Essential products you'd not thought needing about before having twins (and then finding out the hard way).

[pootlesmum]

Hello
I'm looking for a bit of advice from experienced mothers of twins please. I am expecting identical twins on 2nd April but have been told they'll probably be here much sooner. We're getting the OutNabout Nipper 360 pushchair because its been so highly recommended on here but I wondered was there anything else that is really helpful in terms of feeding/travelling/anything else with twins that you would recommend?
We already have a dd of 4 so already have one of most baby items. I am the first person I know to have twins so I don't have anyone to ask in RL.

Also, I breast fed my dd as much as possible until she was 6 months old - is this absolutely impossible with twins or is there some way of making twin feeding easier? Also is there such a thing as a double sling or did you try that and find it backbreakingly impossible? Was your dp/dh able to use it being stronger than you?
Finally, did you put them both in the same cot initially - thats what my consultant has recommended - and if so, for how long. When one woke up did it always wake up the other?

I'll stop with all the questions for now, I'm sure there'll be many more in the coming weeks.

Thank you very much

Hi and congrats!

I have id twin girls who are 2 and a half

We have Nipper Double which is excellent, really light and useful.

I fed my twins but needed to top up. I think that was because I didn't have a lot of help and had a difficult birth...

if you are going to breastfeed I'd strongly recommend the EZ2 nurse inflatable pillow. It allows you to feed them both at the same time if you wish to and to have hands free to drink/eat/use phone etc!

I put mine in moses baskets at first (given by a friend), which meant they could be transported around the house by me and DH depending which of the four of us was sleeping/crying/eating..

Then into the same cot, separated by dividers and then into own cots.

The main thing I'd recommend is working out who would be a useful source of help and getting them round as much as possible! Also cook as much as possible and freeze it in advance, you will be busy! Order your shopping on-line if you don't already and get your list of favourite items set up so you don't have to drag all the kids around the supermarket.

Err think that's it for now! You will definitely find it helpful that you've already experienced parenting I imagine..hope it works out really well for you

Thats excellent, thanks Hattyyellow.
Can I buy the EZ2 pillow and cot dividers in MothercareWorld or are they something I need to buy on-line?

Did you have a natural birth? I've been told I will have to have a planned c section because dd was an emergency c section. Did your twins come early ? I am currently 27 weeks and will probably be given a date at my next scans on 16th Jan depending on the twins growth rate.

Thank you

Just finishing work so quick link to pillow..it looks a bit mad but was a lifesaver for me to get both girls latched on!

www.twinsuk.co.uk/product.php?id=100177

I had a section as twin 1 turned breech at about 28 weeks and refused to budge..

I got to 38 weeks and 2 days with my babes, consultant was very impressed

Hope you are managing to get some rest

Brilliant, just ordered it so should arrive in seven days. I wanted to get Christmas and New Year out of the way so now its time to get everything ready in plenty of time.

I am getting lots of rest and will have a lot of help. I'm very lucky because my mum and aunt both live within 10 mins walk and are both retired so they do loads to help out. DH was also very good with dd so I'm sure he'll do more than his bit this time also.

Both of my twins were breach at my last scan so we'll see what position they are in on 16th, I'm sure that at least one of them has turned because the kicks are much higher on one side now.

Hi Pootlesmum,

I have ID twin girls who are 18 and a bit weeks now - and I had (and still have to some extent!) all the same questions as you have now!

Mine arrived a tad early at 35+2 but only spent 8 days in SCBU and then we were home.

The Nipper is a GREAT pushchair, we have one and I use it SOOO much. In fact, the girls take most of their daytime naps in it too, so very very useful indeed.

I am BF my girls, both at the same time, as I was absolutely bloody-minded that it was going to work, and it has, to my delight. I use a sturdy V-pillow but am finding that I need to constantly readjust their positions as they get bigger.

Other good buys have been 2 x BabyBjorn sitter things and 2 x slings for when my DH and I are just going on a short trip out. I have also got a Moby wrap that I could fit them both into until recently but now is good if one is crying and the other is fine.

Both my girls are in the same cot, side by side, and have always been (well, it was a crib to begin with) and for the most part, don't wake each other up.

I would second freezing food and take up any offers of cleaning/household help from family & friends.

Best wishes for the rest of your pregnancy. Twins are a wonderful thing and mine are just starting to 'talk' to each other which is just so sweet to watch.

I have 6 month old ID girls, can also recommend the ez2 nurse pillow for feeding both. I have just finished feeding but always gave a bottle of formula at night as supplies were low and from 3 months at lunchtime also.

I didnt bother with a cot divider and have only just put them in thier own cots as they started waking each other by bashing each other (they dont wake each other crying) i always woke and fed 1 when the first woke to get more sleep, in fact always fed and slept at the same time day or night.

My other essential buy would be bouncy chairs and ergonomic plastis bath supports (mothercare have tem), means you can bathe both together on your own from day 1.

Good luck!
ps had mine a day short of 38 weeks by section as they had a shared placenta

Great that you have lots of help, it will really make a difference.

I'd also check out www.twinsclub.co.uk - it was an absolute lifesaver of information and support for me - you can spend happy hours in the archive finding the answer to so many twin questions.

Hi Surfnicky
Thank you for responding. I'm really happy that I can try and breast feed, its something I really wanted to do and it seems to have worked for both you and hattyyellow so thats great.

I'll check out the mobywrap and we'll definately be getting another sling so that'll be good for short walks.

Are your girls sleeping well? My dd would sleep from 11pm until 6am from 12 weeks so I'm hoping these two will be similar - thats probably wishing for a bit much though.

Did you have a c section or a natural labour?

Hi Pootlesmum & Everyone ... I'm also expecting twins (non-identical), due 5 June but expected 2-3 weeks prior. Great thread & good tips - the nursing pillow looks great but how was it after a c-section? Does it not rest on the scar? BTW, has anyone got the Jane Powertwin and if so, would you recommend it? Thanks!

Oh - and is it worth joining TAMBA?

Thanks for that Clarence1972, I hadn't even thought about bathtime so thats another one to put on my list.

Millie1 - Congratulations! Are you the first in your family to have twins?

My girls sleep pretty well. They sleep from 7ish to 10/11pm and then I feed them, then they normally sleep until 4ish for a feed, then again until 7ish. They've been doing this for about 2 months now. Saying that, this week they've been up twice between 10pm and 7am which I'm just hoping is a minor blip due to colds, etc. We have had a couple of 'freak' 8 hour stretches and I'm hoping that they become more frequent soon!!

And definately try to breastfeed, it'll make the workload associated with twins so much easier - and it's much more convenient when you're travelling, etc. Plus you get to cuddle them both every 2-3 hours which is great, as I felt guilty a lot in the beginning about not being able to cuddle them a lot at the same time. Don't let anyone tell you that you won't have enough milk, etc - your body knows you are carrying twins and will make sure you can feed them!

I had a natural labour because both were head down and they were happy for me to deliver this way. Saying that, if they hadn't been in the 'right' position I would have been happy to have a c section.

Hi Pootlesmum, & congratulations! My dtws are 14 now! I had them naturally, at 29 weeks. The smallest was 3lb. I got very stressed because DH was going through a difficult time when I was pg, & I'm sure that's why they came early. They were in SCBU for 9 weeks, & couldn't suck until 34 weeks, so I was on the bloody breast pump, day & night for 5 weeks - but it was worth it! It IS possible, if you're determined. I topped up from 3 months but bfed until they were a year.

As for practicalities, don't think you need dividers, they're fine in together when they're small. Second the use of the v-pillow, and we used two slings, one for me and one for any other adult who happened to be around!

I went to TAMBA but they weren't much use - all their dtws were much older, but they might be worth googling or contacts. NCT were very helpful. The worst thing for me in late pg was not being able to sleep - they were active at night, the little brats darlings, and the little one used to beat up the big one! So be prepared to be a zombie before the birth as well as after. Also take it easy with work & exercise - I overdid both in my efforts to prove I could keep up with other pg women, but you do need to take it more slowly.

The best advice I had is not to panic & try to do two things at once - if they both need changing you can only do them one at a time, one'll have to wait.

Good luck!

Surfnicky, I hope mine sleep as well as yours that routine sounds brilliant and they got into it so young. Hope I'm that lucky

I was induced at 38 weeks and had girl boy twins naturally weighing 6lb 14oz & 7lb 14oz they are just 9 mths. They shared a cot til 5.5 mths when they were too big & mobile.

I struggled to feed mine and managed for 3 weeks with a demanding 3 year old and no outside help once dh went back to work.

The regular multiple thread is fantastic and mommalove has exclusivley bf hers, will link you over to find her to ask.

The nipper is great and we love it, had two slings for when dh and I did short trips (now use backpacks) bouncy chairs were ideal and I can't think of any thing else

TheStepfordChav - Its a huge relief to hear that your twins survived despite being born at 29 weeks. Are they identical?
Mine shared a placenta and at 15.5 weeks I was diagnosed with acute TTTS and had to have laser coagulation at 16 weeks to separate the shared arteries and basically laser my placenta in half. My consultant said that the average time from the operation to delivery is 10 weeks so I've already passed that stage and am now into extra time so to speak. I'm now 27 weeks and statistics show a big leap in survival rates once you pass the 27 week mark. Did being born at 29 weeks have any adverse effects on their health long term?

What great sleepers you have Surfnicky. It's nice to read positive stories ... when we tell people, many burst out laughing or say 'heaven help you ... that'll be tough going'. Getting sick of that reaction! Pootlesmum - yes and no. DH has loads of twins in his family - brother, aunt, cousin etc but I don't think that counts? On my side, my Mum's sister had twins although that didn't even register on my radar until she mentioned it on hearing I'm expecting two. BTW, that must've been scarey with the shared placenta - well done carrying them for so long and going into extra time. Every day will be a benefit to them.

Bed's calling! So tired but not sleeping. Have been off work for months with sickness, intend going back next week - will be a struggle as I get really tired and already feel huge. Oh well.

oooggs - thanks for that link, I had seen it on the board but hadn't opened it because I thought it was going to be about pine needles . Having skimmed through it now I can see it isn't

Pootlesmum - I was worried about them but a nurse in SCBU said 'We don't lose babies at 29 weeks these days', and that was 14 years ago, so no doubt things are even better now. They're not identical, a boy & a girl. They were smaller than average for quite a while, but had caught up completely by 2yo. I thought that DS would be a little shrimp as a boy but he soon turned into a grew (hence the additional formula feeds at 3 months)is as tall as me now & takes size 8 shoes! He's not - er - Einstein, but DD is very sharp, and I can't see that being born that early has made any difference - I think they'd be just the same now. I have, however, heard that prems may be slower than average as teens, so we'll have to wait and see. DS is not a good reader still, but not the worst in his class. He does, however, have other skills such as v. artistic, and the reading is making slow progress. there's b-all I can do about the fact that they were early, so all I can do is deal with things as they are now.

If I had my time over again, I would give up work at 4 months pg and take it easy. (I left at the earliest allowed but had them 2 weeks later. Now I would go off sick)

Right... you lot [Mars puts on her bossy voice] ooogs has linked the d'y thread. We expect to see you all. Surfnicky popped in once... come on. Kettle's on, alcohol in the fridge.

Congratulations on all these twin pregnancies (it'll make them all broody just you watch).

With regards to breastfeeding. DTs don't need top ups. That's a grrrrrrrrrr spread by hvs etc who don't expect multiple mums to be able to feed. You do need to know that it will be really tiring and that you will need to spend a fair amount of time staying still, but it can happen. I bfed my pair until they were 18months without top ups. I stopped because they were babies 4 & 5 and frankly I'd given over about 6 years to bfing (and I wanted to go on a salsa weekend lol).

Lots and lots of friendly advice, cake, alcohol (oh yes mentioned those), laughs etc on the d'y thread.

Seriously... we'd love to see you all.

Pootlesmum - just for info I have read that twin babies develop faster than singletons, so a 27week twin will be more advanced than a 27week single. The docs didn't believe mine were only 29 weeks, but then they didn't know I hadn't had sex for 3 months before the time I got pg!!

Bloody hell, just read through all this as Oooggs did a link for us from the D'ya ever thread, so many more twin mums who are not on our regular chat thread!! Come on over NOW!

I am nearly 36 weeks pregnant with boy/girl twins. I guess I don't have long to go. Also have a 22 month old little boy. Am really hoping to breastfeed, and Mars who has posted further down offers lots of good advice on this. I have hired a post natal doula who will come and help me out for four days a week, a few hours a day, she is training to be a breastfeeding councellor at the mo so am hoping this will help. I had a lot of trouble breastfeeding DS but managed exclusively for 3 months and mixed for another month. We shall see how it goes with two! I have the bottles and formula ready in case a nervous breakdown occurs in the middle of the night!

I have also just asked the other girls about same cot / different cot etc. It seems the majority vote is for same cots.

Millie - I have the Powertwin although obviously not used it yet. It seems to be the "other" choice for twins, and most of the ladies on mumsnet who don't have the Nipper do have the Powertwin. I spent months deciding but we have a very narrow front door, as well as DS's nursery being very narrow, and I couldn't face having to remove sleeping babies every time I wanted to get into my house. Esp in this COOOOOOOOOLD weather! I will let you know how I find the Powertwin in a few weeks.

Sorry for long post , I will head back to the regular thread now!

I too had a nipper when my DTs were born and I loved it and was v. when someone nicked it off my doorstep! I now have a Jane Powertwin, which is also good, but much heavier and I find it less easy to manouevre, although it is nice to be able to fit in narrow shops. Having said that, my girls are now 2.9, so quite happy to walk a fair bit.

DD1 was 20 months when my DTs were born, so we still had a lot of her baby stuff. The DTs shared a crib in the hospital, and a moses basket when we came home. I had borrowed another basket, but wouldn't have bothered buying another one. They shared a cot till they were about 4/5 months old, when they just got too big to fit in it comfortably.

I only managed to breastfeed mine for 5 weeks, until they both got oral thrush which infected me and it all became too painful. If I'd known Mars then, I would probably have managed longer , but I hadn't found the joys of mumsnet at that point. I was a member of TAMBA and found their message board extremely helpful in the first year but you will get all the advice you need and more from mumsnet and you don't have to pay to post! You do get some discounts from being a member of TAMBA (10% off all your children's shoes at Clarks for example) which can make it worthwhile, but you often find places will give you discounts anyway if you ask .

There is such a thing as a double sling, but I didn't try it and now I can't find anywhere - there might be a link on TAMBA to a site that sells it. Sorry not to be more help!

Lastly, I would definitely recommend you join your local twinsclub, if there is one. I found my one really useful - if only to get some RL support from other multiple mums. No-one else really understands what life as a multiple mum is like. Everyone here is amazing , but I do think it's important to have some contact with other multiple mums in RL. Whereabouts are you? One of us might be near you.

Forgot to add, mine were identical and shared an amniotic sac as well as the placenta. They were born by elective CS at 37+4 - I'd agreed with my consultant that if I'd gone into spontaneous labour before then I could attempt a natural birth, but having had a long-drawn out induction with DD1, I didn't want to induce the DTs. They didn't need any special care (weighed 5lb7 and 5lb12) and we all came home after 4 days.

So much information ... I'd like to try to b/feed these two, especially having fed our DSs until 14 mths & 24 mths. Mars' words of wisdom re the time element have hit my concerns on the head .. b'feeding twins, one child at school, one at playschool (then school in Sept) and the younger one with T1 Diabetes which needs constant management. However, I can but try!

Hadn't thought they might fit into one moses basket/bassinet - wow! I've one carrycot and can borrow my sister's (same with cots) so no need to purchase there. Pram's another matter - have P&T's but it won't be suitable for two newborns, hence considering the Jane. Will be really interested to hear what you think about it Egg, and tkband3's comments are great. Not too worried about weight - just want the convenience of being able to clip both carseats on when the babies are tiny. Saw a lady out with one the other week ... her twins looked around 2.5 or thereabouts and the back twin looked a bit squished .. are your's still fitting into it okay tkband? Reckon by the time we get to that stage, we'll probably have switched for a lightweight buggy anyway.

Am rambling