anyone else expecting twins?!?!?

[tabbycat76]

Hi everyone!

My husband and I recently found out on an early dating scan (like, very early, 5+ weeks) that we are expecting twins. We're being re scanned in 2 weeks time to confirm, but I'm wondering if anyone else is expecting twins. It's our first pregnancy so we're abit in awe of the thought, but wouldn't it be good to start a thread on twins so we could exchange advice, support etc. Looking forward to hearing from you! x

sassy you sound exhausted. I didn't realise there was another type of jaundice that couldn't be helped by being in the light. Are they any better? DS2 was pricked a lot in his first days of life too. Horrid but at least he won't remember it at all.

I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to give Jacob a bottle just to give you a bit of respite. It won't mean the end of BF.

holidays have a look on ebay for prams as you can get them so much cheaper 2nd hand. Decide which one you want first and then just keep looking on ebay for that type. I've been keeping tabs on ebay for about 2 months for the one we wanted. It was pricey, but we have a 16 month old to accomodate too so options were limited. Brand new that one would have been nearly £800.

As for cots, no idea! Don't know whether to go for two moses baskets in the early days or put them in the same cot from the word go. It may be a bit of trial and error. We still have a moses basket from DS1and2 and have offers of extras from friends. We do have to find another cot but one will be needed at some point for them anyway.

Gah. Its an expensive business this twin thing!

I know what you mean Smokey, I may have to get a new pram though, feel abit funny getting a 2nd hand one, but that's me. The cheapest I've found (Tandem) costs £100 - 150 which isnt too bad but I'll have to go into the shops to take a better look at them.

I'm going to look around for second hand cots though (new mattresses), also read that mosses baskets are really useful for when the babies nap during the day, but I may stick with the one cot then buy another later on... (??)

Part of me likes the shopping aspect but another part is becoming lost by it all! :o

Thanks smokey and holiday. I'll be ok in a couple of days. DD is at school so i will be able to sleep with babies during the day (bloody hospital the last 2 days as stopped me from catching up).
I know it's an option smokey but i'm going to resist for now, if you start with that it lowers your breast milk and then it's a vicious circle of less breast milk, more formula, less breast milk, more formula. There are about 12-15 causes of jaundice, they have more or less ruled out all the serious causes ie, liver problems. They think it's just breast fed jaundice.

pediatrics.about.com/library/breastfeeding/blbreastfeedingh.htm

I bought 2 cots, but put one baby at each end with no divider and have the other cot in the front room for the day time.

Smokey I bought the i candy peach blossom, a fortune but it has a great re sale value and I really didn't want a wide pram. DP loves it. Also the 2 carry cots can be used as moses baskets. It also comes with seats to change from 6 months and you can attach maxicosi car seats too.

1 am buying 2 cots that last up until about 3 years, 1 I will put in the nursery for day naps and the other in out room for the first few months. I'm hoping they are happy to share, apparently not all twins are

Sassy you are doing so well, I'm sure you'll get through this and the babies will be better soon I really want to breastfeed, are you expressing as well? I'm hoping to do this in the morning so DP can pick up an evening feed.

lavita it certainly is a lovely choice, the icandy. I was looking at them on Sunday to show DH. Sadly it wouldn't fit our needs, but you'll be the envy of every twin mum!!!

I'm not sure about whether I shall manage to BF or not. With DS2 we gave it a really good go. And I mean really good go. I thought it was working but by day 3/4 DS2 was sounding dry and hoarse, and was unconsolable. It was obvious something was wrong, and when he was weighed he had gone from 8lb 9, to 7lb. So we were promptly readmitted as he was pretty dehydrated. My milk just never really "came in". I was expressing every 3 hours on one of the double pumps to stimulate it whilst DS2 was cup fed to get him hydrated . And although he had a great latch, my milk was sadly not in abundance. (I had a problem in my mid 20s with my pituartry gland which skew whiffed my prolactin levels and I am convinced this effects my milk production as pretty much the same thing happened with DS1 too).

So I have a feeling that the same thing will happen again but am hoping I may be in hospital for a few days so I can at least concentrate on giving it a go with the professionals around to help should there be an issue again. If I get discharged quickly, I fear the BF days will be very few.

Really sorry to waffle on about that. It still bugs me that I wasn't able to feed DS1and 2 exclusively. I have to remind myself that I gave it a good go, they had some breast milk as they were both mixed fed in the end for 4 months, and neither of them are sickly with not an allergy or health problem between them.

OK, thats enough now!

sassy you have my absoulte admiration for perservering with BF. Interesting link too.

On a different note entirely...

3 days left for me at work!! Today and Tues and Weds next week. Can't quite beleive it. At the end of this week, it also means only 9 weeks till these babies arrive. I really had better start getting organised.

Now we have some newbie's to the thread we need to add/update the stats
Feel free to add yourself in and update.

Sassy34264 #2&3 EDD 12/09/10, Lancs, Jacob and Isobel born 13/8/10
smokeybacon #3 & 4 EDD 25th Nov, Nottingham, surprise
Swazzee #1&2 EDD 02/12/10, South London, Boys
Lavitabellissima #1&2 EDD 13/12/10, SW London, Identical girls
MamaMojito nee JacksMummy73 #2&3 EDD 14/12/10, Bucks, Surprise
Amberc #2&3 EDD 26/1/11, Kent, girls
jjkm #1&2 ADD 29/1/11, outside the UK, To Be Determined
Tabbycat76 #1+2 Edd 21/02/11, Suffolk, surprise
Penguindreams #1&2 EDD 8/3/11, London, surprise
Magic8ballhastheanswers #3&4 EDD 22/3/11 South London, Surprise
Thingamajig #2&3 EDD 30/3/11, Cornwall, identical ??

Smokey you are next on the list!
We are getting closer. Are you having a c setion or natural birth?

Hey everyone

28 week scan went well yesterday. (Holidays, everyone gets scannned around 20 weeks, regardless of twins, so that'll be your next one - but then you'll get the extra twin related scans from 26 or 28 weeks onwards - my next is at 32)

They measured their head and abdominal circumference and femur length and have estimated the weights to be 2lb 13oz and 2lb 12oz - a little above average, so we're happy with that. As my mum pointed out, I was only 6lb and a bit when I was born, so I'm already carrying around the equivalent of what she was at 9 months!! And still 12(ish) weeks to go

As for BF, I guess I will try but if it makes you feel better anyone, I found out a few months ago that muy mum never BF me or my brothers. And none of us are ever ill really and not a single allergy between us...

So undecided on the pram/buggy and cot/moses basket fronts. DH won't consider a single second hand item, so cost is a huge issue. Guess it'll be nice to have everything new and shiny, but it'll be soooo expensive!! Saw one of those Out and About Nippers at the hospital yesterday and really liked the look of it. I'm so fickle!

Am hoping for a natural delivery but I read a scary thread yesterday and it put the right willies up me! Must try to put it out of my mind as would rather avoid a c section if I can. Nothing against them per se, its just with DS2 being 18 months, he still needs a lot of picking up and so I'd rather avoid having to avoid doing that, IFYSWIM!!! Twin one was head down last scan, and I've another scan tomorrow afternoon so am hoping its still positioned that way tomorrow.

swazzee a friend of mine with twins has the OutnAbout Nipper and loves it. Its in fact cheaper new than mine is second hand!

Can't believe I'm next on the list. Sorry to have to make you all wait (hopefully!!!!) at least another 9 weeks and 2 days. LOL!

Thanks Swazzee, wow, that's alot of scans!
I only got one with my first!
Anyway, my DH is like yours Swazzee, I cant see him taking to 2nd hand items too well, plus it's easier to just walk into a shop and buy one

I'm quite keen to meet some other parents of twins to see what they bought cot/pram wise, I've seen a few people with twins in the street and I kid you not, very nearly walked upto them to quiz them :o

My feet are already feeling the weight, I used to be able to walk everywhere but now if I go up the road my feet ache! I have no idea how I'll cope when the twins get bigger!

Hello all! Sorry been AWOL for a few weeks, glad to see some newbies about, welcome to all of you!

Sassy, hope the wee ones are on the mend now and you are getting there with the BF, it is blooming hard feeding one newborn so 2 must be akin to torture! I BF DS until 15 months and will be attempting to do the same for these, DS always had a bottle of formula before bed though due to low blood sugars and I pumped before I went to bed.

Lavita I think I am getting there with DH on the icandy front! I have told him he can use the HIP grant towards it, plus we have sold our Quinny from DS and I am intending to EBay some clothes that I inevitably will NEVER get into again, all to go towards the icandy fund! I have persuaded him on the good resale value too. Will keep you posted!

Not much going on on the appointment front for me, have got GTT, scan, clinic, bloods AND midwife on 22nd. I have had my ring pessary fitted (nice) was blooming uncomfortable for the first few days but not an issue now, although I'm not totally convinced I haven't sneezed it out at some point.

Sorry for the epic, I will try and come back a bit more often in future...

Holiday I've quizzed everyone I've seen with my pram and I've only had great comments. I always tell random people that they look nice too and speak to people on the tube I think it's because I'm Cornish and London hasn't worn me down yet.

It's also worth having a look on Tamba if there is a twins club in your area, there is one very close to me.

Hand up for another person who's DP is a bit of a snob and doesn't want any second hand items. My aunt gave me a load of clothes and toys from my cousins who are now 3 and 5, DP doesn't want any of it, including a baby bath I did say when we bought our house we used a bath other people had bathed in!

I wish my Dh was more of the "no 2nd hand stuff for my babies" variety! For the first time in a pg, we have a little spare cash and can afford to do a nice nursery for the twins. For DS1 and 2, we had a 2nd hand cot and cheap Ikea dressers etc. We were also so lazy that we didn't even bother to decorate their room .

This time round, we can actually afford to put some nice nursery furniture in the twins room but DH won't have it at the moment. I will keep working on him though. The Ikea stuff is fine but we have it in the boys room, and the both spare bedrooms - one of which will be the twins room. Would be nice to have the babys' room done like a baby's room this time round.

Thanks lavita, but now I've seen what the icandy is, I want one! But where on earth can I order them from? I live in Greater London and my search online has left me only with reviews of the product.
How much did it cost you? I was looking at Tandem buggies anyway but the icandy looks really good.

Glad I'm not the only one who has this problem with the DH. He says "I don't want something that some baby has been sick and pooed all over". I told him people generally clean things before they sell/give them away but he's having none of it.

smokey were pretty lax at decorating and making DS's room into a proper room. It stll isn't really...we are trying to move though so hopefully at some point my children will have proper rooms and not a bed in a room with some stuff in.

Just thought of a few other questions - For those who have already had twins and have another child already - how did you cope when you left the hospital?
I'm wondering how I will cope looking after my DD (and myself) + 2 more without losing my mind! :o
What did you find the hardest?
Thanks

hello hello ladies, how are you all??

I had my 12 weeks scan yesterday and all looking good :) back at 17 weeks for next scan. I can't believe those 2 little blobs now have arms and legs and were bouncing around all over the place! Saw the twin midwife and she gave me loads of twin bumf and there is a booklist in there. WIll shout if I find anything useful!

Still not getting excited about buggies but I do have my eye on the iCandy too.....peach or pear? I love a hand-me-down and if I am going to have a buggy that expensive I am going to need all the hand-me-downs I can get LOL! We have loads of stuff form DD but I have a thing about matching cots and car seats so I am going to ebay the our old single stuff and buy matching of those. I have my eye on ebay and I will have a nose on freecycle but I can't get to grips with it on there?!

Have any of you joined Tamba?

Smokey please try and think good things about natural delivery, I would go for this option but they have said no already, remember that people like to write bad things more than good!

Sassy hope you are all well :) how is the BF going? I mixed fed DD (well she had one bottle per day to give me a break) and despite the she get that 'nipple confusion' she was fine.

Hi everyone!
Haven't posted for a few days but have kept up to date reading posts - finding that work is exhausting me out so I haven't wanted to do anything other than relax when I get in! These twins have a lot to answer for!

Anyway, I hope all are ok.sassy sounds worrying re your babies jaundiced but I'm sure everything will be fine soon. You do well keeping with the breastfeeding, so keep with it if you can, tho I can imagine with two, it's very demanding and hard work! Let us know progress reports on them.

I rang the hospital midwife the other day after not being able to get in touch with my community one. Well, I think they were probably rolling about the floor laughing at me when we both hung up given my reason for phoning.... I rang because I was concerned (and still am to an extent) re my babies growth. How can you be almost 17 weeks pregnant with twins and still fit in your normal jeans?!?!? I have a bump but to be honest it looks like I've eaten one too many cakes!! My mum also tells me my bump is as big as her gut (and she's stick thin) so that doesn't help! I'm quite slim naturally so thought I'd show a lot more by now. I was told by the mw that they will scan me on Monday when I have my first Consultant appt, if I make it known I'm concerned. I doubt they will tho, they're sooo busy in that dept. Is anyone else worried about their size?!

Well we move house next Friday so we're not thinking of buying anything just yet until we're properly settled. Our house is crammed to the rafters already with boxes so think we'll hang on for shopping. Re prams tho, I'm still lost with what to get. A friend who's having twins has just bought BabyJogger City and loves it, but I'm not convinced. Still like the Taco but have seen one very similar but cheaper....not going to remember the name of it now but it had swivle front wheels instead of static ones so it'd be easier to steer. Damn what's it called!?!?!?!? Baby brain striking again! ;)

Were going away this w.e with close friends of mine and their partners so I finally get chance to tell them our news! As yet, we've kept it secret so I can't wait to fill them in tho I'm sure my belly will do the talking! Needless to say I won't be on for a few days but I wish everyone a happy w.e and I'll see you next week! :)

Holidays They sell i candy's at John Lewis and other smaller independent shops. Type in your postcode here and it should let you know where you can buy one closest to you. Total cost for the twin peach was £935 which includes both carry cots and then seats from 6 months. You need to buy adaptors £30 to attach maxicosi cars seats to the frame. It includes raincovers etc. but is a lot of money! If your DP likes gadgets he will love the pram, and it steers really well.

Tabby initially I was worried about my size as in the first trimester I lost 3 kilo's as I was so sick. I only started really showing at 18/19 weeks but still have quite a neat bump and haven't put on any weight elsewhere. I asked the consultant when I saw her and she said that I was fine, I had a healthy BMI at my booking in appointment and that maybe I was just lucky or that I would balloon in the 3rd trimester. I am now just starting the 3rd trimester so we'll see I definitely look pregnant now though at 26 weeks, people keep saying "Oh you must be due soon!" I'm like i've got another couple of months yet!

Hi all, I haven't been on for a while either as I have been really unwell with flu, chest infection and sinusitis! Having my first day when I feel a little better today - after 4 weeks!!

Tamba - I have signed up but not joined. I am going to properly join after my 20 week scan (which is at 21+3!). The I want to download the buggy review. Has anyone else done this yet and can give us a peek? I would never pay nearly a grand for a push chair! It would have to sing lullabyes and make me tea and massage my feet for me to pay that much!

Tabby, you are really paranoid about your size aren't you! That's not the first time you've mentioned it. I guess you have to trust nature. You are lucky to be honest! I think if you are already slim and have good abdo muscles you won't pop out until later on. I am the opposite and am not slim and have no muscle tone and am enormous and get commented on all the time.

I've signed up to Tamba but not joined yet either.
Also in agreement with Amberc about the pushchair! My DH would kill me if I spent that much on just a pram! :o
Guess I'll probs stick with a tandem then, cheapest I've seen so far is £100-150, but I wont know until I start looking in shops.

My scan went well today, everything is fine, babies are both the same size, 66mm :)

I'm yet to meet the twin co-ordinator though...bit miffed at all that. And looks like I'm not going to be seeing the midwife again or does she pop up between antenatal appointments?

holidays I can't profess to be an expert as my twins are only 4 weeks tomorrow, but as for how you cope......you just do. My dd is 10, so she can do a lot for herself. I am a completely different mother to these 2 than i was with her. Much more laid back. I would never have let dd cry for long, cos it was to upsetting for me, but unfortunately if i'm feeding one or bathing one and the other starts crying, they have to wait. If it's really bad and prolonged i will stop what i'm doing and get them.......i've had one on my legs/shoulder, while the other is breast feeding, one leaned sideways against my leg- which i jiggle while i'm breast feeding etc. It doesn't always work and they carry on crying but you've just got to think that's there is nothing you can do and not get upset and beat yourself up about it......babies cry. I would miss meals with dd cos she would be crying etc, but i do put myself 1st more often with these 2. The rational for that is i'm breastfeeding 2 and i need the food to feed them. Also sometimes having 5 mins in the shower, doing your hair, etc makes you happier in yourself and less stressed out. (i'm currently not dressed, not brushed hair or teeth!) :O

magic The tests have shown that the jandice isn't liver related, so we're done with the hospital visits........thank god. Isobel has a blue bruise on the back of her hand from the needle.......it's a shame. She is in the cot right now hiccupping away and Jacob is in my left arm asleep as i type this with my right hand!

tabby have a look at the pictures of belly's on here. They're all different shapes and sizes......might make you feel better. I used to love comparing!

Amber poor you, it's bad enough with all the bloody horrible pregnancy symptoms without being ill as well. Hope your're feeling better.