Anyone expecting twins April/May?

[Amelia891]

Hi!

I’ve recently found out that I’m expecting twins early May. Over the moon and super excited but obviously also a little nervous! I have a DD who will be 3 just before the twins arrive. Anyone else here expecting twins around the same time? Would be great to have someone to chat to who is going through the same thing!! x

I am having twins in March if that is any use to you? Would be April if this were a singleton but the twins pushed me back to March.

Congratulations!

I have just been for a scan as part of the private NIPT and discovered that I am also expecting twins! Due in May although that may come forward in time. It’s a complete shock as I’m 40, had a long infertility journey to have DD and didn’t think we could conceive naturally. DD will be nearly 3.5 by our due date.

In our minds we were preparing for one so this is a huge shock. It’s changed everything in terms of planning. I was hoping to go back to work after no2 but I don’t see how it will be possible.

How are you feeling about things?

@TheMagicDeckchair congratulations to you too! I was 100% planning this pregnancy and even had a feeling they were twins weeks before the scan and I was still in shock when I first saw those two tiny heartbeats!

I’m 17 weeks now and trying to get my head around the situation. I spent weeks working through all the ways this would be harder for me and things we’d all miss out on because there were two of them and now they are my twin girls and I’m just getting on with planning and being cautiously excited.

How are you feeling about it now? 3.5 will be quite a nice age for your oldest. Old enough to understand and want to be involved and help you out a little.

@Gidget19 I think I had a weird feeling that there might be two in there. My initial reaction was shock and worrying how we’ll cope but we have time to get our heads around it. I’m glad to hear that you are starting to get used to it. It’s stuff you don’t consider like having to change the car and the huge childcare costs for two. The house will be big enough short term so that’s one thing we don’t have to consider yet.

We had a surprise last time with finding out the sex and had planned this for this one, but we’ve decided to find out with the twins news as we need to be doubly prepared.

Do you have any other children or are the twins your firsts?

@TheMagicDeckchair Childcare was definitely one of my first worries. I’m a single parent so one income and two nursery places will be hard. I’m lucky that I have enough room for them both short-term, same as you but we will have to move if they ever want their own rooms.

I would have found out the gender even if I was having one but it felt more significant knowing there were two in there. I was mentally prepared for any combination though, I just wanted to know. These are my first and will probably be my only children. I quite like that I know just because I can refer to them as my girls and say ‘she’ when talking about them.

@Gidget19 it will be difficult as a single parent but I am sure you will manage. Do you have support around you?

If I’d had two first time around I think I would have been done too. I found adjusting to being a parent very hard with my first but I hope it won’t be as difficult this time. But then I’ll have DD and two to contend with.

How have you found the pregnancy, does it feel intense? I had far worse nausea this time, and I look terrible, it must be growing two babies!

@TheMagicDeckchair Growing two humans is not a glamorous business. My morning sickness was awful for a while, I was sick every time I stood up so was put on medication. It only took the edge off but that was something. Feel lots more human now and am not that big yet so still feel comfortable walking and sleeping.

My Mum is thrilled to be greeting grand-baby one and two at once so is retiring to enjoy it properly. I’m also going to have to draft in friends to help with bits. Someone also suggested contacting local collages or nursery training programs as you can often get volunteers. It would be good to have a helpful teenager around for a bit.

Have you got other support too? I think even with two parents the early days of twins is very intense and extra hands will always make a difference.

@Gidget19 that’s great news about your mum, it will be such a help! My parents didn’t help out hugely when DD was tiny as the world was very different then and they had their own lives, holidays, days out etc. But they are brilliant with DD now she is older. Now that Covid has put a stop to everything they will have time to help out more when the little ones are tiny. I am especially worried about how DD will take it, she loves being the centre of everyone’s world and I’m
heartbroken at the thought of upsetting all that.

Otherwise I don’t know how we will cope! Think we might have to get a cleaner/housekeeper in to help keep on top of housework. Any visitors will have to make tea, play with DD or feed a baby! I breastfed DD until recently but realistically I can’t see how I can exclusively BF two this time around. I’m planning to mixed feed if I can. Have you had any thoughts about feeding?

I’ve always been open to whatever works best for mum and baby and with one I was going to try breastfeeding for as long as we could but have bottles and milk at the ready. I think now I am going to mix and match. Having never breast fed, I have no idea how I’ll get along with it so will try and see how it’s working. Much like you, I think I’ll mix feed too. Have gone between topping up with bottles or alternative breast/bottle with each baby each feed.

Hi all I'm having twins too - boy and girl but due in February so a little further on that you ladies x

@ivfbeenbusy congratulations! Everyone was sure mine were b/g twins. Very exciting for you. I’m assuming from your name that these were IVF twins, mine are IUI donor babies, a question it seems people are desperate to ask me but don’t know quite how to go about it!

@Gidget19

Yes I know the feeling - these are IVF babies! which has meant I've had to tell a lot More people than I originally envisaged that these are IVF babies as the standard question even from strangers in the supermarket queue is "so twins run in the family"!

I've got a pretty big size discrepancy between my twins at the moment so I'm expecting early delivery 😢 so just trying to get a list together of everything I need

@ivfbeenbusy special congrats on the successful IVF then. I did the injections and same path up until egg release and then had the insemination rather than collection. The midwives also can’t get their heads around that. I have had to explain several times that there was no egg collection or transfer procedure but they still seem unsure about what to class this pregnancy as. I’ve been classed as ‘natural’ and ‘IVF’ so far. Neither are right!

I’m struggling with the list and when to do things at the moment. I need to sort things while I’m still fit and able to move but don’t want to get things too early. I’m also mentally preparing for early delivery and/or a period of bedrest.

I should have kept count of the number of people who ask me of twins run in the family.

@ivfbeenbusy congratulations on your twin pregnancy. How many weeks are you now? I had ICSI for DD (success on second round). Ironically I had a lowish AMH and was a poor responder so didn’t have any embryos to freeze. The last thing I expected was that my body would throw out 2 good eggs at 40 and then two of DH’s lazy sperm would fertilise them! I had just been re-referred to the clinic again for tests to see if would be worth having a last shot for #2.

I think the twins are fraternal as they each had their own sac and placenta. But the panorama should confirm that. We have a history of twins in both sides of the family (3 sets of identicals) but not genetically so. I think it’s happened because of my age.

@Gidget19 I think it’s a good idea to go into feeding with an open mind. BF can be very hard and painful at the start but it has its advantages- can feed in bed, no sterilising bottles etc. It was great at getting the pregnancy weight off! I just don’t think I will be able to sit on the sofa all day establishing supply this time with DD to think about. I might try BF at night and bottles in the day.

Hi @TheMagicDeckchair @ivfbeenbusy @Gidget19

I started this thread then somehow dropped off it and only just seen these replies! So nice to find others due with twins around the same time :)

I’m also planning to mixed feed. I bf my daughter until she was 1 but thinking sanity/sleep wise mixed feeding might end up being the best option so DH can help.

I have my 12 week scan tomorrow (even though I’m 13+3 already) and I had a bit of spotting Sunday so quite nervous. Has anyone else got a big bump yet? I’m about as big as I was with my daughter at 20 weeks already!

@Amelia891Hi! I’m not very big at all which is worrying me off and on but my scans have been ok so far. Next one is in two weeks. I have a bump but isn’t what I expected with twins.

@Amelia891

My bump at 12 weeks was probably about the same size or bigger than I was at 20 weeks with DD, I'm 24 weeks now and look full term 🤦‍♀️

@Gidget19 might be because they are your first, they say you show more with your 2nd so I’m thinking maybe that’s adding to why I’m big!

Have you both had any extra consultant appointments yet? Are your partners allowed to scans/appointments?

I didn’t mean both, I meant the 3 of you 😅

👋🏻 halloo.

I am a mum of twins. Which might not seem super helpful based on the nature of the discussions so far 😅 but... I thought in case you had questions, I'd like to help, as there was so much I wish I knew before having them.

For reference, they were my first and are my only children and were naturally conceived. My maternity was fully done through NHS. I also took part in a 'trial' (if that's the correct word), I was using pessaires with a substance in them that they were trialling to see if it helps mothers carry multiples to term. Mine were born five weeks premature, naturally, prior to a planned c-section. They are now 27 months. If you ever meet another parent with twins when you are out and about with your newborns, you will hear the phrase 'it gets easier'. Trust me, it comes from a good place, and it's true!

@Amelia891

I'm in the West Midlands so covid tier 3 before the lockdown - no partners at any scans so have topped up with the odd private scan.
I've seen "a" consultant twice - not the same one mind but due to the size difference between my twins I've been moved over to the fetal medicine centre for all future scans so should see one consultant more consistently now. I've had scans at 12, 20, 22 weeks and then will have 26, 30 and 34 if I make it that far 🤣 and may also have extra growth scans in between depending on how the little twin is doing x

@Amelia891 I am starting to show. According to the scan on Sunday I should be around 12 weeks now. I will have to start telling people soon. Once I get the NIPT results I will start telling people. I’m sure I didn’t start showing til 18-20 weeks with my first!

I haven’t had any extra appointments yet- NHS scan is on 16th and I have the hospital booking appointment next week so I’ll let them know then. If I hadn’t had the private scan with the NIPT I wouldn’t have been any wiser til then anyway.

@KnitPearl I am very grateful for your words of wisdom- I’ve been reading a lot of twin parent threads lately and I get the impression that it’s chaos early on but eases (much like your first baby I guess but even more!) I keep telling myself it the next 1-2 years will be a hard slog but once they get older we’ll have a wonderful, lively big family. I just have to keep my fingers crossed. I never saw myself as a mum of three!

Hi everyone, I’m due MCDA twins 3rd May. Quite a shock at the 12 week scan but really happy and getting our heads into the reality now. These will be our first (and we’ll plan to stop there!)
Starting fortnightly scans from 16 weeks, don’t think partners will be allowed in for any for a good while at the moment though.
Hope everyone’s feeling good

@Amelia891 that has actually made me feel lots better so thanks!

@KnitPearl thanks for joining in, it’s always good to have experiences twin mums around.

@Weenie12 hi, welcome to the group.

So far I’ve had a 7 week scan (privately through the clinic) then 12 week NHS and two weeks until my 20 week. I’m in London and we’ve only just been able to take one person to appointments with us but I can see that changing with this lockdown. I’m in London and have been told by work to stay at home from tomorrow. What are the rest of you doing work-wise?

@Gidget19

I'm working from home but my entire company is as well so not special treatment just for me! That being said I was pretty much on sofa rest from 18 weeks as my bump, hips, pelvis hurt too much if I stood, walked or sat at desk too much. I also had to stop walking to do the school run at about 20 weeks and have to drive now as walking too far has also became really painful

I feel bloody massive and uncomfortable today 😢