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

Oops, sorry dream didn't realise your DH is a Dr! But honestly, that consultant was being really unfair to you.

BB3 - we have to stop meeting like this! Seriously, I'm so sorry your little boy is so unwell and you've been getting no sleep. That all sucks and I hope you get a bit of a rest during the day?

Morning all - well that night was horrible but it's another day (hopefully a better one) have cancelled all the visits / jobs and we are staying in on the sofa all day feeding and dozing x ill try and work up energy to take girls to be weighed later but we will see!

quemp yay for good scan - and bloody brilliant weights - well done (no wonder you're tired!) how many weeks are you now (am thinking between 35-36) so elcs next week - Sooo exciting!!! Cannot wait to have more babies arrive.

You're right you have to stick to your guns about it - if you've got idiot consultant again dream ask him to categorically state there are no risks of re-tearing with your history, twin vb and probably giant babies! and why he is disagreeing with the other consultant who while giving you a choice recommends elcs because of all the above!

How is dd today?

Rednelle lol at meeting - sure there will be one or two mummies on at that time after the babies arrive!

twin and Katy hope you and your girls are doing well xxx

Oh bb3, your poor ds. I hope the antibiotics sort him out right quick! DD seems much brighter today- she was up at 1 and 6 again last night, coughing and coughing, but actually managed to settle herself! Phew. Felt a little guilty about not going and giving her some water, which I know she'd have had after all the coughing, but then she'd have not wanted to be left again etc etc so I just didn't... So a much better night here, if not marvellous. Miles better than yours. DH is considering trying DD with a salbutamol inhaler to try and kick this cough once and for all, but it's just that she's getting virus after virus- she was well for 3-4 days over Christmas (bar the cough). Just not sure if she's too little and her airways too little still for the salbutamol to do much for her. The 'real' GP at the surgery thought we should just tough it out and wait for it to get better...

quempin what fantastic weights, well done you!!! No wonder you feel heavy! Not long to go, you must be getting excited. Having a date must be such a relief. I'm up in the night weeing all the time already- blaming second pg too for that, plus the fact mine will clearly be about 10lb by the time they're born!!!

DH is reassuring me that the consultant I saw, while very good, is not great with his communication skills (they spent more time chatting about my DH having gone into GP-dom and the differences since he worked on ob/gyn with him 6 years ago). DH still thinks I shouldn't start psyching myself up for VB and go for section, but now I'm wondering if I'm just being a wuss and it'd be fine?! But then I rmember they'll be whoppers, I'm currently 100% convinced I'll be induced at 38 weeks (and I'm not having another induced labour for VB) and so going round in circles. I've got so long to go I may as well stop thinking about it.

oh, and bb3, I found some stats on the NHS website that says 1/3 of identical twins are/were DCDA. I seem to be believing because my boys were absolutley bang on dates, not even measuring a day apart at 12 week scan and so similar in size now that they will be ID. Delusional and hormonal.... I am even debating googling genetic testing and having them checked. Not that it would matter now, only if they had some health issue where if one had it it would be checked for in the other, and for my own interest! I'm only thinking of it as one of my friends is an ID twin, and they have a strong cancer history in her family (her dad died when she was 16, her uncle, her grandma and a few other I think) and if she carried the gene she had a 60-70% chance of developing the cancer. Her sister refused testing, and as they're ID she had to be tested to prove it, then have egnetic counselling, and can now not tell any of her family, or her sister, EVER, she (and so of course her sis) are not carriers because her sister has chosen not to find out. Very unusual situation I'm sure.

ANd rednellie, you're right of course that you can't protect them from everything as they get older, ad she does need to learn to go to sleep by herself again. Wise words.DH does do bedtime quite often now- she used to go down for him but not me, until she stopped doing it for either of us!!

Hi again

Had my scan today and babies are fine, heartbeats loud and strong, but twin 1 still breech, dr thinks hd might still turn over but have some doubts... Cervix is about yhe same if not better (took 3 different measurrments, smallest was same as last one was .5cm more).
Had blood tests which were fine. They couldnt tell me the weights as this was at thr hospitals a&e but I'll have a dedicated scan for that on 11th jan. All good but didnt get to see thd babies properly as dr actually quite rushed (it was during her shift at the hospital), a bit of an anticlimax for me... At least the 11th is not that far away and that will be a more detailed scan.

bb3 I also hope that your ds gets better soon with a/bs and a day oc feeding anc cudes on the sofa sounds really good to me!

quempin good news about your scan too, you are so close now, I saw a few tiny newborns while waiting at thd hospital today anc I just melted and cant wait to have here now!

rednellie seeing a physio is a bit complicated as I'm housebound and bedrest (well More like sofa rest and can go to the loo get up for the odd thing, but definitely not going out), also its really not taken very seriously here in Italy as just considered part and parcel of pregnancy. In general the attitude to pain relief id very much just get on it! (epidurals are quite new and rare and theres nothing else offered!) so I doubt I would get a referral. Ig is much better today though. I think the ice pack helped also ig seems to get better the more I walk!

The dds have decide to cook dinner tomorrow night, wrote a menu anc have just gone out with dh to get the shopping done...I think their menu ix a bit ambitious, but didnt want to discourage them... We can always get a takeaway I guess!

Hope you have better nights tonight!

Hey claire - that's a shame, but totally understand. This website is useful for some tips: [http://www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/]

I also once got told to walk with my bum clenched at all times to stabilize the pelvis. Makes you look you're gliding along - very amusing. Anyway, hope the website helps. xx

Hello everyone,

I'm so sorry I keep flying by with questions but I'm really finding everything so over whelming at the moment!!!

BB3 and anyone else who ha twins please tell me it gets easier, I'm exhausted really to burst into tears.

They honestly seam to stop start in sync with each other, last night they had there feed an wouldn't settle till next feed so I ended up letting them sleep in the car seats a I was fit to drop!!

I'm dreading my dh going back to work, I just can't cope with it :(

Claire yay for scan!

Katy it does get easier! I'm not saying it's a piece of cake as it would be a lie. Yes, it is challenging but they do get themselves sorted. The first few weeks I felt like a milking parlour as was feeding every two hours day and night and not co-feeding so constantly had one on the boob! When does dh go back to work? Things that helped me were long walks in the pram that would set them to sleep for a good length (even better if dh can take them and give you an hour off), also at 3 months I started them on formula for their night feed (bf all other times) and the difference in sleep was shocking! I'm not telling you to do that as it's up to you but had I known it would make them sleep more I would have done it from the start! Sleeplessness is tough but can anyone help just by sitting with them for an hour do you can nap?

I'm currently breastfeeding and topping up with formular.

At the moment there are both going ballistic ahhh

Ok we have calm babies now.

Hubby goes back in 2 weeks thank god no sooner!! I'm dreading it.

It just seams impossible at the moment and I feel like I am doing a rubbish job

Yeah that sounds pretty standard but you are more than likely to be doing a brilliant job - they take a lot of getting used too so dont be too hard on yourself!

claire, great the scan showed 2 happy little babies. Will you be having a CS with twin 1 breech then if they stay that way? Is that your little boy who you said is breech? Good news anyway and not long to the 11th. What are your dds planning to cook? A lovely thought!

Katy, no wonder its hard- 2 newborns, 3 other children, major surgery (how is your scar/pain now?) . I found myself wondering how I'd cope on my own with dd!!! I'm sure you're doing a wonderful job.

Breaking news- as dd seemed better we took her to soft play to wear her out (not that I ever attempt to put her to bed if she's not looking tired). I put her down as I have every night, just the same routine as always and she lay and went to sleep after 45 min or so, no tears!!!!!! I'm not getting too excited, but hoping she's feeling better and getting some confidence back I'll sort her sleep before the boys are born. Til tomorrow at least when it goes tits up again...!

Go dd!!!!!

dream dont think about tomorrow, go yo bed and enjoy your sleep tonight!!!
Yes if he continues to be breech it'll have to be ac/s which makes rather anxious, in Italy they don't even allow husbands in with you... But no point getting upset about it, I wojldnt attempt a breech delivery! Anyway this pregnancy has turned out to be everythinf I did not want/expect so all I want now is 2 healthy babies!
The girls want to make bread rolls from scratch (I have now convinced them to makd the dough in my bread machine though!), a cheesy pasta bake, and some sort if thin biscuits with icecream. They found the recipes on a kiddies cookbook. It'll be an interesting night!

katy so sorry you are feeling like this, but like dream said it is totally understandable, make the most of dh while he's still at home and in 2 weeks time, who knows things may gave improved, your older ones will br back in school and things should get a little easier. Have you got anyone who can come and help a few hours a week?
Take care

katy, obviously can't give advice about twin care (yet), but I'm pretty damn sure you are not doing a rubbish job. The first days/weeks are so hard with newborns, just keep telling yourself this stage wont last. Thinking of you and sending solidarity...

dream - YEY! Go DD! I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping this post doesn't wake her up.

Anyone who's had their babies/planning their birth - did you think about a doula? I'm vaguely thinking about it as i had my Mum at DD's birth as well as DH and it was great to have that extra strength/support in the room. I'm kind of lucky here in that I'll have my midwife there as well as the hospital team (nurse, doc and pediatrician if ness), so am wondering if a doula would be a bit of a spare part or if she would be a good non-medical advocate? Thoughts on a postcard please!

claire your daughters sound LOVELY. I'm hoping my LO follows in their footsteps - she was closely watching me making bread the other day so I have high hopes (she's not even 2!!! )

quempin, a formula bottle is a 'heavier' meal, but bottles and formula are also more likely to make babies more windy as its easier to suck in air and a baby with s sore tummy doesn't sleep!! Dd was refluxy, poor little mite, so in pain if laid flat after a feed and miserable... She first slept through, 7pm-7am at 10 weeks 5 days (that sounds so early to me now, but I've got it written in her red book!!) From a bf of course. So not every baby is the same. With her I was dead against trying formula. With these two I'm much more open!!! And looking at her red book, this 3 month 'phase' of bad sleep and difficulty putting her down at night has clearly gone on longer than it ever did even when she was a newborn!!! She wasn't ill then though... I think getting out plus her feeling better has been the miracle with the sleep- can't take more soft play though. As she never crawled she's not a climber, and needs a lot of parental supervision and help... Very hard work for me with this bump!! Hope your hospital appointment goes well, gosh you're so close!!

Claire, whatever you did with your girls, pass on the tips!! They sound helpful and thoughtful and generally lovely.

Quemp - I'd just see how it goes - I'm linking ff to sleep but at 12 weeks it could just have been them deciding to do it! I do have to say though I now give them two bottles at 4/5 and 6/7pm so I'm feeding them once at night, morning, mid morning and lunch and just taking out two feeds has made me feel more human and like I have time to myself. I find myself finishing the last feed at about 2 and going ahh that's my job done! I wouldn't rule out ff just be open to both or one!!

I wouldn't rule out bf!!!

Duh! Just been to emergency dr - me Edie and ds all have eye infections, ds still boiling, and I have tonsillitis - happy new year to us (good job I wasn't planning a big nye party hey!!! ).

Happy New Year ladies here's to exciting 2012's all round xxx

BB3 that all sounds a bit rubbish. Hope the docs sorted you all out. Winter really is the pits sometimes isn't it? Bloody colds and fevers and being ill. I really do hope you all start feeling better.

quemp - my LO was exclusively bf and like dream's DD wouldn't take a bottle at all, but she has always slept beautifully. Started sleeping through from about 7 weeks on, with the odd 3am wake up - once a night getting up is doable. But I think that's just because of the kind of baby she is - not something I was doing 'right'. I think some babies sleep more than others, are better at getting into a routine etc. But sometimes, enough milk isn't enough, if that makes sense - whether it's yours or formula. PS good luck with all your tests this week. xxx

Btw, was going back through old messages on the thread before this and someone was asking about a book for baby care. The most useful one I found was by Miriam Stoppard as it talked you through things like bathing, changing nappies, bf, bottle feeding etc etc and it had clear pictures and step by step instructions rather than being some sort of philosophical text! Here's a link: Miriam Stoppard