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 Chic, My scan went really well. Both babies growing at the same rate, and they managed to get me to wriggle around enough so that they could get the views of everything they needed to check. They also managed to tell me that we are expecting 2 baby boys! :D

Unfortunately, they also told me that 1 placenta is very low at the moment, and have said that I shouldn't have sex for the remainder of my pregnancy. They didn't, however, tell me if there was anything else I should be avoiding/doing to reduce the risks this causes, so now I'm worried about that! Haha!

Glad to hear about good scans! My 20 week one is in two weeks. Very nervous. Feels like there are so many more things that can go wrong with twins.

Hi everyone, hoping I can join you. I'm currently 8+5 with twins, dcda from the early scan. Now that I've had time to get my head around it I'm quite excited and now afraid of vanishing twins. Read my new twin book back to back and suitably freaked out and reassured in eual measure.

Interesting to hear different views of medical staff on delivery, not sure how I feel at the moment , but plenty of time (this is my first pregnancy).

Congrats rocker on a good scan and two boys!!! Did i see that you already have a ds? Or was it someone else? Sorry if i'm mistaken...

Low lying placenta can be a problem as it can cause bleeding. I had it with my dd although it was just the tip of the placenta touching the cervix and eventually it moved up. I guess you should avoid anything that might irritate your cervix such as biking, horse riding and the likes. Other than that, i can't really think of anything that could cause any problem but maybe someone else here can help or you could post on the pregnancy board. I'm sure you're not the only one this happens to, and it would take some worry of your mind. We worry enough as it is i find...

Hi all glad the thread is still going. I couldn't find it for a while!! Not sure if I'm the 'furthest along' on here but was 36 weeks with my DCDA twins yesterday!! Had my final growth scan yesterday And can't believe I'm 36 weeks after all the worry they would b early!! I'm now wondering if they will actually come out of their own accord at all... Am currently booked for induction at 38 weeks exactly as twin one is head down and has been since week 12! Bit nervous but hoping something might happen before then. It's such a milestone for me to have reached 36 weeks I finally feel they can arrive any time now and be ok! Just wanted to share with you all that twin pregnancies are not always doom and gloom and u may be lucky like I have been so far. Not had any problems like GD or pre eclampsia (so far) and although I have been very tired and sore for a while now it's really not been too bad. I remember my anomaly scan I was so anxious I very nearly fainted -it didn't help that DH was away so I went alone. It was so overwhelming worrying about two babies being ok but the sonographer was very lovely about it and I just said that I felt faint etc. after that I did relax a bit and just focused on getting to each weekly milestone. U just need to seriously look after yourself and don't try to keep up with singleton pregnant ladies! I went on maternity leave at 29 weeks, still felt pretty ok really but felt I wanted to focus on the pregnancy and relaxing as u never know how early they could be. Not sure if it helped but psychologically it made me feel I was putting them first and doing everything I could to help them grow. Hope u all have good twin pregnancies and try not to let the statistics worry u! I'll keep u updated on how the next two weeks pan out!! Feel free to ask any questions xx

Yeah Chic I have a 2yo DS already. So excited for him to meet his baby brothers! :) He's helped us pick one of their names already. (So we're going to have a baby named after a character from Third and Bird don't worry it's not Muffin HA!)

I posted on the Pregnancy Board about the low lying placenta and someone sent me the link to the RCOG advice leaflet which was really helpful and reassuring.

Aw wow Jen exciting times! I bet you are super excited to meet your little ones. Glad to hear you have had an enjoyable pregnancy. I am hoping that my next scan shows signs of my placenta moving up so I can relax about everything.

Also, when you say you have been sore for a while, are you suffering from bump/back/hip pain? I have TERRIBLE round ligament pain in my lower tummy, and what seems to be the beginning of SPD. I woke up in the middle of the night in tears because I had moved off my support pillow and my bump/hips felt like they were on fire! My consultant said a support belt wouldn't do any good and that she would refer me for physio, but then she left the room and didn't come back so I still have no appointment! Any advice on what I can do in the meantime to help myself?

Wow jen, how are you feeling at 36 weeks? Can I ask how big you are? I hope I make it that far!

Ooh, also, you mention that twin 1 has been head down since 12 weeks. Twin 1 was head-down at my 20 week scan too, I know there is still a lot of time for movement at this stage, but with them being more squashed and having less room to flip about is there a good chance he'll stay that way up do we think? I'd love a vaginal birth!

Hi all. I'm not really sure what's causing the pain but just feel very stiff in pelvis and pubic area. I think it's just the pelvis getting ready and it's worse when I lie down or sit down for a long time. If I walk about it tends to loosen up a bit. Not sure if it's spd I've just accepted its one if those things! I'm not sure about them flipping but I think although they don't have much room they can turn until quite late on. My twin two had been breech but at 36 week scan she said he'd turned to be head down although more sort of across in a really awkward way rather than proper head down so I'm not sure he will be for very long! I sort of wish the option of vaginal birth wasn't available to me tho because I feel like I haven't got enough reason to request a c section but vaginal birth especially if I get induced is quite a scary prospect. It could go any way so keeping an open mind. This hot weather is making me struggle a bit now. I'm finding myself quite breathless and my heart feels like it's working really hard just when I walk or stand up for a while!! I'm guessing that's quite normal tho will mention to midwife on Monday. Still can't believe I have absolutely no signs of labour starting at this stage.

Hi everyone, just realised there has been more posts on this thread, I'm just catching up. Just a quick update that my B/G twins arrived just over three weeks ago at 36 weeks. They were delivered by EMCS as my waters broke at 35+6, I did think I'd just wet the bed as there was no real gush!! We spent 4 nights in hospital post section and since then it has been all go at home. It is really tiring but fantastic at the same time. Good luck everyone else on the safe arrival of your little ones!

Congratulation redrosie on the safe arrival of your babies. I'm so glad you were able to take them home after only 4 days in hospital, that's pretty good for twins born at 36 weeks, isn't it? Enjoy them and rest up, and when you have a chance, give us some useful tips!!!

jen, wow 36 weeks that is quite an achievement. I really hope i make it that far.

So nice to get some feedback from those who are further along, prepares us for what's ahead....

rocker, i'm glad you've found some help on the boards re-low lying placenta. Sorry to hear about all the pain you're in though, maybe try and fet a referral to a physio. I've been seeing one and she's done wonders. Also given me some safe exercises to strengthen my back so i can carry the extra weight without doing too much damage to myself.

Right here it is the bump at 36+3 it's all at the front and has been low the whole way through! I keep forgetting how far it protrudes and forget to allow enough room when closing doors etc!!

Aw jen what a gorgeous neat bump! I love it! Looks very heavy, I'm surprised you've not toppled over!

Wow jen what a neat bump you have! But yes it does look pretty heavy....

Has anyone else put on weight at a rather speedy rate during their pregnancy? I didn't put in any weight for the first tri but then it started climbing steadily about a kilo a week.
19 wks today and i've put on 5 kg in the last 5 weeks.

I haven't yet Chic as I have been so sick and suffering so badly from heartburn that I am struggling to eat. I am 22 weeks now and have put on 5kg in total which I'm quite concerned about as this seems so little. I have also had high levels of ketones in my urine lately which the mw at hospital said is due to my body using up it's fat stores.
I'll probably put on about 6 stone in the next 3 weeks now I've said that!
Hope you're well. x

Hehe yes if I do too much standing it does start straining my back a bit but honestly haven't had much trouble with my back at all!! I have put on just under three stone in total at 37 weeks. Didn't put on any until after first trimester. Sounds a lot but I know at least 11 pounds is babies plus two placentas, and a lot of fluid, extra blood volume etc. so I don't think I'm doing too bad! I was only ever weighed once at my first scan and never since so they're obv not bothered! As long as its gradual I think it's fine but very sudden high weight gain or overnight growth in bump can sometimes indicate pre eclampsia so I like to keep an eye on it myself. Xx

Thanks for the reassurance. I was slightly underweight pre-pregnancy sonot too worried but just seems like a lot on a weekly basis. Don't remember it going up so fast with dd.
I also seem to be growing about 1 cm weekly around my bump.

Sorry to hear you not been well rocker. Babies take what they need so wouldn't worry anout them but you need to take care of yourself.

jen glad to see you've made it to 37 wks! Full term for twins. You must be ready for them ti come out. Do you know what you're having?

Oh, while I remember to ask, has anyone been to one of the TAMBA local meetings? I think they are called 'Preparing for Parenthood'?

I am thinking about booking one, but the closest one to me is about an hour away, so combined with the length of the course and the time they are on, it would be a full day's commitment, which I am not too keen on doing if it's not worth it.

Wow, looking great JenBird!! All the best with your impending arrival!
Has anyone checked out local twin clubs in advance of the arrival or intend on doing so later? My local one isn't that local sadly and also the timing of their meet isn't convenient, but I think it could well be worth making the effort.

RockerMummy- I went to the TAMBA thing but it was five mins away from me so not a big commitment. I really liked it purely because it was run by a twin mum so she gave lots of practical tips and her own perspective and most of all was just reassuring that it is possible to cope! The main thing I took away was the reassurance at her than learning anything groundbreaking. I'd say go for it if u haven't been to any other twin info things. We went to our local hospital info eve on multiple births which was very much doom-mongering and not that helpful, as well as NCT workshop on twins which I found less helpful than TAMBA. I'd recommend looking into local twin clubs now as u can chat to people who have been there and also buy things cheaply! My midwife put me in touch with another lady locally expecting twins the same time as me which was good to have someone to chat to.

Hi everyone. How are you all surviving the heat?
Wanted to ask what all of you are planning on using for prams and sleeping arrangements?
Also, anyone read any good books on twins? I'm very much a routine person and it worked so amazingly well with dd that i'm hoping to do the same with these two, just wondering if there are any books out there with routine advice for twins...
Thanks

Hi Chic, oh this heat is a killer, especially with the cold blooded people I work with that have been crying about the air conditioning! (They've had a good telling off today and it's staying ON!)
Re. Sleeping arrangements, we are planning on co-sleeping them, as long as they like it. We have a cot-bed from when DS was a baby, so we are recycling that one, and then having a travel cot downstairs for daytime naps, (and stopping hyperactive toddler standing on them).
We have got the Babystyle Oyster Max 2 (the brand new model where both seats fully recline so we didn't need to fork out the extra £400 for carry cots) and Maxi-cosi Cabriofix car seats.
No idea about books for twins. We very much took a go-with-the-flow method with DS and that worked well for us, so thought we'd probably do the same. I will probably regret that later! haha!

Thanks rocker for all the info. I was also thinking of letting them co-sleep in a cot for a while as long as they are happy to. It's just i was wondering if we should have them in our room like we did with dd. but then we had a little crib on wheels which was easy to move around. So dh was wanting to get another one so we can have them both in our room, one on either side of our bed. Can't fit the cot bed in our room if we still want to be able to move around. Hmmm questions questions questions...