Twin and multiple AN thread

[Mummyofonesofar]

Hi, just wondering if there were a few of us around so we could have a little support group for expectant twin or multiple mummys? 11+4 today for me and mostly very excited but also very scared of all the horror stories and hope we can all reassure each other?

Interesting 43. Can I ask why you would prefer a c section when you have had an uncomplicated delivery before? I am not 100% decided but I think I am more likely to opt for a VB if both babies are head down. My birth with dd was on and I'm scared of the recovery with c section. It is quite a hard decision I think.
Obviously I'll take the advice if the medical professionals though!

It's so nice to have a group to talk 'twin' with, it is different with different fears.

I don't know if any of you have nicknames for your twins yet or if it's just me (so we know who we're talking about). I have twin 1 nicknamed 'sleepy' as she was always asleep in the early scans, twin 2 is 'wriggly' for obvious reasons. Both of them are pretty active now, and seem to have hot into a routine each in there. Anyway sleepy is currently in breech position, but that could all change still. If she stays there we'll be having a c-section.

Kicked, with ds my local hospital would not facilitate a vbac in water. The consultant said I must be on constant monitoring but I would have a drip to speed things up. Her concern was uterine rupture. I researched like mad. The drip could increase the risk of rupture (I wasn't told this) and there was more chance of it leading to episiotomy, forceps and potentially c-section. I knew I could hypnobirth but wanted freedom to move around and be in water.

I changed hospitals and travelled out of county (1 hour away) to have a waterbirth. It was successful, but I lost a lot of blood and tore loads (45 mins to be stitched). I over ran the schedules the hospitals expect, 1 cm per hour, and they monitored me in water and I got on with it. Can't see that being 'allowed' with twins!

I dread a medicalised labour! I would prefer to have a c-section (planned) then get 12 hours in and be taken for one. Or end up with drips, forceps etc. the c section recovery doesn't worry me too much as dh is a sahd so will be available 24/7. I will speak to people closer to the time and see what position they are in, but my gut says c-section.

No nicknames yet. I too have one who moves more! Looking forward to the next scan.

Anyone decided on a pram yet?

43percent I'm 18+3 today, so one day behind you! We do want to know what we're having. I've never been good with waiting for things :)

Like mumofone and kicked, I would opt for VB if the babies are head down. This will be my first labour so no experience at all (not sure if that's good or bad), but I'm thinking about the recovery afterwards. Happy with emcs if better for the babies, will take advice.

We're going to get the Icandy peach blossom jobby for the pram. I'd gone in thinking I'd like side by side, but after we'd both wheeled various ones around the busy shop and collapsed a few, we both felt the Icandy was a lot easier for me to manage on my own.

Hi all! Wow, it’s great to have such a full thread! Congratulations all on your twins – how exciting!

I know what you mean about the birth plan 43%; I had a similar waterbirth with my first and was hoping for the same again. I’m holding onto the fact that everything has been straight-forwards so far and there’s no reason to assume I’ll need a CS, but trying not to get my hopes up… We’ll see!

Great idea to give them nick-names Ready - we’re currently using ‘A’ and ‘B’, but we’ve got a few names picked out now so can probably start using those once we’re fixed. To be honest ‘Pukey’ and ‘Peepee’ would be the most accurate names based on the effect they’ve had on me so far, but that seems a little unkind.

We’ve got the Phil and Ted’s Vibe and my LO (20 months) still uses it, so my plan at the moment is just to convert that into a double for two babies. I’m going to have to work on getting DD out of it by the time these two arrive though and then just use a sling for one of the babies and convert to toddler and baby set up if she still needs it. ARGH!

Wow I took the weekend off not very well and come back to loads of friendly new faces!

Jessie I have told my employers that I aim to finish at the end of Jan at around 31 weeks, I was told (by Dr Google) to expect to be 40cm by 30w so full term singleton size so only working until around then. Had Friday off with sickness and on anti sickness meds now so hoping they continue to work.

Welcome and congratulations Ready, helybel, kicked, 43%

43% 38 weeks is very ambitious!

I am also worried about recovery after cs, DP will be off for 2 weeks and I have asked my DM to come and stay a few weeks after that so I will have support, but I can imagine bf two babies in the night is going to be hard with the healing! Nicknames: DS has named them ping and pong, we also have a wiggly one and a calm one, looking forward to another scan on Wednesday for nuchal screening and hopefully finding out if fraternal or ID – also DP is coming so it will be nice for him to see them. We find out the sex in November, very excited as we want to know!

Prams – so glad to have somewhere to talk twin buggys! I thought I was in love with the bugaboo donkey, however having seen it in the flesh yesterday it is far too wide. Our little town is not built for big pushchairs and would not be able to get out with it! We like the icandy peach blossom, very easy and nice you can see both babies in the carrycots. I wanted a side by side as feel so bad having to “pick” a twin to see and a twin to be hidden. We want to test drive the new Uppababy Vista as when using the world facing option, the back twin is higher so both babies can see out which I think is lovely, but using the car seats and carrycots one baby is hidden again.

Yeah the Bugaboo is a nice idea but I couldn't manage it. Plus, I understand when the car seats are attached that it won't fit through a standard doorway.

I wasn't keen on a tandem for exactly the same reason, but it's so much easier for me to steer. I'll alternate which twin gets the top view :)

Is it easier to steer and get around in the shops, so going to need a tandem too. can't wait to try the Vista as I think it is a perfect combination of both, plus when babies are in the seat and want to look around, both babies can see and be seen.

I haven't seen or heard of the vista, might need to look that one up!

vista link Watch to the end where they add a second child the same age - both can see out - it is lovely

Ooh that looks good too! I see what you mean about both seeing out. May be another option to consider. Where have you seen that? Haven't spotted that in mothercare or John Lewis. I want to try before I buy!

Someone on another AN group suggested it to me, the only big chain who stock it are John Lewis but it is probably set up as a single so wasn't clear. There is a stockist list on their website. Kiddicare stock it but the only showroom is Peterb'gh

Mummy & jessie love the thinking behind the nicknames. I think it helps with building the bond before they arrive, you do get to know a little bit of their personality based on how they kick, when they are awake and how they behave in scans.

Pram wise, we bought the Bugaboo Donkey. I really wanted a side-by-side because of the whole seeing each baby and them seeing the world thing. I know already it doesn't fit through our front door, but after some debate we decided that the benefits outweighed this drawback. We mostly use the car, and they are expected in winter so we will probably be more car dependent than normal, in which case we don't need to fit through the door that often.

We are looking at the baby jogger city select pram. The seats can be positioned in 16 different ways and visibility for the rear child is not bad. You can also put one of them toddler standing boards on the back. Ds walks everywhere but it's nice as an option.

I used a baby bjorn sling with ds but am looking at wrapslings for the twins. With some you can carry both together!

Yes I feel 38 weeks is ambitious! I really don't want maternity leave prior to them being born. My maternity leave package is the minimum allowed and I want to be off 7 months if possible. I took 5 with ds and he was 2 weeks late and panicked about whether I would manage to express enough milk on my return to work as he was not yet 5 months. Mummy, I also read with twins you are 40 weeks equivalent at 28/30 weeks. Is this true?

I was measuring 40 weeks at 28 weeks and finished work at 30 weeks. I really couldn't have worked any longer. Just felt so uncomfortable sitting up at a computer and even the walk from the bus stop was too much. I guess some people would be able toto work longer though! My friend with identical twins isn't nearly as big as me- my babies are measuring on the 60th centile. Finished at 39 weeks with my first pregnancy! I think this time I also an very aware that there is a risk of preterm labour so I figure the more rest I get, the better.

Prams- my local twin group almost unanimously recommended the city select- it is long, a bit like driving a bus! Through the same group we got a second hand one with carry cots, seats, rain covers, foot cosies in really good condition for £250.

Hmm, I was vaguely thinking of aiming to finish work at 34weeks but perhaps that's a little ambitious too... I think I'll suggest that for now but resist making any firm decisions for a little while. I've made the mistake of reading a few pregnancy blogs of mums of twins and I'm faintly terrified by the growth after 30weeks!

I second what kicked is saying. I'm 24+3 now and currently signed off sick with various pregnancy complaints, it's tough, and I'm not even in my last trimester yet! I'm currently measuring at around 30 to 31 weeks, so it's only going to get worse.

I have told work I'll work up to week 32, but already thinking I won't make it that far, maybe week 30 is more realistic. It's a shame we don't get extra paid leave for the extra babies though.

43% that pram looks fab too – especially with both twins being able to face each other! Another one to add to the list to try to view. I didn’t know twin slings existed, another thing to look into!

I have heard that the 40w size at 30w is accurate ish so that is what I am expecting. Though I have been given the percentile chart for singletons as there doesn’t seem to be one for twins in the NHS!

kicked preterm labour is something I am also worried about. My friends daughter is pg with ID twins EDD 1/11 and being taken for a cs Monday as both are breach – she will be 36w which I think is a fab stage to get to! I will be so glad if I get to term-ish (37w or there abouts). I wish we had twin groups to ask advice at near us but we live in Cumbria and there is nothing – not even an antenatal class for twins. We are going to attend a tamba conference in November, anyone else up north and attending one?

A friend of mine has hers at 31 weeks!
I'm measuring 45 weeks now at 34 weeks.

Wow kicked looking good!

Just signed up to join tamba - they give 10% discount to members in mothercare

You look great kicked!

We're going car shopping tonight; we'd just about fit in our Golf as a family of 5, but I think it's going to be tight so we're going to see what else is about. I'd really rather not have a huge car, but it feels like we might need one. This may be a strange question but has anyone taken test drives with kids? ...I'd like to go with DP if possible but that obviously means taking our LO along too (20 months), will they be able to fit her car seat etc into any car we want to test drive or do you think I need to let them know in advance?

I had a classic last night: I was talking to a neighbour; she's 65 and is training for a marathon at the moment; I'm so impressed that she's taking this on now she's retired and said how I'd like to be able to do the same when I retire. She looked totally stunned and said "Retire?! You'll never be able to work again once you've got twins dear!" Outrageous! I really had to bite my tongue to force out an "Oh, we'll see..." and scuttle quickly inside.

jessie glad you managed to hold your tongue at your old school neighbour! Never test driven with a child - I would call ahead to check.

Had my nuchal scan today - both very very low risk. They have confirmed DCDA twins so probably non ID. DP came with me and welled up watching them wiggle. And they let us hear both heartbeats which were beautiful. Both different so I recon one of each. Will wait and see!

That's fab news mummy - great picture! Kicked, it's good that your local twin group recommended that pram. Jessie - we are thinking about cars too. I got my car approx 2 weeks before I found out I was pregnant. A family of 5 would fit okay but I think we will have to sell dh's and get a people carrier!

Am really worried about having to leave work early. I commute 1.5 hours in and out of work (3 hours total). I can work from home but probably only once a week. I am resting as much as possible in the evenings and at weekends, dh is insistent I do as little as possible at home - he is super excited. I also have almost 3 weeks holiday left to take. So will take one week in October and two in December.

Has anyone got spd? I said to my midwife I have a lot of pelvic pain she said that's normal especially with twins, no mention of a physio referral. I have read early physio is important so I am debating pushing for it.

Yes push for physio I had it with DS' pregnancy. They weren't very helpful, mostly suggested cegals and a bump support band to try to make me stand better. But you shouldn't suffer with no support.

Anyone got anything planned for the weekend?