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

Ceasnake and Carrie, I'm so sorry to hear about your news. Glad you're both being looked after.

dreamfeeder - yes, we are very close and with very similar DD situations. My DD will be 2 in February so we could end up with all three kids having February birthdays...might be an expensive month in the future! I was very late giving birth to DD so I think I may end up being pregnant forever - that's how it feels right now. Took a photo a month ago and I was the same size I was when I was 9 months pregnant last time. Good grief.

Also, sorry if I reply late - we're in Canada atm, moving back to the UK in the summer. It's interesting hearing about the medical system back home compared to here...as my first pregnancy was a singleton its hard to compare anyway. They're making me do a horrific test this week for gestational diabetes - I have to fast for 10 hours and then have a blood test, drink some horrible glucose drink and then sit there for 2 hours until they do another blood test. Only then can I eat. How will I survive? Do they regularly test for this back home?

Good luck for tomorrow Katy, how exciting you get to meet your girls . You'll have to distract yourself by arguing with your Dh over names instead!! I hope it all goes really well and you don't have to wait around too long to go in for the CS.

ipswitch, you do very well to leave him at all, I never managed it til dd was 11 months!!! They're so precious, and I'm glad you're enjoying spoiling him. (Of course, you can't actually spoil a baby, that's the lovely part. I think I may be spoiling dd now, and that's another matter!!)

quempin, have you got a date yet? Are you hoping for an early to mid Jan delivery? how are you feeling?

Carrie, anyone that hasn't been through a big tear and repair has no idea what they're talking about. Loads of people have said to me 'oh, but i had stitches, most people do' and I think really? You'd torn so badly and were haemorrhaging and were in theatre within 20 min of giving birth having been whizzed through the scary consent form on faecal incontinence and sexual dysfunction and whatever else was on it!!! I read somewhere on a thread someone saying they were a bit shaky etc after their CS so couldn't have skin to skin immediately in a v disparaging way about CS, but 15 min after delivery I had an hour and a bit in a different room to dd being fixed, let alone just not being the one to cuddle her!! Take no notice. Waiting for a mw or Dr to stitch you in the room with your baby is a different kettle of fish. Even so I feel like if i choose CS I'm wimping out... You definitely aren't though.

X post rednellie, v similar- well, my waters broke at 40+2 with dd, and i was induced 30 hours after that, on an 'unripe' cervix so i was clearly not going into labour any time soon. Some days I worry about prem labour, but most of the time i think I'll go on forever! I don't think we routinely do gestational diabetes testing, only if there's sugar in your urine or some other sign.

And I'd love to go to Canada!!

They're very keen on testing for everything here - people look at me oddly when I say I didn't see a single doctor for my entire pregnancy or birth, just midwives (they were only made legal here in the late 90's!). I've got shared care here with a team of midwives and an OB. I'm glad I've got the midwifery imput - the OB fancies himself a bit too much.

I was 40+10 days with DD and they were threatening me with all sorts so I did a lot of vigorous jumping around, ate a load of pineapple and hoped for the best. Seemed to work :)

And carrie and dream - no one can tell you how to birth. You know your body and your babies better than anyone. Pushing one agenda or another without taking the individual into account is just wrong. I hope you get lots of support making the decision that's right for you.

Oh and the DTs (is that the right acronym?) are, in all likelihood, fraternal. They're DiDi, but apparently there's a very very very small chance they could still be ID.

Mine too rednellie! We both have a dd, dcda boys and due similar times. I don't see a mw at all though. Think its a 10% chance of them being ID though. My dd met 3 year old dcda boys the other week, he said they were so alike he couldn't tell them apart at all!! Their mum had been told definitely non id in her pregnancy. So you never know.

Carries, really glad your appointment went well. It was interesting to hear your consultant's take on the loss of your twin, seeing as it's happened to me too. As I mentioned before in my case, there was clearly something wrong with Twin B from the start, which helps a little bit in accepting it.

Ignore your so-called 'friend', in fact ignore anyone who tries to tell you how to give birth!

I don't understand how in a singleton miscarriage, you have to have a D&C or wait to miscarry naturally, but in a twin loss, you're okay to have the dead embryo inside you for weeks - why is there an infection risk with the former, but not the latter? Anyone know?

Anyway, enough of this depressing talk. Here's to healthy pregnancies and births for all of us!

I would really like to know why its ok to stay inside you for six months too? If anyone has any info on this I would like to hear it.
Only thing I can think of perhaps the hormones somehow stop you from getting an infection?

Thanks for the support about the c section it is reassuring. I am very scared about it but hink its the best option for me

Dream lol at people saying oh I had stiches too. It's quite normal! You just want to shout you tucking numbnut

Carrie, one thing the sonographer said to me was that the remaining embryo could affect the results of the blood test for Downs Syndrome and for that reason it was very important to have the nuchal fold test as well. You may already know this/have had the nuchal test but I just thought I?d mention it.

ceasnake i'm so sorry i missed your post first time round, and i'm very sorry to hear your news and hope you are getting the support you need too.
carrie, my section was about 45 min from start to finish, but to be honest most of that was the prep. they put catheter in first (pain-free n very straightforward), gave me the spinal block with local anaesthetic first (again,pretty straightforward and relatively painless i thought). DP was allowed in then. i actually thought they were just prodding me in the belly but they had made the incision and were already bringing nathan out! i got to hold him immediately for few mins before they had to take him to scbu while they sorted me out. i would have no problem having it done again, but the consultant said if we decide to have any more children i would be able to have natural birth if there were no problems.

oh quempin, you poor thing. I'm obviously nowhere near you, but the tiredness and strain is getting to me already at only 22 weeks. I can only imagine how you must be feeling now. I am glad you are clearly being closely monitored, hope the babies are doing well. Don't worry if you can't reply, but I'm guessing you're about 35 weeks now, so not long to go- I hope they do agree to deliver the babies at 36 weeks for you.

katy, can't wait to hear how your babies' birth went today, I hope it was good and not as stressful and frightening as you were expecting.

Not seen you for a bit bb3, how're the girls doing? I hope they've continued to improve with their sleeping and you're feeling so rested you're off out with friends etc rather than sitting at home on mn!!

Ipswitch, that sounds like another pretty positive CS experience overall, and quicker than I thought!! I hope you enjoy your first Christmas with nathan at home.

and hello to everyone else, hope you're all well (even if still stuck on a sofa claire, really hope it's not getting you don too much and you're managing to find ways to stave off the cabin fever...!)

quempin I'm sorry you've been through the mill, being tired is no fun whatsover. I'm lucky if I can string a sentence together, let alone spell it, and only I'm 26 weeks. I really don't know how I'll cope with my little girl and being more pregnant with no family around. My Mum's going to come out before the birth and for a bit after...but so hard to know when to tell her to come. Is there a cut off date for babies positions?

Had the glucose tolerance test today - 12 hrs with no food, had to have 3 blood tests over 2 hours after drinking a drink I can only describe as liquidized orange gobstoppers. It was FOUL. Glad that's over, had the most amazing sugar rush and had to lie down in the clinic. Apparently some of my UK friends have had this - but only if they're high risk.

Got another ultrasound tomorrow so looking forward to seeing the twins and hoping everything's alright...

As you can see by my first sentence, I'm a bit tired!

Ceasnake so sorry to hear about you too losing a twin, must be so heartbreaking and I am so sorry. I researched vanishing twin like a mad thing in my first trimester and was cursing myself for having an early scan and finding out about the twins so soon incase we didn't get good news in our dating scan. When verbalising this (thankfully unfounded in my case) fear to a friend at the time she said (well meaning I am sure) said something like "you can't miss what you never had" I was in floods of tears at that comment for much of the evening that day. So difficult to explain to anyone who hasn't been there the bond you have with your unborn baby no matter how small and early on they are. Glad to hear you have a strong llittle wriggler on your hands!

Dream glad to hear you were reassured. I have found that mine have switched personalitites and T1 - the previous 'mover' has done quiet and his sister has taken to moving about loads after being relatively quiet for much of the pg. I was at the midwife yesterday who fond (for once!) 2 strong heartbeats and thinks he has started to engage and is buried quite deep whilst T2 is more 'near the surface' if you know what I mean. So interestesing to hear from BB3 that the personalities translate to when they are born - at this rate T1 will be a chilled little thing and T2 a drama queen.

Rib flare - had to google it as also haven't heard it described as 'flare' before and agree with you bishop that this be-littles this agony symptom somewhat! This has been my main gripe during this pg and it started so early - week 20 or so. But must admit it has got better over time and doesn't bother me as much now. I found at night I was better able to deal with it as could lie down and stretch out and force DH to massage me etc - sitting at a desk alll day with it was a killer.

Carrie so pleased you had a good consultant apt and feel much better now. They sound very sensible and talked a great deal of sense. Your little bean will only be a couple of cms long or so I imagine and I really wouldn't worrry about it harming your other baby or causing you infection if the Drs aren't worried. I think the reason they would do a D&C with a singleton 1st tri MMC is to clear out and get the cycles back to normal etc. Re your friend - ignore ignore ignore!!!

rednellie - welcome and congratulations!!!

Katy - dying to hear about your new arrivals! How many weeks were you when you delivered?

Ipswitch thanks for your c-section description - found that really useful. Have a lovely first Xmas with Nathan.

Quempin what is up?? What is taking you in and out of hospital?? Hope you are ok. I know what you mean about feeling tired. I had lots of high hopes for my mat leave - hearing about how others nest etc - I wanted to do loads in the house - clean oven, fridge, defrost freezer, sort out cupboard under stairs, go to the gym most days. Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Tiny jobs like writing Xmas cards take all day - if I do one thing like that I need to take loads of breaks (to sleep and snack) a major nap afterwards and can't achieve anything else. The fact that it is Dec has meant all my energy has gone into Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, putting up tree and writing cards - I swear I have acheived little else in a fortnight.

All my M&P funiture has arrived this morning! Although word of warning for anyone ordering nursery furniture from them is don't leave it as late as me if you want them to assemble it for you. We did and went in at 33weeks and they said the couldn't schedule us in for an assemble until w/c 9 Jan (when I will be nearly 38 weeks) and I really wanted it up and sorted before Xmas. So I have 7 massive boxes of flatpack nightmare lying upstairs. Luckily DH, my dad and my brother are joining forces and building it all tomorrrow - I will just keep then cups of tea flowing! Later today my John Lewis order is also coming - car seats/ matresses etc. Then we will have everything except a few hospital bag bits which I will pick up over the next couple of days.

Hi everyone, we have 2 lovely girls and a very tired mummy.

Yesterday was a very long day, 9 hour wait for csection, lost more blood than normal so was in theatre for long time.

Both babies needed a little help breathing and both in special care but doing so well.

katy huzzah! huzzah! huzzah! How on earth do you have the time/energy to post! Good luck, enjoy, jealous, so wish mine were out now too, they are breaking my ribs from the inside! Go have some runny cheese now! Sushi! Bubbly!

carrie I will stand as a character witness when you are in court charged with thumping the next person who advises against C sections. Have just had my DM do the same - she still is not clocking the whole twin thing and why it is different, had to breathe deeply, say, again, I was trying for VB, but whether I could do that with both depended on the position and health of the babies so it was a medical decision, 45% are etc.

Hello ladies x

Am on the phone so apologies that I can't catch up with everyone personally.

Katy huge congrats on your baby girls when you feel up to it do come back and tell us how they are getting on (and names and weights) xxx

ceas and carrie (and ipswitch) you will always always be the mothers of twins regardless if what has happened and that's very special xx

quemp rest up don't stress about getting anything done xx

Yay for furniture deliveries and getting ready for babies - after Christmas the count down really begins for you all x

Things are a bit hectic in our world visiting everyone before Xmas, trying to get everything done, last minute shopping, wrapping but we are pretty much there - ds is having a tough time he so lives it being busy but he's getting a bit confused by the comings and goings and is very clingy x the girls are doing well. I decided to try them on formula before bed and I don't know why but felt really guilty and a bit but it's s godsend!! They sleep!!! Been three days of formula (one bottle before bed) and for three nights the girls have slept from 8.30-3 then back asleep until morning!!! I'm amazed!!! I've gone from 5-6 wakes a night to 1 (maybe 2 as Edie will sometimes sleep til 4!) Am hoping it's the start of them sleeping better so we can get them to sleep through then into their own rooms. Time is flying by and I was looking at their pics yesterday of when they were born and I can't imagine them being so small!

I'm off to London today meeting the girls from ds' an thread for lunch, seeing work people them tomorrow we are visiting friends in sheffield so a very early start and late finish but then it's all done for Xmas and we can relax and enjoy the kids x

Hello all,

On my phone again so forgivd if I cant do personal greetings, as scrolling up and down is a bit of a pain. But I definitely want to say hi to katy, thinking of you and hoping all went well and you get to be home for xmas with your new babies!

dream I a managing ok, ups and downs, better now my mums here, but still frustrating... And I never thought I'd say this but I really miss intimacy with dh, sorry if tmi but its one of the things thats getting me down, I have to admit he's much more patient about it all than me! Yesterday I walked down the front garden to the post box, my longest walk since my last gyno app on 7th dec!!!

Re tiredness, I find I fall asleep in front of the telly at 9ish despite doing nothing but sitting all day, so cant imagine what I would be able to do... I still have horrible oelvic pain and any movement is agony, I guess I wouldnt do much walking around even if I could. I do feel for all of you with toddlers to look after.

The travel ststem we got is the baby jogger city select. I did loads of research on the internet, and finally thought was the one that fitted most of our criteria, there just isnt a "perfect" twin puschair I've realised. Still in its box, but I'll get dh to put it up in the holidays. He's taking quite a lot of time off and we'll be dispensing the grannies for a few days, so we can be a "normal" family again. I am really looking forward to that!

I think dtb is still breech as getting lots of kucks in my cervix, while the kicks I get inmy ribs must be dtg, but sometimes i think she might be sideways as well. So hoping he's gojng to turn around, I wonder if there is still hope? I'm 31 weeks today, nxt scan in a weeks time, I am literally counting the days!!

Carrie snd ceasnake hope everything continues well, I cang brlieve the comments some people make. Once you a bsby is growing inside of you ii is real, ignore these people!!

Take care all of you!
M

Its taken me ages to write my post and in the meantime katy beat me to it.

Glad all went well, and massive congratulations to you all!!

Massive congratulations katy!!! Well done. We will hope for some more deatils on your CS and your girls when you have a minute. Would love to know their names and weights, and so pleased to hear they're doing well. I hope it wasn't too awful waiting, I know how worried you were about the CS.

claire, I have been feeling so tired there has been no intimacy in our house for a number of weeks anyway. Since my DH met a mother of DCDA boys who came at 27 weeks the thought of prem labour has become more real for him too, and as they don't scan your cervix here, even he is reluctant as he doesn't want to even think we could have caused it should I go into labour early. Plus, I feel actually disfigured with these varicose veins in my groin and vulva- they look hideous, it all feels so painful and swollen down there, as soon as I'm standing up. They're obviously at their worst by evening, as they've had all day of being up and about to fill up, so most painful. It does feel better lying down, but it is not attractive, and makes me feel horrible and puts me off. But I miss the intimacy, and do feel like I'm letting DH down. I can totally understand that. especially if you constantly have 'help' in the house and no time even just to cuddle up and be just a couple of the sofa (not that my DH is the cuddling on the sofa type- he just moves to the other one if I join him!!!!!)

I like the look of the baby jogger city select. We have gone with the Monster Buggy option ( ABC Everest double with reclingin seat on top, it looks so huge...) bought from ebay and hopefully the sellers will deliver in January- they've been trying to back out of that, but it was the only reason we bid on their buggy so early on- don't say you have in-laws near us if you actually don't want to bring it up would be the lesson for them!! They're going to make us pay their petrol too, even though they're coming up to visit the in-laws, not specifically bring the buggy

raven, how lovely all your furniture is here and everything will be ready for your 2 soon!!!

With DD we had a hand me down moses basket, cot, bouncer, playmat, car seat... We didn't buy anything and I am horrified at the costs. I have joined TAMBA to look at the For sales boards, and we hope to get cotbeds from there, or there are some people selling on the 'local ish facebook twin group etc to avoid the expense. We still haven't got around to getting DD any furniture yet!! Thats my plan- buy her some pretty matching furniture, give the boys what she's got, but get 2 cotbeds. Was horrified to realise the room I'd hoped they could share is too small to fit 2 single beds. DD is in a cot, not cotbed, so now looking at 2 second hand cotbeds so the boys can stay in those until old enough to use a top bunk and go into bunks, if they want to share a room. We do have a 4th bedroom, but it really is a boxroom- you can just fit a single bed in, no room for a wardrobe, or bedside table for a light even, and I think it's best they share for a bit anyway. is that what most other people are doing, having twins sharing?

Fantastic about the sleeping bb3! I will bear that in mind for if we hit breaking point!!! They always tell you formula won't help babies sleep any longer- well, my hv and bf lady did- but clearly it's just not true, and formula is meant to be more filling. I can't believe how busy you sound! I'm finding it hard enough to prepare to go away to family only an hours drive away for 2 nights on Christmas eve, and on to the in-laws on boxing day!!!!

I feel so tired at 23 weeks. Having a cold and DD's antics don't help, but I do think a big part is just the twin pg. I do feel for you quempin, I hope you can have a really relaxing Christmas and be waited on. Sorry to hear of your hospital visits.

such a long post- just finishing work, so must stop wittering on and get home to Dh and DD.
Love to everyone
xx

Hi,

Babies are called Rosie and holly, both doing well breathing on there own now.
Rosie was 5,9 and holly was 5,6. I think that is big for 36 weekers? They look so scrummy.

The csection it's self was fine, no problem not a bit of pain!

I'm in alot of pain and have been sick, I feel pretty rubbish if I'm honest. I think the sickness was down to the codine (sp?)

Also Rosie has a little heart mummer, I was told it was common?? But they will keep a eye on it.

I think I need cuddles with the babies to cheer me up at the moment I'm just full of tears

Katy that's brilliant weights for 36 weeks well done! Asye -Rose has a heart murmur too it's very common and they'll just keep an eye on it for a bit as most babies grow out of it. (although still horrible when they tell you!) hers is still there so we go back for checks every 6 weeks at the moment.

Beautiful names.

Are they still in scbu? Could you go and give them a cuddle? I think it's normal to be emotional after all births but especially twins, as it's such a daunting thing and when they arrive it's like this flurry if emotions - goodness that pg was awful, wow ive got twins, thank goodness they are healthy after everything and bugger me I've got two babies! - Make sure you get lots if baby dc and dh hugs over the next couple of days x

Well done again sounds like you did brilliantly xx

Will you be allowed home for Xmas?