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?

Probably the same as most weekends - lie on the sofa napping while dp does the housework! How about you?

We've got a bit of a busy one this weekend - my parents are visiting so we're going to the RAF museum tomorrow, probably a walk somewhere in the afternoon and dinner in the evening. Phew - I'll be ready for bed by then! Sunday should be quieter and I'm determined to sort through DD's old stuff to see what can be re-used for these two, I'm sure I'll look at it and think it's really worn looking but in my memory I put it away pristine for the next baby (singular, ha!).

We didn't have much joy with cars the other day - tested the VW Tiguan and Tuareg, but they both seem SO big to me, and you sit up high like in a lorry. I think I probably have totally unrealistic expectations though; I basically want a small car with room inside for 3 kids, 2 adults, a massive buggy and a few bags... Mary Poppins' carpet bag would probably be most practical!

That sounds nice but tiring

I just remembered I am going to a baby second hand sale tomorrow

DH and I have just moved house so we'll be busy sorting through umpteen boxes I should imagine! Have properly swollen ankles at the moment after a day's unpacking this week. Trying to stick my feet up as much as possible at work today.

Jessie, I've just ordered a new car. Gone for a Suzuki Vitara, it's not quite as cumbersome as some of the others but still feels like a good solid car. Good height too. Not got it yet but it was a nice run when I test drove it the other week.

The Suzuki looks really nice. We need a 6 seater, the choice is trading in dh car for a 6 seater as he is at home or seeing if my company car can be swapped. Normally we rack up mileage on mine at the weekends, and I'm not sure I fancy my commute (or the cost of it) in a 7 seater or his current car (which is lovely but quite small).

This weekend I want to do very, very little, interspersed with sleeping. Had a mad week at work, including an overnight stay, so am going to recover. Had a bizarre dizzy spell when I got up in the night to go to the toilet.

Going through baby clothes sounds like a good idea. Maybe wash and line dry them and pop them in drawers ready!

Is anyone using cloth nappies? I'm so glad I bought them for Ds now as they are ready to use again. I'm actually excited about choosing new designs! And making more reusable wipes! Ahh sad life I lead at present!

Hi everyone. I'm 26+3 with boy/girl twins and I have a DD who will be 2 next month. We have gone for the Vista and a buggy board because DD is starting to Houdini her way out of her pushchair and likes walking everywhere so I thought it would suit her in the long run. Plus, I wanted something very sturdy to carry the weight of 3 DCs without being too wide.

How is everyone feeling? I read that you are supposed to have your hospital bag packed by 26 weeks. I've started packing one because I'm hoping Sod's Law will come into play and I won't go into preterm labour. With DD, I was told to come into the hospital the day before my due date and I had nothing packed because I assumed I would be late.

Hiya!
Thought I'd join you all. I'm currently 21+1 with DCDA twin boys.
We have been told they are none identical; they each have their own placenta and there is a thick dividing wall between them.
I'm moving in 3 weeks time to be closer to family for support when the boys arrive, so I will be starting maternity leave at 23 weeks. Early, but its half term the week after, and with the move back up north, I think I'll be ready to finish! Worrying a little about registering at new docs and not missing out on scans; just love seeing the boys wiggling around!!
Me and my husband are both really excited to meet our little ones :-)
Still lots to do before they arrive!
Hope you are all keeping well!

Hi bluish and kaylalou, welcome to our thread! Really nice to have a few of us now

Kaylalou, I have my 20 week scan in just over a week and am sooo excited to find out what we're having! Have just moved address too, and although I'm in the same county, am still slightly nervous about something not translating across properly when I move surgery. Will be watching carefully!

Bluish, am planning to start thinking about my bag in the next month or so, I'd rather plan ahead because I agree, Sod's law will surely kick in if we don't!! Talking of bags, exactly what is everyone packing? First babies for us and this is all new territory. I'm sure it's in one of my books somewhere, but they're packed in one of the thousand house move boxes still I suspect!!

It's really nice to have a decent sized group of us on here now, welcome to kayla and bluish!

I've decided to do my bag this week, now that I'm 25 weeks. There are loads of lists on websites and Pinterest, but I thought the thread on 'tips for c section (under child birth) was good reference for some additional items given the risk of c section with twins.

I think I'm making myself really paranoid about movement and counting the kicks. Mine are still changing position a lot and I struggle sometimes to figure out which one has kicked me. One does seems to be a lot quieter than the other - anyone else have this?

Kayla, dcda doesn't necessarily mean non identical! It's more likely non identical but as they are the same sex, it is about a 10-20% chance that they did come from one egg which split really early and form separate placentas meaning they would be identical! One third of identical twins have separate placentas. It's surprising how many medical professionals don't know that. Same for my dcda girls.
34+4 here today. Feeling like it could be any day but keeping my fingers crossed for another couple of weeks

I'm the exact same Ready! One of mine kicks a lot while the other one is pretty quiet. It does make me a bit paranoid. But I've already gone into the maternity unit once and he was fine, just not as active as his sister.

Does anyone else feel like this pregnancy is so much harder and feels so much longer than their singleton? I literally am counting down the days until I reach 37 days. I have 73 more days to go!

Welcome all - it's so nice to have a little group of us!

I'm 19 weeks today and feeling pretty good - I'm marking this as the halfway point and blowing a little trumpet as I'm optimistically aiming to get to 38 weeks... we'll see! Over this weekend my whole body has suddenly decided to get VERY pregnant - I made it to about 30 weeks with my first before my face, arms, legs, bum etc ballooned but not this time! Even my lips look huge this morning... bizarre!

I did get 'round to sorting through DD's old baby clothes this weekend though and washed, folded and put away about half of them. Its probably largely down to the hormones but it made me a bit teary; DD still seems so little, but she's going to have to grow up very quickly when there are two new littlies pushing her out of her pushchair, cot, clothes etc etc. I'm going to make a little bucket list of fun stuff for me and DD to do before I get too big and uncomfortable to manage it - nothing big but I want to make time to do more of the things we enjoy together.

Yes to re-usable nappies; they worked really well for us last time, although the amount of laundry we're going to be doing at first with three in nappies is a little daunting!

Hope everyone's doing well! x

Hi ladies, Can I join you? I am 9 weeks with twins. We found out last week so nothing is set in stone. I have been reading far too much about vanishing twin and am worrying myself silly even though there is nothing i can do about it.
I have a 3 year old and 18month old and what we thought was #3 was already a major shock, now we have found out it is #3&4 we are walking about in a daze muttering things like new car, new house.
I have been using re-usable nappies with my son but am a little concerned about having 3 in cloth.
Gosh that all sounds very negative. We are very excited by it all. :)

Hi everyone - can I join? I'm nearly 31 weeks with identical twins. I was having scans every 2 weeks but now dropped down to every 3.

I can't believe how fast the weeks are flying by now and busy getting organised. I was very wary of doing too much preparation too soon in case anything went wrong so only really started getting ready in the last couple of weeks. I have found that everyone is quite cautious especially with identical twins as there is only one placenta so risk of TTTS but have got to the stage now where I need to get ready!

Some of you are more prepared than me! Just starting washing baby clothes (already have a 4 year old and kept lots of things) and still need to sort out another baby car seat (just hoping I can fit 2 baby seats and a booster seat in my little Mercedes) which should be done this week. No hospital bag done yet so that will be next on the list.

Readyforthefuture I find I feel the movement of one much more than the other but I have one head down (the lots of movement one) and one transverse so think the position can have a lot to do with it. They say to monitor what is normal for your babies so try not to worry.

Welcome everyone! For those of you with DC already, I'm amazed at your ability to look after them with twins on the way too. This is my first, but finding the physical demands of twin pregnancy tough going.

It's been weird since I posted my last post, the usually active twin has quietened down, while the other one has started moving more. I do feel more reassured though, and just trusting my gut instinct. My next scan is in 3 weeks, where I'll also be getting the injection for rhesus negative thing I have going on.

That's good they've reduced scans thelion - does that mean they gave no concerns about growth now? I've been having scans every 4 weeks as dcda.

I'm lucky as my eldest as just started reception so great timing. With being that bit older he understands when I say I have to sit down/rest etc. Admire those who have littlies.

Kickedinthetits they seem to be happy with growth. One alittle smaller than the other but has always been like that right from 12 week scan. No sign of TTTs as well so they slightly scale back the scans.

Having a birth options appointment next week. Hoping to try for a vaginal birth but will depend on their position.

Hello everyone, we found out on Wednesday that we are due DCDA twins on 8th April. Absolutely terrified.
We already have a 19m old girl.

Hi to Sleepy, Lion and Fizzle!

20 weeks on Thursday, so over the half way mark now. Looking forward to our next scan on Monday when hopefully we can find out what sex we're having! DCDA as well so any combination possible. I have a look again at the 12 week scan trying to apply nub theory and have a guess, but honestly am still none the wiser!

Like Ready and Bluish, one twin is definitely more active than the other one. The larger one is the quieter one of the two, the smaller one I feel a lot. It does worry me because the the smaller one has an anterior placenta, so in theory I should feel the other one more as they have a fundal placenta. So always wondering if my left hand side twin is ok in there. I need to stop reading though because it just makes things worse. Nothing is ever text book!

Got myself a bit freaked out yesterday. Went through the whole day without feeling any movement from my active twin. Eventually I couldn't stand it anymore and called the midwife. So I ended up in the local MAU. After a while they found her heartbeat, she was apparently wrapping herself around her sister so their movements were probably overlapping. Who knew they could do that???

A hot bath later and I've managed to move her back to her side. It's really hard not to worry more with twins, so many of the normal rules have to be adapted

Fingers crossed for the scan helybel

Morning all!

That does sound scary Ready, and I know what you mean about getting more worried than with a singleton. I actually feel like my anxiety levels are about the same as with DD but I think that’s the ‘second child chill’ and ‘two babies worry’ balancing each other out… DP however is manic this time, and didn’t seem at all worried with DD. Glad to hear it all turned out ok anyway, do take care.

Hope the scan goes well Helybel!

Welcome and congratulations Fizzle, my DD is 21 months so similar to yours – what a whirlwind huh?!

I don’t suppose anyone here is going to the Suffragette screening on Friday through MN?

Hi ladies,
Was hoping I could join you all. I am 19+1 with dcda twins, due 1st March. From our 17 week scan we think boy/girl but hopefully will get confirmed at next weeks 20 week scan. We already have a 3 year old ds. Am hoping to work til 15th Jan (34 weeks), am probably being v hopeful!!

I am glad everything is okay Ready. I did the same thing a few weeks ago except it was the less active twin that I couldn't feel. Everything was fine and luckily the maternity unit was quiet so I didn't feel too guilty about wasting their time.

Freckles and Jessie I also have a 23 month old. Have you thought about how you are going to prepare them for the new babies? My DD is totally and utterly uninterested. She loves my twin pregnancy book because it has glossy photos of babies but she hasn't connected that with my huge belly. I know she will be fine but I worry because although she loves her dad, she only wants me when she gets upset or sleepy and I would hate for her to feel replaced. I also realise that I'm building it up in my head and there is a huge possibility that she really won't mind. So fingers crossed.

Is Suffragette going to general release now then? I heard a review weeks ago and would really like to watch it but seeing how I've been to the cinema 3 times since DD was born, I might have to wait until it is released on DVD.

No bluish, my DD in no way gets what's going on or has any idea what's going to hit her! I've been quite worried about it as she's very disinterested and I think she's really going to miss the undivided attention she enjoys right now. We did get a few books from the library for little ones about new babies and becoming a big brother or sister but we haven't read any yet! I'll let you know when we do.

I've thought about finishing work a bit early or taking some extra leave to spend a bit of quality time with her before they arrive but that may not happen and probably wouldn't help her anyway... Just assuage my guilt. Let me know if you have any bright ideas!

I'd also love to work on potty training and getting DD off her bedtime nurse, which she still uses for comfort, but I feel like I'm just rushing her and it's a bit cruel.

When i was pregnant with my second everytime i felt guilty that he would have to share me or wouldn't get as much attention anymore i reminded myself how much i love my brother and sister and all the stuff we got up to as kids. I wouldn't change it for the world and feel blessed to have them to share my childhood. I also do not remember a time without them. Unfortunately my plan for mummy and son time was taken away as i was admitted at 30 weeks (had a prem birth at 33) and although it was hard for all of us at the time, he loves his brother to bits and actually gets upset that he isn't in early photos when it is just ds1 and us.
Saying all that i still worry about how they will be when there are 2 babies taking mummies attention. I think its completely natural for us to worry and get Mummy guilt.