Anybody else pregnant with twins – or more?

[nh101andhertwinbeans]

My twins are due in May and it would be nice to have other multiple-mums-to-be to chat to!

AQ, you can hire direct from Medel www.medela.co.uk/UK/en/breastfeeding/breastpumprental/index.php and probably elsewhere too.

Thanks for the advice about the P&T, I had only heard good things so obviously haven't been paying attention. Which ones have a problem with older children not liking the reclining seat position? Was that the Nipper? Though I suppose I may have to swap when they get older, better to get the right buggy to start with then change later if needed. The only ones I've seen in shops are the Jane tandem ones, which I don't think I want.

gettingbiggerbird, you are welcome to come and test drive my mountain buggy with carrycot if you are out my way. the buggy will be here next week and the carrycot came today.

keep your eyes open on e-bay the p&t twin that went for £85 a couple of weeks ago was a bargain. i bought mine from kiddycare in peterborough but i dont think they sell them anymore. given a choice i would have the mountain buggy over the p&t.

i never had a problem with lifting the MB in the boot. its easier to lift then the powertwin and the twintwo.

accessorizequeen, we have been looking at loads of cars and saw the peugeot 807 last night. it has 7 seats, siding doors and enough room for the mountain buggy and loads of shopping. it looks like the best at the moment as they are not alot more than the money we will get for the c-max. with the same milage and reg.

i ignored the feeding me bits in the gf books. i just use the feed times and nap times. you have to be creative and fit those in with your life. i have shifted them around abit for nursery pick-up and drop-off times and childrens dinner times (and the time it takes to make dinner). i am not intending to breastfeed after the first couple of weeks as it just will not work with our day. i loved breastfeeding my little girl and managed to feed anywhere i wanted to discreatly but with two babies and two small children it will just be impossible. i would never be able to take them out to the beach or dino park or playbarn and i just will not make them stay in for 6 months.

when i used to express i bought two medela electric pumps and did both at the same time. it was cheaper than buying the double version, i didnt know you could rent them.

the p&t twin was a good buggy, it just wasnt as good a quality as the MB (but it is cheaper to buy so you would expect it to possibly feel cheaper) having the extra wheel does make it more stable than the three wheelers. if i couldnt get a MB, the p&t twin would possibly be next on the list as they are similar buggies. i havent had a nipper so cant comment on them.

I cannot believe how many double buggies you've owned, mel! Do you just get bored? I've owned a fair few singles, I must admit.

Peugeot 807 on the list to look at, I was quite keen as I have a 307SW now and love it to bits. Sliding doors seem a must really. Good to know it can fit large buggy in it!

I suspect I'm being idealistic about bf with another lo around (ds1 at least will be at school) but it made life so much easier last time & helped me as I think the positive hormones helped stave off pmt which I had first time round. I know that I'll have to use more routine, but I so don't want to (stamps feet)!

oh i love the 307sw we almost bought one last year but OH liked the C-MAX better as he is a big fan of ford. he is a builder and we have quite a few ford transit tipper trucks and vans (they take alot of abuse from the workmen and still keep going and they are cheap to get bits for and easy to fix).

i have had loads of buggies probably because i get bored and have always been on the lookout for the perfect one for our lifestyle. i have possibly more than 50 buggys in the last 3.5years. its important that i have a good one as they do get alot of use on and off road. i cant fault the MB urban elite (to be honest there is not much difference between the urban and elite except the price) some of the MBs on e-bay are 8-10 years old and are still going strong thats got to be a good sign.

accessorize, I am with you on routine, but realise it may be essential this time round! I am HOPING to bf at least 50% of the time as that can work around night feed, morning feed, feed while ds at nursery. It was v. important to me for ds and I feel like he had it for 11 months so I want to try my hardest to do it for the twins as well, though at the same time, I can't sacrifice ds or myself to the god of breastfeeding! Will see how it goes. Hiring the pump sounds good.

Thanks for the tip on the Baby Jogger City, accessorize, I think it's the narrowest. Was going to get a cheap one for the first few months and then a nipper, but seems like the cheap ones are still wider than a MB! So I guess we will start with the Jogger and go from there...unfortunately they are a bit too new to be on ebay.

We are looking at cars too!! Had more or less decided on a Ford Galaxy, it seems economic on petrol compared to Toyota. Not sure we looked at the Peugot. I was not keen on Citroen or Renault, but I think Peugot's are more reliable, aren't they? Our priority is 1.space and 2.fuel economy/ environment.

I use medela elec pump - it is excellent. It is true that pump doesn't get as much as baby but if you let the baby suck too where's the problem?

Accessorize don't worry. If you don't want to express there are other ways to get rest. You can have a night each week where your DH does everything except feeding - he can just bring the babies to you when they need feeding, then you can go straight back to sleep.

The MB - it is hard to lift into boot when the carrycot is on - not impossible tho. I am hoping it will be easier when buggy attachment is on.

Mel thanks for the offer about seeing your MB - I found out my friend with twins wants to get rid of her MB at the right time, so I will get to test that and maybe just buy hers - perfect solution . Where do you live though, out of nosiness?!

We have a Volvo estate, very dull and middle-aged but I suppose that's what I am, and at least we don't need to buy a new car.

Hi sorry I don't have twins but my mum has 2 YO twins so I know a wee bit about them

Someone above said about the Little Nipper?

My mum has this is a fab pram lightweight and not as wide as some. She has had it for about 3 months now and likes it apart from it is a bit difficult to fold at first, the handle doesn't adjust, it doesn't come with a shopping basket and the seats are bucket style so they lean back in an awkward looking position which is fine for smaller babies but not so much older children as they aren't sitting upright.

She used an Emmaljunga Cerox(not the city) for the first 2 years but then they grew out if it, was a brilliant pram if space isn't too much of an issue, hell I liked it so much I bought the single LOL

YBND thanks, it was the Nipper I'd heard that about, then. Any more tips?

LOL feel daft coz I don't have twins but hey. If I can help.

This may sound a bit daft but my mum found the Toddler rocker chairs invaluable compared to normal bouncy chairs although they are more expensive at £40 but she could feed them in them if she couldnt manage to hold the two of them as they recline and have a kick stand to make them lay right back so is good for that and they last upto about 2YO, my 2YO DS uses one for sittin in to read now they are also untippable! LOL.

Routine was also a biggy. I lived with my mum when I was pregnant so I had to help with the twins alot and I could'nt cope without a rigid routine LOL if I had twins.

OOh, more new products! I don't know those but am googling now...

Fisher Price make them they are great bouncy chairs. A bit more expensive but I have one of the twins and a friend has the other so they are still on the go and both kids are toddlers. So for £40 you get a few years use where as a normal bouncer u can use for a max of around 9 months safely.

Id reccommend.

You are SO not middle-aged and dull GBB! I've met you! Don't be peddling those lies here madam!

Argh, you're watching me . How are you. lovely lady?

I am watching you indeed!

I'm good thanks. My DTs have just gone in for their final day at preschool. That's it! After 12 years I finally say goodbye to 3 Monkeys. I bought Ann a lovely pendant from this wonderful woman and she cried (so did I).

Sports day for DD2 this afternoon. DD1 comes home from Canada really early tomorrow morning and DS1 is about to finish Y10 (gulp!).

Busy as always, does that mean full house now for the summer?

No! lol They are all over the place. Summer camps, away with friends etc. I think we manage about 3 days home all at the same time lol

Right... off to sports day!

Hello!

Have been offline for a bit ... internet connection horror and then holiday - yay! Yes we took the DTs on the road to Switzerland and Germany and they were just brilliant in the car.

I have a 3rd-hand Maclaren twin umbrella fold buggy that was given to me by a random woman in the street (I was using a single buggy and a baby bjorn - good combo - she was about to chuck it out) and it's brilliant. Light, folds small, narrow. Doesnt fit my front door (we have worlds narrowest front door) but turned out not to be a problem after all. I will definitely get another Maclaren if this one conks out.

I got into a routine from the start - fed every 3 hours up to about 5 weeks (8 times a day), then down to 7 feeds a day (4am, 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm, 12pm), then 6 feeds at about 8 weeks (5am, 8am, 11.30am, 3pm, 7pm, 11pm), then 5 feeds at 11 weeks (6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm). I am NOT a routine person so I rarely actually stick to the schedule and I don't beat myself up when it slips into chaos, but it does really help me organise my days and my addled mind. [HA! it is 6pm exactly and DH has brought me a hungry Carmen to attach!]Girls growing steadily - about half a pound a week.

I've always fed them one after the other and they are fast feeders so we can get the whole feed-burp-feed-burp-change-change pitstop done in 40 mins if I'm really on it. 30 mins if I do tandem. It did take one and a half hours at first and usually still takes an hour cos I faff a bit (and I like just cuddling them after feeding ).That gives me time to do stuff in between feeds.

I have to say, although it might be considered heresy and although I have really had it easy with my speedy-feeders, I find BF-ing really draining, physically and also emotionally cos of the hormones. My SIL says she also felt completely pre-menstrual all the time she was BF-ing. Anyone else had that? I am not sure I'd still be doing it if I didn't have the luxury of being able to sleep all day when I need to. But I would miss the closeness with my girls if I stopped.

cor that was an essay!

thanks for the posts pazza and youngbutnotdumb, I'm finding it all invaluable - figuring out how things will work with my family situation.

Found a really good page on bf twins today, Merry and a link to photos of women bf twins in different positions which was great. I am in full buggy research mode tonight, I really would like to decide and get buying on ebay particularly if I'm buying two. There is no way I am ferrying a big 3 wheeler all the time from house to boot and back, so it will probably be two 2nd hand. I haven't come across any other 3 wheeler that's narrower than the jogger mini either. It is a pity they're so new as I'd be tempted to get one for the car but too expensive for that option. Ideally I'd want an MB with twin carrycot, and something that would fold down quick and light and take car seats for the car but there doesn't seem to be anything like that.

Thanks for the essay pazza, it's all fascinating when you're clueless like me! Ds was a speedy feeder too so let's hope his little sibs follow in his footsteps! Pazza, what Maclaren do you have? Is it triumph or the other one?

accessorize, i am still in buggy panic. last night i virtually decided i was getting a maclaren triumph and a nipper for when they are about 8 months. then i was looking at MB carrycots too, as they are so cute looking and wondering if I can get 74cms through my door! I am gonna cut a stick to 74cms and try and manoevre it through the door!!!

Not sure how we're gonna do nursery run, but I imagine I will leave them in the car for the 60seconds it takes to take ds in and to pick him up. I can't be taking them in and out for such a short time. When ds goes to walkable nursery then the MB should be nice to push. I dunno...whatever I get will be from ebay anyway.

Got lots of compliments on bump today - that I am walking well, it is neat (I am still all out front, they haven't moved to side yet). Felt better than when everyone was asking if I was due last week!

Pazza, you live in East London. Do you go to a Twins club? Which one? I am a bit wary of the Wanstead one even though it is so close, I am not really a Wanstead type of Mum, but maybe I should give them a chance and not be labelling!!!

I wish I could say either of the ds's were speedy feeders but they were awful! Doesn't bode well does it? I'm actually more wanting to feed for my sake than theirs if that doesn't sound too awful as it made such a difference when my hormones didn't drop, plus the weight loss and just feeling proud of myself.

DP & discussed cars & buggies at length last night, think we're getting there. I can't leave dt's in the car for nursery/school, takes too long/can't see them etc so thinking about an M&P aria with the click on m&P car seats. Narrowed car choice down to Citroen C8, Peugeot 807 and Ford Galaxy.

I think measuring with a stick excellent way to do it, merry. I really love the carrycot idea for the mb, so they can nap during the day in there easily - worked v.well for ds2 and he was right out of ds1's way!

Morning all
Horray, I have a good home internet connection, essential for maternity leave! Shame it's such a long way off...

My brain is getting mushier. Last night we went out for dinner and as the only sober person I divvied up the bill - between 8 when there were only 6 of us. Everyone looked at me as if they thought I must be pissed on the half a glass of wine I'd had. And this is meant to get worse when breastfeeding. I'm scared.

Given my stupidity, could AQ and Pazza and Mel fill in the list too? Or someone else with a brain?
Neenztwinz: twins born May 6 2008, Esther and Theo
GBB: twins due Dec 25
Merrymarigold: non id twins (girl and boy) due Nov 11th/12th/ 13th

MM my friend is one of the organiser of the East London twins club, and she's lovely - would that be too far for you? They've got a meet in Victoria Park on Sunday 27th July, which unfortunately I can't make. Would that be too far for you?