Having Twins at East Surrey? (or live in the area?)

[1stMrsF]

Hello

As discussed in my previous thread, here's a space for those of us expecting twins who are due to deliver at East Surrey to discuss our experiences.

Anyone else expecting twins close by is very welcome to join us.

I'm expecting non-identical twins in May 2009. This is my first pregnancy. I've had my first appointment at East Surrey and have my 20 week scan on 30th Dec and my next antenatal appointment on 5th Jan.

Look forward to chatting with you

i am not having twins. but had ds1 at east surrey and wouldn't go back!
had a homebirth second time round. a friend also booked a homebirth to avoid going there.

Homebirth not really an option with twins in first pregnancy but thanks for that reassuring thought!

sorry, didn't mean to scare anyone lol
just, persoanlly, i would look into my options
i had choice of haywards heath too when I booked, but obv depends where you live

Good on you for getting this started MrsF! As mentioned on earlier thread, I'm 14+3 weeks pregnant with DC/DA twins due in June 2009.

Second pregnancy, DD now 2 born at East Surrey (no intervention and can't speak highly enough of MW though aftercare was a bit lacking).

Still haven't had 1st consultant appointment through yet so trying to chase! Though I gather yours wasn't too informative.

Mrs F have also emailed you but don't know if you got it - just wondered if we wanted to keep to that with more personal details etc if we want to meet up?

Hi Mrsf- just wanted to let you know i had my DS at East Surrey in Nov 07 and they were fab.
The labour & delivery were great, caught a shift change being moved to the ward so took a bit longer than expected but all in all was fine.
i'm gonna try and get a side room this time so i can get a bit more sleep.
hope all goes well with the DTs.

My friend had her twins at East Surrey in 2006. Apart from trying to tell her that she would have to have an epidural in place (she refused, and had them naturally with no issues), she had a very good experience, even though twin 2 spent some time in NICU due to a lung infection.

I delivered my singleton at Haywards Heath a few weeks before her twins were born. I was only there as DS was prem, and wouldn't have repeated the experience as it was dire. You also need to bear in mind that HH does not have a consultant paediatrician, and that what they can do in SCBU is limited due to this.

I did have a lot of choice when I booked, but East Surrey is definitely my nearest hospital with a neo-natal unit, so for my particular sitation the choice is obvious. Hopefully won't need it, but more likely with twins. Thanks for the good stories too - it's often only the bad ones you hear isn't it?

magnummum - good idea, let's chat on here so that we can share with others, but we can pick up on email too. However, haven't got your email yet. Check spelling - both of my names are not the usual spelling, in particular, surname has 'r' in the middle...

My consultant appointment (actually saw the registrar in the end - there is a team sort of thing going on, and he was very nice: Dr Fletcher) was fine but he did say that they tend not to get too involved with pregnancies that are going well until after 20 weeks and I was only 15+4 when I went. My midwife referred me as soon as we found out it was twins, but probably could have gone on a bit longer seeing her. He told me to book another apppointment at East Surrey after my 20 week scan but to see the local midwife between, so I'm seeing her on Thursday when I'll be 18 weeks, so it might just be that you won't get one until 20 weeks. Hope that's reassuring.

Morning ladies . 4 weeks tomorrow and I can't wait to get these little men out. I had antoher scan last week. Henry is 3lbs 13oz and Hugo is 3lbs 9oz. They estimate that when they come out at 36 weeks they should be around 6lbs which is great as it means that we should be able to avoid SCBU.My next scan is on Christmas eve at Crawley. I was having my scans at Kings in London but they've discharged me now so was then having them at Horsham hospital but they are closed on Christmas Eve. How unsensitive of them!!!! I'm seeing the consultant at East Surrey on New Years Eve and then the week after that its slice and dice time.

thisisyesterday thanks for the vote of confidence....not. I had a rough time at East Surrey with DD but it hasn't stopped me going back there this time. Its the best place for twins due to the neonatal unit (which I have to say was fab with DD). Haywards Heath (my next local one) can't deal with really prem babies and I didn't want to risk them needing that care and being whisked off to Brighton.

Does anyone know if East Surrey will give us our own room on the ward as we have twins? I'm hoping they will. When DD came out of special care, they gave me my own room so I could get to spend time alone with her in peace. It was lovely but they only gave it to me out of guilt because of what that idiot did to her!!

I'm getting really excited and impatient now. Can you tell???!!!!

How are the rest of you feeling? How are your bumps coming along?

Hello!

Love these festive smilies. Glad to hear about your scan pop and that the babies are good weights. We are excited for you! Meant to ask you before, do you mind telling us what is the reason for your planned c-section? What I mean is, is that a standard practice we can expect from East Surrey, or are there individual circumstances for you or your DTs that make that the best option for you?

Don't know about the private room, was planning to ask when I get around to to a labour ward tour. Think you should ask when you see the consultant - I think it would be a bit of a nightmare to have two babies and be on the ward. A friend of mine had got me unncessarily excited by telling me that her medical insurance covered emergency c-sections and so she'd got a private room and private care following the birth of her 1st DC. Of course, having checked mine, it doesn't but does cover surgery for post-partum hemaorrage or reained placenta. Am planning to write this down for DH and explain that the first thing he is to do if I need to go to theatre after they are born is to call the insurance company!! I'm sure I will have better things to worry about by then...

I'm feeling OK, will be 18 weeks tomorrow and still have 'sick' days when I feel nauseous all day, but they seem to be fewer than the days when I feel OK now, so that's a huge improvement. Am SOOOOO tired though. Also have definite bump very suddenly. 2 weeks ago, wearing my jeans still, yesterday tried to wear a wrap top and looked ridiculous as it rode up over my bump, showing a lot of tummy

Very exciting about your scan Pop - you'll be leading the way with baby advice soon!

I'm off for 1st consultant appointment tomorrow (oh joy scheduled for 30 min after DD due at opthamology!) Anyway, guess as in Mrs F's experience it's more of a hello than anything else - do want to check whether already booked holiday at 26 weeks ok and will also ask re private rooms with twins. Definite bump so muscles obviously shot from previous pregnancy but feeling pretty ok - apart from 6 hour round trip to Devon for a funeral today but at least I wasn't driving.

Mrs F - have checked email (didn't have an r in your surname first time round! but has now bounced back twice!!)

Morning ladies!!!!

Glad to hear that you're all doing well. I'm not seeing the consultant again until new years eve so magnummum, if you could ask when you see them re the private room then that would be great. Are you all seeing Karen Jermy? She's great. Really down to earth and a bit of a laugh which I think is fab. I'm so pleased that she's my consultant and that I haven't got some consultant who just sees me as 'another pregnant woman'.

MrsF the reason for my section is due to the birth of my DD. The consultants said that if I wanted a c-section then I could have one to save me worrying during the pregnancy and the labour.Also DH couldn't handle another labour I don't think . He did really well last time but when things got really bad, they sent him out of the room so in the end, he saw all the gore, panic and screaming and then missed the actual birth. Bless him. My sis is having hers at Haywards Heath and she really wants a section but so far they're refusing. I feel so sorry for her as she's so nervous about the whole birth experince after seeing what DD and I went through.

I'm working from home today, well I'm in bed with the laptop posting on here . I feel like a bloated whale and can't be bothered to move. Have to pick DD up from nursery at 1pm though so I suppose I will have to muster up the enthusiasm to get in the shower at some point. I then need to pop to Tescos and get some Christmas lights. I can't be bothered......bar humbug!!!!!

Saw a registrar (I think!!?) didn't get round to asking about private rooms between having to leave DD half way through her appointment, rush upstairs and then be told to cancel our holiday! Oh and very helpfully "You do understand that your tummy will get much bigger than last time don't you?"

So, sorry about that, am seeing my midwife Tuesday before Christmas so will ask her re rooms if no one else finds out first. Hope you get your Christmas lights Pop coz then you will feel festive.

Oh no to cancelled holiday - where were you going? Sounds like a bit of a rushed nightmare with the appointments, never a good thing. Have looked again at my email address and think it is my fault take the dot out of my name so it's firstnamelastname all one word. Sorry for causing such trouble!

The consultant named on my letter is Miss S Datta, but I saw the registrar last time, so I don't know whether I'll see someone else next time or what. I will keep an eye out for your consultant pop.

Saw my midwife yesterday and heard the babies heartbeats with Doppler - they sounded like little trains!

Were going to Malta but you'd have thought I'd have said outer Mongolia by her reaction! Still better to be safe than sorry - roll on Dorset!

Was wondering what people were doing if anything about antenatal classes. We've signed up for one organsied by tamba in Oxted in Feb. So fingers crossed they have enough takers to run it.

Also, has anyone been in touch with East Surrey Twins club? I've had an email from them and they seem really friendly so will probably investigate in the New Year. (Can't get my head round anything post christmas at the mo!)

I'd already signed up for NCT when I found out that it was twins, so I will do that anyway, but was also going to look into Tamba things but hadn't got around to it yet, so I will find the same one as you magnummum and sign up to help the numbers up.

Great - they only need a minimum of 3, maximum of 6 couples. Looks really good in terms of type of things they cover. Did NCT first time round which was really good - if they know in advance you're expecting twins I'm sure they'll tailor some specific advice for you.

marsy twin mum in london runs fab multiple an courses comes highly recomended see on d'yever board
galaxy twin teacher in reading

I have 1 surrey mum coming to my classes teach for nct difficult to discuss multiple issues in single class but found multiples enjoy being with each other lots of chat

Evening all. My sis is doing a twin class and so far has nothing good to say about it so I've stayed clear. May be I should look in to myself.

I'm having wicked braxton hicks today - well at least I think that's what they are.

My brother in law has hired a dopler for my sis so we spent most of Saturday listening to the heartbeats for both sets of twins. It's the fisrt time that DD has heard it. She was over the moon. Bless her.

I hope you're all doing well. How are you feeling? 3 weeks tomorrow before I will offically not be pregnant anymore

Dear Pop
I wondered if your sis is doing the tamba class? feedback I heard is mixed?
galaxy

Hang in there Pop, not long to go now. Yes, it would be good to know what the class is that your sister is doing before I sign up to anything else. Having no luck getting any response from NCT about my query to see if I could move to an earlier class. If I can't do that, I'm wondering whether I should not do it and just focus on a twin class, so any reviews are welcome.

Hello. I'm back from the Christmas visit to my folks in Wales and had my 20 week scan today. Our twins are both girls this makes me happy for the very simple reason that I have lots of girls names in mind and no boys names whatsoever... All is well with them, they are a good size etc. How are the rest of you? Have you survived the festive season? Pop you must be getting very relieved excited that the end is in sight now.

I think we are going to try and start to buy some kit this week, starting with a buggy and cots so I will report back on my shopping expeditions, and if anyone has some shops to recommend, let me know.

PS. There is a multiples antenatal thread that none of you seem to be on - come on over

Happy New Year All....

Sorry I've not been around - had the flu bug and been so busy what with work and christmas.
How lovely 1stMrsF - two girls xx
And Pop -not long to go - good luck.
Meant to ask at my last hospital visit about private rooms but forgot. Got on a lot better and came away feeling a lot more confident and happy with the answers I got.
We are also going to start looking at equipment - any advice or local bargains would be greatfully received. We are planning to have the twins share a cot for as long as possible and possibly put one downstairs for the daytime as DS might pull moses basket over or climb into bouncy chairs. Have no idea on pushchairs - or new car for that matter!! If we buy a 0-1 group car seat that goes from birth-4years it stays fitted in car but how do we carry baby from ESH? Figure this type may be more cost effective.

I went to Croydon shopping yesterday, to Baby Nest www.baby-nest.co.uk/ and to Mothercare and Babies R Us on Purley Way. Baby Nest is worth a visit - family run independent, very helpful and a friend had recommended to me - they will help you check car seats and buggies fit the car etc. They stock the EasyWalker DUO, Phil & Ted Vibe, ICandy Pear and Out n About Nipper as well as some McLaren and other strollers and a Mamas & Papas twin. Mothercare was a horrid shop Those of you with children already will probably chuckle but I was shocked! However they do have a Mountain Buggy Urban and a double carry cot on display. Babies R Us was rubbish - no twin buggies at all (BTW I am using Buggy to mean any type of pushchair, pram, travel system etc. as I am very confused as to what constitutes which).

I loved the Mountain Buggy - it folds very easy, completely flat and you can unfold with one hand. It's very easy to manoevre even though it is quite heavy. It's pretty big so I'm a bit concerned about whether it's going to fit in the boot, but because it's flat when folded, you would also be able to get the carry cot(s) in too.

I had high hopes for the Easy Walker DUO as this is the only side by side twin I can find that takes Cabriofix seats. Indeed it is a lovely buggy, really well made and sturdy but for me (5'3") just too big, I didn't feel confident to push it around without taking out innocent bystanders! It folds in half quite easily, but it is very big when folded.

The Out n About is smaller, so feels easier to push, is very light, would fit through doors more easily than the other two and folds in half much smaller. However, it didn't feel as well made as the Easy Walker or MB - a bit flimsier and as if it wouldn't last as long. It's supposed to be useable from birth, but to me the seats didn't look as though they would go flat enough or be comfy enough for newborns. I could see it would be a really good buggy for older babies to toddlers.

The lady in Baby Nest also recommended to me one I hadn't considered - the Emmaljunga Twin Cerox 360 which is a very attractive looking pram that can face either towards you or away. They didn't have one to show me as they'd sold it before Christmas but will have it back in stock this month. Reviews I've read of it on the web suggest it might be a bit bigger and heavier so possibly not the answer, but I think worth a look because it has some unique features.

I still want to have a look at the First Wheels City Twin if I can find one, and to try the MB in the boot. I'm also going to visit the A3 Baby Barn www.a3babybarn.co.uk/index.html perhaps tomorrow if they are open.

Hope that's helful! I started to look at cots but decided that was a whole other shopping trip and car seats is just blowing my mind at the moment. Like your idea jerin of getting something that will last longer, but also like the idea of small baby carrier seats particularly as these are my first babies, so anything that will make getting in and out of the car easier will help - so much to think about!!!