Pg with Twins - bit scared

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We recently found out I am pregnant with twins. We already have a 1-year old, so we're heading for "3 under 2". We're delighted, but I am finding I can't sleep at night due to helicopter thoughts whirling round in my head.

I am really worried about the prospect of a c-section - not sure about whether it will have an adverse effect on breastfeeding (which I think will be essential, not least because managing two sets of bottles would be a real pain!), how long my recovery time will be and whether it will make things even harder than they're going to be anyway.

Miss out this para first timers!!!! Number 1 was a bit tricky coming out, a T-section if you like! - and I had about 8 weeks of recovery after having her - AND things are still not quite right down there. So I am also worried about a 'downstairs' delivery.

I get really, really bonkers when sleep deprived and I don't cope well with crying, so I hated the first 4 months of having DD. I am girding myself for probably at least 6 months of hating it with twins, especially as they're likely to be early.

We need to do lots of work on the house and buy a new car - with no money!!! Mortgage drawdown is also worrying me! But I am letting DH take over the financial worries.

The good things are we already have a lovely nanny, we have family nearby and we won't have to move house to fit the newcomers in.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation or does anyone have some advice, especially on the C-section thing. Quite a few people have said I should have an elective C-section, which seems madness to me.

Help!!!

Im pregnant with set of twins number 2!!! It really isnt as bad as you think!! We had 3 in 15 months as my son was only 8 months and the girls were 7 weeks early. Everything is doable, do you NEED to get a new car straight away??

I had an elective c-sec with the girls but went into labour early anyway but twin 1 was a cross legged breech so couldnt come out! Im having an elective c-sec again this time and wil stil have a c-sec if i go into labour.

How did you get on with breastfeeding? How long was the recovery time after the c-section and did you feel able to look after them after the operation?

I never breast fed as they had no suck reflux so was in SCBU but I was expressing the next day when I went home. They were in for 3 weeks but I was out of hospital in 24 hours and visiting daily and would have been able to look after them at home no problems.

I had a c-sec with my son too and was home after 1.5 days and looked after him fine as soon as the numbness wore off and I could move, obviously things take longer but it was ok.

Congratulations!!!

I've got non-id twins and am now pg with no 3. I had an elective c-section first time round, mainly because I developed pre-eclampsia and the consultant said that induction would not work at 35wks and I would probably end up in a c-section anyway. I managed to bf pretty much straight away (in recovery!) although I mixed fed in the end, mainly because mine were v small. One twin was whisked off to scbu and the hospital said from the outset that he needed formula to get his weight up. I wouldn't have produced enough milk at the time for his needs. I did eventually get him breastfeeding but never managed to exclusively bf him.

I know a lot of hospitals would not let you go for a vbac with twins and there are very sensible reasons why not. That isn't to say its impossible, but the risks of ending up with an EMCS are pretty high. There is a big difference in a planned ELCS and an EMCS in terms of recovery. Do you know what type of twins you are having because that will make a big difference to your options. Personally, I wouldn't go for a vbac in your situation.

I'm expecting identical twin boys in April. We've been booked for a c-section at 37 weeks and I know how you're feeling! We were in complete shock for about a week or 2 after the scan and I don't think it will sink in that we're having 2 babies until they're actually here!

I was gutted that I couldn't have a natural birth but the more I think about it the more sensible an option a c-section is. With id twins your at much higher risk of placental abruption and during a natural delivery the risk of twin to twin transfusion is very high (something which only id twins get). They also say that with twins you may well deliver twin 1 naturally but then will need an emergency c-section for twin 2.

A friend of mine is a midwife and she has said my milk will not be affected by the c-section anymore than it would be with a natural birth. Apparently once the placenta is delivered (in whatever way) breastfeeding is possible and the milk/colostrum kicks in quite quickly.

There's a good Multiple Births forum on mumsnet which is worth a look. Also look at the TAMBA and MBF websites for more help and advice.

I hope this helps.

no advice wrt to twins (congratulations!) - but I have a three sections (1 EMSC 2 ELCS & 4th booked for June) & have had no problems breastfeeding at all. With my electives I had skin to skin in theatre and with all of them I fed in recovery (they had all had a good feed within the first hour).

I have two year old twin boys. Spent the whole pregnancy panicking I would deliver them early. Ended up being induced at 38 weeks and being knocked out for an emergency section so didn't see them until they were two hours old. The method of their birth didn't bother me in the slightest, the wound healed very fast and whilst many of my friends were still hobbling about with sore ladybits I was laid up stuffing my face with chocolate mini rolls and breastfeeding my boys. They are amazing. You are so very lucky, twins are an absolute joy.

I breastfed mine in tandem from the start exclusively for 6months and then morning and night until they were 2 (I am not one of those knit your own yoghurt earth mother types it just felt right for some reason)

I did find I had to get a (very) strict routine going with them from the start. If one woke hungry I woke the other to feed them. I also had a kickass bf cushion I think it was called an EZ nurse or something like that. It was especially for twins and it made feeding at the beginning so much easier.

I think twins as a first time mum is scary and hard work. Just remember the second time round is supposed to be far easier so despite having twins I think you will be more relaxed and less stressed. Warn your DP that he will be up a LOT during the night for the first few months (I had mine get the boys up for feeds and hand them to me to feed. We were toxic with tiredness for a couple of months but because of the military style regime I had for naps and feeds and bedtime they slept pretty well at about 11 weeks and only woke at 4am for a feed.

My other twin tip is baby led weaning. I so couldn't be arsed spoon feeding two great piles of pureed goop. Don't listen to anyone elses opinions unless they have twins. I had so many people say 'I don't know how you are going to cope' the ones with twins were really positive and lovely (I decided the ones without twins just felt jealous they didn't have two at once!) You are going to do great!