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!

Friend is doing amazingly! I mean amazingly! I'm hoping she'll STOP LURKING and actually join MN lol

I think that you are all doing well and so much better than you think.

AQ it will come good my darling. You have so many things sorted. I'm truly impressed with you. Of course you can weep at 5am (who hasn't?) You are amazing

Quick question to you multi-mums...did you all know/suspect that you were having twins before 'officially' finding out? And did you all have a family history of twins?

Flirty x

No. My friend asked if I was because of how sick I was but I didn't think so even though I do have a family history of twins. Do you think you're having DTs? The dating scan should let you know. I wouldn't base it on sickness or size as my clients (expecting twins) come in all sorts of sizes with all ranges of sickness from none to full on.

Flirty. I suspected. None in family either side. I was huge v early and only scanned at 14 weeks so plenty of time to figure it out. I also pg tested on the day my period was due and the 'positive' lines came up while I was still weeing on the stick and I thought: that's a lot of hormone for an early test!!!!

Hi Mars - I am only 11+5 with my first child; my scan is next Thrusday. There is no family history of twins (DH's brother/sister are non-identical twins, but that has no bearing as I understand it) so it would certainly be very surprising if we were having twins!
I have been very sick, and I know these things are very individual, but I was surprised as no one else in my family has suffered MS at all. Twins had crossed my mind, but really only fleetingly and I have pretty much dismissed it. And then, out of nowhere, my mum asked me if I thought it was twins? So it got me thinking...that's all. And then I wondered how many people really were completely taken aback by the news, and how many sort fo expected it.

Flirty x

Wow - Merry...the first set of family twins. How exciting! I too tested the day after period was due and had similarly strong lines. Hmmm...now my mind is running overtime...

Well flirty, they told me triplets at the scan!! Now that was a shocker (it's actually twins though). I wasn't sick though, so I was dismissing it a bit on that basis. Enjoy waiting for that scan now!

GBB, I know I know the stretchmarks are revolting!!! My uterus is still pretty high so I've got this combination of 15 wks pg top belly and wobbly stretchmarked lower belly but trying not to think about it! I have on the other hand lost over 30 pounds in 10 days yippee so only have a stone left to lose which I don't think will be a problem at all. Lost 3 pounds just since the weekend with all the feeding.

DT's went downhill after totally adorable holding hands bit. I was up until 6am again, I'd lie down in bed for 10 mins and then one would need winding/feeding/nappy changing (and I cannot believe how rubbish disposable nappies are containing newborn poo after using cloth!). I am measuring my life in the no of hours sleep I get. Lots of it seems to be mistakes on our part ie we gave the baths in wrong order last night so the twin that was having the bottle was asleep nearly an hour before twin being bfed. But I absolutely must follow Mars' advice, buy a nursing pillow and feed in bed more even if we have to get a bedside cot as well. More money!!

Flirty - I had absolutely no idea, and I must have taken 10 pg tests from a couple of days before my period was due to about 5 days after before I actually got a positive line. But still exciting waiting to find out - and at least you won't utter profanities to the sonographer as you won't be completely surprised. Let us know .

MM, as Mars says 'friend' is doing brilliantly. Tired but coping so well and getting out and about regularly now. She's swimming a few times a week, and looks fab.

AQ hand on in there, it's such early days and sleep deprivation is so hard to cope with especially with your other DCs to look after. Whatever gets you through...

GBB - If it's twins, my DH will probably keel over!! It most definitely has not crossed his mind... Suspect I am imagining things...but I guess you never know. Will let you know

Hi Flirty - I had no idea I was expecting twins and I have 2 other DS's as well. I was sicker than before but never suspected there were 2 in there. My dad is a twin and whilst I thought this had no bearing on me having twins my Dr thinks otherwise and said that the link is from my paternal grandmother. My pregnancy didn't even show until at least 18 weeks.

My sleeping has been a bit better, by having a bad night, I am so exhausted the next night that I can sleep. However I think I need to get used to it seeing how AQ (heroine!!) is coping on less! My back is really hurting especially on the days I work. Only 3 weeks left though and then I can take it easy at home.

Hi Flirty - we actually joked about twins on the way to my scan @ 11 weeks & just before the sonographer came in I remarked to DH how my worst nightmare would be for her to say, 'there's 2 in there' which is precisely what happened. Don't know if it was my subconcious or just the fact that I had only just returned to work off mat. leave, DD was only going to be 19 months at my EDD, we had just sold our flat & bought a new one but had 2 months between moving out & moving in & we were about to fly to Oz for 6 week holiday with me & DD returning alone. We just thought what else could we add to the mix - oh and the pg wasn't exactly planned as such. I was very sick but was with DD too. There are twins in my family but my cousin had twins a year & a half ago so I thought statistically we were pretty safe! Please let us know if your suspicions are confirmed. Sorry - bit of a ramble.

'Bookmarking' as it fell off my recent discussions.

I am in a right fould mood with this pregnancy at the moment! No sleep, very bad stretchmarks, rashes, bad cold...but I guess I am lucky to have come this far without too much to moan about. CAN'T WAIT FOR THEM TO BE OUT!

Ah bless ya MM. How much longer have you got to go? Can you see the end in sight? Hope you got back to sleep ok!!!!

hi all, i hope you are all well?
i am now measuring 39 weeks so i hope all my effort to increase the babies weights has worked. i have my GTT (glucose tolerance test) next week and also my 28 week scan. i must say i dont know how i would have made it through the last weeks without my doppler as quite a few times i have beeen worrying about the little boys movements and have checked out his heartbeat to reasure me. they are both head down and i am now considering what decision to make regarding the birth. i had such a great labour with harriet that i have been tempted to go for a natural labour but i am still worrying about the complications associated with twins. i am just praying that they are growing well and are higher than the 12th centile next week.

i have just finished the book ' not what i had in mind' by nichola murray, its about a lady who had twins. i was in tears through most of the book and now feel really depressed. its a book best read way after you have had your own twins, thats if you want to read it at all. it does focus on some really bad stuff like premmies and raw emotional issues. not many nice moments at all. i wish i hadnt bought it actually as now i am going to be worrying even more.

hey phoenix, i have 10 days to go till c-section but it is dragging with the ailments. i am getting max 3-4hrs sleep per night now!Gonna b shattered when babie arrive!

Wow only 10 days to go. You are nearly there Merry, Only 1 more weekend til you have your babies. I am starting to wonder how I am going to cope towards the end (I am a bit of a drama queen anyway!!). Thankfully I am due over Christmas so hopefully if the babes haven't arrived which I don't think they will, I can just sit and eat and let people do all the running around whilst I watch Xmas films! I like to imagine that anyway. I wonder if that will be the reality? Are you resting during the day? I am queen of power naps and love a 2.00 nap in the the afternoon and I always sfeek so revivied after. Look after yourself Merry. You start any day
now!

Mel - I hadn't heard of that book but will definatly keep away from it if I see it! I have only read 2 twin books. Double trouble which I love and it really helped me start to feel positive about expecting twins. And how to have a healthy twin pregnancy which is ok but a bit too technical and very american!! I love Jackie Clunes book about her triplets which although I didn't relate to me I found really entertaining.

oh MM you must be excited, i cant wait to see more baby photos.
i am desperate for the weeks to pass and hoping i will reach the 36 week target.

pheonix, i love the double trouble book and 'the contented house with twins' by alice beer and gina ford is good. i have loads of twins books now and they are already looking tatty as i sit on the sofa watching the kids in the garden reading bits from them and they live on a big pile on the window sill. alot of them are american but they are very useful.

believe me it feels like a v long way off! i have dozed for 1hr tonight and it is 4am . still not 36wks yet! any uplifting thoughts to keep me going?

MM, i just keep thinking about their little smiling faces cuddled up together in the carrycot.
i love this time of year, sweet chesnut hunting in the woods with the children, then bonfirenight, nights infront of the logburner (roasting the chesnuts), mulled wine and getting ready for christmas. the only downer is that DH hates christmas and will spend the next couple of months moaning about it. if he had his way we wouldnt have a tree or any decorations. he bought me a window cleaning kit for christmas last year (my only pressie from him)it ruined christmas day (i got a bit upset about it!!), this year i have said no pressies for us.
i am already going through the christmas stuff and have bought pressies for the children. i cant wait to get the tree in on 1st dec. its going to be really special this year with two more monsters.

MM so sorry you're feeling fed up. 'Friend' confirmed the sleep is much better after the babies arrived! This endless waiting will soon fade into ancient history. Remind me to eat my words when I'm moaning in a couple of weeks!

Amazingly I am still sleeping OK, though have kicked DH out of bed to ensure minimal external interruptions. There's not enough room for all the pillows and him anyway . It's a good incentive for him to finish the DTs room anyway, as until he does, there isn't a comfy bed for him, only the sofa . Aren't I a witch?

Well, my main complaint at the moment is hormonal - I spent 4 hours crying after what was a fairly minor argument last week. The slightest thing seems to make me flip out completely. It's like the worst PMT I've ever had but goes on for days on end. God help me if it gets worse, I will have to go and find a cave to hide in. I drove all the way to work on Thursday but couldn't compose myself so had to turn round and drive home again . I'm a fairly level, sensible, reasonable person normally, honest.

Hullo all, can't believe you've only got a week to go MM before you see your babies. Can't wait to see photos and find out their names (assuming you have some?!).
Sorry to drop off the radar but evenings just a blur of cluster feeding, bathtime and chores. DP back to work today so I just have the dt's to myself. Was going to attempt to go out with them in the car to mothercare but it's raining and I can't be bothered so perhaps I should go back to bed! Can't sleep v.well, too anxious about things at the moment.

Life with dt's is nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be now that I'm tandem feeding nearly all the time so they nap together - it is the key!! They settle together really nicely on the v-pillow cos they can see each other, bless. DD just stares at her brother all the time, but he's usually too busy feeding to notice. They're both putting on weight, growing out of clothes already. We're giving them a bottle of formula after bath, but I'm now co-sleeping with them in our bed so I can feed them lying down and get some rest myself which is working ok. DP kicked downstairs to the blow-up mattress. This is where I think a cot in the bedroom would be ideal but I'm loath to buy one now as they're both sleeping for good periods at night (sometimes 5 hours!) just not at the same time so if I can crack that it will all work out v.nicely.

Must go get some chores done!

Wow AQ you are going great guns already. Can I ask what kind of pillow you got for feeding? Great that you can feed lying down too, I found that a real bonus with DD but had to lie on my side with my back supported with pillows. Didn't think it would be do-able with twins.

MM not long to go now. This is probably the worst time - so near yet so far- when he days just drag, especially when you are so tired.

AQ, you ARE superwoman ! Sounds like you are doing amazingly, though I am sure it must be extremely hard without dh. Did you get a nanny sorted or people to take ds's to school? It's very encouraging to know the tandem is possible and that you are coping so well with it. I feel light at the end of the tunnel! When you co-sleep, are they either side of you or both next to you? How does it work? I co-slept with ds whilst dh was in another room and we have not slept in the same bed since March, so it will not be too weird if it works out that way.

I also wanted to know what pillow you are using. Is it a normal V Pillow? Is it a beanbag one or just a pillow one? I have a week to get it. I did buy that Eazy 2 feed pillow from someone on TAMBA but it never arrived, so trying to negotiate refund now.

I've in hospital for couple of days. Had a big scare in wee hours of Monday morning - fainting, vomiting, couldn't stand, sweating - totally panicked. Dh called ambulance (never experienced that before!) and went in. Blood pressure was 70/40 in ambulance (why do I remember that?) and temp was 35c so something was definitely up, but not sure what. Was pretty much out of it till following pm, but they couldn't find any 'obstetric' reason for what was wrong, and they scanned babies who were fine, so they left it at that since I started feeling better. I have had very bad cold and earache so maybe something in inner ears caused it...

Can't wait now for babies, though still a few things to sort out. Got a parcel from a nice person at TAMBA today, who sent me a free bouncy chair and a few other bits and bobs. I have so much stuff this time round!

MM poor you, how terrifying, glad everything is OK now. I bet you are counting the hours now...

AQ sounds like you are doing so well, tandem feeding so early is brilliant.

I have slightly brought my maternity leave forwards, only next week to struggle through now, thank goodness. DH and DD had a horrid car accident this week, both are fine except for DH being in shock. Poor devil, it was the day he gave up smoking too - apparently not connected! Anyway, the car's been written off so we're now having to go through the trauma of choosing a car that will fit us all much earlier than I'd expected - I have been trawling back through all your previous discussions, very useful!