Expecting twins, found out yesterday.

[isittheholidaysyet]

Heeeelllllppppp! Found out yesterday that we are having twins. 13 weeks pregnant.
I already have 4 kids, though the youngest is now at school.
Spending a lot of time googling, it's a whole new world. MCDA (that's two words I didn't know yesterday morning!)
Someone tell me that it'll be fine, please, and we will survive the next few years!

You have four, you will be fine , because you all ready know how to juggle.

Twins were my first (and second) children I felt like I had been hit by a bus and still do. I wish I had had the experience of a single baby first. Partly for the experience but also because I would have loved to have know what it was like to be that mum who sits snuggling a sleeping baby all day.

You'll be fine, you've loads of experience. With mcma twins you will be seen fortnightly.

Congratulations :)

I meant to say mcda twins!

My 16 month old dt's are absolutely the best thing ever, not a day goes by that they fail to make me laugh. Yes the first few weeks are quite a hard graft, but its easy to get into a routine. We also have two dd's at school, I always get up at 6/630 with them and get them changed, fed and dressed before I get the girls up.

I love all the ooh youve got your hands full type chat, yes I do but it flows pretty easy.

Similar experience to neversleepagain: our DT were first, second and last we're going to have (too old now for more), think we would've been less shell-shocked with experience of a previous baby (let alone 4! ). It was all so new to us! On the other hand, we didn't have any prior expectations so just jumped in and got on with it.

My only advice would be to make sure DH, elder siblings and anyone else you can rope in supports you through those first few full-on hellish months.

Twins are a wonderful thing, congratulations

Yes it's very very tiring at the beginning. The little monkeys at one point managed to get themselves on a completely opposite synch, so the longest period of sleep I was getting was no more than about 90 minutes.

DP (and my mum and sister) would take over, completely, between 5 pm and 8 pm every day, for me to have a break. It was the only thing that kept me sane.

HOWEVER at about 12/18 months I began to realise how much easier my life was becoming compared to the other mums who I'd met and stayed in touch with at antenatal. (DTDs are our first and only children). Their singleton children were far more focussed on their mums, whereas mine had a strong relationship with each other and would happily be together and let me get on with other tasks. I don't suppose this would apply to you, but I do think the other mothers who were by this time feeling pretty tired with their DC2s incoming or newborn were rather jealous. A lot of commenting about 'getting it over and done with in one go!'

Thanks guys, I'm laughing hysterically every time I think about the twins at the moment, but I'm sure that stage will pass!
I've never yet managed to get me or a baby in a routine yet. So that'll have to change.
And I'm not looking forward to dealing with feeding with bottles. That's always looked like a right hassle.

Congratulations! I'm like neversleepagain - I've only had the DTs and I think a lot of the shit that was the first 7 months was down to being a brand new mum. You will be so much more together and calm than me! Also agree that it gets easier (although I always feel like I'm breaking some kind of twin mum code of silence when I admit to it). My girls are so lovely together. They're 2.5 now, and play so well independently and together, and they take such good care of each other, it's just so lovely. Every single day has been easier than the one before it. I'm keeping them in their cots until they're teenagers though, and probably in nappies too.

I'm wrangling 8 week old twin girls and I thought it would be much worse than it actually is. I'm doing the bulk of the care as husband working and no local helpers. Getting maybe 4 hours sleep ( but not all at once) and am loving every second.

Twins are brilliant!

I've got nearly 6 year old boy girl twins they are my only children and like someone else mentioned would of liked to experience what it was like having just one, but hey ho. Its not easy but you sound like an experienced mum already so I am sure you'll manage. sometimes the logistics can be tricky but mine are just blooming great now that the first few years of hard work are a distant memory. Twins are just great!

I remember the just laughing stage! It pretty much lasted until they were born for us (& even now I can't believe we have twins!).

I have a just 2 yr old and nearly 5 month old twins, and I have found it not as hard as I thought (I won't say easier as it isn't easy, but definitely not as hard!)

When you say you aren't looking forward to bottle feeding twins is that because you usually breastfeed your babies? It is possible to breastfeed twins exclusively (it is how mine are fed). It is tough but if you have previous experience breastfeeding that is half the battle won

Congratulations - twins are awesome!

Thanks for the support.
Yes I hope to breastfeed them, I can just see far more times when bottles will need to be used, and from an earlier age. (and can you tandem feed in public without revealing yourself? wouldn't it need about 3 pairs of hands and 6 cushions?)
I'm feeling a bit better about things, slowly getting used to the idea.

I haven't needed to tandem feed in public yet, but have fed them one after the other and it has been fine. I did see one twin mum tandem feed with one twin on each leg leaning into her, so sat up feeding (does that make sense?!) but I guess you can't do that hold until the babies are a bit older. I can do that with mine at 21 weeks, but I generally favour the rugby ball hold when tandemming so probably could have fed them sat up sooner. Lots more places have parent rooms now, so using those could be an option?

You may find you never need to use a bottle, or you may find that formula/expressed breastmilk works best for you. However it works out will be fine, but don't worry until you get there - a lot to do with twins is trial and error!

I recommend seeing if there is a twin club operating near you - it is a bit of a lifeline as the parents there understand life with twins, and the support is invaluable. Plus the twin parents on here!

Congratulations! Twins are definitely harder work, I won't pretend otherwise, but are awesome as others have said. My seven year old DTDs are currently hugging each other and rolling round on the floor .

The beginning is unrelenting, but I also agree that it gets easier - if not day by day, then week by week at least. You suddenly look at each other and say 'this isn't as hard as it used to be'.

DS was just 20 months when our DTs were born and it was mad but manageable. If you have had four you're a seasoned pro and I'm sure you'll take it in your stride. Congrats again and good luck!

Sad news i'm afraid. We lost both babies to twin to twin transfusion syndrome. despite the laser treatment.
Thankyou for all your support though, when i was panicking!
(We are doing ok, and though grieving, I know we'll get through.)

I'm so very sorry to hear that OP. to you and your family. Hope you're getting the support you need

I'm so sorry OP

Make sure you take all the time you need to grieve, and I hope you are getting the support you need. Mumsnet is also here if you need it.

Thinking of you and your family

Thanks guys. Everyone has been wonderful and we really have had the chance to take some grieving time, and will continue to be gentle with ourselves.