Anyone fancy an "Oh holy fuck, I'm having twins" support group?

[GuybrushThreepwoodMP]

That's all- I'm 14 weeks. Would be nice to meet some others!

I always wanted twins and was blessed with them :-)

My hospital bag is half packed meaning it's only got babies bits so far. How much of everything are people packing? I remember going overboard with nappies for dd . I've got 4 vests, 4 sleepsuits, nappies, wipes, 2 pairs of scratch mitts and a few bibs and pre mixed milk (I'm planning to ff). I must buy nappy cream!! And some hats for them after birth

How many nappies and wipes have you got Glitz?
Also how many bra and underwear pads will I need?
I stood in Boots yesterday looking at these types of things thinking 31wks is about time to get packed and realised I knew kind of what I needed, but I have absolutely no clue how many of each!
Thinking quite likely well all be in for around 3 days minimum what with a trip to SCBU etc

I've packed one 64 pack of wipes and 20 nappies. I seriously can't remember if that's enough or what. I'm seeing the consultant tomorrow so hopefully she can help. I was changing pads around twice an hour after vaginal delivery with dd and was kept in for just over 24 hours. The hospital supplied a few but I took my own anyway. If I were you I'd take a whole box of bra pads I found I leaked loads after a shower. I must remember to pack plenty of Bridget Jones knickers lol

My hospital policy is to try And get you to 38 weeks with dcda twins. Some hospitals go for 37 weeks but I've heard NICE guidelines States 38 weeks max due to the placenta not working well after this point so 40 weeks seems a bit long! Although I'm sure not many get to that point without labour starting naturally judging on how big we would be by then!! Would be worth asking why they say 40 weeks as 'term' for twins is earlier than singletons so can't see the logic on keeping them in so long although I'm sure lots of people do choose to keep them in longer with extra monitoring. I Also have one anterior and one posterior placenta. I feel almost all the movement on my left where posterior is and very little on the right! Must be the reason!

I've packed 24 nappies. 2 boxes of maternity pads. A box of breast pads. A pack of Bridget Jones knickers. 6 of everything suits etc.... 2 hats. Formula. 2 pairs of scratch mits. 2 packs of wipes. I'm taking 2 cases 1 for me 1 for babies. I live right next to the hospital and mum not far so if i forget anything it's no biggie.

Sounds like we've all packed similar quantities which is reassuring. I've packed three sleep suits and three vests per baby plus a hat each, scratch mits, a cardigan each, a handful of muslins and a pack of 24 nappies.

For me I've packed two nighties, two 12 packs of pads and 20 breast pads along with nipple cream and all my toiletries, plus lots of super sexy pants!! I've also been advised to take my own pillows as apparently getting a spare pillow is like finding gold at my local hospital ??

My midwife said i'll get my own room as there won't be room on the ward for me. I've told OH to make sure he brings me plenty of nice snacks lol. I'm gonna take earphones and my tablet to pass some time. I'll need more nighties and that's it. I have no idea how long i'll be kept in after section?

Do be prepAres that if babies Are in nicu, you may go home before them or may take one home but not both. I was in for five days then sent home without babies for a week, then went back in for two more weeks as I was unwell and needed an operation. Babies were in for a month. We were in two different hospitals during that time. I was booked for a c section but was transferred in labour to another hospital as my hospital had no nicu beds.
If they say that they cannot accommodate both babies in the same nicu I.e due to a bed shortage, insist they transfer a singleton to another hospital instead of splitting twins as visiting two hospitals after a section is too much.

My dh just took one day off work when twins were born, saved all leave for when we came home and this was definitely right thing to do.
20 nappies will last you 2 days but dh can bring more, not much storage space on wards. Take ear plugs.

Rockermummy, hope your apt went well today, I have my 16wk apt on Friday :) I also put the pains down to stretching and growing, like you said but I sometimes wonder how it's ever going to be possible to grow two babies!
It's great reading everyone's messages and knowing that we're all in the same boat, I'm already thinking about what to pack so that's been helpful!
I also thlught about taking two cases (one for me one for babies)
My hosp have said they will induce at 37 weeks, I'm really hoping to avoid a section due to the recovery period. As long as twin one is head down they've told me this should be fine, although the thought of twin two being born breech scares me slightly and also the prospect of having twin 1 naturally then being whisked off for an emergency section with number two!!

Rebecca, i was hoping for 36 weeks to be honest, ive read there are risks leaving it til 40 weeks with twins. i know a midwife at the hospital ill be having them in so hopefully shell pull some strings to get me seen to earlier.

my breathing is HORRIFIC already, im really struggling, even at night time so a potential 40 week pregnancy makes me want to sob hysterically.

im torn between wanting a natural or elcs. ill be discussing at 24 week scan hopefully. what is everyone elses birth plans/preferences?

Wow, there's loads of us!

Rockermummy, I do plan to find out what I'm having at the scan next week. I've had enough surprises!

Off to read the rest of the thread.....

Hi ladies! So glad to have found this! Slightly beginning to panic already and I'm only 14+6! It just feels a bit overwhelming.

I'm 40 and this is a looooong awaited pregnancy. Conceived with a lot of help (de ivf). All I've done so far is book in and first scan. Next mw appointment next week!

I can't wait to see or feel something. I can feel my tummy firming up but I'm quite tubby so I'm sure I'm not going to show for a while. It still feels a bit unreal!

I just don't know what my birth preferences are. Well ideally a natural sneeze birth at 38 weeks.

I'll just do whatever is recommended. On the one hand, I have given birth before and I know I can do it. But then twins is a whole different ball game and much riskier. On the other hand, maybe an elcs is the most predictable and therefore least stressful option. But then again I've never had any kind of surgery before and am a bit frightened of the idea of recovering from it. So I have no idea basically! First meeting with consultant next week when I'm 15 weeks so hopefully will get more of an idea.

I just want two healthy babies.

Hi ladies,

I'm 23+3 with non Id twins. We were in a total shock for about 2 weeks after finding out but are now really excited.
I found I had barely any bump until about week 18 and in the last few weeks it has grown massively!
There is also a multiple births discussion area on here which I have found really useful, especially in the first 4-5 months when I had all these weird pains (stretching/ligament pain) which freaked me out!
Best advice i've had is to sleep as much as possible & try and rest twice a day for an hour so they don't come early!

Just back from 32 week scan and consultant. He seems to think don't need to even discuss birth option until next apt at 36 weeks!!!! So annoyed! I tried asking questions about what would be safer but he couldn't have been any less helpful. Twin 1 is head down but twin two breech and unlikely to turn. I just feel like my concerns are irrelevant and he was just blasé about it saying twin two might turn after twin one is born or they would turn him or deliver breech as if it was nothing. Might be to him but it's my body so maybe I don't want someone sticking there arm up there!! When he was bored of my questions he actually stood up to shake my hand as if to kick me out. This is the first time I've felt like this have managed to stay calm throughout until now. Grr bloody arrogant. I hope he's not there at the birth do consultants actually get involved with that stuff or is it left to registrar etc?! I feel like I will prob go in to labour before 36 weeks and won't have even discussed the risks benefits etc so that will be great ?? can see why nct classes are good now at least they explain things to you so you can make informed choice even if I won't be able to have water birth etc. and options are limited.

Oh no JenBird that doesn't sound good! I'm seeing the consultant today I'm 28+5 and was hoping to start birth planning properly today just in case. The last consultant I saw was really helpful and happy to answer any questions. I don't think some of them realise how terrifying the thought of a twin birth is let alone carrying them!

Jellie I'm glad to hear of your double surprise after ivf. I have triplet friends whose mum had ivf and she was originally told it was just twins! Wasn't until around 18 weeks that baby 3 made a show. Hope all goes well

Your daughter will be 4 by the time your twins are 1, so that's massively doable. I'd quite happily swop my 1yr old and 2 yr old for two 1yr olds with a 4 yr old to help!

Babies definitely can be left to cry (watch me getting hung up now!) and actually it's better if they're not ridiculously needy, as you'll have two of them! My baby was amazing at being left whilst I dealt with the needs of the 17month old. Dead chilled out and not stressed at all, knows I'm coming back.

I would imagine, like having one baby, the hard bit is the initial 6 weeks (probably more than twice as bad as one baby) but after that, probably be ok. TBH I've only just started to find it tough now the baby is on the move. Babies are actually pretty easy! And by the time yours are on the move, your daughter will be at school.

Twins seem really common now, why is that?

In in 68 in UK is the rate for twins I believe. Not common as such but apparently a lot more pregnancies start as twins but the second has disappeared by the first scan 'vanishing twin syndrome' so may be higher than that. I never considered I might have twins and knew nothing about it no family history, no IVF I'm only 30 so none of the factors they say make it more likely. I think better nutrition perhaps means that more twin pregnancies continue where they may have become vanishing twins decades ago.

I'm the same as you jen. No family history, no fertility treatment, age 30. As my doctor said 'there are no twins in any family until there are.'
The slight red herring in my case might be that I had a mc before Christmas. I wonder if my ovaries got a bit overenthusiastic immediately afterwards.
Big shock though!

Hi everyone,

I'm currently 29+2 with MCDA twins :)

Interesting to hear from all those who have had/expecting twins! I've also got two separate cases for hospital. One for me. And one for twins with different sizes bagged up separately inside...I've packed 6x sleepsuits/bodysuits per twin, blankets, cardigan, 2x hat and mittens per twin, 24 pack nappies, wipes, Boxes of maternity pads/breast pads, disposable knickers x10, pack of comfy large knickers x10, 2 nighties, 2 sets of pjs, 2 towels for me, toiletries, hairbrush, iPad, headphones. Well that's what I can remember so far. I've had my bags packed since 26 weeks as I dread them coming too early and being unprepared!

Just got back from my 29 week appt with midwife. Bump is measuring at 35 weeks which may explain why I feel huge! Both still heads down so my consultant is happy to try for VB. Also completed my birth plan today with midwife so it's ready to be discussed at my 30 week scan with consultant. I feel a lot more in control now than I did before as I felt so in the dark with all the fortnight scans and no one talking about the actual births!

And how can I forget to say congratulations to you all on your twins!! :) I still remember our shock at the 12 week scan... Can't believe we're now into just weeks of meeting them! :)

I've been having the same problems with my consultant appointment as you jen every time I go to ask questions about my birth options they just dismiss me and assume I'll go for a vaginal birth despite twin two being breech. The last consultant said he'll just be turned or come out feet first, didn't seem at all concerned about my fear of what interventions might be needed to make this happen. I think the medics just see you as another statistic and want to reduce the volume of c sections. They don't seem capable of empathy, at least the ones I've seen don't. I have my 36 week appt on Monday so I'm going to force the issue with the team so a decision can be taken as I'm getting really worried now that I won't have any control.

Anyway, that's my rant over about consultants. So wish we could be midwife led like singleton births as they seem much more compassionate!

Hi Lewany congratulations on your twins too. How exciting. When will you be going in to have them? Are you having a natural birth? sorry to ask i'm also having MCDA twins and it wasn't really recommended for me?