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!

sorry, guys, have been lurking but short of time & energy to post much! You must be really looking forward to your scan, Mel (I know a bit anxious as well, but who isn't?).
well done on the names, merry, if you stick to them! we have one of each but I'm not entirely sure so not telling anyone! Seems safest.
Carrycot & bouncy chair deal etc all sounds great, GBB and you did get the MB free so doing well. I'm hoping my BIL can pick up the MB I just bought on Friday, I just hope it's alright but can always ask Mel for advice on repairs.

BTW, I do know what you mean Mel about sprinting around doing things whilst you can because I certainly went mad for a while and still would be if I could. But the pelvic/hip pain continues & I just can't do much anymore without being in pain. However, going to Ikea tomorrow with mum and will have to try to get round without collapsing as I need some chests of drawers right now! Wheelchair is last option...

glad you are 'well' (as well as can be expected) and babies are fine...

take care AQ.

btw, can you choose the chest of drawers online and then get your mum to go and get it. I would!

I could, I guess, but I love Ikea and looking forward to spending a nice gossipy day with my mum despite the ensuing discomfort/pain whatever!
Cannot believe I am 34 weeks, two nights ago I was panicking so much when I realised how little was done and I could go into labour at any moment just as I could have for the last 6 weeks! Didn't sleep a wink, made huge, huge complicated lists the next day so DP could pick up the baton if need be. I hate this about having a baby, I like to be organised, and then they can pop out whenever they want to and disrupt my carefully laid plans.

i have tried to take it easy today. i have been sitting with my feet up reading an interesting book on cot death. i will fill you in on the facts when i have finished.

i cant do a prick test with the MW as she said i dont need to see her anymore. i do have the request form for GD bloods at 28 weeks as my mum has diabetes. i dont get to see the consultant until 24 weeks, so i dont really have anybody to ask. i might call the midwife team and ask for advice, i feel like i have been dumped because they are so busy.

i have just been looking at cots on the ikea website. i love the little blue one, if you see it when you are there could you look how sturdy they are, its hard to tell from the website. they will only be used for a year as i have moses baskets and i put my children in the step2/little tykes beds at around 14 months. i will move edward and harriet into big beds when the twins are ready. we have a thomas the tank train and a cute yellow car one with a roof.
there is not an ikea near me so i will order online as its only £15 delivery. i dont need them yet as we have moses baskets but they might go in the sale.

thats great you have your carrycot GBB and it sounds like a bargain with the seats etc.

anyway, i am off to bed as i am really tired.

Little blue cot, ok, will have a look! I think generally their cots/beds etc are pretty good quality though for the price. I'm quite annoyed dp bought cotbeds as a) they're hideous and b) huge! Grumble grumble. We have no moses baskets etc or room to put them in our bedroom. Poss. could fit MB carrycots up there but ought I to buy other mattresses in that case Mel? We're planning bunk beds for the boys next year, in fact we're both so excited about it we want to buy them now but ds2 only 20 months!

Why oh why are you worrying yourself reading book about cot death? I have nightmares enough about ds's & twins dying (dp often gets a look in, I have to be humourous about this otherwise I would cry as it's so upsetting when I have them)!

OH said that about the cot death book BUT it is actually informative about the reasons why. i am a scientist (environmental geologist) and i like to know these things. it is actually a relief to know and i do feel abit more relaxed about the reasons why rather than not knowing. premmies are more at risk so i want to be well informed about what i can do to help prevent it happening.
i have the movement sensor mats as i was so worried with my babies and i still went to check they were still alive loads of times in the night. i thought the scientists didnt know why babies died of cot death BUT they do know why alot of them die which is why they say 'new matresses','babies must lie on their fronts' 'no chemicals/smoking' etc. but they dont say about the toxic fumes given off by the degredation of the matresses. i havent finished it yet so i dont know the full story.
i am going to call MB and see about getting a new matress for the twin carrycot and i will be getting new matresses for the moses baskets and the cots, it worth a few pounds to not have the worry.

Oh my goodness, I am so pathetic, I can't stop blubbing about my yoga teacher leaving the country - just had my last lesson with her this morning. I do see her one-to-one and have done every month through the past four years, she saw me through my DD's pg then my termination earlier this year, so I feel like I've been through a lot with her. But still, it's my yoga teacher for goodness sake. This pg has turned me into a blubbering mess.

Not doing too much worrying at the moment, thankfully - though thinking maybe I need to buy new mattresses for everything?! Let me know how easy it is to get the double MB mattress, Mel.

DH is a nervous wreck about everything he has to do on the house while I'm away next week, thank goodness I'll be out of his hair. I'll still be MN-ing from my parents, so there's no escape.

Hopeyour pelvic pain subsides soon, AQ. Are you doing any special exercices? Or have you tried a pelvic support band - I think I'm going to get one.

Mel, hope you get reassurance about the diabetes. We are meant to be drinking loads with twins, as Mars periodically reminds us, so listen to your thirstiness .

Hello!

Right I havent been on for ages and I'm not going to try to catch up, so I'll jump right in... I talked to my HV about being scared by cot death (have been having a bit of the ole PND including anxiety) and she said 'right love as long as you're doing 3 things, you really shouldnt worry about it:

1. on their backs to sleep
2. no-one smokes in the house, no-one picks them up for a cuddle straight after smoking even if smoking is done outside
3. don't over-dress them for sleeping (ie so they don't overheat)'

HV said, then when you feel anxious about it, just think 'have I done the 3 things?' and then think 'OK so i dont have to worry'

and if you feel the urge to check them all the time try to just wait 5 mins, then 10 mins, then a bit longer etc etc.

and omigod I drank gallons of water, and still do!

merry and gbb

do you know Alice of TAMEE fame? DId you by any chance have dinner with her tonight??! I was supposed to come but I didn't realise it was a restaurant thing and I had DTs with me as DH is away, so we thought, best meet another time

Anyway I live in Clapton near Springfield park so if you want to meet up (not next week I am away) I am more than happy to show off my girls and my set-up at home and ply you with decaf tea and biscuits x

Hope everyone's pregnancies are going well by the way! Big hugs to all you carrying two...

Aha, it was you Pazza, I thought so - I felt a bit like a stalker telling Alice I thought I'd come across you on mumsnet! It would be great to meet up. Alice was very reassuring but it's also good to meet newer mums who are in the middle of coping with it all. I know Alice through my DD and mums I met at NCT 3+ years ago, such a lovely lady. Don't know if MM would like to join us too? We haven't met yet - it was an old friend of mine who came out for dinner with Alice last night - she is freakishly pregnant with twins 12 weeks ahead of me who is not (unless she's disguising herself from me) on this thread. My friend would I'm sure like to meet up too, she's a lot more flexible than me as she's on mat leave, and she lives very near you in Upper Clapton. I'll get your email or mobile from Alice if that's OK?

Bliss, off work for 10 days now, down at my parents', and just about to head off for a nap.

Hi pazza and GBB. It would be GREAT to meet up...it's a quick and easy drive for me. My dear little ds will be back to playschool at beginning of September (probably when youa re back GBB) so we could meet when he is not around (probably preferable with small babies!) and get all the tips!

GBB, enjoy your trip away and hope the house is a nice surprise when you get back. We 'blitzed' our house when we thought we were having triplets and needed to sell. It is still not finished but at least we have carpet up the stairs and in the upstairs hallway (for the first time in 2.5 years!). GBB, you will be lucky to get a belt unless you have SPD. I spoke to my consultant about a belt as bump is pretty cumbersome now, but I don't actually have pelvic pain, just across bottom of belly or top. He said I need to buy some tight T-shirts. He is camp as Kenneth Williams but still ...!! He explained Physio will not see me unless it is SPD and tried to persuade me that the belts are very uncomfortable. Homerton may be a bit more sympathetic - I hope so!

AQ, hope the last few weeks fly but you also manage to do all you need to. I am getting excited and bought some major sanitary pads for after the birth!! Everyone on my antental thread has been packing hospital bags and they are a lot less likely to go into premmie labour than me!

I went to hospital again today. Nurse has put me on insulin twice a day. It's really weird, my blood sugar goes up overnight (when I am fasting) and is the uncontrollable over breakfast whatever I eat, so am having insulin to control those 2 periods. Am glad they have caught it all 'in time' anyway.

Hey Merry I got my GP to refer me to the Homerton physios - but you may just be able to go as they do special sessions for pg women. the number is 020 85107835, maybe they can just see you, or you might have to be referred.

if you need a referral do it asap as their stupid system takes 2 weeks! i had to nearly slap my GP to get a referral - I was 30wks pg, big as a house and finding it really hard to walk and get up, he said 'wait 6 weeks and see if it gets better'!!! - i said 'no, I want you to give me a referral right now' and just repeated that until he gave in. lie if you must and say you have already had it a couple of months and it's not getting better.

Actually I went to a private physio in the interim - got an appointment the same day, had 2 sessions, £56 each. Worth it.

The hospital physio gave me 2 'tubigrip' bandages to wear to hold it all in. That REALLY helped. You can buy from boots I think, or you can have one of mine.

i am away on holiday till Sept 1st but can meet up pretty much any day after then, day or evening fine by me. why dont you both come to my place (easy & free parking, or bus) and I'll invite Alice too and you can ply me with questions while i ply you with tea and cakes

the only condition is that you tell me my babies are gorgeous

Mars would you like to come too? with or without tassels...

my email is p dot scheurer at surface-to-air dot com ... will have blackberry with me on holiday

take care

Blimey, I slept like a log for 3 hours, such a treat. My DD is totally disinterested in me while we're here. My mum had bought her a hideous Barbie scooter which she obviously loves, and a load of barbies (secondhand - not quite as spoilt as it sounds but still DD heaven).

MM sorry about the blood sugar worries, does that mean you have to watch your diet? How tedious. But as you say, good they've caught it now. Interesting what you say about the support band - I was expecting to buy one myself, my aucpuncturist recommended a company, but as you point out, it's not my pelvis that hurts so not sure it will help after all. My friend passed on one of those belly bra things - horrible on me, as I can't bear anything putting pressure around the top of my bump with this pregnancy, so that's no good either. I'll just have to wait and see if it gets any worse, but the tubigrips could be a good alternative, much easier to pick where I need the support.

MM and Pazza - great, sounds like a meet up is on, and very kind of Pazza to offer her house, we'll bring the cakes (my friend is the queen of cake baking) and gush adoringly and admiringly over your babies of course. In fact, they all make me cry at the moment, so I'm sure I can put on a really good show . I'll email you - and MM if you want to let me have your email too so we're not going quite as far as giving addresses in a public chatroom, you can get me on catie underscore sheret at hotmail dot com. I'll suggest some dates on the email. If it's daytime, we probably won't have Alice as she's full time at work now, but maybe we can manage the drink in the evening with her when we've all got our LOs out and organised (haha).

Pazza have a good holiday, hope you get some time to relax.

AQ how was ikea?!

I would love to come and admire your babies, Pazza, such a pity I don't live in London. Haven't even contacted the twins club up here yet...Would you have any advice on this btw? Or anyone else on here?!

Ikea painful but fab, thanks GBB I so enjoyed the meatballs! Got everything needed, can't wait for chests to be put together so I can arrange all their little clothes in here.

Merry, GD sounds like a whole new world to figure out, do you have to inject the insulin? I know nothing about it, but sounds very hard to deal with. Now, did I say how adorable your ds is???

Tubigrips seem a good option certainly seen them recommended by others on MN. My physio said a belt was useless for me at this point, would put too much pressure on me & be uncomfortable. I do have one somewhere but I doubt it would fit women with twins as we're full-term size by about 28/29 weeks aren't we? I'm certainly same size as lady next door who is due in a few days eeek. I do have a v.good leaflet with tips about the pelvic pain and certainly resting as much as possible (just not yesterday!) makes a big difference to my pain levels.

GBB - I am ellena underscore norkett at yahoo dot co dot uk. Look forward to it!

Pazza, yeah was going to say we'll bring cakes! I do a mean choccie one, although with the gest diabetes i may need to nibble on a carrot or something!
(Yeah, GBB, got to seriously watch diet, very annoying as I lurve cakes and can't even have jacket potatoes!). The tubigrip is a great idea, didn't know you could get a tummy one!

AQ, I got a rush of adrenalin/ excitement today thinking, "babies soon now!". Much sooner for you - am getting excited for you .

Meant to say, the tips re: pelvic and hip pain were to

not carry baby/toddler on hip
split wet washing into 2 bags or get OH to carry
don't sit or stand for too long
take stairs one at a time (slow but does help)
don't go on the floor!

AQ I wouldn't even know where to start with your logistical nightmares conundrum on childcare. Thanks for the pelvic pain tips though.

Off to be spoilt by my mum some more .

Morning all! Would love to come Pazza (clients willing)

Don't all be rushing around doing loads when you're 34+ weeks. We want those babies to stay in until at least 36 weeks (less chance of special baby care etc). Make sure you're all still eating and drinking well.

i had the support belt from the physio with my first pregnancy and to be honest it did hurt to wear it, it would be no good for me now.

i bought a doppler after months of debating and it came yesterday. i did manage after a while to find two heartbeats but it was quite difficult. i did feel quite releaved as i have been worried. i think i have one head down and one transverse. i will not use it more than once a week as there is not been research on the effects of constant use and i am sure it cant be that good to use it everyday like some people do. it is a propper midwife style one not the summer types.
it is quite sad that as i dont have midwife visits, i have had to buy my own doppler and blood pressure monitor so i can check i am ok if i am worrying.
i have got my scan on tuesday so i am quite excited and nervous.

if any of you know that you are having a girl, this car seat is a bargain
www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_857_10751_-1__16162_10001_
i have just bought the black ones for £79.99, but they are usually £120. i dont know what my two are yet.
they are a great car seat, rated the top car seat for safety by which?. i had one for my last baby and it was lightweight and easy to fit. now they do bases so they just click in and out (you dont have to use a base and have to buy the bases seperately)
i have this fabric in my little girls stage 1 tobi car seat an its lovely.

please ignore this if you dont want to know about the cot death book!!!!

i am sorry but i have been reading the cot death book today and i have done some research on the internet (really sad i know) it did open my eyes to the potential dangers in the matresses and a bit of a cover up from the government inorder to limit litigation against them for not making parents aware when they were first warned about the dangers.
after reading the cot death cover-up? book i have decided that i will certainly be buying new matresses for everything AND will be fitting them with these www.patient-pharmacy.co.uk/list.asp?page=1&level=3&ref=744424MA
they prevent the toxic gasses reaching the baby. i am quite convinced with the arguments and evidence in the book. the more babies the matress is used for, the more the risks of cot death because of the increased fungal growth and toxic gas generation. in new zealand they tell mums to cover matresses and not one baby has died of cot death on a matress that has been covered.
i am also going to get the covers for my childrens beds because although the chemicals are unlikely to kill them it could have some effect on them and for £17 i would rather they were not breathing in toxic gassed when they are asleep.
if you want to know about it but dont want to read the book
www.healthychild.com/SIDS-crib-death-cause.htm
and this (a bit more technical)
www.healthychild.com/SIDS-crib-death-cause.htm
i wish i had come across the book earler. i dont want to scare anyone and please feel free to ignore me about this but a £17 mattress cover is not much really - i am not willing to take the risk now i know there could be a danger.

Hi mel. Thanks for the mattress cover link. Are any of these for moses basket/ carrycot?

Also, as our resident MB expert, could I ask for your opinion on this one. It's close to my parents so easy pick up for me and looks fine. They are willing to sell to me without carrycot but said they can only make it BIN one week before ending.