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?

Hi all, not much to report at my end. Just had my midwife appointment and found out my midwife has been signed off sick for a month so far, and is out until at least next year. That explains why she hadn't been responding to my texts or voicemails, and why she never called with my test results. But pretty poor no one else called her patients!

Babies are fine, getting very heavy and starting to run out of space. Everyone is asking when I think they'll come (like I have some kind of crystal ball). Now 33+4 here.

Hi everyone. Glad to hear that everyone is doing well and the weeks are flying by.

Well my boys are here. Went in to be induced 3 weeks ago but didn't realise that they wouldn't start me off until they had 2 cots in nicu (just standard practice in our hospital I think). Waited around a couple of days and then they explained would have to think about moving me to another hospital as I was coming up to 37 weeks with mo di twins.

Obviously not want you want to hear. They then carried out a scan and both dopplar readins were getting really high and consultant said I needed to have them asap by cs rather than trying for a vaginal birth as our smaller twin would have come out first.

Nicu agreed that I could have a cs the next day but myself and the boys (or one twin depending if a nicu cot was needed) would then be transferred to another hospital (nearest one 1 hr away) so all abit stressful.

Cs all fine and the 2 boys ok. Smaller one did need nicu as falling blood sugars so they put a feeding tube in and he was there 48 hrs.

Home 4 days after birth and now the hard work begins! Forgot about the newborn phase and then x it by 2! Feeling ok although breastfeeding just not happening - neither has a good latch or suck. On the plus side can do nightshifts with hubby using my expressed milk!

Good luck everyone and any questions let me know x

Mine came at 37 weeks on the dot.

Congratulations Lion!!!! I'm planning on trying to bf but if it doesn't work I would like to express. What type of pump are you using. I'm thinking of hiring a hospital grade one to make it more efficient.

My mum is flying in tomorrow and I have my last scan/consultant appointment on Wednesday. My c-section isn't booked until 38 weeks so l have 2 more weeks to go. We put up the cot today so one step closer. It is starting to feel very real.

How is everyone else doing?

Hello everyone, congratulations lion!

Am now 28+6 and very anaemic. Iron supplements are making me really sick, I have resorted back to spatone but am concerned it's not enough. Struggling to eat much too and I am only wanting carbs again!

Bluish regarding breast pumps I used a spectra dew for ds, it's a dual pump and really good. Better then the one I borrowed from the HV. I expressed 4/5 times a day with it for 9 months, managed to return to work and solely breastfeed.

We dug out ds baby clothes yesterday and are debating buying tiny baby clothes just in case. Has everyone bought tiny baby clothes?

Had scan number 4, still don't want to know the sex, all okay - baby 1 is slightly bigger.

Bluish I have hired a medela symphony double which is the one I used in hospital. It is a fab one and you do need a good one when you are using it so often. Enjoy your last couple of weeks - they will fly by.

Also something else that is really helping us at the minute is a full freezer - we did loads of batch cooking and had about 40 meals & it is so easy just to get something out in the morning. Would really recommend cooking or doing a good shop with lots of meals you can just bung in the oven and leave and even prepared veg as you won't have a minute once they are here! Looking forward to hearing about your arrivals soon.

43percent hope you feel better soon. I was lucky with the iron tablets and didn't get any side effects. I know my consultant suggested holland& barrett for iron supplements if I couldn't cope with the tablets he prescribed so there may be something else you could try.

We did buy some tiny baby clothes but I knew the weights at 34/35 weeks so knew they wouldn't be too much bigger. We also needed 0 nappies and had to get more once they arrived as 1's too small.

Ready any news?

CONGRATULATIONS lion what did your boys weigh? Glad you are home and all are ok. I’ve looked at the medela symphony double but it is so expensive!! Where did you hire yours from and what did it cost? 40 meals batch cooked was very well prepared – what did you store them in?

bluish you just put the cot up? I’m 24 weeks and already panicking that I haven’t bought the mattress yet! You’ve been very reserved.

I’ve bought some second hand stuff off a lady with 7m old twin boys on facebook and have DS’s clothes but not much in tiny size – just newborn and up to one month so may get some tiny baby just in case but good idea about watching the scans for an idea of weights!

I’ve got my 24w scan tomorrow and first consultant appointment – finally!! Had my mw check today and bump is measuring 27.5 so not too big so far. Going away at Christmas to my Dads 300 miles away - panicking about taking baby stuff with us - saw the midwife and she said I absolutely should pack & take a hospital bag. All a bit scary!

Hi everyone. How is everyone getting on?

Mummy I was waiting for DH to put up the cot. Eventually, I got fed up and started to carry the box upstairs. It was enough to shame him into doing it.

Lion, how are your boys doing?

I'm 36+5 today with 9 days until my ELCS. I'm so utterly fed up but also quite pleased that they have stayed put for so long. Fingers crossed that I keep them in until Wednesday at least. I'll be very happy to give birth anytime after 37 weeks.

Mummy - boys were 4lb 15oz and 6lb 8oz but the gap is closing between them now. I hired the pump directly from medela and I think it is about £45 per month.

Re the batch cooking I got loads of those foil containers with lids from £1 shops/wilkinsons. You can write on the top and side what meal it is and then cook it directly in the container. A bit wasteful but easy! You sound like you are getting organised and hope your scan went well. It was from this point that time really went fast for me so you are doing well to get prepared.

Blueish you have done so well! Enjoy these last few days although I know you must be fed up and it will be so exciting when they arrive. Mine are both doing well and feeding lots. Trying to remember to enjoy them in between the constant feeding, nappies and put downs. Looking forward to hearing how you get on.

So after my scan and consultant appointment yesterday I have ordered the pram (Uppababy Vista) and the cotbed mattress. I think we will put up the cotbed before we go away for Christmas just so I feel prepared ish. I think I will wash baby clothes and get more set up after Christmas or when I go on mat leave at the end of Jan. Scan and apt went really well. The boys are straddling either side of the 50th percentile – 1lb 8oz each ish. One of them is really low in my pelvis which explains why it hurts to have my legs together for too long.

Blueish you are doing brilliantly at keeping them in! Look forward to hearing all about your babies too.

Lion I feel so out of control with this pregnancy and I am a bit of a control freak so for me, being prepared is the only thing I can do as I have no idea when the boys will have their appearance! I think I saw on the TAMBA website that we can get a discount directly with Medela if you join. So far I haven’t used any of my discounts yet, may use the clarks one to get DS some new trainers for Christmas though. Sorry to go on about your cooking (I am so impressed) What sort of meals did you do in advance?

Mummy - fantastic news re the scan and they sound really good weights. I remember reading so much about twins coming early so hopefully you will be all sorted and can just relax at the end.

I joined tamba but haven't had a proper look through all the discounts yet although did get some money off in mothercare. Something else to put on the loooonng list of things to do.

Meals we did were - homemade breaded chicken with coconut lime zest, massive batch of bolognaise, meatballs in tomato sauce which just needs grated cheese on top, slow cooked chinese style pork loin which we have in wraps with hoisin sauce and spring onion and cucumber, chilli (although quite mild as our 4 yr old has it) and a jaime oliver beef and cheese pie. Didn't take too long to do each one and you could always rope family in too if anyone has dishes you like!

You sound organised which I think is the main thing and with home delivery from supermarkets now it is so much easier. X

Hi everyone, been feeling crap all week so haven't been online much. Had a couple of minor false alarms, but nothing which has caused me to call the midwife yet.

Had my last consultant appointment on Thursday. Suddenly there seems to be a bit of a difference in size between the girls (10 oz). If they were singles it wouldn't raise any eyebrows as they are both good (estimated) weights. But I did get my section date, we're booked in for the 30th dec if we last that long!

bluish good luck with your section assuming they are still on-board.

God I'm fed up and ready to have these babies now!

Sorry to hear you have been feeling rubbish Ready. I'm so uncomfortable right now that Wednesday feels like it will never come.

I woke up this morning with intense crotch pain and I'm now struggling to walk or really move much. I'm also feeling anxious about the babies actually being here and how DD is going to react. I think I've spent so much of this pregnancy worrying that they will come early and trying to prepare myself for it, that I haven't really thought about what it is going to be like on a practical level once they are home.

How is everyone else doing?

Lion I have hired the Medela symphony because their offices will be closed on Wednesday until next week and I didn't want to jeopardise bf in the early days. How are the babies doing?

Quick update. I had my ELCS this afternoon at 38 weeks and DTS weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and DTD weighed 6 lbs 3 oz. They both went straight on the boob but I don't think they are getting much so I've started to temporarily top them up with a bit of formula. I just wish I could sleep. There are 2 people snoring and someone else's baby keeps waking up and crying. Can't wait to get home.

Hope all is well with you and happy Christmas!

Congratulations Bluish! What a great christmas present and what good weights.

Don't worry too much about formula top ups - just keep going with the breastfeeding as well. I do hope you are home for christmas as hospital is no place to get any sleep. Well done you x

Awww, big congratulations bluish!

What wonderful news, sounds like they are lovely and healthy, brilliant weights. Hope you'll manage to get home quickly, it'd be amazing if you've made it back today.

Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful new family! X

Merry Christmas to the rest of you ladies as well, hope the babies are all being kind to you!

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas! We were actually discharged within 24 hours so I was home on Christmas Eve. Both babies are doing well and I'm a bit sore but it is manageable. DD1 is slowly warming up to her new siblings but we are making sure she gets plenty of attention from one of us. This is only made possible because my mum is staying with us.

I'm currently struggling with feeding. They were weighed today and both have lost less than 10% which I'm happy with but I'm not producing enough milk despite on demand feeding and expressing throughout the day. So the formula top ups are becoming a more regular fixture. My DM thinks I should bf one and formula feed the other then swap at every feed and DH thinks I should just express. But I don't know if either is the solution. How are you getting on Lion?

Ready you must be close to your end date. How are you feeling?

How is everyone else getting on?

Congratulations bluish, sounds like you are doing amazing. I am 31 weeks today, still feeling prettywell and only 2 weeks at work to go. Think I am starting to panic about how I will cope now, eespecially witha crazy 3 year old as well! Hope everyone else Iis doing okay?

Hey bluish

So glad you are home. How do you know you are not producing enough milk? I'm trying to express 8 times a day but it is bloody hard and feel like all I ever say to my eldest at the moment is wait mummy is feeding or mummy needs to pump!

I'm currently trying at every feed during the day to get them both latched. Then I give expressed milk if they are obviously still hungry & have seen an improvement in the last few days with breastfeeding but it still hit and miss.

Mine have 1 formula feed at the moment at night so I can sleep. You need to do what is best for you re feeding and remember that your twins are still tiny and it will take a while to get your milk established.

I read that you should aim to express 8 times a day at least including during the night until 12 weeks to get your supply up. There is some really good info and links on the babycentre site in the pumping mummies section. My aim is to keep going until 12 weeks pumping & trying to bf (mine are 6 weeks tomorrow) & then see how it is going with bf, expressing and how exhausted I am.

I know that expressing long term will be hard - how you can do it and get anything else done in the day or go anywhere is beyond me. And I want to enjoy my gorgeous babies as much as possible and not be stressing about pumping or cutting cuddles short to pump! Good luck!

And joleyn you are nearly there! Hopefully work will fly by and you can put your feet up for a bit x

Ps if they have lost less than 10% you are doing bloody well!!! Xx

Happy New Year all and great to hear babies are being born all well and gorgeous!
Had a scan last week and all good so far (just before 20wk scan, have another next wk 😳!) with both weighing around 200g.
Mumofone, I'm feeling slightly freaked that your MW told you to bring your bag away with you at only 24 weeks!! I don't feel anywhere near ready at nearly 21/40 and have got a kitchen extension scheduled to start 1st feb with an end date of 9th April and ELCS planned for 20th (36/40)..... Eeeeek!!!
Any buggy recommendations from new mums - cause I'm sure you have loads of time to be browsing MN now that you have 2 newborns!! Am thinking of bugaboo donkey having had a cameleon last time but still not sure. Xx

Hi everyone, sorry for the radio silence. I'm delighted to tell you that our beautiful girls arrived on 30th December. Isla grace and Olivia shay were both born healthy and are settling into life at home well. I ended up in hospital from Xmas day with an infection and then had some problems with bleeding immediately after the section so spent a decent amount of time enjoying the hospital food.

Glad everyone else is doing well X

Congratulations readyforthefuture!! Gorgeous names and hope you're all settling into home life! X

Hi all, it's all gone very quiet on here - has everyone delivered?! I've just been signed off work today at 24/40 and am pretty gutted. I'd become so focused on TTTS and pre-eclampsia which I had last time that I wasn't really worrying about anything else! Anyway it transpires that I have a short cervix so bed rest here I come!! (I'm sure my 3 yo will be über understanding of this!!)