Loony Bin R Us - new twins born in ealy Sept at 33wks

[Blueeyedgirl1]

Before I officially commit myself to the local loony bin I thought I would write.

Our twins arrived early by emergency C section at 33 weeks. We were scheduled that weekend to do an NCT course (and to meet Mums with similar birth dates) but the babies arrived early so before I go insane I wanted to see if there were any other Mums out there who might like to help keep each other sane.

The babies are angels but have reflux and need around 20 minutes winding every feed. I also don't manage to feed them at the same time as a) milk only enough for one babe as they were in the neonatal unit on assisted feeding for 7 days - so need formula top ups now or I top up with expressed breast milk if I have it
b) winding takes so long I wouldn't know how to feed one while winding the other or winding two (as can't be put down due to reflux)

so my day is just one long feed. The younger one (by one minute) had a choking fit yesterday which totally freaked me out - he had lots of mucus in his nose and then lots in his throat which the poor thing was trying to get rid of but couldn't and then went bright red and didn't breathe. I did the right manouevre and he started to breathe again but it has really shaken me.

Anyway enough moaning. If anyone has any tips on how to get through these first few months especially if you are not fully breastfeeding and so spending time expressing and formula feeding and winding; and if they had reflux or anyone else for that matter, I would love to hear from you.

Hi Blueeyedgirl,
Congratulations on your twins, hope that you are doing well.I cant give you any advice regarding the reflux or breastfeeding but just wanted to say that yes the first weeks are really hard, and i found that i didnt do anything other than feed, change and start all over again.
Mine are now 8 months, they are amazing, it isnt the hard work everyone loves to tell you it will always be, yes its full on, but you know that!
Enjoy them, as much as you can, my biggest regret is that i couldnt enjoy the early days as much as i wanted as i was so exhaused.Get as much help as you can, sleep when you can, give them as much time as you can, you will turn a corner and things will suddenly get easier.
Jst curious, what did you have?

Hi Blueeyedgirl1, I'm sorry I don't have any advice about expressing as I never managed to fit it into my day but pop over to the life with twins.... thread, I know there's at least 1 twin mum who expressed so she might have some advice for you.
Have you got one of those suction things for clearing little noses? like this? Sounds very scary with your dc and it might help the mucus build up?

The first few weeks are hard, but it does get easier. Mine are now 9 months and those early days seem a lifetime ago. Where abouts in the country are you? How old are your dts now? Is there any twin groups/bf'ing groups/playgroups you can get to? Might help you get out of the house and meet the mums you didn't get to on your nct course? Plus there are always willing arms to hold a baby if you need some help

Baybay that is my worry ie that the feeds become such a blur that I don't get to appreciate the babies enough. They are wonderful but I feel I miss them even though I am with them all day if that makes sense as I don't feel like it's quality time. Great to hear though that at 8 months you are enjoying it. One twin mother seemed to think it got worse once they started to crawl! They are identical twin boys.

Stickchildren3 - yes we have a suction pump thing but their noses are too small as yet but we may try saline drops which I have just heard may help. The babes are now 4 weeks old or 37 weeks corrected. They are putting on good weight and are around 7 lbs now so the next goal is 40 weeks. I am in London and so have joined the SW London twins club which should be good.

Hi Blueeyedgirl

Feeding won't be like this for long. Whether you're 100% breastfeeding, 100% formula feeding or doing a mixture, the first few weeks is all about feeding, sleeping and a bit of pooing! They don't do much else so don't worry that you're missing out!

Over the next few weeks, you should be able to stop the top-ups and do 100% breastfeeding if that's what you want, then your life will be a lot more straightforward It really will get better quite quickly!

Ask any mum of twins whether they re,=member the first few weeks and most would say it went past in a blur, it did for me anyway

Good luck, muddle through and you'll be looking back on this time before you know it!!

Congratulations on your beautiful babies! I had my two girls at 33 weeks and only had enough milk for one. I expressed for a few weeks while the girls were on tube feeds. I was advised to keep going with the expressing and given tablets to increase my milk. Neither baby fed particularly well on the breast, although i did love the closeness. After talking to a lovely midwife on the neonatal unit, i decided to try bottle /formula feeding (against the advice of 99% of the midwives). They took to this really well and came home from the unit a week later. I have one friend with twins who breastfed both and managed well and another friend who gave up bf as she found herself constantly feeding. I found bottle feeding more convenient and meant hubby could help out and half the feeding time at times. Both girls possetted for months. They are now 10 months old, happy, healthy and beautiful.
I agree with Kathryn, the 1st weeks are a blur as tiredness is overwhelming. You and tehy will be fine, no matter what you choose. Good luck and don't feel guilty about being in ur PJs all day sometimes!!