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!

I didn't know there were any different kinds of bottles. Ds has had bottles of MICROWAVED MILK for past 2 years...! I know what you mean about the teats GBB. In the end the NUK teats seemed best while ds got used to them, and then he'd take anything. This time am hoping to get them used to bottles all the way through. Have been most concerned with whether to buy or hire a medela breast pump. Hiring is expensive, but obv the machines are stronger and can be replaced if anything goes wrong...

poor, that's so cool about the girls. You must be really, really excited...they have been discussing nurseries on my antenatal thread. we don't have one. Babies will go in spare room when i can bear to let it go! In the meantime it is staying a spare room. Someone on my thread is doing red and white theme. Another has got Cath Kidston wallpapaer samples, cut out pics and laminated them to create 'stickers' for the wall which seems like a lovely idea (and cheap!).

Oh man! Everyone else knows what flavour their babies are!! Be strong Pheonix be strong!! Had my first consultant appointment today. I feel that I am living at the hospital already!! He was really lovely!! He has said that as long as 1 of the babies is head down and none are traverse I can have a vaginal delivery induced at 38 weeks if needed which I am really pleased about. I am borderline aneamic so have had more blood tests to see if I need iron tablets. (I had a near pass out session at Sainsburys 10 days ago which was a bit embarrassing!!). He has also refered me to see a perinatal specialist as I unfortunatly suffered PND following my second son so hopefully I can avoid it this time. All in all it was a really good appointment and I feel really positive about my care woo hoo!!

Wondered how everyone else was doing regarding their diet? 2 books that I have read have stated to aim around 3500 calories a day (think this is 3 trimester) but appetite hasn't really increased that much yet. MW has said to eat every 2 hours to keep blood sugar level. Have put on nearly a stone now at 20 weeks, not sure if thats normal or not (think i should just bin the scales so not to depress myself later!!).

Hi Phoenix. Hang in there with the sex thing...it's what you want...you can do it! (And be different which is always cool). As for calories, well the book I had (American) had an interesting diet, very high cal. The bit that made sense was to try and get babies as big/ developed as poss by 24 weeks as a) they may come early and b) your capacity for food drops as they get bigger. I was forcing myself to eat 3 meals and 2 large snacks a day. I put on a lot of weight! But my appetite has not decreased at all and I can still fit an enormous amount in! A stone does not sound like much. I have put on 25 kilos at 30 weeks. But tbh I felt my legs the other day at the top near my bum and they are leaner than before. There is fat on my arms, but all the better for breastfeeding . The rest is all bump. Keeping your blood sugar up made me LOL as it is a constant struggle for me at the moment to keep my blood sugar DOWN!!! I've got gest diabetes and the insulin is helping but still not really keeping it under control, have to keep increasing it. Everything is fruit, veg, and low fat/ low sugar! Ughhhhhhhh.

Poorbuthappy and phoenix, congrats on the scans!

My appetite definitely decreased in the 3rd trimester, partly because a bit of nausea returning. I try to make sure I eat a lot of protein as that seems to be mentioned by just about every book and on here. I had put on 2 stone I think by 24 weeks, I don't want to know how much now and don't really care as I am just existing at the moment rather than really living. Struggle to sleep, getting up in the morning is agony as I can barely walk, evenings can barely walk either. 36 weeks tomorrow and bring 'em on!!! Meeting re: induction on the 17th Sept I think, but I'm still hoping to go into labour naturally. How can I get any bigger?

DS1 started school today, so I was all over the place yesterday and this morning. He looked so grown up and so tiny at the same time in his uniform.

Phoenix, hope you do get some advice on PND. I had it badly with ds1, managed to avoid it altogether with ds2 which was partly due to preparation (dp & I) and advice and also I think bf for 10 months which stabilised my hormones. Well that's my theory! I dread dread dread having it again with the dt's, I have been depression free for over 3 years and it's been wonderful!

Ah AQ not long to go now. I assume when you get to your point you just take 1 day at a time! I'll be like that over christmas so hopefully I'll be able to just sit down, eat and watch Christmas films!

My 2 have gone back to school and playschool this morning. Its really quiet in the house and I should do some tidying!

Regarding the PND, I didn't suffer it with my first but had it severe with my second. I was really poorly with anxiety and couldn't be by myself for about 4 months. THanksfully I have my family close and they helped me through but it was still the most horrendous time. I do think that a lot of it was circumstancial and things are so much calmer now so fingers crossed!!

Right better get off my bum!

AQ, my friend is at EXACTLY the same stage as you in her twin pg, to the day - how weird? She said it took her 30 mins to go to the corner shop and back yesterday. She is considering having a sweep next week as she's had enough. I really feel for you both - it is just existing at your stage.

Had a scan yesterday which was a bit of an anticlimax, they've always been such a big deal before but this lasted about 3 minutes and literally just involved a couple of measurements. I guess that's what most of them will be like from now on. All fine though, so I'm not complaining!

Just got back from 30wk scan. Was really nice, had a lovely African man as an operator, took time to explain things etc. Twins are both on 50th centile and weigh 1.5kg's each so I am not too worried if they come any time now! I really don't want to go past 36 weeks as I'm sure they'll be about 6lbs by then. Well, next scan in 4 wks so we'll see. Both babies are still transverse (no wonder I am uncomfortable!), but at least it takes away the option of a natural birth at the moment.

AQ not sure how you are managing right now. I feel like I am just about surviving and that is with 4 days help from my parents. I've been so moody and uncomfortable, sleeping badly and I don't think I have any friends who want to come near me anymore . I know they don't know what it's like but I am just avoiding people right now (except meeting up tomorrow, GBB, I'm sure I can be polite to people I don't know ).

Appetite is still huge. Eat 2 breakfasts a day, just had lunch I am still hungry. Banana and yoghurt I think...

30 week scan already, Merry?! If you go early and I go late we could be very close....Can't believe you can have 2 breakfasts, I can barely manage half a slice of toast these days. Not surprised you're uncomfortable with BOTH transverse, it was awful when just one was for a while. They still have time to turn of course, till about 34 weeks - are you still undecided about section? I am with you on the moodiness, I burst into tears at the drop of a hat these days and the physical discomfort means I have v.little patience sometimes. I didn't want to go past 36 weeks either, but here I go....

GBB, was it a feeding scan you had, just to check whether the placentas are working? If so, I've had ones like that every fortnight since 28 weeks. They'll only send you for ultrasound if there's a problem/they want to check growth more thoroughly. Thanks for sympathy, yes just getting through the days really, once ds1 at school f/t next week might be easier but both boys were awful today, I really struggled and was limping everywhere by 5. Tomorrow I get a couple of hours whilst they're at nursery/school, yay!

PN, PND sounds horrible, I really sympathise, I found it really hard to bond with ds1 for a long, long time. I think this time I'll be in like a shot for some ad's and not try and suffer through it as before.

Had lovely lady from Homestart visit me today about getting me a volunteer, seems a really good scheme and I'm grateful for any help I can get!

ooooooh Homestart sounds good. How did you get in touch with them, AQ?

I had a 'delayed' PND with DS1, think it started around 6-7 months old, but I didn't get desperate until he was over 1, and I realised I was not well, not just unhappy. I went on ADs and only came off when I found out I was pregnant. They were fab, made a huge difference - I have missed them! I really want to go back on asap, but would like the same one as before since it worked, and not sure I can have it and bf. Will have to see how it goes. I am not too bad at the moment, and think most of the emotional/ moody/ tired is from being pregnant with twins. At least I do recognise the symptoms more, and so does dh.

I was a bit surprised I don't get any more scan till 34 weeks...I thought it was every 2 weeks after 30, but guess not. I don't think I will go earlier than 36 weeks though (still 6 more weeks), AQ and you have less than 2 weeks to go, right? Or are you going to 40 weeks? (EEEEEEEEEEEK). Can't wait to see your pics, AQ. Can you mail me your address, I would like to send something to say thanks for the clothes (had to say 'bye' to the black trousers though, can't stand anything over bump now, leggings all the way!).

I don't know how I manage to eat so much either! I am pretty used to tummy aches. And the bump is constantly tight anyway, makes no difference if I eat or not.

HI everyone!!! Especially to new DT-PG mums - congrats and welcome!

Back from fab holidays ... mum and SIL were fantastic with the girls, taking them for walks so I could get some rest ... or go shopping!

Girls are 4 months old now!!! Started laughing and cooing last week, it's just so cute, I spend far too long each day making silly noises at them just to get them to laugh

I love the way I'm first on the list

Merry and GBB ... see you tomorrow! Merry I'm so sorry I completely forgot about your GD - you won't be able to eat all the cakes etc - is there any nice treat I can get in for you instead? If so txt me I probably wont get on MN tomorrow b4 you all invade

i have had a terrible day. i still dont have a car and have been rushing around all the car showrooms looking at cars as now i have sold my c-max i have the cash and really need a car we cant find one we like. the citroen c8 which i had my heart set on i finally mananged to get into and i didnt like it. loads of bits were broken and hanging off, it just felt like things would be breaking off for the next few years. so we looked at the ford galaxy ghia which they had and although we liked one at ford before, it just looked really basic for the high price and didnt have sliding doors. so we looked at the chrysler voyager. i liked it but DH didnt. i must admit it would have been much better if they had put the three seats in the middle and the two in the back as it would be hard to strap children in the back seats. we looked at the sangyong huge thing and it was as long as DH HUGE van, i would never park it. then the verso was to small and loads of 4*4s we looked at just had silly seats in the back. the only one we kept going back to is the HONDA FR-V but there is not a diesel one within 150 miles except an ex-demo which is really more than we ideally wanted to pay because it has every extra they do on and we couldnt have a look at it because someone had taken it home.
i did find a nice landrover defender with seven forward facing seats in that was lovely BUT it was brand new and i didnt even dare ask the price as its probably as much as our morgage.
in the end we saw a vw sharan which DH is going to test drive tomorrow and a couple of galaxys with better specs over 100 miles away. so now i am stuck with no car two children who should be going to nursery this week (not within walking distance) and all the trucks and vans are going to be out (not that i am that eager to drive them as they are huge)
luckily my step-mother came and babysat today as we couldnt all fit in the van so atleast we didnt have to drag the children around all the showrooms.

DH has gone to the pub this evening and is still not back and he didnt take a house key, so i am spending another night looking for a car on the internet, gosh i hope we find one soon.

poor you Mel

Sounds v.stressful, Mel. We still haven't bought one and I could give birth any day now, which is making dp v.anxious but we still have 2 cars so I don't think it's a huge issue. Trouble is, we've chosen a Kia Sedona (and depending on what you wanted to pay they've got deals on all 07 models, you just order the colour you want and it comes in a week!). DP test drove it last week but I couldn't get there, now we have to drive 50 miles to do a test drive for me and I'm not sure if I can do that (the journey there & back or the test drive). But can't buy a car I've never driven! Have you considered Sedona as there are lots about and have sliding doors? You have virtually same setup as me with ages of kids + double buggy!

Merry - you can look up your local branch of Homestart here.

merry, forgot to reply to the rest of your message I think it is a great deal easier to recognise depression 2nd time round & manage it (well, actually about 5th time round dp & I got better at seeing it coming!). I ended up having a nervous breakdown when ds1 was 9 months, was signed off work for a month and not really better until he was nearly 18 months. The difference b/t that and ds2 was astounding, I was soooo happy everyone commented on it. A positive birth (i.e. not emergency section, post-op infection) followed by successful bf really helped, but I don't suppose I can count on either of those factors this time. There are ad's you can take with bf, but as you say possibly not the one you want. I found there were huge differences b/t them too.

Re: scans, they might have been scanning me more often because of the excess amniotic fluid? If you have any concerns though, they will rush you in, I was told I could have a scan whenever I wanted!

No, I'm not going to 40 weeks!!!! If I ever manage to post a photo of my bump on here, you'll understand why!!! Induction at 38, I'm 36 now.

2 MORE WEEKS TO GO FOR AQ! Yippeeeee...Thanks for Homestart link.

Mel, car thing is a 'mare, isn't it? There's so much choice and considerations and you will always have to compromise on something. Am very pleased with our purchase though, it's lovely to drive and easier to park than our last car which was smaller. Found a few small things though which didn't realise before eg. middle seat does not have a 'proper' belt and there's only 2 isofix seats in middle row, can't really use them as ds will need to get into the back and can't fold seat forward for him to get in we use them. But...never mind. I didn't have isofix with ds1 so...

Hmmmm...AQ, wise words on the PND. I too had a 'bad birth' with ds and was in tears about it whenever I thought too hard (not to mention a lot of pain). In some ways, I think it's got to be easier this time as even with a natural birth I will not be neglected/ treated badly as I was last time. If it's a planned c-section, it can be lovely too...Just gotta cross fingers that it's not emergency c if I go into natural labour and they are breech. Can I ask how quickly you went on AD's with ds2? I am worried if I wait till I feel bad, and then start, it will still be 6 weeks before they really work. May consider trying a different one while bfing and it may just work too. I will discuss with doc before birth I think.

Re. pics: I meant pics of your babies actually. Get 'em up here quick. 2 weeks, blimey!

Pazza, will seeya before you read this. Don't worry about GD. I will indulge! Tha banana cake I make does not have much sugar, can use honey and vanilla. You need to treat yourself every so often, ya know!

Hello all, and good luck to those nearing the finish line. Got back from holiday to 16 week scan and no sign of TTTS yet thank god, they'll scan every 2 weeks. Feeling a bit shocked though as they are boys which means I will have 3 boys!! Yikes. Had convinced myself they were girls as was unable to face any of the food I liked with DS1 and wanted a lot of cake. Also, they've said hospital protocol is a caesarian with monochorionic twins and given I had a home birth with DS1 this is quite something to get my head round. Anyone know if this is hospital protocol nationally? Obviously I want to do what's best for the little mites. Hope you are all feeling well, I am so so relieved not to have thrown up for over a week!

hi all, we went looking again today in the heavy rain and test drove the sharan and the honda fr-v. the fr-v was really lovely and i managed to find one 60 miles away that was a btter price. did have a bit of trouble with the double buggy in the back as we have to have the middle seat in the back position.
we did like the sharan but DH wants a better spec with leather seats etc. and i cant find one in the whole country with leather seats but i did find a galaxy ghia (basically the same car) with leather seats, dvd player etc 100 miles away. so DH might try and pick it up on sunday as he is working in that direction. i hope he can as the children have already missed one day at nursery and they should be back on monday, tuesday and thursday next week.
AQ we decided against the sedona as my parents had one from new (53 reg) and they had so much go wrong with it BUT the newer versions are supposed to be better. DH likes fords as we have the ford transits vans and tippers and they take a beating with the workmen and are so cheap and easy to fix compared to other makes. (DH has a building firm).

Ah, yes mel I remember you said but we're buying a one year old one so hopefully no isses. There's a thread about the FRV at the moment in products I think, we really wanted 7 seats to carry friends of ds1's around so ruled it out. So it's a galaxy you're going for now?? I found it great to drive, just really really wanted electric doors!

yes sliding doors are great and i would love to have them. it did worry me a bit on the citroen c8 as they were easy to accidentally close by a child. i did like the sliding door on the chrysler as it wasnt electric but DH didnt like the car. i dont think the galaxy is much wider than the c-max. i can always load the kids in the boot if someone parks to close to me (something i couldnt do with the c-max). the galaxy would be much better with sliding doors though.

today was the first day i dared let the MIL babysit. i was really impressed as the house wasnt too trashed when we got back. and she was still smiling but i think she will sleep well tonight. my little boy is hard work as he is always on the go and he loves making mud pies and mud slides in the garden with his little sister. he also loves climbing trees and you just have to watch him all the time. my little girl is quite happy reading books and building with lego.

MEL2005 - your reputation as queen of shopping is being eroded with your car troubles!
Although I am totally jealous of you buying a galaxy cos I really really really really want the 1 we found in Motorpoint a few weeks ago, but there is no way we can afford it with 9 months maternity leave coming up!

Please no photos, it will only make me cry!

At 22 weeks now and being kicked from pillar to post all the time - in fact the only time they stop is when hubby puts his hand on my tummy - he had to ask for his hand back last night and there was a slight fight about it which I lost...

Advice needed now ladies - when do you normally find out if the birth is going to be a sunroof job? I am struggling to decide on maternity leave start date. Prior to knowing about the twins I was going to keep working until just before christmas, but now everyone keeps telling me that I won't be able to and the hospital will want to wip them out via the sunroof at 36 weeks - and its always people who don't have any experience of multiple births so really winds me up!.
I need to keep working as long as possible to enjoy my maternity leave afterwards (ifswim) so don't want to leave too soon...
What are your experiences of this?

Hi PBH I am 21 weeks so only a week behind - WRT maternity leave I am thinking about leaving work at about 30-32 weeks. I am not going back after the babies so I don't feel the need to work until I drop this time like I did with my other 2 children. I also want to mooch around at Christmas time going to my other dcs school things and just nesting really! Are you employees flexible regarding your leaving date. AQ is 36 weeks so she can let us know how she is coping. I only work part time and I do a desk job but I have so much running around to do dropping my DCs off which I think I will find a challenge when heavily pg!

I have already decided that I would prefer to try for a natural delivery. I have already discussed it with my consultanct and he has agreed with this. Especially since I have has 2 natural births already. You don't have to assume that all twins are C section. Dr has advised me that I can be induced at 38 weeks if I have not gone into labour before this. 1 baby must be head down and neither to be transverse though so the babies have the final say in how they come out! Have you spoken to your consultant yet? Mine was really helpful and I felt so much happier after speaking to him!

Nellstar - congrats on the two boys, you weren' by any chance at a yoga class at Kings College Hospital yesterday were you? A lady at 16 wks with ID twins and who has an 18-month old boy was there but I don't think she mentioned which sex, so probably not you. Funny if it was though.

DH is making noises about a bigger car next year so I'll be coming back to you all for advice! Glad we don't have to worry about it now though...

And to reassure all those in the waiting room, Pazza is coping admirably and has the two most beautiful contented smiley girls - they all look thoroughly in love so we've got lots to look forward to.

Happy Friday...

Hi gettingbiggerbird - it was me! How bizarre - was very relieved to find another expecting twins in the group who also had a homebirth first time round and has a toddler. Told DH all about it who was most jealous yours are fraternal etc. I know, I didn't mention the sex because we haven't told family yet, but feel that mumsnet is a place where you can spill your secrets and offload some of your stress. So, yep, am in for a family of 3 boys. Yikes. See you at yoga next week?

Too weird! I am hoping to come next week though it's a mammouth shlep for me from Clapton, but I thought the teacher was great so I'd really like to keep going while I can cope with the car (too tricky by public transport). I was also relieved there was another twin mum there, especially with everyone else being so positive and symptomless! Are you getting support from Tamba or staying away from it (I must say it was all too scary when I was looking into all the TTTS stuff, I think I'd stay away unless there was something specific to ask about).

I am soooo sick of cars now, we switched last night after long discussion to a galaxy again but I do wonder if I'm missing out on those sliding doors...Still I haven't had them for five years with kids so.

Poorbuthappy, I have lost track if your dt's are id or not? ID twins have different issues, but I have been told all along that if 'pole position twin' is head down at around 34 weeks, then you can choose a VB as it's unlikely they'll move after that. Most consultants seem to be happy to deal with the 2nd twin being breech or transverse esp as once 1st twin out, they can flip more easily. If of course, there are other issues with the pg e.g. pre-eclampsia, twins not growing etc etc, then a section may be suggested. I'm sure kicking will calm down soon, they won't have enough room - if they're doing it so much at night, it can be a sign you're not resting enough during the day, so I read anyway.

In terms of starting mat leave, I was working 3 days (desk job) and although I was signed off sick at 28 weeks, I was finding it pretty hard to cope earlier than that with 2 active children to deal with on my other days and weekends. Just very little chance to rest, and that made me more tired, more cranky with the dc's and getting to grips with the idea of twins near impossible. I am so large now at 36 weeks I struggled quite painfully to put socks on this morning, and just lifting ds2 into the car is a big effort. I do have spd, yes, but I would have said by 32 weeks most women would have had enough of working!