Twins!

[FreckleBee]

This week I have found out we are expecting twins. I am experiencing an array of different emotions ranging from delighted to terrified and everything in between.
This is going to be an exciting and emotional challenge which we will fully embrace.
I just wondered if anyone had any links to a twins chat or similar I could access? Whilst I know plenty friends and family who have children or/and are pregnant I don't know anyone close with twins so feeling on our own with this a bit.
Thanks x x

Hello! We also found out at our 12-week scan that two are on their way. Had our 20 week scan this week and found out that they are (non-ID) twin boys. Be prepared for your emotions to be all over the place! They do settle! Promise! I had days of just going "WOW!" and then days where I would be in floods of tears. Is this your first pregnancy? Be prepared for lots of twin cliches to come out...
double trouble, oh you'll have your hands full, etc etc. I'm going to start fining people who come out with them I think!
Great thing about having twins is that you'll get much closer care from the hospital and MW. From this point on, I'm being seen every two weeks, alternating between the midwife and a scan - so it's a bit more reassuring that you'll see them more than if it was a singleton pregnancy. Oh and prepare to be gobsmacked at the price of double prams... Good luck and hope to see you on here again for more twin chat!
:)

Congrats xx twins are amazing. I have 19wk old id girls. I will never forget my 12wk scan, having 3 los already I'd seen a fair few scans, what I first saw that day will stay with me forever. I cried through the whole 1 hr 1/2. It took along time to get my head around it and the fortnightly scans helped with that.

Completely agree about prices of double pushchair s
Your care will be dependent on the type of twins you're having. Ask any questions you want, I know what it's like not to know anyone, even though I had 3 twins was a whole new experience

Hi Freckle, me too! I'm 18+3 and delighted, but you-tubing 'how to settle crying twins' is guaranteed to have me on an emotional roller coaster! We will all manage, we have to, and I think there are many positives to look forward to. Congratulations! X

Loads of positives, we've had our first laughs this wk , far too cute, double cuddles, 2 smiley faces, it all makes the tough days worth it.

The best advice I can give you is to step away from Google and you tube. You have to make peace with the fact that you only have 1 pair of hands and if they are busy changing 1 or something then the other is just going to have to cry for a minute. Mine take it in turns to cry

Wow thank you so much, sounds like I'm in for a rollercoaster but one which will be so worth it!
panda You're point about extra care is spot on - it's one of the bits I'm so pleased about as will get to see my babies so many times before they are born and many more times than a singleton and that is a real privilege.
slightlyinsane what made your twins experience so different (other than the obvious two babies!) ? I'm so keen to hear what is in store for me! Your positives sound fab :)
Scenicroute you are right - we will just have to manage - no option! I second the comment about not googling things as it can often make you feel worse!

Did anyone feel very unwell with twins? I've had severe vomitting/ nausea - needed and injection on Friday to settle it which helped and have oral mess but they aren't all that great and nausea has returned with avengence today :(

PS Many congratulations everyone x

Meds*

Congratulations! I have 4 month old twins and older ones, the first 3 months were tough but now they're in a routine life is a lot easier. They're also becoming great little personalities and have started smiling and 'talking' to each other.

Worth asking your midwife if your trust offers twin antenatal classes, ours did and it was an opportunity to meet other twin parents. We also joined our local twins group on Facebook which is very supportive and go to twins playgroups locally.
My twin pregnancy was far harder than a singleton - much more sickness in the first trimester, followed by SPD, heartburn, sore ribs and overwhelming tiredness. Enjoy

I've been really lucky (touches wood...) and haven't had any sickness. I'd heard that twin pregnancies were meant to be awful for sickness which is why I was so shocked when they said that we were having twins. Having said that, I've got the world's worst heartburn and a really itchy tummy! Also getting a bit queasy with the increased movement and wriggles, but also loving the movements (at the mo...)
Hope your sickness eases soon, I was hooked on lucozade in the first weeks x

Oh and the leg cramps... And sore boobs... :)

Congratulations Freckle, I saw you on a previous thread of yours. Glad your scan gave you good news - and lots of it!

Oh the sickness is awful! Feeling like I can't possible have another 4.5 weeks of this! I'm only 7 + 4 weeks - had early scan due to sons bleeding.
Thank you banana my scan did indeed go well! I was very nervous due to the bleeding and had imagined the worst but came out with a massive surprise :)

*some
(Damn predictive text!)

I've got 10 month boy/girl twins.
Pregnancy was hard, I've got 2 older kids and didn't suffer like that with either of them.
My advice is take every little scrap of help you are offered. Especially in the early days, you will need all the help you can get. I was lucky in a way as my dh lost his job just before they were born, so he was there for the first couple of months to help, he did pretty much everything while I fed the babies. (I cried when he finally got another job!)
The first few weeks are hard going, we found just going with the flow, letting them decide feeding and sleeping times was easiest. Once they got to 6 months they suddenly got loads easier, they'd settled into a routine of sorts, and we were used to there being two of them.
As a pp says though, get used to the idea that there will be times when one is screaming and there's nothing you can do - as long as they're not in danger, if you're dealing with one, the other has to wait. Teaches them violence patience.

It's hard work, but so much fun, mine play together now, chat to each other, make each other laugh, and amuse themselves long enough that I can inhale a lukewarm coffee!
Congratulations and good luck

Hi, it's quite hard to explain but I'll try my best. I'd had 3 very straightforward singleton pregnancies and labours. Then we find out we were having non Id twins and spent a wk trying to get our heads around that with plenty of "how the f* didthat happen" then came the phone call to book in our next scan because they were in fact id.
In the space of a few wks we had gone from mw led care to consultant care and appointment s every 2 wks.

A singleton pregnancy is hard going but I was not prepared for how much harder a twin one was. The overwhelming exhaustion and nausea was a shocker but got moderately better around 16 ish wks. The size difference was hard to cope with, you get bigger so much earlier and I struggled to cope with that because I had never been overly restricted in previous pregnancies, this time I couldn't put socks and shoes on amongst other things.
I was going through a whole load of crap at the time and majorly neglected myself and over did things all the time, which looking back at now absolutely kick myself for doing, wish I could go and kick the person who caused all the problems
You have to make sure your health is top priority so that you don't end up on your ass.
I haven't painted a wonderful picture of a twin pregnancy but I'm sure someone else can give you a better experience. My advice is to listen to your body and act on what it's telling you to do, don't put it off and think you'll do it later, because it never happens.

Do you know what type of twins you're having?

slightlyinsane sounds like you've been through a tough but rewarding time. Don't worry about not painting a positive picture - I asked - and want to know the truth :)
What you have said all makes sense and doesn't scare me off although it does sound v hard going.
I've been feeling v ill since week 5 which was mega earlier and it was getting worse and worse. Then I had some spotting and if course thought the worst. Really thought there was something wrong with me or baby as I've never felt so ill. So to hear it is twins was just such a shock! It's been a mad week!
I'm expecting non ID twins.

How long did people manage to stay at work? I read yesterday that at 28 weeks I'll be carrying the equivalent of 1 full term baby! 28 weeks!!

Freckle that's exactly how I felt, only the bleeding came at 10 wks and couldn't get an early scan. Non id are the "safer" type to carry as the placenta only has 1 to support, so that's good and you care will probably be a little more relaxed than an id pregnancy.

Lucky for me I wasn't working this time but I remember thinking around 26 ish wks that I'm glad I wasn't as I'd probably have to stop around then. It all depends on your job and how your pregnancy progresses. Don't feel bad about phoning in sick if you need to do it then do , even if you just need to sleep.
Thanks it was a really crap time and I'll never forgive the woman who caused it, (fingers crossed its a custodial sentence ) but I didn't realise until I'd had them just how ill I'd been.
Good luck with the sickness, I found coke helped.

FreckleBee whilst MN is a source of constant wonder, you might like to take a look at twinsclub and join their forum. Advice and general chat forums as well as equipment reviews etc. It has been great for us.

Mine twins are 12 now. And we've been recently reminiscing over the pregnancy and birthdays etc. I did go on mat leave at 28 week, simply because I was the size of a small house and was finding my commute increasingly unmanageable. I was v lucky to be able to stop work and rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. My babies arrived at 37+2 so they did well to hang on in their (I have the stretch marks to prove it )

Good luck to you and all the other posters too on your multiples pregnancy. Rest up as much as you can - you'll need all your energy for after the birth!

I was never sick but did have reflux, swollen ankles etc.

Speak to your local college about having a trainee nursery nurse on placement if you haven't got fsmily locally.

After my first two pregnancies (fairly straightforward) I was not planning on any more. However, fate stepped in and I found I was pregnant with id girls at 20 weeks!!! I was very shocked BUT also very fit and had no sickness or swollen ankles or any problems. I was induced!!! at 40 weeks (twins are usually early), birth care was very good. Although I was dreading the night feeds it was not bad at all - when the first one woke I awoke the second and they fed together, and then most important they slept at the same time. It was easier than the older ones when they were 18 months apart which I found exhausting. Good luck it is very rewarding - and they really play well together as they get older.

Congratulations! This is my 33rd week with DCDA twins.

Healthwise this pregnancy has been much easier than my singleton pregnancy, touch wood!, but I am so so uncomfortable at the minute. I don't think I could have worked past 25 weeks.

Did you laugh hysterically when they told you? DH's face was the funniest thing I've ever seen

I was still working when I went into labour at 36 weeks, but I worked from home as much as I could and drove on days when I needed to be in the office. I wouldn't have lasted that long if I'd commuted on public transport or had to walk any distance

I think I'm going to struggle to stay at work with this nausea. I feel like death. But I feel so guilty taking time off.
santana I laughed and said "oh my god" about ten times before bursting into tears. Part relief part shock. We had great care that day, all the midwives and reception staff on we're whooping and cheering for us so it made what was massive shock feel exciting and special. I'll certainly never forget it!

How quickly did you show with twins?

Can't offer any advice but so pleased for you :D