Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Just had the twins shock!

38 replies

quesadillas · 30/03/2015 15:56

Hi,

Had my 12 week scan today and got the twins surprise. I'm a little in shock - already have a toddler and only ever planned two children. There are flickers of excitement but at the moment it's mostly terror. Just googling and reassuring and scaring myself at the same time.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MyBalletShoes · 30/03/2015 15:58

Congratulations!

Fugghetaboutit · 30/03/2015 16:00

Ah congratulations!

SunnyBaudelaire · 30/03/2015 16:03

Congratulations! and do not be terrified, it will be fine!
Were they able to tell you what 'kind' of twins they are?

Original poster

quesadillas · 30/03/2015 16:04

Non-identical they reckon. She seemed pretty sure but I was a bit in shock and not listening properly. Is that probably correct?

OP posts:

BloomingOrBallooning · 30/03/2015 16:05

Congratulations :-)

Take a few days to get over the shock and then read all the multiples posts on here and you'll see just how wonderful having twins can be.

GlitzAndGigglesx · 30/03/2015 16:07

Aww congratulations! I still remember the shock/excitement/fear of being told it's twins and now I can't wait for the birth. I'm sure it'll only really sink in once they're screaming mummy after one another

neversleepagain · 30/03/2015 16:23

Congratulations! Unless they are b/g twins you don't know they are identical until they are born or genetically tested.

I remember the shock well :)

DayLillie · 30/03/2015 16:28

I remember the shock too - and being sat in bed with DH and cups of tea, after neither of us had slept the entire night.

Lots of organisation required and hard work, but lots of rewards. Best thing ever.

Look after yourself

Original poster

quesadillas · 30/03/2015 16:46

Thanks for all the kind words. Suspect I'll be here a lot more. I've never looked at the multiple births topic before today.

Any tips about preparing? I want to find out the sex(es) which I wouldn't have done with one. I've had enough surprises! I'd already requested a c-section due to having one last time, and knowing it's twins has made me more resolute in that decision! I breastfed for 4.5 months completely last time and then gradually introduced bottles. I have no idea what the plan will be this time!

I'm getting too far ahead of myself. I need to think a week or two at a time.

OP posts:

2015isgoingtobeBIG · 30/03/2015 17:05

Congratulations! Expect the shock waves to hit you at various points as the pregnancy progresses...I think I'm ready for it and then another moment of realisation hits me! There are loads of very knowledgeable folk who lurk on these pages who have been so helpful when I've asked questions.
Like you, I needed to find out what we were having so I can plan although only as far as knowing whether they were the same or different so if they were BG then I wanted to know but if BB or GG I was happy to be surprised. Turns out they are BG so we are prepared for less sharing of stuff

littlesupersparks · 30/03/2015 17:11

I am 35 weeks now and it still keeps hitting me in waves!!! I definitely won't believe it until they are here though! (This week? Next week?! :-o)

My pregnancy has been very different and much harder than my previous 2 so be gentle to yourself.

We have jumped from 2 kids (aged 2 and 4) to 4 kids which seems much more epic than 3!!!!

Ratfinkandbobo · 30/03/2015 17:21

Congratulations
Its a lot to take in when you first find out!
My twins are 7 and great fun.

Original poster

quesadillas · 30/03/2015 17:26

Does anybody know if the 20 week scan is less accurate for gender because it's twins? Does that make a difference?

OP posts:

hellospring · 30/03/2015 17:35

Congratulations!

They can tell if they are identical if they are in one sac, or separate sacs but share a placenta. There are increased risks with identicals (TTTS) - and you would have increased monitoring. Sounds like they are in separate sacs with seperate placentas (DCDA) if she was quite sure about it.

They can be identical but not picked up if the placenta has fused - genetic testing would confirm this.

Good luck!

GlitzAndGigglesx · 30/03/2015 17:43

At my 20 week scan the sonographer wasn't too sure about twin A because they had their legs covering the genitals but was certain twin B was a girl. After a bit of wriggling from twin A she was adamant they're both girls. They have their own sacs too

Original poster

quesadillas · 30/03/2015 17:44

She mentioned the word "bicorn" or "dicorn" or something like that and also mentioned the membranes. I wish I'd listened more but I was in no fit state to!

OP posts:

GlitzAndGigglesx · 30/03/2015 17:45

Also because I'm having DCDA twins my scans are every 4 weeks which is nice. I think scans for ID twins are every 2 weeks

hellospring · 30/03/2015 18:00

Dichrorionic means two placentas, could it have been that?

slightlyinsane · 30/03/2015 18:03

Congratulations xx I found out at my 12 wk scan too. The sonographer was sure they were dcda, I got a phone call a wk later telling me they were mcma and was seen every 2 wks from there on.

hellospring · 30/03/2015 18:04

Dichrorionic means two placentas, could it have been that?

Original poster

quesadillas · 30/03/2015 18:06

Yes, it could have been that, thanks!

OP posts:

2015isgoingtobeBIG · 30/03/2015 18:51

I was told the sex at the 12 week scan (overly confident male sonigraoher) which was then confirmed at 20 weeks. In my experience I don't think you've any less chance of finding out at 20 with one or two because you get double the length of the scan (or you do at my place) and at that point they were able to see everything. Even at 24 weeks there's still plenty of space to see stuff....ours were both head down with their bums in the air at that point so it was very obvious (and very funny). By the 28 week scan it's getting a little bit more bunched up and at my 32 week scan it was impossible to see anything gender wise.

NinjaPanda34 · 30/03/2015 19:01

Congratulations! We have 8 week old non-id boys. I spent a lot of time after my 12 week scan crying with the shock, think I'm used to it now!! Be prepared to get VERY big! The extra scans are great- I had one every fortnight, was lovely to see them as they grew and the scanning team at my hospital were fabulous. Oh and start fining people £1 who say "double trouble" to you! :)

Original poster

quesadillas · 30/03/2015 19:10

I do worry about getting really big, which I know is a silly thing to care about. But I didn't get big last time so it's a bit daunting. I'm not a fan at all of being pregnant, so mentally I find the idea difficult.

Actually I find the whole thing daunting, but at the moment I don't want to dwell on things like early birth, special care units etc.

OP posts:

Whatdoesaduckdo · 30/03/2015 19:13

Congratulations
I always think it's as well you are lying down when they tell you. My id girls will be 4 next month and it's been a blast.
We were v shocked we already had four dh had been for the snip and 2 weeks later found out I was pg.
I think I took about 2 weeks to get my head around it.
Look up TAMBA (twins and multiple birth association) they are fab and run really good free or low cost (around £5) courses on preparing for multiples which includes the birth, feeding what to expect etc.
The early days are tough just don't expect to get anything done , shopping trips take do much longer when your stopped every two minutes for people to see them, allow a routine to develop and you will be grand.

Flip

1 2