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!

You would all be proud of me. I did a 'routine' for myself, babies and ds1, broken down by the half hour! I did one for 2.5 hourly feeds (3hrs in the night) and another for 3 hourly feeds. Actually the 2.5hr one worked out better. Who knows how it will work, but it was helpful to see the times I really CAN'T feed eg. taking ds to playgroup and picking up, getting meals for ds and times I would be hoping to spend resting/ spending time with ds. And also helped to plan in twins' bedtime before ds's. It also made me realise that I actually HAVE to tandem feed if I am going to be able to do any of the above things at all. I have a good book called, "Oh yes you can breasfeed twins' with loads of practical tips. Oh, am excited in theory, but we shall see...there was not a minute where something wasn't scheduled (even rest!). Am printing lots of blank ones too, so can start putting the feeds.

I've also sorted out a cleaner tonight. It's not cheap as the minimum was 2.5hrs per week, but I feel great about it and hope the help will mean I can save money in other areas eg. buying/ cooking food more cheaply/ healthily (she will do washing, washing up etc. as well as the normal stuff)...mel, I feel for you. Our house was like that when ds was born and we've only just NEARLY finished it (though no new kitchen or bathroom for now). Still we only have a broken down weird platform in our (small) garden not a windmill (a windmill OMG)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

its getting there and i am used to it now. its 1000 times better than when i had harriet. we have an extension on the back instead of an old falling down rotten conservatory/shed and now the kids have two big rooms to play in. its worth it in the end because you can make a decent amount of money renovating houses and you can move up the property ladder quicker and get rid of the morgage quicker. you just need to put up with living in a building site for a few years.

Hi all

'Friend' had her babies at 3am today, she was induced yesterday morning, gel then drip as it all took a long time - then she had an epidural but still managed to have a vaginal delivery, she did so well. She sounded quite shell-shocked this morning but hadn't had any sleep so not surprising. They were a healthy 5lb11 and 6lb, at 37 weeks, no care needed, they were with her pretty much straight away and Mars was there to help with getting them latched on so that's a good start too. All in all, a good birth story for us all.

Know what you all mean about messy houses, I have three men running around making a mess in mine today (plastering, tiling, plumbing), and I can't go out as horrid weather and feeling too exhausted to walk anywhere, and DH says he needs the car to fetch something but seems to be sorting out an interminable plumbing emergency. Some day off... I must confess DD is in front of a DVD for a while, bad mummy.

It was a gorgeous birth. DT1 came out at 3.51am and DT2 shot out at 3.57am. GBB's friend was a star. Hard to believe that this woman was so worried about giving birth to DTs and had such a lovely birth. I was/am so proud of her.

Left them breastfeeding happily.

So ladies... you'll do so much better than you think.

GBB - please send big congrats to 'friend'! How exciting. Great weights. Do you know the names?

Will email you my mobile number in case she needs anything - I think she lives really close to me.

Merry we are indeed proud. I am sat here feeding Carmen her 10am feed woo ha ha. [bad mummy emoticon] Still at least Anais already got hers ... at 12 ... well I got loads done anyway I had a bath, shaved legs as going for gym/swim/jacuzzi with business partner tonight, rang bank about mortgage, had a proper lunch that was only a wee bit burnt

I am having the last of the Amaretti with a cup of tea. Mmm...

By the way I was definitely not joking about the earplugs! I am much better soothing a wailing Carmen on my shoulder when I have a fighting chance of being able to hear afterwards. And DH doesnt half talk crap sometimes

GBB - pass on congratulations please!

MEL2005 - I'm slowly getting over the jealously of your Galaxy, but I keep wishing I win a few thousand on the lottery so that I can have 1 (Ok about £20k so I can have a newish 1 would be nice!!!)

I had another growth scan this morning and everything is spot on - they are both the same size at this point as they should be if there was only 1 of them so no longer I look so big!

Biggest shock was being told that I will be having a c-section at 34-26 weeks...you can imagine my response... 34 weeks is only 11 weeks away and I am healthy and fit and so are the babies so I am going to fight to keep them inside until 36 weeks (unless something happens obviously).
But to know that your babies will have to go into SCBU at this early stage really shook me this morning...
Would like opinions on this if poss please ladies - if all is fine then do you think 34 is too early??

hi pbh

what is the reason for 34wks? it does seem early - i think 36/37 minimum is ideal from what i was told. any particular reason for having a CS in your case or is VB an option?

Hi PBH - My consultant has told me that he will induce me at 38 weeks if the babies haven't arrived and there are no complications. I am hoping to go for a VB.

I've no idea where the 34 weeks has come from, he mentioned some new research or something like that... apparently in Liverpool they are delivering id twins at 32 weeks!

My dd was born naturally at 37 weeks so historically I wouldn't reach full term anyway (although of course we could all argue that this theory is bllocks anyway) but I really don't know why he would say this!
I obviously questioned it and said that 34 weeks is too early, especially if there is no reason to do it!
The other thing he said that was I should look at finishing work at 29 weeks because I won't be able to cope after that - I simply smiled sweetly and told him to shut up. I will finish work when I want to, not when he thinks I should.
I am not telling anyone about that comment because to be honest I am completely sick of everyone around me (not in work but family and friends) telling me that I won't be able to cope with this and that, I'll need to rest, slow down, won't be driving etc etc and (caps lock on) IT REALLY PSSES ME OFF THAT EVERYONE ELSE APPEARS TO KNOW BEST WHEN NONE OF THEM HAVE HAD TWINS AND HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA HOW I AM FEELING AND HOW I AM COPING. (caps lock off)

Sorry for the rant - but I do feel better now...
My main concern about the birth is that I will end up with VB for twin 1, and then c-section for twin 2. I can cope with stomach wound OR sore bits, but I don't think I can cope with both! So I wasn't really that upset about the c-section thing...please don't shout at me anyone... i'm not in the best frame of mind at the moment!

Mars and GBB, please pass on big congrats to 'friend'. Great weights, good birth. Lucky gal! Let us know names too, needing inspiration here...

Pbh, it does seem early...at least they have told you something. I am 31 weeks and I know nothing about their thoughts on birth etc. for my twins. I have an appointment at 32 weeks and am taking dh so he can definitely ask questions. I always think: oh, poor doctor is so busy, I can't trouble him! Then get home and think, I just don't know what's going on. If these babies are still transverse at my 34 week scan I assume it will make a difference as I don't think they will be moving round after that.

Oh SWEEEEEEEET. My Mum has just given ds his very own TWINS! (A girl and a boy Tiny Tears). She made a cot out of a cardboard box and a patchwork quilt for it. He absolutely loves them and has named them 'giant' and 'baby'. He's fed them a bottle, cuddled them, taken them upstairs to his bed, sung them a lulllaby, and is currently carrying them both round the house (by the arms) in his own little playworld. He's chuffed to bits, bless him. Playing on his own with them for ages.

I can hear Mum shouting, "Don't hold him by his leg!". Gonna have to keep a close eye on the real ones .

Pazza - earplugs now on shopping list .

Also, great that they gave you an extra 2 hours! Maybe their gaps are getting bigger...

sorry to go on... this is just so hilarious. ds has gone for a walk, but could not be parted from one of his babies (had to persaude him he had to leave at least one of them at home) and has just gone out saying, "bye bye pink baby...[pause]...bye mamma." So can see where his priorities lie . Ah well, he'll make a fabulous dad one day.

I love giant and baby! I wonder if they go right with my surname....

PBH... I think you should ask for a copy of the research. That's ridiculous taking twins out at 34 weeks. The whole point is that they stay in as long as possible to give them the best possible chance and to prevent them going into SCBU/NICU. I would be very interested to know the name of this research.

If you want to CAT me I can put you in touch with some twin mums who gave birth in different ways (with or without an epi, vaginally or c-birth etc).

PBH - have no clue but sounds an odd decision without saying they need to come early due to blah blah blah. I am only @ 22 weeks so know nothing - all that was said to me was -

Did you have a normal, complication free birth last time?
Yes.
Mmm, well things will be pretty different this time around.
Gee thanks .

BTW when the consultant said about work did he mean start yoour maternity leave or that he would sign you off till it starts? Know you intend to keep working but I am a lazy cow & already beginning to struggle much more than last time. Don't want to take paid leave too early & end up having to return to work when babies still so young IYSWIM.

What a great idea, MM, phaps I should get something for ds2, he loves playing those kinds of role play with his various animals.

PBH, can absolutely see why you're so frustrated and p*&d off. I've had everyone telling me for months that I'd have to leave work early (well, I did but because of one of the dt's), I couldn't do this and couldn't do that. I have had to slow down but I still do what I want to do and push myself when I feel the need, I hate being told to slow down because I'm an incubator!

Consultants can sometimes just make a sweeping statement expecting you to understand the reasoning - I often go back a week or two after with qu's prepared, a good one will tell you everything you want to know. I know that id twins have different issues, but still don't see why 34 weeks (although my dr said if I went into labour after 34 weeks they wouldn't need steroids for their lungs).

Nice to hear of a twin mum having a VB, I hope that's me next week! Have had quite a lot of BH's this evening, dp panicking...

TB, re: mat.leave. I was signed off by my gp (based on notes from the consultant) until I went on maternity leave. I had previously said I would leave at 33 weeks, but had to go off sick at 28. Didn't lose any money out of it, hope that's reassuring. My gp said consultant could have done the sick note for me if I had insisted.

AQ.. she was unsure about whether or not she'd manage without an epidural so asked for one to be sited by not administered so that she could still move around etc. In the end she decided on an epi but allowed it to wear off for the pushing. Once the first twin is out the second practically flies out! I'm sure you'll do well.

Hello all

I gave 'friend' a lift back from hospital last night so got to see the little adorable DTs, Sol and Edie. I can't believe they got out so quickly, all very inspiring.

Poor, I think the 34 weeks c/s suggestion from your consultant is due to the risk of TTTS in labour and recent research about increasing risks as pregnancy goes on. When I thought I might have ID twins I made myself sick with worry reading all the research and TAMBA posts about it. What I don't know is how great the risks really are - and given that this is all new research and ID twins are relatively rare, I guess it's hard to judge. However, there's also loads of stories out there of ID twins being delivered later with no probs, either by cs or naturally. I guess it's one of those very tough decisions only you can make. I imagine you can see how your pg goes and how well the DTs grow then make your mind up nearer the time about when is the right time for you? And at least if you have 34 weeks in your mind it will make sure you have everything ready in plenty of time just in case?

And I know exactly what you mean about how annoying it is being told by people that you'll be tired, unable to cope etc - though now I'm at 25 weeks, I am actually fed up of work and wish I could stay at home from now!

Mars 'friend' said you were fab!

MM how adorable is your DS?

Thank you all for making me feel like its not just my hormones which is making me feel like this!

GBB - I think you are right about the risks being TTTS in labour, I'm sure in the horrible fog which descended upon me yesterday morning he said that...and yes everything will be ready for about that time anyway...

But 34 weeks isn't even December, its November for gods sake!!!!!

I will ask for some more information on the research behind it at my next appt and see what he says, in fact I might take 10 mins out of my working day to have a dig around the web now...
I've stopped reading the TAMBA messageboards about TTTS cos I was getting really stressed about it, I know enough to be able to converse about it and I think I'll stop there...

As for working, don't get me wrong, if I am feeling rough, or the babies are suffering then I will finish work. BUT I still have a good deal of space between my bump and the steering wheel (and I can get lifts!!) and I am actually less stressed in work than I am at home! I get to sit down for most of 8 hours in work, the boys make me tea and go and get my lunch. If I stay at home I look at all the ironing, cleaning, sorting etc to do and never sit down!
And I've just had a major row with hubby about money - all makes for an interesting weekend!

'baby' has changed her name to 'baby annabear' (as in annabel, gosh those adverts really stick).

wow, we wanted edie, when first discovered pg.

oh PBH!!! the TAMBA website has some scary stuff on it. i banned myself from looking for ages but joined last night, i dont know why, i just get stressed reading the messages. i wouldnt mind being able to see some of the twins photos on there though.
anyway, it should be your decision when you leave work and if you feel fine, just keep going, it means you get more maternity leave when they are here.
my consultant said i will probably not make 36 weeks. i have decided that 34 weeks is my goal and anything more will be a bonus.

try not to get stressed and tell your hubby you dont need a row just a BIG HUG!!!!!!!!!!

MEL2005 - well I thought the TAMBA website was scary...
I've just done some light reading about the early delivery of twins cos of the risk of TTTS and it would appear that because TTTS can come on soooo quickly - literally scanned 1 day, babies born with TTTS the next day, the medical profession are saying 34/36 weeks...

What's worse? Knowing they are going to be little (although saying that I don't think mine are going to be that little...)and having to go into SCBU for a while - or running the risk of TTTS??
Some of the stuff I've just read says that it is more common that previously thought, 15-25% of twin pregnancies are apparently now thought to suffer from it...(disclaimer, I can't even remember which website said this so please don't quote me...) which is obviously worrying me now...

Sorry to be nosey - is your 36 week unlikliness due to this as well? If so, we'll have to get blackberrys so that we can still message from hospital! Aren't our dates the same??