Twin pregnancy questions

[whatcangowrong]

Hi wise twin mums

8 weeks pregnant with twins and starting to believe it might be happening! Have been reading the entire internet on twins, and feel I've got my head around what it'll be like once they're here and feeling (relatively) calm about that - will get a nanny as I want to go back to work fairly promptly, will be open to a maternity nurse or night nanny for a few weeks if needed, think we can keep our car and get a multimac... already have an 18 mo son but he is quite placid so think that'll be ok (plus see nanny plan!). The size of our house is a big issue but we will cross that bridge...

However I can't yet get my head around twin pregnancy, how much harder it might be, and can't find that much info on it. Any tips from the top? Should I eat extra of anything, can I exercise? Is it better to keep exercising? Will my tummy muscles separate? Are stretch marks inevitable? What about wrinkly skin?! Is there anything I can do to increase chances of carrying to 37/38 weeks? I found pregnancy with a singleton a breeze but I'm a bit trepidatious re the step up to carrying 2. Would appreciate real world strories and tips.

Also tell me what stretch mark cream works (I know mine and it's genetic but if there is one that might work a bit I would like to know!)

Are you having identical twins or fraternal ? I have identical twins and the pregnancy is harder for various reasons. My pregnancy was more stressful due to far more scans and check ups. I had a C section at 36 weeks. I was enormous. I have to be honest - I found the pregnancy hard but I managed to work through to 32 weeks. I had a maternity nurse that came alternate nights - couldn’t afford it every night. I was very focused on routine - feeding and getting them to sleep at the same time. It’s the only thing that allowed me to get sleep & they slept through the night at 4 months. Good luck with it !

@Rrrob yay I'm (supposed to be) going to nyc! If you can do it maybe I can. Pre eclampsia sounds crap but having the babies on the first day of mat leave is quite well timed, well done!

@Morag72 I think they're most likely fraternal as I had a double embryo transfer and they have separate sacs and placentas, but I think there is some chance they're identical and we won't know for sure sure until they're born? But anyway they're the least risky type as they are not sharing anything. Presumably that means even more placenta and amniotic fluid for me to lug around?!

I'll def have a c section too as I had to have an emcs last time so I don't think any reason to deviate with twins. The only reason I might have gone for vbac would have been to have a third in quick succession but I'm now definitely shutting the shop after this pregnancy, unless neither of them make it I guess. Mustn't get ahead of myself at not quite 9 weeks.

My intention is to be the routine queen too. I was quite strict on it with my son and got him sleeping through the night by about 4 months too, after I turned off the night dairy and there was nothing interesting to wake up for anymore! But who knows how this will pan out, I don't think you can plan too much as you can't foresee reflux and the like.

Wanted to update this thread as always good if people come looking and there was some really helpful advice given to me.

On the travel side of things - I'm now 17+5 and due to fly to the States on weds. I asked my doctor about this a few weeks back and she was absolutely fine about it, which surprised me a bit as she usually hates my mad plans! But she said as long as I'm feeling well it's fine. I do still feel really well, I think it helps that I'm not that big yet, just starting to unpack my maternity wardrobe and think it looks a bit comfier and more appropriate, but have been fine in (most of) my normal clothes to now. So we are going! She did say clexane for the flight and I still have this at home so will be taking a jab pre flight in both directions. We are flying business on the way home. I'm expecting to be tired a bit during the trip and have booked a room with a bath!

Hoping the next trip in 4 weeks time can happen too, will update again here with any issues as feel this is quite useful info to have at the start of a twin pregnancy if trying to make any plans!

I’m 33+5 now with DCDA twins.
I was totally fine apart from some pelvic girdle pain until about 26/27 weeks. I was in my normal clothes until I was 22/23 weeks.
I had a litter of puppies to look after from 20 weeks, plus two dogs and a house renovation. I could have travelled no problem at all, but I didn’t.

It started to get difficult about 28 weeks. I had some blood pressure issues and by 30 weeks you are as big as you would be at 40 weeks with a single baby according to my midwife.

Now I’m at nearly 34 weeks, I’m in quite a lot of pain with my hips and pelvis, plus I’ve developed carpal tunnel which is directly related to the pregnancy. I’m not working, as I gave up work very early in pregnancy to project manage the renovation, but I’m still managing to slowly walk the dogs for an hour a day, and keep on top of the house etc without any outside help.
Everything is SLOW. And quite hard work, and not particularly enjoyable as I used to be very fit and strong, but I’m on the home straight now and there’s not long to go before they arrive.