Due May 2010 with twins - anyone else?

[FirstTimeTwinsOoer]

Hi Folks. I'm fairly new to MN.

I'm expecting IVF twins, 1st pregnancy, due 23rd May and am the size of a small horse already. (Am 13+2)

I can't seem to find any threads of people expecting twins around the same time as me.
Am I posting in the right place? There surely must be more of us... (hope hope)
The pregnancy topic has very few twins mums to be and I'll go cross-eyed if I search MN anymore.

Any shoves in the right direction, advice or new joiners more than welcome!

Superbean I'm due in April too. My bump is massive, defo as big as DD was at 9 months and I have terrible pelvic pain, I can't believe I might have 4 more months to go!

Hello there, nice to see there are a few of us about.

I am 32 weeks tomorrow and have a scan and clinic, with luck I may get an idea of a birth plan. I am now huge but think this is down to the previous 4 I have had and the fact that these two appear to be growing along the 90th centile(tend to have large babies), with luck they may slow down now.

I am determined to get through another few weeks as a) I have not yet packed
b) I am painting my hall
c) My in laws are in new zealand till the end of Jan visiting their 2month old twin grandaughters(dh brothers)

My sil had a csection at almost 37 weeks, so if she can get that far I can(fingers crossed.

Hi everyone, hope it's ok to gatecrash. My first post. I'm expecting IVF twins 17th March (1st children). All going ok so far, have had every pregnancy niggle going - indigestion, swollen ankles and feet, thrush, sore ribs, anemia, constipation etc! All little things though, babies are doing well and I am the size of small bungalow! Trying to get all my bits and pieces ready, decorate nursery etc. Can anyone recommend the best place to review double buggies? Was going to find the one we want then try to buy second hand, have no idea where to start!

Z&Z, we have been looking at pushchairs for a month and still have no idea! We want one that will fit through our door, be light enough for me to push, lift and fold AND not be a flimsy piece of crap. Nothing so far!

I've been a dreadful mum today, weather and pelvis have kept us indoors and I have terrible backache from all the reflux I keep getting so I've been grumpy and short with DD. Compared to being pregnant with her this time is a bit of a nightmare

Peas, thanks for your reply. Could you add a large shopping/storage area under the pushchair for my old small dog to sit in to your list of requirements and let me know when you've found something? I really need to get off my bum with DH and go look rather than browsing internet, but sofa is so inviting!
I had horrible, horrible reflux indigestion from the word go, painful, burning, sicky horrible (but no backache). Midwife and consultant said nothing but I moaned to doctor because I had such a bad cough and the combination made me constantly feel like I was going to throw up and she prescribed Omeprazole capsules. Cured it overnight and made me feel SO much better.
Think you're entitled to feel grumpy, must be hard with another child.

ZuzuandZara & PeasPlease pushchair hunting is a nightmare,I am only 5 ft so have found lots are just too tall, Have gone for a nipper as it is easy to push(test drove one with my 2 & 3 yr old in) they were comfortable in it, it folds easy and has nice warm cosy toes and baby nests with it.

I saw two consultants yesterday, one did my Fetal maternal clinic scan, babies are doing well they reckon about 4lb 3oz each and have now settled just above the 50th centile for growth as expected for this stage. However they are still moving position and during this scan twin 1 went from head down to transverse, he needs to stay head down.

I also saw my consultant after in antinatal as mentioned to the other consultant I had only been seen by registrars so she sorted it.

The consultant was lovely and has written all over my notes that as long as twin 1 goes head down and labour is spontanious then VBAC is the way to go, in fact C sect is not wanted by her due to the c section I had last time not going well.

She has said though they will not induce due to the previous section and rhat it is hospital policy to deliver twins before 38 weeks meaning they want them out by the 8th feb at latest.

so she has booked a scan and appointment with her for 36 weeks, but has said she feels I am likely to have already had them(between 34-35wks is when they find most natural births happen), if not once she knows what position they are in we can then sort out the final saga.

Sorry for an epic post but nice to see I now have a plan of sorts. Hope everyone else is ok.

Hi Insanity, thanks, thats useful to know about the nipper as I'm only 5'1". What's a baby nest? (new mum to be!)
I'm glad to hear that you're getting your birth plan sorted, it must feel reassuring. I'm a bit behind you, 29 weeks on Thursday and have a scan and consultants appointment this afternoon but was going to start discussion about policy re c-sect etc it they're not both head down. It's good to hear what's going on with everyone else.

ZuzuandZara Good luck this afternoon with the scan and consultant, I was beginning to think the first birth discussions I was going to have were once It had started.

Baby nests fit onto the nipper straps and can be used inside the cosy toes to give additional support to the babies, they have a head hugger section and are adjustable around the waist to support the pelvis. As twins tend to be that bit smaller I hope they will stop them rattling around inside the pushchair and keep them all snuggled and cozy.

I will be needing to drag these poor babies out each day to do nursery, pre school and school runs so want them to bewarm, secure and comfy.

Waaahh!! I don't know what nipper straps are either! Don't worry, I will have a proper look at the buggy on line and figure it out!
Will let you know how I get on this afternoon. You are going to be one busy lady!

Nice to see there are a few more twin mummy's on here now.

I'm 21+4 and have just purchased my twin pushchair after looking at them since i found out we were having twins 14 weeks ago. Seems like forever....

I've bought the Maclaren Twin Techno, as needed one suitable from newborn and not with any car seats, as buying a multimac car seat system due to having a 16 month old already, We had just bought a new car then found out it was twins, so cheaper to buy the systems then lose shed loads of dosh on the new car we just bought.

I had my 20 week scan and all was fine, very active babies. Got a private scan in two weeks time to find out the sexes and can't wait.

Midwife is doing her next visit at 26 weeks and then consult at 28 weeks, just before i move to East Anglia from the West Mids. So going to be real busy with sorting out packing etc.

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoyed Christmas and new year.

Hey Sophie, thanks for that, DH and I are actually going to look at buggies etc today so will have a look at your one. Time we pulled our fingers out!
Had Scan and consultant on Wed which was great, scan was good, really feel like I'm starting to get to know the babies . Saw a lovely consultant and started to discuss birth plans and hospital policy on delivering twins which has given us some answers but also lots more to think about.
East Anglia to West Mids is a big move - where about in West Mids?
Happy New Year everyone.

Hey ZuzuandZara,

I'm near Albrighton in the West Mids.
How did you get on with the pushchair hunting?

It's early days yet, but no idea how much stuff to pack in my hospital bag. Going to pack it before i move house at the beginning of feb, then it's one less thing i need to worry about.

Sophie, I live near Brighton but regularly visit friends in West Mids who live in....Albrighton! Small world. (Lovely part of the world too!) Shopping was rubbish, went to the Babys R Us section of Toys R Us and they stock all of 1 twin pushchair! Went home and looked on Mothercare website and looked at all the reviews so feel a little more educated, but not much!
Have just realised that although I'm due on the 18th of March, hospital won't let me go over 38 weeks which means I'm actually due 4th March...yikes!
Really need to get going with stuff!

Hi All,

This is my first pregnancy, and I'm expecting twins in June!! So far, I'm 16weeks.
We are excited/scared, but happy! I am a twin myself, so a little weird!
My boyfriend and I are very happy to have found this website!

T

Z&Z Why won't the hospital let you go over 38 weeks? Is that their policy on twin births?

Welcome Teki! Congratulations. How are you feeling so far?

Being a twin and expecting twins must be lovely, gives you an head start, twins is a whole new world for me!
Sophie, I have no idea! Just started asking consultant a few questions at last appointment and they said that they won't go over 38 weeks. I guess it's policy, I need to ask more questions, head was too full of stuff at the time to really consider it. Have heard of lots of other people going over that so not sure whether to push the point with them if I get that far. I know there is a thread about why 38 weeks is considered full term for twins so will go and have another read. Any more thoughts anyone?

Happy belated new year everyone. I am 33+1wks today so if my consultant is right then she expects they are likely to arrive anytime from next Tuesday onwards, guess I should really pack my hospital bags.

Sophie I was told that if they have not arrived by 36wks they will scan to check position and book me in for a section at37+5 approx as they consider 37 term and anything over 38 too risky, the consultant pretty much used the higher stillbirth and complications argument along with a measure of placenta not being as efficient and increased risk of pre- eclampsia.

Some hospitals are more flexible at letting you go beyond but they increase the monitoring for last couple of weeks.

I am crossing everything that my two stay put till 37 wks but by the time of the scan at 36 wks twin 1 is head down, that way the section date will only be needed if Labour hasn't started before the section date.

ZuzuandZara how is the pushchair shopping going?

Teki welcome, 16 wks seems so long ago now!

Insanity, thanks for that, that explains a few things. Will check with our consultant but assume the explanation will be similar. Would they go straight for c sect rather that try to induce, or does it depend on position of babies at scan? I hope they stay put for you too! It's taken us 4 years to get pregnant so in one sense as long as they arrive safely I'm happy but at the same time I want to be able to enjoy(?!) giving birth as much as possible, avoid c sect etc and don't know how much to fight for what I want or just to do as I'm told by hospital! Sorry I'm a bit rambly, it's all new and scary! You've also scared the pants off me by saying that your consultant said be ready from 34 weeks, that's 4 weeks away for us gulp
Think we're going pushchair shopping again on Saturday, just need to find somewhere where we can try a few out, maybe Mothercare.
For me, 16 weeks seems like yesterday, things are going far to fast!!

Zuzu - THank you. I'm feeling ok, it really hasnt sunk in yet that its twins I'm expecting, despite the scans, the bump, the excess eating! Ya, I've been told to be ready by 34 weeks too. I'm due in June, but I'm saying May to family and friends. What worries me the most, is the expense of all the things you need; buggy, car seat, cot, sterilising equip, clothing etc; its all new to me too!

I was wondering, are there any other ladies, experiencing more 'bump weight' to the left or the right? My bump is more weighted to the right, and i'm trying to find some info on the net about it. I came across one place, (it was for a single pregnancy) that said its the spine of the rump of the baby as it has moved around. But i would like to know more concerning two babies. Any thoughts?

Teki x

Teki, I have no idea about your bump! Would be interested to know though if you find out. Don't know your thoughts on buying new/second hand but I must say that DH and I have spent very little money (so far!) Try charity shops, ebay, second hand furniture shops, NCT second hand sales, beg, borrow, steal! Obviously new for important things like matresses but otherwise I'm not precious! Got a second hand vibrating bouncy chair the other day for a quid!

Hi Teki

Yes, whichever one of mine is on the right (when I look down at my belly) seems to be the one that sticks out most. Sometimes I can really feel its head or bum (not sure which) pushing out to the right of my belly button. The left side one seems to generally be more comfortable!

Hi Everyone

Zuzu - I cannot be induced as my last ds was born via c/sect, Due to shoulder dystocia with my dd, she was 9lbs 11ozs so throughout my last pregnancy they monitored babies growth and at 38 weeks the consultant felt he needed to come out so 14hrs later I was in theatre, ds3 arrived weighing 9lbs 7ozs so if left would have been bigger. However I had complications from surgery which has complicated my birth plan somewhat this time. I can only hope that I go into labour naturally before 38wks. If I have not but twin 1 is head down then I shall argue to be able to continue beyond 38 wks but if he is still transverse then it will have to be a section.

I am 34wks on tuesday so who knows perhaps this time next week pregnancy could be over(still need to pack my bags).

Teki- My bump changes daily but twin 1 keeps turning head down then back to transverse and twin 2 turns from breach to transverse whenever she feels like it so depending on them depends on size and weight of bump, not to mention plays havoc with my balance.

I agree with zuzu about buying second hand items, perhaps look out for lots for tots type sales and ebay.

Insanity - Eeek! I am keeping fingers crossed for you, get into position babies and stay there!

May I just say to all you expectant mums, EBAY is the best friend of the multiple mums!! Get everything from ebay, and you can sell it back on there after and get most of your money back (or even make a profit!!)

i agree, Ebay is great. I've bought quite a bit on there for DD and my DT's to be.

Also i am always in Charity Shops having a look, seeing what baby bargains are about. My DD is kitted out in nothing but clothes from charity shops. You get to know which ones are good. She has lots of branded stuff like Next, and it's only like 50p or max £2 for items. So much cheaper :-) More money to spend on the hundreds of nappies etc we are going to need!