. I knos what you mean about making you nervous though. This the first time I've ever been do organised but the scare if preterm lzbour st 27 weeks madr me rush things, plus ordering quite a bit from the uk, didnt want to risk it arriving late, but I keep looking at the 2 (TWO!!) car seats and double buggy thinkinv "what if.." but I try not to dwell on it as much as I can...
Hospital bag was packed do long ago that yesterday had to change thr babies clothes as they were all premies and now they might be s bit tight, which is a really good thing.

Cant go back to check thd thread now, but was it you "bigboobs" who said to walk as if I'm wearing a miniskirt anc no knickers?? I was picturing me heavdlh pregnant with a miniskirt and could help laughing out loud!!

Its better today, kept to the sofa mostly, but I'm going out in the morning with a couple of friends for coffee (thd glamour) but it feels like a major outing to me!!

dream good to hear your dd had a good nights sleep, may it continue!

That was me claire! Made me laugh out loud too. If I wore a mini skirt right now it would disappear into the space between the top of my thighs and my bump, this is a part of my body I said goodbye to a while back...

Bloody children - was meant to have chiropractor appointment this pm, but DD had a total fit when the babysitter came round, literally attaching herself to me with claws. I had to cancel app. Really frigging frustrating. Why did she have to hit full blown toddlerhood right now? It's a total pain in the backside taking her with me to appointments and I seem to have one every other day. Right, sorry, rant over.

Oh blimey lots to catch up

Raven - wow your babies sound just perfect! Truly! Well done on getting them here safely and for coping so well post birth. It is amazing being a twin mummy you're right! I'm with dream and had Tears in my eyes reading your post! Give them a big kiss from all of us!!

Dream - I really like Sebastian and Benjamin together - they work well in full and short. I've always loved the name Sebastian and I'm not sure Ben is that common any more. (there's not a single Ben in ds' nursery) I think they are the best paired from your list but I like the others too. And I also love Isla as a girls name and isla, seb and Ben just sound right together or Isla, Ben and seb whichever way. My friend calls her little boy Sebastian but Basti for short so you could also have Basti and Benji

Good morning ladies :)

Wow congratulations raven that was such a beautiful story and i too loved your memories of your little girl arriving into the world,and you did so well and its lovely to hear your enjoying your little ones so much :)
rednellie sorry to hear your little monster made you miss your appointment, hopefully was just a one off and she was having a bad day :). Your names work well together and sound lovely (never heard them before) are they common around your way due to them being traditional?

dream love the names they go so well together, hope isla had another good night for you :)

I am fast approaching the 12 week mark and starting to get a tiny bit excited by everything :)

Rednellie - firstly what a beautiful name dd has! Really beautiful. I actually really like Bran and Math and dont think they're too out there at all. Unusual yes, but strong individual names that go really well together. I think your mum has nothing to worry about and they sound perfect to me. Do you have any back ups if the babies didn't suit them (although I'm sure they will!).

My ds' name is Karahan - also said phonetically but with a rolled 'r' and strong 'h'. And nobody ever says it correctly! It means dark king / ruler in Turkish (dark as in colour not evil!!) I wanted the name Ebran for him but he came out tiny but with dark hair, dark eyes, olive skin and a frowning face and it just seemed to light for him, Karahan just bloody suited him! So annoying dh got his way we call him Kara for short so we have Kara, Edie and Ayse. Edie is the only one with a full English name, k is v Turkish and Ayse 50/50!

Claire at mini skirt images too! Glad today was less painful, enjoy coffee with your friends x any more baby signs?

Right better try and get another hours sleep while the girls have started snoring again!

Goingmad yay for 12 weeks! Do you have another scan soon?

On Tuesday :)

Your names are beautiful too!! Im getting worried that i'll never find 4 names to go together, especially not all boys names are:)

When can you find out what sex babies your having? Just curious as I'll be having scans every 2 weeks

Hi going mad, the 12 week mark is great!! Well done! We found out the sex during the nt scan at about 13 weeks, we had to go privately as we couldnt find an app otherwise (never have babies in Italy in august!!) and the dr who performed the scan is a considered a bit of a myth here.(having said that I do Know he got it wrong at least once!)

It depends on the ability of the sonograpger and obviously thd babies cooperation too

Rednellie, how awful for you! Toddlers can be so infuriatingly stubborn! That is a phase I am not looking forward to I have to admit.

Had quite a lot of bx last night, but then slept like a baby (bar thd odd trip to thd loo), so no more signs.. I think this could go on for a while before it kicks off for real. Dh away mon pm to wed pm nxt week, so really hope theyre not coming on those days, dont really fancy a cs on my own and him missing the birth

Re names, dh still refuses to commit to anything, but he seems quite likely to give to the girls name, Emma. Thd girls are quite set on Matteo for a boy, and I am convinced he'll give in on that one too at thd end, especially after the birth

My two have quite longish names so this time I wanted shorter ones or I'd be calling them all for an hour before Im finished!

hi all

just dropping in quickly, have scanned the thread but as always not caught up in complete detail!

We're doing ok. Boys are feeding much better now their tongue ties have been snipped - am still ebf although am starting to think about expressing and bottle feeding a little. tricky to know - ebf to 1 yr with dd and feel like I am wimping out introducing bottles for the boys. My doula is a lactation consultant and for what it's worth she has recommended MAM bottles for combination feeding as apparently the teats make babies work a bit harder than most bottles which is good for encouraging them to keep taking the breast too. She also says not to hold the bottle too vertical so as to make the baby have to suck harder to stay in practice. Pump wise she is a big fan of the Ameda lactaline double electric pump. she's lent me one so will let you know how i get on with it.

Raven - congrats!!! sounds like you are doing really well - massive respect back at you, not sure i would have coped with twins as my first babies!! Birth story sounds amazing - glad it went well for you.

Name wise - we have settled on Benjamin and Jacob... took us ages to agree but we have now registered them so no going back!! Now just trying to sort out passports - how dificult is it to get passport compliant photos of babies fgs!!

Also - updating my details on the list as the date was slightly out:

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, 2/1/12 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

right... back to feeding for me...

xxx

Tabby try these people www.paspic.com/index.php. Put a white sheet on the floor or over a bouncer put baby in it and then upload photo. They will then photoshop the background and check the picture is ok for you. Dh wanted to do snappy snaps which was find for ds but ridiculous for the dts who were asleep and couldn't sit unsupported awake or asleep.

Tabby - we took girls to local show shop (timpsons) who do baby pictures for passports and lay them on a giant grey cushion for the picture.

Claire - ooh I hope dh is persuaded Matteo is lovely and Emma is very pretty! Honestly my ovaries are starting to ache for more babies hearing your birth stories and name choices - I should go and lock myself in a room with screaming children to calm then down!

Oh and tabby - Benjamin and Jacob are great names - glad it's all official now!