D'ya ever wonder how life still carried on like this?

[Kelly1978]

A new thread!
Especially for throckenholt

I was hoping the original one would go to 1000, but it was gettign a but annoying scrolling all the way done, so come over here instead.

How is everyone coping with the school holidays?

I'm fed up with the rubbish weather, as we're stuck in the house too much. I daren't take them to soft play as it packed during the hols and then I can't watch all four of them. Plus it costs a fortune.
Mine are changing so much. Rav is becoming a right wuss, scared of new places. I suppose it shows awareness, but it is annoying when I've driven miles for a nice day out and he just wants to sit and whine because he is too scared to go on anything! Shay is developing his houdini skills, and now has a tendancy to bolt out of parks so I have to watch him like a hawk. I must dig out the reins before we go on holiday.

Hi leogaela,

if yours are id twins you should be scanned every 2 weeks at least to check for TTTS, if they have separate placentas then once a month or less sould be fine.

It is interesting you are going away for 3 weeks now - that is just about the time when all the early checks take place in the uk - 12 week scan , nuchal fold scan etc.

Hope you have a great holiday - make the most of your last pre-twin holiday

Hi Leo, didn't realise you were in Switzerland, I always presume everyone is along the road from me! How did you end up there?

My DTs just turned 2. They are boy/girl and very very different and similar. They were very sweet tonight, kissing each other and cuddling before bed and said "weet deems" to each other. Melts a heart.

Is it standard to do cs in Switzerland or by choice? I had so many checks bu at least it was generally the same consultant which meant I got to know someone, unlike when I had dd.

FG..... he never arrived.... should I be looking out for the postman or a handsome courier?

Talking of handsome..... I went to the cinema last night with a tall, dark, handsome young man. He was about 6'4" I think. We went to see Miami Vice, where I perved on Jamie Foxx.... still don't see the Colin Farrell attraction but hey ho............ Enjoyed the film which was just like the 80s series. All shoot 'em up and fast cars.

Leo.... why a CS? Is it because it's twins? Is there another reason? And I would willing come over for a few weeks and doula for you if a vaginal birth was what you preferred (though of course if it's a CS I could doula for you anyway and do some shopping...... I mean help you out )

One more thing....... before I forget..........

tall, dark, handsome young man is my godson. lol

Oooh, Mars, cinema sounds great! Remind me again who Colin Farrel is??? What's he been in? I'm absolutely rubbish with any kind of celebrity recognition. (I'm not even going to go into the James Foxx thing, because there I don't even recognise the name... how hopeless??? )

I have a gripe and a good thing to tell today... Do the gripe first - after 32 weeks of pregnancy I read on Weds morning that itching round the vagina should be taken to the doctor in case it's a strepp B infection. So having told every midwife and consultant at every visit I've made that I have itchy bits, I thought that maybe it was time I trotted along to the doctor. Who took a very quick swab, sent it off, and today the surgery rang me to say I've got thrush! Why, why, why couldn't they have listened to me 4 months ago? And then done something about it? There was no cottage cheese discharge so I didn't put two and two together, but you might have thought a medical practitioner would.... Have to say that Lansinoh nipple cream has held it at bay which has been very useful and made life bearable. I've looked for various alternative remedies and have given DH a list to collect from the shop when he comes home tonight. Anyone else got any ideas?

And the lovely thing - two of my single, unchilded friends have decided that they're going to take me out on Tuesday for dinner as it might be the last time for a long time! These are the ones who are also prepared to make a rota for after they've finished work to bring me food and succour and general being around for the evening shifts with the boys. How lovely can people be???

I'm beginning to feel a bit happier about it all now. Some of that's due to you mumsnetters, so thank you all very much.

Frumpy - I'm so glad someone else has too-fast-fingers! And welcome back with the shiny new poot!

Leo - have a fab holiday! I'd be interested to know why you're c-sectioning too - do like other people's thoughts and ideas on the subject! By the way, if you're thinking of breastfeeding and you don't have any problems with using lanolin, then the aforementioned Lansinoh nipple cream is superb! I had thrush in my boobs for 10 weeks with DD (again no-one diagnosed it...) and the Lansinoh made it bearable enough to get through the shards-of-glass feeling. Nothing else touched it!

Heigh ho, best go dig small girl out of bath! She's about 6 foot away from me, so not to worry!

hello everyone. Nice to see lots more people on the thread!

I am just trying to force the DTs to bed, neither of them had a nap today so of course they are now overtired. I am 27 weeks pg today and getting bigger finally!

Looking for a bit of advice on DT1 - he had a fall last week (tried to ride his bike off the steps outside), we ended up in Casualty where he had the cut on his head glued back together and was fine after this. However ever since he has been waking every night and wont go back down unless he is in bed with his Mum or Dad. And he gets all wound up saying "Daddy gone now" or "Mummy gone now" as though we are going to leave him. I cant leave him to scream as he wakes up DT2 and also its too heartbreaking! Any ideas?

Re the C-section questions from the ladies who are pg with twins. I thougth I would be having a CS all the way through until about 36 weeks when they announced that as they were head down there was no need. This filled me with dread, but I am so pleased I went for a normal vaginal birth. It was absolutely fine as I had an epidural early on and there was none of that having to wait to drive/lift etc.

Anyone else on here tonight? DH has gone out again (yawn) even though he said he would pamper me this weekend as he says I look after him so well. He claimed he would cook for me tonight but then he had pizza at work at lunchtime and has gone out now so looks like I am whipping up an omelette alone!!

Hello
have not had a minute spare to post recently (please excuse typing - I have a very tired & snotty dt2 on my knee)
HM - can't believe you are 27 weeks already! make sure you remind dh about the pampering tomorrow
I am just waiting for dh to finish work and get home with tea.
I had a cs with my twins - partly my choice cos I had a section with dd1 due to placenta praevia and dt2 was very rarely head down either transverse or breech.
My twins have done so much in the last few weeks - started solids (unbelievably messy), sitting up and fighting over toys - why do they always want what the other one has!
They were sleeping through but that has gone a bit pear-shaped this week as they are full of colds and getting their first teeth.

Hello, hello! Just found the site today (from a message on Oceangram.com )and thought I'd jump in on the stuff I know best - twins.

I'm 37, FTM to b/g twins who are just shy of 16 mos. I live in the US, but have been an anglophile since I was about 3. Dad must have let me watch too much Monty Python. .

Hopefully, with the time diff, I can help keep some of you night owls entertained.

Just dropping in quickly before i go to bed!

Devondoris - have you tried natural live yogurt?

Had the appointment with the doctor and all seems to be well. The twins definitely seem to be mono everything, except not clear enough to see the placenta.

As for the tests at around 12 weeks - nuchal scans don't seem to be available, my doctor will do a more detailed scan though. Although I'm not 100% sure if its just my doctor being reluctant to send me to hospital (where I am sure they must have better equipment) for additional scans. This seems to be the thing here, nothing seems to be standard and you are very much in the hands of your doctor. I'm reluctant to change because I like him, i feel comfortable with him, he was my doctor with ds and its kind of a feeling of better the devil you know! I am considering having an amnio though because I am not confident that he would be able to see if anything was 'wrong'.
In our discussion today we talked a bit more about the birth and he has advised a cs because i had an emergency cs last time, also he thinks a cs would be less risky in the case of mono-everything twins. I was hoping for a natural birth (before i knew it was twins) and do feel that i am really going to miss out on one of the most wonderful experiences a woman can have if i don't have one, to add to that having the cs for me was a really horrible experience, not only the operation, but also being in so much pain that i wasn't able to stand for long enough to change ds's nappy until 4 days after he was born ! I also feel that somehow i have failed! But because of what happened last time I'm reluctant to argue about it, i just want to be sure my babies come out safely. I'm not agreeing to anything yet though, keeping an open mind which gets more open the more I discuss it and am more informed. I will discuss this with the midwife when i book in at the hospital (which is normally done around 37 weeks!). At the end of the day i don't know, maybe he is a little bit scalpel happy. I think the statistics for cs/natural births in switzerland are probably pretty much the same as in the UK, although I am sure some doctors do css far more often than others! Maybe i should find another doctor to get a second opinion. I don't know, i kind of think that because we are going away for 3 weeks that I am running out of time.

Thanks for the offer Mars ! I really may take you up on it, you sound very keen to come.... although don't be disappointed its cr*p for shopping here!

Opps, that's a long post... I've got a lot on my mind!

Take care everyone, i'll miss you all over the next 3 weeks!

Hi Pristine, and welcome!
... sorry you won't keep me up tonight! I've already got matchsticks propping my eyes open!
Enjoy your first day of MNetting !

Just a quickie Leo...my twins were mono/mono and I was told at 23 weeks that I would therefore definitely be having a section. I was scanned every 3 weeks to check their growth and when it became clear that they were both firmly stuck in a head-down position, my consultant discussed my case with his colleagues and they decided that I could go for a vaginal birth if I wanted to. He said that if I did go for it, then the consultant in charge on the day must hold on tight to twin 2 once twin 1 had been born to make sure that she didn't turn, as without any fluid left, it would be very hard to turn her back and an emergency CS would be the outcome.

I had managed a vaginal birth with DD1 but after a protracted induction and only with the help of a ventouse. I really wanted to avoid what I saw as the worst of all worlds...induction with vaginal birth for twin 1 followed by emergency CS for twin 2. So I agreed a date for an elective CS but also that if I went into spontaneous labour before then that I would go for the vaginal birth. In the end I had the elective CS and found it easier to recover from than the vaginal birth first time round (episiotomy, infected stitches...v. painful). It also suited me to be able to make arrangements for care of DD1 whilst I was in hospital.

Anyway, not the quickie I promised, and probably no help at all, but maybe food for thought. Have a great holiday (if you haven't left already!).

xx

Thanks Tracy, that is really helpful! I will read again when i'm back from holiday!

Hi Pristine and welcome, I hope your name has no bearing on the state of your house

Leo, in NOOOOOOO way have you failed by having a cs. Just take all the advice and decide what YOU are happiest with. If its different from what your consultant fancies, take a second opinion. In the end, getting all home safe and well is the best option.

I'm cooking so have to run. And a the bar is about to open.......

Mars, don't tell me the courier was so handsome you didn't let him out again! My DT2 will stil be in the back of the wagon. Still, I packed plenty mini cheddars and grapes. Me too with Colin Farrell, nice but just nice. Jamie Foxx, aaaaahhhhh, that jaw. Not seen the film but one day. How fantastic to have a handsome companion, send him up with DT2 when you're finished with them both will you .

Off to cut lemon and crack ice......

Come on fellow twin mummies - I need help, only managed 4 hours sleep last night and 4 the night before-both DTs waking up screaming uncontrollably, also means I end up screaming at DH as he thinks he does everything (!) in the night.

Hi HM, 4 hours, thats rubbish! Not good for anyone and especially not when you are tyring to cook another one!! Sleep is my number one priority and I spend my whole life trying to work out how I can get more of it!

Now, we need details, details, details. I've forgotten how old they are (20 months right?). What times do they sleep in the day? What times did they sleep overnight? When do they wake? Does one wake the other? Is there definitely no illness (even a tickly cough)? Do they have a night light on? Can you separate them? Are they kicking off covers? Do you sit with them while they fall asleep at bedtime?

Give us every last detail and we'll see what we can come up with.

I have woken up with hideous blotchy skin (feels like its tight, sore and sun burnt but its not, and its spotty too) and very red, bleary, watery eyes. I had this very recently at a similar point in my cycle and I'm guessing its homone related. They are just not settling down. What to do next I wonder.....

And the good thing is ....... I've just made muffins and they smell hunkydory.

(But I'm trying not to eat them because of my lardy ass.)

Hi FG - ok details. They are 21 months now, sleep in the same room but there is a fair distance between them.

They used to do 7 until 7.

They have a daytime nap of about 1.5 to 2 hours from about 11 to about 12.30 or 1 most days but some days one of them doesnt have it (and is then cranky all day).

They have runny noses at the mo but thats only just started and the sleep thing has been a couple of weeks now. WE have a Karvol plug in which seems to help a bit.

Last night DT2 woke up first, DH gave him some milk around the midnight mark adn he went back to sleep. Then DT1 woke up at 2.30am - he pointed to the spare bed in our spare room as if he wanted to go in there with me but I said no and put him in the travel cot (set up for eventualities such as these) and 5 minutes later he was asleep. Who knows what the crack is!!!! AAAAGGHHH Not helped by the noisy people nearby having a party and singing "Its raining men" at the top of their lungs at 1.30am.

Hiya ladies......... had a very busy few days. Got a new postnatal client so haven't been around much.

Leo..... no way have you failed by having a cs. I had an emergency section with DS1, a ventouse (cord round neck twice) with DD1, complete hands off coulda done it at home with DD2 and an elective section with the DTs as they were a transverse (sideways) lie with the cord presenting. If they had been in the right position I would've gone for a vaginal birth, but sadly it wasn't to be.

What matters is that you gave birth to a healthy baby. I often wonder why doctors are so quick to suggest sections for twins. All of my friends told me I would absolutely need a section. My only disappointment was that I couldn't say ya sucks boo to them as medically I needed a section. My plan throughout had been a vaginal birth. However, I think that keeping your options open is a good thing. Also, you may find that they book you in sooner because twins can come early and 37 weeks is practically term for many twin pregnancies (if not overdue).

HM.... 27 weeks? How time flies? I remember you telling us that you were pregnant. Wow! Not long now babe. As to your DT... all I can suggest is that you just take it slowly with lots of encouraging words when it's bedtime. I do hope it passes quickly. DS1 had his forehead glued when he was about 2. The scar is almost by his eyebrow now.

FG........... babe.... are you sure you can't make it down for the Christmas meet up? You could stay in the floaty white room (unless Kelly moves herself in there).

Not long now Devon... we expect to be kept fully up to date. 32 weeks.... thrush...yuck! Never mind babe you know now and in a few weeks you'll have forgotten it all in the haze of becoming a mum to DTs. I think you may have to get DevonDad to post and let us know cos going on memory.... you may not post for a fair while once the babes have arrived.

Hi JuA.. good to see you.

Welcome Pristine... as FG says... hope that's not the condition of your house... and if it is.. could you come and do mine? Good to see that oceangram.com has its uses lol.

Right.... DD2 is 8 today and about to go off with her godmother to the cinema. So I've to bake a cake for her return and prepare a birthday tea.

One more week of the holidays to go. Stay happy.

Just a quickie oooo-er......

Mars, much as I would absolutely LOVE to come to the christmas meet up, what the hell would I say to DP, "erm..... hi honey, for the past year I've been using an internet chat room and my pals have invited me to London for the weekend, that ok with you? "No, I've never met any of them in my puff, yes, I think they're female, yeah, I'll be staying in their house, no, I don't have references" Seriously, it wouldn't work for me atm. I'm having kittens at going out on Friday and leaving my mum to do the school/nursery pick up, tea and baths. Its a corporate thingy with DP and I have to look good and be ready to go at 3pm and be back around 1.3am and I'm wetting myself already. I'm rubbish at these things. Anyone watching would say I was a pro but its all front really. I quiver with nerves and no self-confidence inside. And I have already written a 2 page list of instructions for my mum because she's never had any kids of her own, never worked in a nursery, doesn't know my kids at all and has never even seen the inside of my house .

Anyway, HM, right. My DTs take an hour only (maybe an extra 15 mins if really tired) because, for me, any more than that interrupts their night. It sounds like a good time of day to nap, I never let mine have any sleep after 3pm (not even a quickie in the car). Could you cut them back a little on their sleep? Maybe give them lunch at 11.30am and a nap at 12.30pm?

The other thing is routine. They can get so easily confused with being allowed to do one thing one night and not another so try to have continuity when they get up at night. Its maybe harder in the short term but it will set up good habits going forward as they will know what happens if they do wake and will begin to understand whats expected of them (i.e. to return to sleep). I never bring mine out of their rooms at night (easier since mine have separate rooms), I don't talk very much, I keep saying things like "you just lost teddy, here he his, you're all tucked up and cosy now" to brainwash them that that is why they were awake.

Personally, I wouldn't offer milk at that time of night, but I'm not saying thats right for you. I do offer water if its really hot or if one of mine has a cold/illness. They can learn habits so quickly. The first night waking that they were offered milk might have felt nice so they might now expect it if and when they wake. By teaching a continuity of what happens in the night they may learn that its not that much fun to be awake and just come round and roll back over again (which is what we all do a thousand times a night).

I'm no expert its just some stuff to try. You might have a few nights worth of complaint from them but it will be worth it.

I fear I'm talking waffle again......

Frumpy...............

I have a list of references that your DH can check:

Hunkermunker
SherlockLGJ
Gingerbear
Cadbury
VVVQV
ComeOveneer
Oops

These have all been to the house of Mars and survived. Some even stayed overnight.

That's exactly what I told mine... a group of women I've never met but have chatted with on the internet are getting together and I'm off to join them.

Come on honey..... if you can do a silly wee corporate do............... lol

Hi every one, too many posts to talk to every one individually Devondoris, thrush is so not nice particulary when you are pregnant. It is good that they checked out for groupbstrep, but it sounds like you had to press them, often the way isn't it? I was groupbstrep positive in both my pregnancies, I am amazed that they don't test more for it.
Leo, hope all your tests continue to come back as reassuring, wow, amnioncentesis is a big step. Hope it all works out.
HM, are you know my dts are nearly the same age, just turned 22 months, and they share a room. It is a nightmare when one of them goes through a bad sleeping spell, and then disturbs the other. We have used the travel cot trick as well. If he is traumatised in some way by this blow to his head (which seems to me what you are worrying about) why not just let him sleep with you for a while, so as to not disturb the other twin. Or is this against your policy?
My dt's sleep a similar lenght of time in the day but later, they are alseep now and I must go and get them after I finish here. They went down late. The usually do sleep 7.30 to 7.30 though.
There are so many things that can throw them off course.
Mars, your twins are into everything, it makes me feel better about all the stuff my two manage to do, depsite my best efforts!
Throkenholt, had I already commented on the similar ages of our twins, and the fact that they are boys? I am always interested in Mums of boys, having three myself has been quite an education. They are so, well I hate to say it, but boyish springs to mind. I think you also have a similarly small gap.
Anyway, nice to catch up with every one, and I thought I had better write rather than just lurking, as I know that this is forbidden now
Sometimes just don't know what to say though
I

Hiya overrun.... lurking is forbidden so well done.

Good to hear from you. I wonder if I should tell you about my DTs dragging a step into the kitchen, climbing up on the worktop, pouring half a bottle of lovely red wine all over the floor and rubbing in half of DD2's chocolate birthday cake?

Nah.... perhaps not!

This morning DT1 pointed to the clock and said "clock, round". I don't know why but it made me feel all mushy inside. Everyday they do something to remind me that they are growing and developing so quickly. They are no longer little babies but they always will be my babies, iykwim. I now know what my mother meant when she said that they grow up so quickly and that I must cherish their childhood.

overrun - my boys are just over 5 (DS1) and just over 3.5 for the twins.

There is one day short of 18 months between them.

And they are very boyish too - very loud, boisterous and prone to wrestling a lot.

Throckenholt, whoops, I meant similar gap, not age.

Hi everyone - well Frumpy - we had a similar night last night and we were very strict. DT2 woke up 3 times - at 10, 1 and 4. We moved him to the travel cot at 10 and then at 1 and 4 just kept lying him back down in it and telling him everything was ok (and singing to him a bit as well). Each time it took him about 20 minutes to calm down and go back to sleep, and I envisage the same thing happening tonight but maybe all will be well after a few nights.

Overrun - yes our DTs are a very similar age - mine are mid November birthday. This morning they decided to take apart the contents of my jewellry box...there were earrings, necklaces and bangles all over the house........hooray! Re the sleeping - the trouble with having one of them in bed with you is that they kick you or punch you in the face, and this isnt pleasant when you are pregnant and uncomfortable anyway! Plus I just dont want them to get into the habit in the first place.

To all of you - I am reading a book at the moment called "Extreme Motherhood - the Triplet Diaries" by Jackie Clune, the comedienne. Its very funny and makes me feel lucky that I only had twins! Perhaps we should count our blessings.......

know what you mean HM, I have never been able to co sleep with any of mine, due to being kicked etc, I end up getting so little sleep.