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

Hello ladies, hope you are all doing well. Please may I piggyback on this thread? Just found out yesterday I’m expecting DCDA twins. I’m due early Jul (realistically mid June if I opt for planned birth) but couldn’t see a later dated thread.

@CouldItBeCake of course, welcome to the thread! Are you feeling ok about the news or still a bit in shock?

Had my 20 week scan yesterday. All is looking fine which is a relief. Getting quite a lot of movements now which is making it feel more real. I’ve ordered some small baby clothes so I can start getting my hospital bags together over the next couple of months or so.

How’s everyone else doing?

@CouldItBeCake Welcome to the group. We’re you expecting twins at all? I was and I was still in shock.

@TheMagicDeckchair Great news for your 20 week scan. Did they both behave? I’m at 26 weeks today so trying to get as much as I can sorted just in case I have to go to bed rest or anything. I’m also in London so not a huge amount else to do while trying to keep safe!

@TheMagicDeckchair @Gidget19 Thank you both! I wasn’t expecting twins at all and am indeed in shock. I also have a DS who recently turned 2. I did wonder why I was feeling much more sick and tired this time round but put it down to the fact I am now a SAHM and had more time to dwell on my symptoms than when I was working through my first pregnancy. A load of nonsense, clearly

Hi Everyone 👋
Can I join please? I'm expecting DCDA twins. They are due end of June, so realistically early June delivery. It's my first pregnancy... 15 weeks today and not really showing. Clothes feel a bit tight but no bump at all. Did anyone else have this?
I don't think we'll be finding out the genders (although I'm convinced it's two girls!).
I hope everyone is doing well? Xxx

@MRJ86 welcome and congratulations on the twins. These are my first and I didn’t show as early as other people thought I should and am still not the size other people are expecting. The girls are fine sizes though!

I hid my pregnancy very easily at work until I was 18 weeks and even then I had to tell people, no one noticed. My bump looked like I’d just eaten a few too many carbs.

@Gidget19 they were wriggling around all over the place! Was great for DH to see them as he hasn’t been allowed to any of the other NHS scans. Wow 26 weeks- not that long to go really. Are you starting to get uncomfortable yet?

@CouldItBeCake I have a just turned 3 year old and like you put the nausea down to it being a different pregnancy- I didn’t think “oh, must be twins!”

@MRJ86 welcome to the thread and congratulations on your news. I showed earlier this time around but it’s a subsequent pregnancy, I could keep my first pregnancy concealed until about 20 weeks. Definite bump this time! We decided to find out the genders this time and I sort of wish I hadn’t, but I wanted to know whether I should donate DD’s old clothes, and to be more organised. Turns out I’m having two boys so starting from scratch! Team yellow is great though, it’s amazing when you find out at birth. Plus there’s loads of lovely unisex baby clothes.

Welcome @CouldItBeCake and @MRJ86 ! How are you both feeling?

@MRJ86 I showed early and had a big bump fairly early on but this is my 2nd pregnancy so that might be why.

@TheMagicDeckchair that’s great news about your 20 week scan going well! Have your hospital started to relax their rules now or was your DH allowed because it was the 20 week scan?

@Gidget19 and those further along, have your midwives/consultants started to talk to you about the birth and your options yet?

Got my next scan Monday 🤞🏼 Scans have gone back down to fortnightly now so hoping all is good. Getting some pretty strong kicks now (22 weeks)

@TheMagicDeckchair I feel so sorry for partners at the moment as they don’t get to attend very many things at all. I’ve only started to get uncomfortable over the last few days, been ok up until then.

@Amelia891I haven’t had a great experience with midwives I have to say. I’ve had two phone appointments where they were just asking questions from a list and that’s all apart from my usual scans. I have my first face to face in week 29 so maybe someone will actually talk to me then!

What are the rest of you thinking birth wise? I’m leaning towards a C section.

Hi @MRJ86 you are same dates as me! I’m 15+2 so due date end of June but will be earlier as I’m having MCDA twins.

I feel enormous bump has certainly appeared over the last 2 weeks Christmas food may have helped that lol I’m quite sore tho been having stretching/tightening pains in my tummy rang midwives but they weren’t concerned said it’s normal and there’s a lot going on I’m just worried about TTTTS.

Have my 16 week scan on Wed then will be scanned every two weeks can’t wait as I’m still bleeding from my SCH hoping it has shrunk when I’m scanned next week.

Happy new year everyone!!

@Amelia891 they always had the partners allowed at 20 week scan rule. Still waiting for an “official” announcement in light of the recent recommendations re pregnant ladies having support for scans, birth and after.

@Gidget19 spoke to a consultant about likely birth options at 16 weeks. As I’ve already had a vaginal delivery previously, and if the lower twin presents correctly, he said that he would advise trying for a vaginal delivery. If the lead twin isn’t playing ball then it’ll be a c-sec. He was of the opinion that in the situation of having a previous safe vaginal delivery and the first twin presenting correctly it would be better to try vaginally, as c-sec carries risks too. But if this was my first birth he would recommend elective c-sec.

One consultant suggested I could go to 38-39 weeks, another suggested 37 weeks would be considered term. So it may depend upon on who I see at my last consultant appointment!

@Natalie8984 the tummy/stretching pains sound normal, I get those too. Nice that you will get to see them every couple of weeks!

Hey ladies, jumping on if no-one minds. I'm 19 weeks tomorrow with DCDA twins, and an 18month old DD.
Twins were a huge shock as fell pregnant naturally and neither of us have twins in the family.
We're keeping gender a suprise again although I'm convinced I have at least one girl cooking away in there.

Hope everyone is well and looking forward to what 2021 has in store for us all

@rosegoldivy welcome and congratulations! You’re only a couple of weeks behind me. When did you find out? It’s exciting but daunting. Is your 20 week scan soon?

Hi everyone! @TheMagicDeckchair @Natalie8984 (date twin!)@Amelia891 @Gidget19 - Thank you so much for the warm welcome!

I'm feeling a bit less anxious already this week as I reckon my tummy is most definitely expanding...it is just a weird time (I'm 16 weeks on Friday) wherer you almost don't feel pregnant after the 1st trimester so I think it's just made me nervous!

Is anyone starting to think about what you really need for twins? The pram dilemma is starting to raise it's ugly head. What's everyone thinking?

Is everyone doing alright following the lockdown news? I don't think it will impact any maternity services as I think I saw all hospitals will allow a partner in with women for antenatal appts etc.

@natalie8984 do you mind me asking what the bleed is from? It's nice that we're the same dates! Have they indicated when yours will arrive? My other 'fear' is prem babies! I was 10 weeks early myself!

Hope everyone is well xxxxxx

@MRJ86 I have a subchorionic bleed (also known as a subchorionic hematoma) it’s an accumulation of blood between the uterine lining and the chorion. I’ve had two huge bleeds and was diagnosed just over 12 weeks still bleeding now, I’m 16 weeks on Thursday and have my 16 week scan tomorrow so praying that it has shrunk and babies are growing well! They told me they won’t let me go past 36 weeks, that’s my concern too and I’m worried if they get twin to twin they will need to be delivered early I’m just holding my breath to 24 weeks when it’s viable then il start getting stuff in. I’ve bought a magnesium supplement done abit of reading and it’s suppose to help prevent Pre term labour and low birth weights il give anything ago at this point.

I’m worried about lockdown I’m in Belfast so nothing announced yet, hubby was allowed in for 12 week and is allowed in at 20 just hoping that doesn’t change as I’ve to go to 16 and 18 on my own. It’s really hard I duno about you ladies but I could really do with him there for support.

@Natalie8984 - I'll have everything crossed for your appointment on Thursday. I'm sure they are doing just great :)

Ah, is 24 weeks the viable point? I didn't realise that - I will now be holding my breath until then too! I'll also look into the supplements you've mentioned.

I agree re partner / husbands - it seems too cruel to not allow them in for appointments so I'll be amazed if they don't your husband in with you. XXX

I have scans every 10 days (ish) at the moment and DH hasn’t been allowed to anything but my 12 week scan and one specialist cardiac scan. Unfortunately the NHS guidelines are saying partners should be allowed to all scans going forward but it’s up to each individual hospital and they have to do all their risk assessments/paperwork before they change the rules, so some hospitals might start letting partners in soon but others won’t be for months yet. My midwife told me all this yday and said in my county (Buckinghamshire) she doubts anything will change before my twins are due (early April) 😕

Tbh it’s not the scans/appts I’m worried about right now it’s the visiting hours after they are born. Current rules at my hospital are that partners can visit 2 hours per day and the thought of recovering from a C section and trying to care for newborn twins alone is scaring me a bit! Just hope the midwives aren’t too busy to help me out and that we can get home ASAP.

@Natalie8984 TTTS has been my biggest fear too but if your consultant is anything like mine then they will keep a really close eye on you so if you do get it they catch it early and can hopefully treat it. My consultant yday told me that if you haven’t developed it by 24 weeks then it’s very unlikely it will come on after that 🤞🏼 Good luck with your scan!

@MRJ86 if you scroll back a page or two we had a discussion about prams then 😊 We’ve all gone for different ones I think. I got a bugaboo donkey. The first decision to make is if you want a tandem or a side by side as that will help narrow it down.

Welcome @rosegoldivy x

@TheMagicDeckchair That advice about birth was quite good to know. They may suggest a c section for me because I’m a FTM.

@MRJ86 I had my buggy delivered once I got 24 weeks, went for the Mountain Buggy duet with carrycots.

When I found out I was pregnant I really thought we’d be in a better situation by now, not heading into another lockdown. I’m working from home from this week so don’t think I’ll be going back now. Starting to think about how to stay safe during appointments and the birth now and what to do once they are born. I can see people being able to see them!

@MRJ86 our hospital only allow partners for the 20 week scans. DH wasn’t even allowed into the consultant appointment afterwards (luckily just routine, nothing worrying). And this was before lockdown.

@Amelia891 I have had exactly the same concerns about managing the hospital stay with twins. There’s more chance of being in longer too I guess with multiples. I raised this in my last consultant appointment, he said that the feedback from wards was that mothers felt very well supported by the midwives. And if the birth goes well it may only be an overnight stay. One positive I remember from hospital was that someone brought all my meals and changed my bedding, which meant I could focus on the baby. And one of the midwives was lovely and took DD for a few hours overnight so I could sleep. I would much rather be back at home quickly though than stuck on a ward.

I hoped things would have improved Covid wise by the spring but I guess what will be will be. One advantage of being pregnant during a pandemic is having no FOMO as there’s nothing to miss out on!

@Amelia891

I have scans every 10 days (ish) at the moment and DH hasn’t been allowed to anything but my 12 week scan and one specialist cardiac scan. Unfortunately the NHS guidelines are saying partners should be allowed to all scans going forward but it’s up to each individual hospital and they have to do all their risk assessments/paperwork before they change the rules, so some hospitals might start letting partners in soon but others won’t be for months yet. My midwife told me all this yday and said in my county (Buckinghamshire) she doubts anything will change before my twins are due (early April) 😕

Tbh it’s not the scans/appts I’m worried about right now it’s the visiting hours after they are born. Current rules at my hospital are that partners can visit 2 hours per day and the thought of recovering from a C section and trying to care for newborn twins alone is scaring me a bit! Just hope the midwives aren’t too busy to help me out and that we can get home ASAP.

@Natalie8984 TTTS has been my biggest fear too but if your consultant is anything like mine then they will keep a really close eye on you so if you do get it they catch it early and can hopefully treat it. My consultant yday told me that if you haven’t developed it by 24 weeks then it’s very unlikely it will come on after that 🤞🏼 Good luck with your scan!

@MRJ86 if you scroll back a page or two we had a discussion about prams then 😊 We’ve all gone for different ones I think. I got a bugaboo donkey. The first decision to make is if you want a tandem or a side by side as that will help narrow it down.

Welcome @rosegoldivy x

If it's Stoke Mandeville I had my twins there 2 weeks ago via c section and the staff were all amazing including on the post natal ward. The first night after I had them I needed quite a bit of help and there was plenty of help offered I even had nursery nurses offer to feed or change a baby etc while I sorted the other one out. I couldn't fault the care I received there

@Louisa4987 Two weeks ago? How are you getting on? I hope your section scar is healing well.

[quote Gidget19]@Louisa4987 Two weeks ago? How are you getting on? I hope your section scar is healing well.[/quote]
Really good thanks it's actually been a walk in the park compared to my first "natural" delivery which resulted in forceps and episiotomy. I've had very little pain and was able to move around and look after both babies very quickly myself. The scar itself has healed amazingly well so far. It couldn't have been a more positive experience

I'm not sure if part of the reason I've felt so good is because of how awful I felt in the last few months of carrying twins though I really suffered with pain and had very limited movement towards the end so it was like a massive weight had been lifted even the day of the surgery!

@TheMagicDeckchair when are you due?
I found out it was twins when I was 7 weeks as I was having really bad cramping pains and the hospital done an internal scan. Will never forget the sonographer saying "there's baby's heartbeat there... Oh wait... Baby has company, its twins!"
Then I didn't hear another word that was said 😂😂
I've already opted for an elective section as needed an emergency one with DD and consultant agreed it would be best course to take.
20 week scan is a week today.
I'm already uncomfortable and got ages to go

Ladies got horrible news yesterday one twin is showing signs of early TTTS. There’s a 27% growth difference and reduced fluid around the baby, they couldn’t really see it’s bladder either. Going to see fetal medicine on Monday morning, literally haven’t stopped crying and haven’t sept a wink. Feel like anything that could go wrong has done, they couldn’t see the blood clot anymore but I’m still bleeding so I’m just a mess could really do with a bottle of wine right now lol

@Natalie8984 I’m so sorry to hear that. It’s such a shocking and scary thing to be told. I was diagnosed with stage 1 TTTS at 18 weeks. I think the best advice was not to google. However there’s a TTTS fact sheet on the Twins Trust website that my husband and I found really helped to clarify things for us and decide what to do. I think it’s in part of the site you have to become a paid member to access but well worth it for the £2ish a month subscription fee. It doesn’t shy away from the realities but I found it more helpful than looking at the statistics for the likely outcomes when I already found myself in an extremely statistically unlikely situation!
Really hoping for you that things have stayed stable when you see fetal medicine on Monday. Wishing you lots of luck.