Twins Club 5! All welcome! :-)

[mandasand]

Hello! I was a relative newcomer to the last Twins Club thread. I thought I should start a new thread as the last one I filled up with a bit of chatter towards the end. The last thread was really useful to learn from others also carrying multiples and to get the benefit of recent 'graduates' (when they had a minute between sleeping and feeding newborns!)

I'm 37 and 16+5 with twins. I live in Oxfordshire with DH and these are our first children!

Be lovely to get some chatter going on the thread so please come and introduce yourselves :-)

[mandasand]

Elbows, knees and feet, Dreaming?!! Not sure I can cope with that! DH had a feel before during a particularly active period and the look on his face was hilarious - it said 'I'm glad that's not me!' loud and clear!

Hope things are going well for you.

In other news, I got a brilliant bump support belt from the NHS physio today. Gives me support right up my back, though it's a bugger to get on and sit in!

[mandasand]

Just another quick moan for those other twin mummies or mummies-to-be ... my bump is really, really sore sometimes. I get the odd bits of aches and pains, but soreness too, and at the moment especially the bit around my belly button which is all pushed out (and it's quite sensitive to the touch there).

I am 25 weeks and fairly big-of-bump. It feels like I'm carrying round a heavy bowling ball on the front! I'll post a pic or two on my profile as I don't think I'm any bigger than other twin mums at this stage (from careful examination of Google Images!)

I am guessing this is all completely normal as we expand at such a faster rate than iwth a singleton pregnancy, but it would be great to hear some reassurance!

[gardenpixies32]

Mandas I don't remember my bump ever hurting but my hips and tops of my thighs did, a lot. Everyone is different I guess. My bump was enormous at the end, by 34 weeks a tape measure couldn't fit around my gargantuan bump. Not a surprise with 12lbs of baby and two giant placentas that apparently merged into one.

I miss my bump sometimes but I don't miss the aches and pains.

[gardenpixies32]

Will email you photo...will make your eyes pop out!

[DreamingOfPeace]

I was huge too. My end of pregnancy photo is on my profile for an idea!! My biggest pain was my ribs. Agony.

I did get various aches, pains and stretching pains too though. The whole business is pretty uncomfortable I thought!

I want to see your pic now gardenpixies!

[DreamingOfPeace]

I'll see if I can find one of my bump around 25 weeks too...hang on!

[mandasand]

Thanks Garden and Dreaming - lovely to hear how things were for you.

I'm sure this is just normal! Though today my lower back is not just sore but painful to the touch too. And have I moaned about my new (since Thursday) rash on my belly?! Argh! Actually, I am so sore and worried about this combination of symptoms that I phoned my maternity assessment unit. They were very sweet which was nice. They say the rash is probably PUPP (urticaria of pregnancy) even tho it doesn't look like the google images I've just looked up. And they are baffled by the lower back pain soreness.

I feel like a right old moaner at the moment!

Oh, and I guess waking up every 1 - 1.5 hrs during the night to turn over is normal? I can't help but think I'll be counting down the weeks if things don't ease a bit!

Gosh dreaming, you were big, but neat! And lovely babies Be lovely to see you pics Garden too.

Thanks so much for writing. Just nice to hear from people with experience!

[FestiveDigestive]

Mandasand - I had an umbical hernia with my last pregnancy because I stretched so much so quickly & my muscles split apartt. It's back this time as well and your description sounds quite similar...

Basically, my belly button just looks really "popped out" and the area all around it feels tender - if I feel around it I can feel a sort of hole underneath It hasn't actually caused me any problems & although my Dr mentioned surgery last time (if it didn't go after the pregnancy) it did disappear by itself afterwards. Your consultant should be able to tell, they kind of poke it and make you cough at the same time to confirm it (from what I remember). I think it does add an extra ache to your bump though as mine often feels sort of bruised & tender.

[FestiveDigestive]

Dreamingofpeace - I've just looked at your bump photo, that's am amazing bump!! People keep pointing at my bump (31 weeks, measuring 41) & saying "you can't get any bigger than that". Now I've seen your photo, I've seen that it is possible I can't imagine it. I actually got stuck in the bath earlier - on my back like a beached whale - and had to call DH to come & shift me onto my side so I could get my balance back and get out! We've got a big deep bath, I think I will had to avoid it for a while.

Lovely to see your twins together - when I see a photo like that it makes all the discomfort seem worthwhile & I start to actually feel excited and believe that I will have two babies at end! Despite all the scans, I am still struggling to get my head around there being two.

[mandasand]

Oh Festive I had to smile at your story of getting stuck in the bath! My hips are a bit dodgy and DH has to help me up all the time. Boo! Nice you're just a few weeks ahead of me (I'm 25wks).

Festive, oh dear, yes. That sounds v. possible re bely button hernia. Will show doc this week when I go in for my (week late) 25wk appt. Hope yours is okay.

[DreamingOfPeace]

Oh, I had that too, diastasis of my stomach muscles, I could feel bits bulging out. Definitely uncomfortable. Was diagnosed while i was pregnant, after having my boys I had wider than a 5 finger gap in my muscles. Don't know what it is now, but I'm just not finding the time or energy to do the exercises as my boys still aren't sleeping hardly at all for one at 7.5 months. Gah. Think its really common with twin mums

[LookAtHerGo]

Hello everyone.

May I reintroduce myself. I posted briefly in the previous twins thread, but have been busy, I'm still busy, but I'm going to try and post more when I can.

I'm 28+5 with DCDA boy/boy twins. I have a DD who is 14.5months old! Yes I know it's going to be very busy when the boys come alone.

I am massive, and getting very uncomfortable, fortunately DD is a good walker, so I get her to walk through to the bedroom for changing etc, but I still have to carry her places, which is hard with a bump that is bigger than my bump was when I was full term with her! It is all bump though, you can't tell I'm pg from behind at the moment, I'm just all out front!

I had a scan on Thursday and have polyhydramnios with one twin and borderline with the other, diabetes is ruled out and TTTS is ruled out as they are DCDA, so being scanned again in 2 weeks, to check up on things, they didn't seem concerned about it when I spoke to the Doc after the scan. Twin 1 is cephalic and very close to my cervix, twin 2 is transverse, unless the polyhydramnios becomes a massive problem then it looks very much like I'll be attempting to have a vaginal birth, as I had a 'normal' birth with my DD.

I have introduced myself to a local twins group, and have had some great info, have a good friend from there, and look forward to taking the boys there when they arrive.

I've taught my DD a trick though, I've shown her pics of babies, and she now says baby, then I point to my bump and ask her what is there and she says baby :)

Anyway, I think I've said enough now, I'll catch up again as and when :)

[FestiveDigestive]

Hi LookAtHerGo

You are quite close to me date wise - I am 31 weeks today & counting down to my section date already, feeling huge. My twjins are also DCDA and we don't know what sex they are. I have a 7 yr old & 20 month old already and constantly have comments about having my hands full or have people asking "How will you cope? It will be SO hard". It gets a bit annoying sometimes.

Hopefully your DD will be too young to be jealous of the new babies and you will end up with a little gang of playmates when they are older. That's what I keep telling myself anyway!

Good luck with your scan.

[LookAtHerGo]

Thanks festive I find a well placed smile and an 'I know, it's great, I'm looking forward to it' usually stuns the real misery guts. re the how will you cope comment, I just say 'I can only do my best, can't do anymore than that'

When is your section? I've no idea on my dates if I get that far, I know they'll induce somewhere between 22 and 29 jan but that's as far as I know.

Yeah, it'll be funny though as my dd is a teeny tot (9th centile) so I reckon that they'll look like triplets at some point before school then she'll probably be dwarfed by her brothers!

[DreamingOfPeace]

Hello all!

So will your DD be about 17 months when your dts are born lookathergo? My DD was 18 months, nearly 19 months, when my boys were born. I found it very hard at first because of the constant demands of bf, plus they've always been awful sleepers (& still are at nearly 8 months) but it is soooo much better now, so much more rewarding so just keep smiling through the first few months. It's easier now my DD is 2.2 and that bit more independent too. Love that they'll look like triplets in the future maybe :)

[LookAtHerGo]

I think there will be 16.5 months if I go to 37/38 weeks, official full term would have been 17 months between them. I expect it to be hard at first, juggling between a PFB who has been very used to all of my attention, feeding newborns(dd was a massive cluster feeder) and the tiredness that comes from those few weeks, my dd wasn't a great sleeper either until nearly 11 months (loads of questions from well meaning folk about her sleeping made me want to scream more than the night wakings) glad to hear its easier now even if the sleep thing is an issue.

Well 29 weeks today, counting every week as a blessing now and although its tough being so massive 'running' around after a toddler I'd rather they stay put for the duration.

[DreamingOfPeace]

Oh the cluster feeding... Don't mention the cluster feeding!! I'd say ask for meals lookathergo, when/if people ask what you'd like or if they can do anything, cooking time is non existant!! Any help entertaining your DD is great, as feeding is time consuming. Mine are up 4 times on average for one, though more last night, and 1-3 times for the other . Some coincide, some don't but they're hard to settle so I don't wake the other. And we still get out every day and cope! Best of all, DD adores her brothers

[LookAtHerGo]

I'll avoid mentioning the cluster feeding then! Oops. Yeah, I think meals are the way forward, I seriously think we will need to get a microwave when the boys arrive, for ease of reheating things, we don't have one at the moment but I reckon it will make a big difference. I certainly don't think I'll be up to making the meals I currently do. It's nice to hear of your dd adoring her brothers. :)

[mandasand]

Dare I ask what cluster feeding is?!

Currently 26+2. Regaining appetite after a patch of nausea, starting to sleep again after a few days of insomnia, but I remain very, very constipated...that is pretty much all my news!

[LookAtHerGo]

Oh manda, constipation sucks, I suffer with it when not pg, so far touch wood I've been generally ok in pg.

Cluster feeding, hmm, think sitting on the settee feeding from say 6pm till 10pm with only a few minutes break in between feeds, you think 'seriously you can't be hungry again' but yes they are. It's natural, builds up milk supply, but it's hard work for a while.

[FestiveDigestive]

Hi all!

manda - I know how you feel, it's horrible. Lately I've had to take my DD into the toilet with me during the day as I can't leave her on her own for that long. That means that I have her chanting "Mama - Poo!!" at me, dancing around the bathroom, trying to peer into the toilet or put toys into it while I'm sitting there... it's not ideal

I've just been prescribed movicol - I tried lactalose (which you can buy over the counter) eating more bran, dried apricots, more water etc & nothing worked, it's been horrible. Apparently movicol is very effective - I'll let you know if it works!

I've also been for my 31 week scan today - both babies have had a bit of a spurt since the last scan and are growing nicely. By 37 weeks they should both be around 6/7lb which sounds great as they have been measuring smaller up until today. It was lovely to see them, I've only one more scan now before my c-section date, it's really feeling like it's going to happen now which is a bit scary!! [going off to try and organise hospital bag properly now...]

[mandasand]

Oh Festive, I don't wish to sound mean but I really hope my constipation doesn't get as bad as yours! Must be a drain trying all that stuff and it not working. Really hope Movicol does the trick and hurray for nicely growing babies!

It's a bit of a new world for me as usually what happens is that I need a poo and so I go for a poo. No need to take a newspaper as it's over and done with within a minute. Now I feel like I need a poo constantly (I think I'm 'impacted', as Dr Google has it) and nothing, but nothing is happening! Trying (but not always succeeding) not to strain as I really don't want to encourage piles.

Today DH came home with Lactulose. I've taken the recommended three spoonfuls and trying to be patient but it's hard to resist the urge to swig the whole damn bottle!

Do you recommend anything, LookatHerGo? Really good that you've got some relief from it during your pregnancy! Wow - cluster feeding sounds like hard work! I really hope BF works out but not sure if my nipples are ready for the challenge of a four-hour session!

On a totally different topic, does anyone suffer from the irrational fear that one baby is doing okay (based on kicks and flumps) but that the other one has passed away? I think this is rooted in the fact that I can only feel movement in a few areas due to anterior placentas, but it's also just me being a typical worrier. I don't know if it's even medically possible for one baby to survive if the other dies. I'm sorry - it's such an emotive subject to bring up, but I do get a bit obsessed with these thoughts sometimes, especially when I've been feeling under the weather for a bit and thinking that something has happened to one of the babies. Only a scan or hearing the heartbeats puts my mind at rest.

[DreamingOfPeace]

Yes manda my twin 2 was much quieter and often I hardly got any movement. I had several ctg's and a scan at the end to check on him. Plus a placental doppler and weekly scans by the end- but that was because they thought he'd stopped growing (then decided he was fine, but when he was born he was a whole lb lighter when they'd been almost identical every scan so he had stopped growing!) . I think it was because he was the one who went breech/ transverse/ every which way, while twin 1 stayed head down, but also now they're born that's his personality too, he's quieter and less wriggly than his brother. So it could be positions, or nature of your twins, but if you're worried go in I did

[mandasand]

Dreaming thanks for sharing your experience and how interesting that how babies behave in utero can reflect in their personalities I don't have any concerns that are reflected in any sort of reality; it's just worry and irrational fear at the moment! When I phoned the hospital's mat. assessment unit at the weekend about my intense lower back pain and rashes I really wanted them to invite me to come in. I went in once before for an emergency scan when one seemed to have stopped moving, but the little blighters had just changed position since the previous scan and there they were on the screen tousling away and I couldn't feel a thing! I just keep trying to hold on to that and not worry too much instead fretting about how very constipated I am

[LookAtHerGo]

festive Movicol does work, I have had it in the past, in fact I've a whole box of the stuff in my cupboard. My poor DD has been prescribed it as well. I hope it works for you. Great news on the scan weights :)

manda unfortunately I'm just one of those people who finds it hard to go, whatever they eat or drink. Boiled water is supposed to be good. I didn't really every suffer with nipple problems, even though DD had tongue tie, I never had any pain feeding (until she started biting - but I nipped that in the bud) Yes to the worry about one twin over the other, I am not 100% convinced I can tell which is which unless I'm lying down, so it's hard to think well I've felt movement, If I lie down I know for sure which one is having a go, or if I concentrate, but I'm really busy with DD I miss a lot of the kicks, just by being active. I certainly don't feel twice as many movements as I did when I was pg with my Daughter! She was one very active baby! I probably feel the same amount if not slightly less than I did with her. She was active as soon as she was born, and rolling at 13 weeks, just just wanted to be on the move!

I've got a scan again on Thursday, check on the fluid levels, if they have evened out, or if I am still classed as polyhydramnios.