Expecting twins early January 2018

[dangle90]

So recently found out me and my OH are expecting twins early January! Total shock they will be our first.
Just wondered if anyone wanted to share the journey! Would be nice to have someone to chat to along the way! :)

Sorry Dangle I don't know about the grant. Could you ask HR or citizens information?

OMG Moggle that's amazing news!! 😄 I'm so jealous. I want to know what we're having I have ordered a doppler off eBay. Waiting for it to arrive so I can hear dc while I wait for my next appointment.

How are you doing Pisces? I missed your last update when posting yesterday. I hope you're getting lots of rest. I think the early days are full of anxiety especially with twins. I'm still worrying. x

Yeah I think citizens will be the best bet, hoping we qualify!
Aww moggle! That's great news!! Happy for you!!
How long until you find out central?

Glad your scan went well moggle. How exciting .

Im doing ok heartburn. I start back at work tomorrow after being off for the summer break. I don't want to say to my boss until I get the scan next week. It's hard to hide though even at this stage, I've got serious baby bloat.

Hi everyone, long time no check in.

So I'm 20 weeks tomorrow MCDA, have my 3rd scan with a specialist next Tuesday which will be my 20 week full anatomy scan as well as as checking all the other complications.
Basically state of play is... definite sIUGR in my twin b, so twin b has less placenta, bad cord insertion, and bad cord flow, and is about 20% behind size wise, both with minimum fluid levels with in the normal range, luckily my last two specialist appointments have shown no change, just that they are both growing on their own curves, which is the best we can hope for. And hoping with everything we have we can make it to the stage they are viable... so little one needs to reach 500g minimum, meaning delivery could be any time from then if we make it (25 weeksish) but if anything happens before then things don't look great for either... so literally still in limbo with it all.

Definitely looking pregnant! And can feel and see them both daily which is lovely, I have midwife appointments in between each scan so she can do their heartbeats for me... and from the heartbeats shes guessed girls! We have guessed girls from all of our scans too so who knows! Always said I wouldn't find out but with everything going on I'm really not fussed. My sister and friend kept badgering me about a baby shower date so I've just said do it at my viable date which should be mid September, can't bring myself to accept it's real yet and not even thought about buying anything, its all up in the air. Had to have an appointment yesterday with HR to say I can't give a maternity leave date, or say how long as they may spend the first few months in NICU, and they were lovely to me.

I know you are all DCDA, but just to put in my MCDA journey in put too incase anyones reading in the future! I hate reading posts that tail off lol. I'm on forums and pages galore!
Hope you're all keeping well, other than all the complications I have no symptoms what so ever! Xx

Glad to hear your news Salsa I've been thinking of you. Please God your little ones keep up their efforts. I could be wrong (I can't go back to check at the moment) but I think Pisces* is having MCDA twins too.

That is good that they are both sticking to their own curves salsa, lets hope it continues. Keep growing little ones (especially the littlest one).

I've just realised I totally forgot to go to my consultant appointment this morning :-( I'm such an idiot and now there's no appointments until 19 weeks. Hopefully won't matter too much.... argh feel so stupid especially as DD and I have just been pottering around at home for most of the day. Double baby brain.

Hi Salsa, glad to hear your babies are doing ok, I'm sure it's not easy. I'm so glad that they are growing, which is a good sign.I was reading and following this thread before I joined in and I was wondering how you were doing. I am also having MCDA twins and I'm 11 weeks. They were both measuring a bit behind on my last scan so I'm hoping all goes well at my booking scan next Tuesday. I hope your scan goes well next Tuesday, I will be thinking of you.

Thank you ladies, spending my days with my fingers crossed. Will keep posting of my journey regardless, find other posts very helpful.

That is so annoying about your baby brain and missing appointment moggle! Is dcda two weekly or four weekly? The wait inbetween mine feels like a million years long.

Pisces thank you. I hope you and your mcda pregnancy stays out of all of these small evil statistics, I'm on a lot of modi facebook groups where everyone's pregnancies are fine, just that of a dcda basically. Our twin b measured slightly behind from the off, which is actually a good thing as opposed to suddenly getting sIUGR later on, apparently, just means it's always been growing even with less of the placenta and absent cord flow etc.
I'm sure they will monitor you very closely, and I hope for you it all stays smooth running.

People and there jealous of twin pregnancy comments atm drive me mad lol. And 'they will be fine'. Nope, they might be fine, all we have is hope! Xx

So nice to hear from you salsa! I've been thinking of you too. Glad to hear there growing I just hope they keep it up, sounds like there little fighters! Please keep us updated!

Can't believe you forgot your appt moggle! If it makes you feel any better I've only had 1 appt with the consultant so far and that was at 18 weeks (think that's because midwife forgot to refer me) so I think you'll be fine x

Oh also guys, how much weight have you all put on (if any) and how far on are you again (can't keep track) just want to compare myself!

moggle I have very bad baby brain too! I would call to reschedule on Monday. It was an easy mistake to make and they still need to check you and the dt regularly.

Dangle I'm not sure what I have gained (I'm getting progressively bigger so I don't think I'm losing any) . I'm eating really healthily and drinking lots of water so hopefully that will help to go back to my "normal" weight when dt born.

Trying to convince DH to take time off work to come to the next appointment so I can ask if they know the sex yet.
I know it's early but it might be obvious I'm so impatient.

I'm surprised I'm not as sick with this pregnancy especially with twins. I was so much sicker with my previous pregnancies. Has everyone else dodged the sickness/nausea?

You sound to be doing well then heartburn with the healthy eating! I didn't have any sickness at all, everyone's been so shocked!!

Dangle and Heartburn,I haven't really been sick either, just food aversions, extreme bloating and terrible gas So far I've put on about 9lbs. I have a book called when your expecting twins, triplets and Quads and it recommends a weight gain of 50lb for twins, with a huge chunk of it to be out on by the end of the second trimester, given that our babies will tend to be born earlier. It also recommends eating 180g of protein per day. I struggle to hit the 120g mark that is generally suggested, there is no way I could hit 180? How do you all cope with trying to get in all this extra protein?

I am just eating as normal now! Didn't know about extra protein, it's not something anyone's mentioned to me. I think I've only put on about 8lb at 16 weeks but I haven't weighed myself in a week or so.

Hey moggle, I only became more aware of it because I had been a vegetarian and I was worried about getting enough of it when I found out I was having twins. You are probably getting more than enough if you are eating well. I decided to try and add in some lean chicken now and again and white fish. I tried salmon because it's so good for nutrients but I can't stomach it.I just take fish oil instead.

Dangle I wish I could say I haven't had to really try to change the bad habits of a lifetime but in all honesty, I have been warned even with a "normal range" BMI having a twin pregnancy and a family history of diabetes, I'm still at a higher risk of getting gestational diabetes and other complications Hopefully my GTT will be negative but it's not for ages yet so I'm trying to be careful.

Pisces 50lb people are already telling me I look "big" and I'm only starting my second trimester. I think most of it is bump. You could eat nuts, seeds, eggs and have beans, chickpeas, kidney beans (washed thoroughly) and lentils for extra protein. You could make a homemade soup with low sodium vegetable stock and mixed herbs, cook and stick blend to a smooth texture. I was reading about needing extra calcium and vitamin D. I stopped taking my pregnancy vitamins because they made me sick so I must remember to get a supplement for Vit D.
I feel more relaxed and relieved to be over the first trimester, thinking about names and baby stuff more.

I'm just eating normal too, never knew about the protein thing. That book sounds really good what's the name of it?
Had a bit of a worrying day today, I'd started feeling the babies but not felt them for a few days and my stomach doesn't feel hard anymore just feel podgy, and no stretching or pulling pain that I've had before either. Rang the hospital though and they've just said it will be fine. Luckily I'm going for my 20 week scan weds so not too long to wait

Sorry heartburn just saw your post. I'm worrying about that test too. Mines not until October, when is yours? My BMI was 30!! At my booking in appt. I couldn't believe it. Didn't think it would be that bad as I never classed a size 14 to be that I healthy, so I felt really guilty after and thought I'm bound to end up with diabetes

Hi Dangle, this was book I was talking about. When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy by Dr Barbara Luke's. I bought an old second hand copy on Amazon as it was much cheaper. Some chapters are not as relevant in reference to the American healthcare system. It's nice to have a book just about multiple pregnancy.
Thanks for the advice Heartburn. I have upped my intake of Nuts as well as making lentil and spinach soup for lunch. I made a great veggie Mousakka the other week packed full of lentils, potatoes, aubergine and cheese. Hope everyone else is doing well xo

Good luck with your appointment on Wednesday Dangle xo

Thanks Pisces. I'll keep you all posted. I'm going to look for that book now

I have that book too but haven't looked in it yet very much. Must have a look. My bmi was the same as yours at booking dangle, i was mortified at the time but thinking about it i didn't have booking in appt til 11 weeks so I was already pretty bloated! I didn't think I was that big 😳 I feel slimmer now just with a big bump so I hope I'm not doing too badly but got no intention of weighing myself - I don't really want to know. Is that bad?!

I have my 20 week scan tomorrow and then consultant appt to follow on Tuesday. Has anyone else been asked to have an Arabin pessary for research?

I don't understand why they bother with bmi during pregnancy, it's not really accurate when most of the extra weight is baby/placenta/waters and disappears after the birth. Don't feel guilty Dangle, the stats are so generalised and weight distribution varies so much depending on body shape and other factors which it doesn't seem to take into account.
Pisces Thanks for the book recommendation. I saw a book on our local charity shop a while back about multiples pregnancy and laughed thinking there wouldn't be too many buying that round our way (I haven't seen many twin pregnancies). Now I'm hoping it's still there when I go back.

Chocolate I haven't heard of that research project. What's it about? Good luck with your 20 week scan, it's great to be over half ways to meeting your babies

Yeah tbh I don't feel like I've put on weight anywhere except my belly ATM which is good I suppose!
I've never heard of that either chocolate what is it? Has anyone else been put on aspirin? I got put on it the other week?

Chocolateshortcake, my husband has started a post on mumsnet asking other people as we have been asked to participate. I will find out on Tuesday if eligible, if so, I think I will go for it. Doesn't seem to be any cons and worth it if they stay in there for longer.
HeartburnCentral, I had waves of nausea in the first trimester and it's settled down now luckily, I was never sick so I was quite fortunate. Thanks for the info about the sleeping pillow, I have just been given a foam wedge for my belly so I will try that out soon.
Salsasalsa, it's really good to hear from you! You sound like you are doing better and I hope that continues.
Pisces2, to be honest, I haven't researched much about extra diet. I am trying to eat more fibre but apart from that just eating normally. I take omega 3 fish oils too, I read they are a better option than cod liver oil (due to the mercury content I think). I also read that fish oil supplements can help improve baby's birth weight but there are no proven studies.
Dangle90, I have been weighing myself since 12 weeks... There is a definite increase! I am 20 weeks tomorrow. I have been putting on about 600g each week in the last few weeks.
I have my 20 weeks scan on Tuesday, I am not sure if I have felt them move yet so I am eager to see them moving on the scan and see that they are healthy.