Time for a TWINS thread !!!!!

[smellymelly]

There seem to be a few mums with twins on Mumsnet now, and a few new mums like me, and some expecting quite soon.

So I thought it would be great to have our own thread, as things are different when you are looking after 2 babies.

I also have a ds of 5, and a dd of 2.4, so we have busy house now. I had B/G twins 6 weeks ago and we are doing well.

Hello all... I have 2 1/2 year old identical boys. I just happened to notice this thread and thought I would say hi. I breastfed mine until just a few weeks ago; I am pg again and they were not too happy with the milk quality, I think!

Someone asked a while ago about positioning for breastfeeding twins... I thought I would add my two pence for whatever it's worth:

I nearly always fed them feet to feet. I tried the "football" hold (disgusting name - makes me think of what my boobs felt like back then!) but it never worked for me; my back felt very unsupported. Feeding them as I would for a single baby (except one on each boob), with an arm around each of them, worked the best. This way I could lean back comfortably on pillows, which was invaluable in the beginning when I was feeding every two hours, for 45 minutes at a stretch. It even worked when they were older, except near the end they thought it was hilarious to try to scratch each other's eyes out and still stay on the boob. That's when I knew it was probably time to stop...

As much as I love my two boys, I will be v thankful if this is a single baby; I cannot imagine how some of you with older children cope with twins.

Good luck bubble - tho sounds like you're doing really well!!

My consultant has already said they wont let me go beyond 38 weeks, personally I just want to get thru another month then I think I will have had enough! They are expecting big babies, and I am too. They look squashed already poor things, I've got a scan photo with twin A's face pushed right up against my lower chest.
I've put on nearly 4 stone now, prob due to diabetes, and between various aches and amnemia can't even get down the school anymore. My last didn't engage til birth, but I'm hoping for a natural birth, so really want at least one to get their head stuck down there!!

hi Erin. Good to hear your experience. As to dealing with twins and older kids, it's not too bad. I have extra willing hands to help most of the time. I think I would rather have it this way round than your way round (sorry), that's probably just because it is what I know. Congrats on your pregnancy. Hope it all goes well. Keep posting and sharing your experiences because my DTs are 1 tomorrow and I'm keen to know what things could happen.

thinking of you kelly. Hoping it all goes well and that the babes are a little smaller than anticipated.

Hi all

I've just had what I think are the beginnings of a 'show' after my sweep yesterday. I've posted yukky details over on 'childbirth'. Trying not to get too excited but MTMML I'm hoping to join you with the 'Friday before half term birthdays'

Lots of prayer here. So excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bubble, hope your babies are on their way, can't wait to hear, wonder if you will get one of each? Hi Erin, my boys are 26months though non identical. Are they a handful like mine? Is is just boys? My friend has identical girls who hardly fight at all, they are about to be 2yrs

too many pushchairs - can you divulge your experience of non id boys, mine are 3 months old and I would love some guidance!

Hi harrogate mum, about pushchairs:

I have used a double (side by side) pushchair - Graco DuoSport - since birth of my identical boys. I wish I had a way to measure the amount of mileage I have put on it in 2 1/2 years... I recently even replaced the wheels. I still use it about once a week even though they are a bit too big for it.

I have found that it works extremely well in shops; it can get through most places that a wheelchair can, and more shops are now becoming more wheelchair-friendly, which, incidentally, is a plus for those of us with double pushchairs!

I prefer the double over the tandem (one seat behind the other) - they appear quite bulky and friend with one said she found hers heavy and hard to manoever.

As well as the double pushchair, we have two umbrella folding single buggies; these have been useful when my husband and I are both out with them - we have taken them on holiday and they were perfect for plane journeys. I have also put fittings for a buggy board on one of these single chairs, and the boys are learning to use it.

Besides this I have found no need for any other pushchairs... we also used slings once in a while until they were just after seven months old.

I hope some of this helps!

Okay, have just actually READ the rest of the postings!!! I guess it would be helpful if I actually read everything before adding my helpful advice... Anyhow, it might help someone.

As for the boys being a handful: they definitely are. I think I read somewhere that 18 months to three years is the worst and busiest time for mums of multiples. Even as I write, they have emptied the entire toy cupboard and are now climbing along the top of it... Got to go!

Erinleigh - thanks for your advice - much appreciated! I have a side by side buggy too - a Maclaren twin traveller which drives me crazy when I have to put it up and down as you need some force behind your foot to kick it! Its fine now that its winter and I'm wearing boots but what about when I'm in flimsy summer footwear! My feet will be black and blue! Have often thought about buying a couple of single strollers as well - any recommendations on cheap and light ones?

harrogatemum

I recently had a doh! moment after realising that the Urban Detour twin we bought from Mothercare doesn't actually fit through our front door - so I'd better keep my ideas on single strollers to myself

I take great delight in big stores where the aisles arent big enough on bashing my muddy wheels on the corners, preferably in soft furnishing departments etc whilst tutting loudly about the lack of thought put into the layout of these places! I dont know if my buggy goes through the front door as I always collapse it and put it in the boot of my car but no doubt it wouldnt so you're not alone bubble!

Harrogatemum - I have a mothercare stroller, the pink princess one about £35, for dd1 which is really good for a cheapie, and I will get the equivalent boy colour one for ds2.

I have a Cosatto twin pixie, from Argos, which is great for round the shops, and fits through most doorways. It is also easy to steer with one hand.

And have bought a 2nd hand twin Easylife all terrain thingy, which is incredibly heavy but great for proper walking - Yes I am a pushchair addict!! ( I still have a single Urban detour, which is the best pushchair I ever bought).

I thought it would be hard to go shopping but most people get out of the way when you have a twin pushchair I've found. But then I get caught by those who want to coo over the babies and ask stupid questions like 'Are they identical??' (They're a boy and a girl!)

Erinleigh - I don't really understand you feeding position, could you elaborate, please. and did you really feed them for 2.5 years??

stop posting bubble. Get pushing, give birth. You've not got long left before today is over. Have I gotta come over there or what??!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Smellymelly - I'm not v good at explaining things but I'll have a go:

In the beginning, until I had the hang of it, I always started sitting on my bed, well propped up from behind with at least two pillows, and one of those U-shaped pillows. Would get Ds1 onto left boob, make sure he was well attached, then move his body alongside mine. Then with right arm, would pull Ds2 onto my right boob, and manoever until he, too, was parallel with me. When they were small it took a lot of manoevering! I know this probably doesn't give you much of a picture, but I can't think of any other way to describe it. It might just work b/c of the way my boobs are shaped - sorry if tmi - but they point out to the sides a bit and maybe this helped!

If this still doesn't help, and you are trying to b/f two, would recommend just trying everything till you find what works for you. That's how I found the position that suited the three of us best.

When they were older they would move around a lot, so it wasn't a strict position all the way through!

Harrogatemum Hi, Pushchairs first- we've had loads! Not only for the dt's, but i'll tell you what we've had for them. We started with a twin pram,bouncy thing that didn't recline seperataely, but it did go throught the front door. We bought it 2nd hand for £100 it was lovely but very heavy so we had another one in the car. That was a toysrus side by side stroller, too big to go through front door(only used it for when we went in the car)We also had a graco duolite for a very short time, they weren't really big enough for it when we used it, I had it from when I was childminding before I had them. We now have a Nipper twin, it's a 3 wheel thingy. It's fantastic and the best pushchair we have ever had. It's light, easy to fold, easy to push, plent of seat room,goes throught the front door etc etc . However hardly use it now. We have a single maclaren volo (kiddicare.com less than £40)with a buggyboard and it's great.
As far as non id boys go, well, shall I scare you or only tell you the good things? They are lovely really! They do amuse me and others, and it's true you do get double the pleasure, double hugs etc, but it's also double trouble. They do encourage each other, and it must be because there are two of them, as they behave nothing ,like by other two did.

Erin, I understand your way of feeding. It was one of the positions that I used for the DTs as well as the football position. It would depend on how the DTs and I were feeling at any given time.

Toomany, I have a twin pram. I love it. I know that it is heavy but it is so easy to manoeuvre. It doesn't recline separately, but to be honest the DTs sleep on each other anyway. I've just bought and am waiting on a Marco Sky so that I can on and off of buses easily. I have an urban detour single and a mamas and papas single for when the DTs go out separately with godparents etc. I've just sold a maclarens opus duo, because it looked too small for DT2. I would love to be your competition for too many pushchairs, but alas alack DH would go mental. I've seen a lovely little Maclarens that folds down and has a shoulder strap. Would love 2 of those. However.... you retain the crown

mtmml, small maclaren with strap is the volo that we have its great, however am jealous! I have been looking at the marco sky, dh says no way! Do let me know how you get on with it. Did your dt's enjoy their birthday?

toomany, should I sell my single buggies and get 2 maclarens? Is the volo good for lots of walking?

Not sure how much walking they would withstand although I do think maclarens last well. We had a basic maclaren for my dd now 10yrs, it was borrowed and lasted 4 children before it died. They sell them on kiddicare.com discount if you buy more than one. think it was about £35. I buy most of my stuff from there.

toomany, my Marco Sky has arrived. The DTs are napping though so I can't take it for it's inaugural outing yet. Will let you know. It looks lovely though and is a wonderful size. Even DH likes it. You can twiddle the handles and it is reasonably tall so anyone can push it. The built in shade covers both babies. I got it in Artic Blue. Very classy looking. What I'm hoping is that I don't get stopped so often by people asking if the babes are twins. It should speed up my shopping.

where are all you twin mummys located?

MMTML Toomanypushchairs is my id on ebay and my big sister stole it for on here! I will be counting pushchairs later to see if I have the crown or her. I won't tell my DH how many I am up to though.
Kelly1978 I have a Twin Nipper for my DD2 and a childminded child I have attached a Kiddiboard to it and it makes life much easier such a light pram that its not diificult to push with 2 babies and DD1 2.5. Def much eaiser than making her walk.

Also would like to say that whatever Toomanypushchairs tells you her twins are fab (they love me best) even if they touch my hoover turn my cooker/ dishwasher on, throw things at me when I am cleaning! double trouble but defo double the fun

Hi harrogate mum, i'm in Eltham, South east london. Where r u? mtmml have you taken the pushchair out yet? I mean, have you taken your twins out in their new pushchair? wondered whether the child at the back would have their head touching the hood?