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!

Hi. I was so pleased to find this thread. I have a 4 year old and found out I'm expecting twins at my 12 week scan today. Not something I had ever considered as a possibility. Bit of a game changer really!

Hi Rebecca :) I think I may have wrote on your thread... If I remember correctly you were in pain during the night and weren't sure whether to call in? Forgive me if I've confused you for another poster!

Yes my consultant has said 35/36 weeks would be my estimate...37 is the max they will let me get to. If I'm honest I have this gut feeling they'll be here before 36/37 weeks!

Yes I did have it in mind from the day of finding out it was twins that I'd have no option but a csection. Cue absolutely no one talking about births until I raised it at 25 weeks with consultant. Both twins are head down so she's happy/actively encouraged me go for VB. I was worried about risks with them sharing placenta but she provided me with a current hospital audit report on twins and it looked good. Also i personally wanted to avoid surgery where possible as I've never had any before/never been admitted to hospital either. I'm a FTM though so I'm just going in with a free flow attitude... VB if possible. Otherwise any means necessary to get my babies here safely! :)

Are these your first/second rebecca?

Congratulations Oobis :) do you know what type of twins you're carrying? Honestly feels like yesterday I found out myself! :)

Sorry Lewaney i thought your name was familiar yes that was me. That's great you get to have a natural birth. It wasn't really an option for me and my consultant told me she couldn't guarantee both babies would be ok after a natural birth. Which didn't fill me with much hope i was kind of hoping she'd encourage it as if it wasn't twins i'd definitely have a natural birth the more i think about it and as it's coming round quickly i'm starting to shit myself about the section and recovery.
Yes they are my 1st/2nd.

GOOD LUCK to you all - twins are GREAT not that I'm biased
There is masses of love and support on the Multiples boards too

Hi redrosie. It's frustrating isn't it! I agree that the midwives I've met so far seem really lovely and supportive and would have preferred to be in midwife led unit had it not been twins. Totally agree that consultants so far have not been good at people skills!! Doesn't help that they are men I've met and have no idea what birth feels like let alone twins or more ?? humph! anyway luckily I am generally quite willing to trust medics and will keep an open mind as I know anything could happen on the day but it would be nice if they made an effort to talk through hospital policy and what the various risks/benefits are so i can have some input. As long as we all come through it safely I'm happy but I'm sure there is more they could do to put our minds at ease and keep the bp readings down!!!!!! Good luck at 36 week apt would b interested in what they say x

Yes I find that different consultants have different opinions rebecca makes it even more of a minefield! I'm sure everything will work out for us all! :)

jenbird I completely agree with consultants and them keeping us in the dark... If I hadn't asked or been pushy I'm pretty sure I could have got to this stage without the word "birth" being mentioned at any of my appointments! I definitely think birth plans and options should be routinely discussed at a much earlier stage in multiples pregnancy... Eg 26/28 weeks. It gives us all time to decide different options instead of worrying in the dark alone!

Definitely agree lewaney! They might not think it necessary but would certainly help us to feel more comfortable!! I have been watching one born every minute lately ( not been able to face up to it until recently) just to see diff people's experiences. It seems crazy that once we give birth there will still be another one to come! Incredible really just can't get my head around it but they will be here in six weeks max.

Thanks Lewaney. I have non identical. It's useful to hear of others further ahead than me, still in shock a little bit but it's feeling more do able now. Horrified at the cost implications still though!!!
All the best everyone, I wish you happy and healthy pregnancies and positive birth experiences. Exciting times!

Ooo jenbird I've been watching episodes of one born too! And definitely agree feels crazy after the birth of one there will be one more to come! Exciting times!

Thanks oobis agree with the costs! Everything is double! But in turn we shall get double the cuddles and love

God, I'm scared of that moment. Immediately after giving birth to dd, my only thought was 'Thank fuck that's over'. Cannot imagine having to pop out a second.

Congratulations everyone! We found out yesterday at a 6 week scan that we are having twins. My DD will be 2 when they are born so to say I'm bricking it is an understatement. My DH, on the other hand, is smiling like a kid on Christmas morning.

Hello everyone and thanks Guy for starting this thread! Exactly what I needed!

I'm 14+2 with dcda twins and have a dd who will be just over 3 when they are born.
So much been going through my head about all the things we'll need and how we'll manage but I guess I still have time to get organized.

I most definitely have a very obvious bump already, the equivalent of about 22 wks with dd! Finding it difficult to hide... But I find it very disconcerting being that big and not feeling any movement yet. With dd I felt kicks at 18 wks, before anyone could even tell I was preggers. Feel like I need reassurance that they are still in there!

Quesadillas, were you on the August 2012 antenatal thread? I think I remember you but I do apologize if I'm mistaken. Blame it on the baby brain (that's all I seem to be doing lately)!

Congrats to you all and good luck to those who are almost due.

When did everyone start developing a bump? My sister is getting married in July, so I will be 16-17 weeks and I'm nervous about how huge I will be. Especially since DH and I would rather not tell people until after the 20 week scan. With DD, I was able to hide my pregnancy until 28 weeks with a strategically placed scarf and a jacket. For some reason, I don't think I will get away with that this time around.

I'm 14+3 with no bump at all!

I'm 14+3 with no bump at all!

Oops, sorry about the double post

I'm 17+3 and the same size as I was at 30 weeks with ds so very hard to say how big you'll be.

Hi everyone,

This is my first pregnancy and I found that I had a hardly noticeable small bump around 12 weeks, easily hidden. However at around 19/20 weeks I totally ballooned out, not expected at all. Imagine petite size 8 figure with a beach ball up the front of my t shirt! At my 28 week scan I was measuring as having a 35 week bump!

I'm quite enjoying having my bump though. Although the amount of times people have passed comment on how I should be due any day when in fact I have 6/7 weeks to go hopefully!

Hi, on bump sizes I am similar to lewaney. These are my first so bump was very subtle until maybe 18 weeks when it popped out and has grown dramatically ever since!! I am now 32 weeks and get lots of comments from strangers ' not long now' and people generally moving aside to let me through as if they're terrified I might give birth at any moment in the supermarket haha! That said I have had a lot of people say it's a neat bump and some say they can't believe it's twins although they're prob just being nice!! It does make me a bit self conscious when out alone but it won't be forever do enjoy it while u can. I seem to carry quite low down and it sticks out a fair bit rather than some ladies who seem to have their bump distributed more evenly all over!! I did read that at 32 weeks out uterus is the same size as a singleton at 40 weeks so but scared howicj bigger I'll get!! ??

Hi, I'm similar to many others on bump size. I wasn't really showing much up until about 15/16 weeks (no-one at work had noticed) but by 18 weeks I appeared to balloon! I'm 35+3 now and measuring 40 weeks but carrying it all at the front, from behind you can't tell - although my husband may be being nice to me! Looks like I've got a massive medicine ball up my top. A nice cut shift dress I found covered up lots of the bump, especially for work where I was trying not to let people know until 20 weeks. Unfortunately at some point with twins you just have to embrace the bump as it doesn't like to hide!

Hi ladies. Hope everyone is keeping well. Just wondered if any of you who are further on than me can give me some idea what to expect from my 20 week scan? I'm having it tomorrow.
Is it the same as a singleton? Do they check for anything else with twins? Will it take ages since there are 2 of them? What if one is in the way of the other and they can't see everything?
I'm so worried. Not had a scan since my 12 week one and I'm getting myself a bit worked up.
People keep asking if I'm excited to find out what I'm having, which will obviously be lovely if I can, but they don't seem to understand the sheer panic I'm feeling at the moment.
I'm sure all will be fine (fingers crossed) but all of the medical advice and talk of extra risk and complications that gets drummed into you when you find out you're expecting twins is terrifying!
Sorry for sounding like a terrible worrier.

I honestly felt exactly the same as you. I hadn't bought a single thing, I was so worried there would be something wrong....before I went in my heart was racing and I felt really tearful, it was just so overwhelming. I think 20 week scans are scary enough with one baby, but with 2 you are willing them both to be perfect.

re the technicalities, it can take up to an hour I think, the scanning dept will have booked you a double slot so don't worry if it seems to be taking ages, they need to be thorough and check everything on both baby. our sonographer was really good and talked us through everything she was looking for etc so we were lucky that there weren't long periods of silence which would have worried me. there's nothing stopping you from asking when you get in there if they could explain everything to you as it will help keep you calm

I found out what I was having, but if you don't want to just let them know as soon as you get in there. don't forget it is an anomaly scan, not a sexing scan, so if they can't tell because of the way they are lying I don't think they would go to any lengths to find out. although, with twins, depending on which type they are, you will have another scan in 2 or 4 weeks anyway, by which time they might have moved.

when I had my 20 week scan my boy was sat on my girls head, and so the sonographer couldn't check her brain properly, so I was told to go for a walk for 20 mins and eat something sugary (chocolate bar and fizzy drink) and when I came back they had both moved so she could carry on. don't worry if that doesn't work, they can always rebook you for another scan a few days later to finish the checks they need to do.

I know it is so much easier said than done but try not to worry, after my 20 week scan I relaxed so much and finally let myself start believing I was going to be having 2 babies! you will be fine

Oh thank you Ruby, it's nice to know I'm not the only one who feels like this! I also haven't bought a thing! I still have all DS's stuff from when he was tiny but I don't even want to get it out and start sorting through things until this done.

When I went for my 12 week scan I was sent to a different hospital and had it at their Fetal Medicine Department as I was told there was no-one at my hospital qualified to do the NT scan for twins! This has worried me as I wonder how there can be anyone qualified to do an anomaly scan on twins if they can't even measure a pocket of fluid!!

I had 2 sonographers in the room when I had my 12 week scan and it was absolutely amazing. The talked me through everything and took their time. They showed me the babies brains, their little stomachs, bladders and each limb in turn. I'm not convinced my hospital will be so thorough. I will ask if they can explain everything to me like you suggested as I think this will calm my nerves massively. (I'm a control freak I hate not knowing what's going on!!)

I will be so glad when it is all out of the way and I can finally relax and enjoy being pregnant like I did last time!

eeep! I've got my anomaly scan on Friday! Cant blimmin wait! We are hoping to find out they sex but we will have to wait and see if they cooperate. We didnt have the NT testing done as they wouldn't stay still.

Sad to hear that you've had brusque consultants... I met mine a couple of weeks ago and she was brilliant. It was my first appointment with her and she has already explained everything birth-wise. Where AND how. I said I was happy as long as they come out healthy so we'll go with the flow. I was in there for over an hour. I now have all of my extra scans booked too which is lovely. I dont have far to wait inbetween each one!

Righto must dash

rocker i just had an 18 wk anomalie scan this week. My consultant prefers to do 2 about 2-3 wks apart just in case you don't get to see all the bits in one go by both babies, so am having another scan in 3 weeks. They couldn't properly check the spine of one of them for example so they'll check it again at next scan. But i have to say he was quite fast for checking 2 babies.

However we got to see everything and they explained it all as we went along so i wouldn't worry too much. Just ask! I'm just constantly asking questions, i'm also a bit of a control freak!

And i also haven't bought a thing yet! Haven't thought much about it all as it makes me nervous. Since we still don't know what we're having ( we'll probably find out next time) i'm kind of burying my head in the sand for the moment. I also have loads of stuff from dd but with twins i feel like i have to buy everything all over again, just like a first time mum and it's making me nervous...

Good luck with your scan, ler us know how it goes.

Anyone had their babies yet, or close to the finish line?? Would love to hear from you ladies.