This time next week I'll more than likely be a "nanny" - to twins.. so excited.. but advice/reassurance please?

[ChocolateRockingHorse]

DSD is going in on Thursday. She is 37 weeks with twin boys.

All has gone well so far.. am I right in thinking she's done well to get to 37 weeks with twins?

DSD is 22 and this is her first pregnancy. DH is really excited. As soon as we know she's in actual labour he's going to jump in the car (she lives up north, we're down south) to be with her for a few days; have some quality time with her and his grandsons We're all going up in a few weeks for half term.

They are both head down and the plan is for her to have them naturally.

Think DH is quite nervous for his DD; am trying to reassure him and have also told him to bear in mind that one or both may need to spend at least a little time in special care. We have bad experiences/memories of SCBU as our DS2 (now 7) spent 9 weeks in one; was a very scary time. So obviously it might be traumatic for DH for that reason.

Can people reassure me at how things are likely to go? Not been a problem pregnancy.. scan last week revealed they are "still a little small" which is why I think the plan is to induce her on Thursday.. but twins are always "a little small" aren't they?

Oooh CRH (I've only just realised who you are, btw... I've seen you around with this name for a while but have been a bit slow on the uptake!), how exciting. Obviously have no experience of twins, but as you know, dd1 was born at 36 weeks and was small-for-dates anyway, but didn't need to be in SCBU. If your dsd's babies are a bit small they may need feeding by NGT for a while, but she can express for them (if she wants to bf). The only other problem that dd had was that she had trouble maintaining her body temperature so she was on a heated mat for a while. 37 weeks is good going, though. At 37 weeks the babies shouldn't need steroids for their lungs or anything (I think they stopped giving them to me at 34 weeks because they said they weren't needed after that - the breathing thing is to do with maturity rather than size, I presume).

Good luck anyway. I'll email you. Shall we try to see one another when you're up at half-term? (I can come to where you are... or you're welcome to come to me.)

That would be lovely Ellbell. We're coming without DS2 btw.. and we're only up for 2 nights but maybe we can do Wacky-Warehouse/dinner in the pub again or something? DS2 is going to respite for 4 nights straight! After fighting for this (o/night respite) for months (well years in total but months since we were denied this centre on "basis that he was in a mainstream school".. total bollocks and not allowed!).. and causing the biggest hoo-har even I have ever caused.. I have now got to get my head around him being away from us for that long! (Will be nice to get some sleep though..)

I don't think she's going to breast feed. She's had an awful lots of problems with her breasts, pre pregnancy (3 ops for benign lumps and subsequent scare tissue/infections.. think I must have told you at some point but may not have..) and what with it being twins and all I think she's just going to go for formula. Even though I'm very pro bf I think I may have done same in her shoes.

Thank you for the advice, yes will remind DH about possible need for feeding tubes.

I hope they're both ok.. I mean I'm sure they will be and wouldn't suggest any slight worry to DH.. but well.. DSD is DS2's sister.. and DS2 is "undiagnosed" isn't he.. so what with it being twins, and that in the back of my mind....

But it'll be fine I'm sure!! I'm going to be doing my nut down here when DH goes up!!!

*scar tissue not scare!

Gosh where has the time gone CRH - can't believe you'll be a Nanny soon.

My df had her twins naturally with no problems whatsoever - no induction, full term, no SCBU. They are now 10 years old - this week actually. I tend to agree with the bf thing as well - but I've had problem boobs, had a lump removed/scar tissue but I still managed to bf for 10 months. So it is possible if DSD wants to. I found the problem boob was the one ds favoured the most.

Good luck DSD - lots of love xxx

Ah bless, all my absent MN-ing friends are flooding to the thread. I've become so accustomed to CRH now that I forget that some people many not know who I am until I make a very identifying post like this!

Thanks Mrs R, that's v. reassuring. How many weeks pregnant was your friend when she had her twins?

How exciting, yes she has done brilliantly to get to 37 weeks. When I had my twins, I was told that it was hospital policy to induce or elective c-section at 38 weeks and that is considered full term for twins so there shouldn't be any issues about lungs not being mature etc etc. Twins are not always small - one of mine was 7lbs15oz - but so long as the docs are not concerned am sure it is fine. Good luck, keep us posted!

Congrats on her getting to 37 weeks! That's brilliant for a twin mum .

It might be okay re SCBU, I had my twins at just under 38 weeks and they were fine, no need for SCBU and we went home after a few days.

Hope it all goes really well. It sounds like she'll have lots of support from you which is so important when you have two tiny babies!

ps my girls were 6.10 and 7.1 so twins aren't always small! I, however, was breathtakingly huge!

CRH... rushing as at work... will email. Just to say, yes, I did know about DSD's breast problems, but had forgotten till you reminded me. Don't worry about DSD being DS2's sister. Your DD is also his sister, and she is not only fine, but also rather wonderful!

Shame you're only up for 2 nights. Was going to insist that you come over to mine and we go out for a girlie night out! Never mind... we'll achieve it sometime!

I had my girls at 37+4 weeks - they weighed 5lb7 and 5lb12, so not tiny, but not that big either! They were both fine, and needed no special care. I'd had a CS, so stayed in for a few days, but really to rest as much as I could, as I had a 20 month old at home . I could have gone home earlier. I know of twins weighing under 5lbs who didn't need special care either.

Best of luck to your DSD. Hope all goes well.

Hope it all goes well! My nephew's wife had G/B twins a year ago. They went full term and were 6lb 4oz and 8lb 5oz!! Enjoy the babies.

Thank you for all the input I have passed much of it onto DSD who doesn't have internet.

Seems she is most worried (at the moment) at staying over night in hospital although if the babies are in SCBU, obviously she doesn't want to be anywhere else. She hates being in hospital though - was out as soon as she possible could on all occasions when she had her breast surgeries.

Bit more info.. she has been told they are likely to be between 4 and 5 pounds and may well need feeding tubes to being with. She was told at scan that they weren't getting an optimum amount of nutrition via her anymore which is why they want to induce (although am thinking obviously they can't be that concerned as they would have whipped them out wouldn't they?!) They said they would have left her until full term otherwise.

All info greatly received. And thanks.

wow how exciting

my dts (now 12 mths) were 6lb 14oz & 7 lb 14oz - not exactly small

I had them vaginally after induction at 38 weeks (my choice, asthmatic and having huge problems breathing)

straight onto normal ward - no problems.

Tell her not to worry about tandem feeding in the first few days. She can do that when relaxed at home. When she does attempt tandem feeding (which of course she'll be successful at) she should put the fidgeting twin on first.

At 37 weeks there is no reason (unless a specified medical one) why the DTs need to be taken away from her and it's likely that they will feed in much the same way a singleton at term feeds.

Lots of skin to skin.

Congratulations and enjoy them!

UPDATE!

DSD is in the delivery suite! She was due to go in and be induced today anyway.. but she's been having pains since 4am (spontanously) and went in at 8am as planned. Is now in delivery..

Current plan is to break her water at 4am if necessary..

DH has just left.. am awash with trying to organise juggling school taxi (SN DS2) and picking up DD.. and we thought we were organised, LOL. T'will be ok.. am v, nervous for her.. Before DH left, I quickly wrote tags on wrapped presents for twins saying "To Twin 1 (and one for Twin 2 obv).. with lots and lots of love from Grandad (!), Nanny-"Choc", Uncle "DS1", Auntie "DD" and Uncle "DS2" "! Wow...

Please sent good vibes winging up to Wigan for us all....

(PS I haven't ignored Mars's prof. adivce from other day.. we emailed In case anyone was wondering )

Hope its all gone swimmingly CRH.

I will keep you updated. No more news yet.. it was take DH a few hours to get up there and he's going to go straight to the hosp and do some "corridor pacing" presumably

I feel very out of the loop here.. arrgh!!!

Hope all goes well

oh how exciting CRH - will watch this space.

Contractions coming every five minutes.. going to break her water shortly now.. not at 4 (meant 4 pm before obv.. not am!)

any news???

Yes yes..sorry for delay.. DS2 had to have a tooth out under sedation this morning and it was a horrid experience this time.. took 9 attempts to get line in and the sedative didn't seem to take properly; he was v. distressed and all he's wanted is daddy.. who's up north, obviously!

Right twins.. .. were born at 2.06am (Keenan, weighing 4lbs 9oz) and 2.19am (Kaiden weighing 4lbs 10 and a bit ounces). All is well .. they are feeding well and breathing fine and having no help of any kind at all.

Born natrually, DSD had gas and air and an epidural.

She is sore and tired but happy

I wasn't getting enough specific info out of DH (who is a man! Nuff said!) so rang maternity myself and spoke to DSD's DP. I played the "But I am the step Grandma! And I'm stuck down here in Kent!" card.. and they got him to the phone for me..

DS2 is smiling bloodily at the news that he is an uncle (age 7 )

And OMG I am a nanny (well step..) age 36