Just found out I’m expecting twins...

[JenAM]

Hi!
I had to have an early pregnancy scan, currently 7 weeks and the doctor found out it’s actually twins. She also told me there is increased risks with this pregnancy because they share a placenta but have different sacs. I’m feeling quite overwhelmed at the moment, I have never been pregnant before this. I just wondered if anyone had gone through similar and had any advice?
Thanks

No advice, just congratulations!

No advice either I'm afraid but huge congratulations! I'm sure twins will be challenging but such a blessing. You've made me nervous now, I have my early scan this morning...!

Have they referred you for anything like extra scans or consultant care yet or do you carry on as normal until 12 week scan?

We’ve got twin boys. They’re coming up on 10 months old. We’ve also got a 3 year old.

It’s do-able. Life just gets VERY fast moving.

During the pregnancy we had scans every 4 weeks once we got past 20 weeks. At the 12 week scan they’ll want to take a really close look at the amniotic sack. There’s a lot of terminology you’re going to encounter, but basically the more “separate” the twins are inside your body the better.

We planned for an early birth - all twin pregnancies are that bit riskier. The boys were born just slightly premature at 36 weeks. So expect that. We had a (thankfully very short) stay in incubators when they were born, so in time maybe start preparing yourself or that!

But they’re both healthy and lovely. It IS a bit overwhelming at first, but I also really enjoy the kudos you get for being “the one with the twins”. There’s a lot of lovely things about having twins.

Good luck!

Congratulations. I know the fear of the unknown well, but I promise you that you'll get through this with a smile at the end.

I found out I was expecting twins at my 12 week scan but it was my 3rd pregnancy, not my 1st, so our long-debated 3rd and final child suddenly became two more!

They thought my twins had originally had separate placentas which had fused together, but couldn't be certain. They were also in separate sacs. (Although they turned out to be identical - just in case anyone tells you that yours def aren't identical - they still could be.)

I carried on as normal with my regular MW care in the community until 24 weeks. At 20 weeks I had my regular second scan in the regular scanning department - just like with my other pregnancies. The only difference was that it took forever because there were two sets of measurements and one baby wasn't being cooperative - it lasted almost an hour and a half!

My first meeting with the consultant was at 24 weeks and I was told that although all twin pregnancies are considered high risk, mine wasn't particularly high risk because they were in separate sacs.

I was seen every 4 weeks up to 32weeks and then every 2 weeks after that. I didn't have appointments with my community MW after 16 weeks, but I still had her contact details and was told to contact her for any minor questions or queries. (She ended up coming out to check me out after I fainted in the shower one day.)

I was surprised and frustrated in a way at how laid back they were about it all - until 24 weeks there was no difference at all between my twin pregnancy and my first two singleton ones, yet I had a million and one questions going round my head and it felt totally different to me.

Less fuss or intervention by the hospital is a good thing, but it felt weird to me.

Any questions just ask - or pop over to the multiple births section and you'll find lots of us twin mums over there

Hi op. Congratulations!

My twins were exactly like yours , one placenta, separate sacks. I was told there was a higher risks such as one baby taking too much from the placenta and one not enough. This worried me so much but I was given regular scans and these scans showed both babies were growing equally. They were both born very healthy weights with very little between them

The whole pregnancy will be exhausting for you and I'm afraid that won't end once they are born! Sorry if that sounds negative but I'm being honest.

Twin mums I knew told me lies and sugar coated it, so when I was faced with all the struggles and challenges of twins I felt very alone and thought I must be doing some wrong. I wasn't and that's why I'm letting you know it will be hard.

On a positive note twins are absolutely amazing and you will soon get into a routine that suits you. Mine are almost two and are lovely company. They love each other dearly .

How can you tell that it’s a shared placenta at 7 weeks?

I suspect they’ve made a guesstimate about the placentas right now. You’ll likely need that confirmed at a subsequent scan when things are bigger and more obvious.

It’ll be ok though. Not “fine” let se, because ahead lie changes and stress. But it’ll be ok.

Focus on the pregnancy for the time being. Leave the worry about actually having twin babies in your house for another few months!

Congratulations:) twins are amazing... don't get me wrong it's exhausting but the payoff is double the cuddles and the fact they have a built in buddy!
Like a pp said, until 20+ weeks you have normal care then after that the monitoring/scans/appts get more regular.
Mine made it to 36weeks before needing to be induced and were the best part of 13lb between them which explains why I was so uncomfy!
Hope all goes well xx

I found out I was expecting twins at 9 weeks. Make sure they check the placenta properly at 12 weeks as they thought mine had one each but later realised they were sharing and it changes the care they need.

In my area twins with one placenta have an extra scan at 16 weeks. After 20 weeks they have scans every two weeks. They are likely to be born a week earlier and more likely by c section, so get them to be certain.

My twins are one placenta and two sacs. Identical boys. It's my first pregnancy and I'm currently 25 weeks. Starting to get big now and excited.

There's a twins board on mumsnet in the parenting category if you want to look.

Also check out TAMBA - the twins and multiple births association. You can read their articles for free, but if you join you get some discounts and support their research. We've just joined and are doing some webinars with them in twin breastfeeding and twin parenting. We've also joined our local TAMBA group to meet some other twin parents. They have a weekly playgroup and other activities.

Hi JenAM,

I just wanted to leave a quick post to give my experience. Found out we were having twins at my 12 week scan which was a complete shock even though they run in my family.

I had barely no pregnancy symptoms apart from tiredness in the first trimester. I was fit and well throughout my pregnancy and was going to gym classes up until 20 weeks. I worked up until 33 weeks and was induced at 37.3 which ended up a C section due to positioning of the babies.

I was quite anxious throughout my pregnancy and now I just wished I had enjoyed it more as I won't get that time back again. I expected the worst in terms of difficulty in managing the twins on my own whilst my husband would be at work but it was absolutely fine.

My tips, feed together and sleep together then you will get time to yourself. I will wake a baby if the other is awake so they are on the same napping schedule. My husband was very hands on and was up through the night helping most nights too as it's a two man job if both babies are up at the same time. Also, give yourself lots of time when you leave the house as everyone will want to stop and talk to the twins!

I hope that gives you some positives as I think twins can seem quite overwhelming but if you keep well and get the babies on the same routine then you'll be absolutely fine. As they will be your first you won't know any different so you'll managed just fine.

Ditto to everything Penny said - it IS hard work - no-one will ever deny that, but it doesn't have to be horrendous. I had two older children, (3 and 5) including one at school and absolutely no family support after the first 4 weeks. (Closest family is about 400miles away)

Yes it was bloody hard work, but we survived and there is a hell of a lot of joy in it too. You have to be regimented, (although I will admit that was probably more important for me because I had older ones too who had to be places etc), but it is doable and so much fun.

My DTs are 7 now and still best pals - wouldn't swap any of it for anything

This thread is making me even more excited to meet my boys, who are being good little wrigglers this morning!

So many people in real life who hear you're having twins say things like "oh good luck, you'll need it" and are just a bit of a downer. It's nice to hear from actual twin mums that it can be hard and great!

Hi All,
Thanks for the very encouraging messages and lovely positive stories about having twins! It’s great to hear others experiences and I’m definitely now feeling much less overwhelmed and actually pleased about the news - despite the severe ‘morning’ sickness which I hear can come with a twin pregnancy. They have booked me in for another scan in two weeks so hopefully they’ll be able to see more clearly then.
ClareB83 - will definitely check out TAMBA, thanks!
xx

I was less sick with my twins than I had been with my singleton pregnancies. (I was still pretty sick, but not as bad as the other two and I lost less weight too.)

Every pregnancy is different - not all twin pregnancies result in terrible sickness - even for people already prone to morning all day and night sickness.

I haven't been sick once. Felt nauseous but think I got off lightly with that too. It was only really bad week 10.

I was ok until week 6 but since then have been almost unable to leave the house, hoping it will wear off soon.

Will be following this thread as also just found out an expecting twins and feeling overwhelmed - we also have a 5 and 3 year old and have also just moved into a house which needs total renovation - a third baby was planned but twins is a curveball! Having said that I'm super excited 😊

Hi @feelinginthedark - congratulations! You'll be ok when it settles in. We spent weeks just saying "twins!!" To each other, even texting just that word to each other in the middle of the day until it sunk in.

feeling that's pretty much the same situation we were in. DS was 5.5 when the DTs were born and DD turned 3 just about a month after their birth.

It IS hard, but if you are super regimented you will manage just fine - I promise. (And everyone you ever meet will think you are a super-human for the rest of your life - 4 DC including twins earns lots of smugness points!)

Found out about mine at the 12 week scan. Nearly had a heart attack. The risks are higher with a mono/di twin pregnancy (if they’re right about that, can be very hard to tell for sure at this stage) but you should have a lot more monitoring. Mine were DCDA and they missed the fact one had growth restriction and it’s only chance really that he’s here. So the extra monitoring will help. Later on if you’re concerned about anything get checked out - it’s pretty much impossible to monitor movements with twins, so I didn’t know one had stopped moving, and only got checked out as I didn’t feel well at all.

It is hard work most definitely, and the first year is a blur but they are so amazing I love them to bits, they make me laugh constantly.

Would really recommend joining your local twin group - I made a group of twin Mum friends and we have all really appreciated the support from each other.

I was panicked about cost but have bought so much second hand, on offer etc, it hasn’t been that bad so far!

Clare mine are nearly 18 months and we still frequently say “seriously, twins?!” Or more often “whose idea was twins again?”. Wouldn’t change it for anything though.

OP, TAMBA are awesome and have a lot of info published recently on twin growth charts and when different types of twins should be delivered for the best outcomes (think its 37 weeks for MCDA). Make sure your consultant is aware of these things!

I'd quite like to look at the TAMBA growth charts myself. Are they publicly available or do they only give them to medical professionals?

Twin 1 is on 6th percentile for one measurement and twin 2 has decreased growth rate on another. But I'm not sure if they're using twin growth or single for the percentiles.

Clare I think they’re only available for medical professionals but call TAMBA and ask them. Also speak to your Maternity department on Monday. I don’t mean to worry you at all but this is precisely what happened with mine - twin 2’s leg measurement kept dropping at my 28 and 32 week scans and dropped right to the bottom of the chart but they dismissed it completely. Ended up needing an Emcs at 35+1 - I felt really unwell and just not right, my midwife really pushed me to go in and get checked out and he wasn’t moving and had a static heart rate. They were born two hours after I got to the hospital. He was diagnosed with IUGR and a related illness after delivery.

I’m sure your twins are fine but if you’re concerned about anything please be pushy! I’m so lucky my little twin is here now. I really don’t want to scaremonger at all, I would just feel awful if I didn’t say anything and something happened. When’s your next scan?

Thanks @TammySwansonTwo. My next scan is 7th March. I'm not too worried yet while they're above 5th percentile (and much higher on some measurements) and we have a specialist twins consultant who seems quite on it. But I will ask them if they're using the Tamba growth chart next time I'm at twin clinic/if I get more worried.

I'm glad your little one was ok in the end.

So far mine are wriggly little things and I'm pretty sure I can feel them both moving separately.

I will definitely get pushy if needed! I'm basically pushy for a living.

So the super cool science thing about how "separate" the twins are in utero di-di, di-mono, mono-mono is that it has to do with when the twinning actually occurred. The earlier the twinning happens, the more separated they are, with separate sacs and placentas. Later twinning at larger embryonic stages results in one sac, two placentas, and then even later, one sac and one placenta shared by two babies.

Even mono-mono twins are usually just fine with monitoring. When the twinning happens even later than implantation, the result is conjoined twins (much, much rarer). It's all part of the same spectrum of times when twinning can occur, though it's weighted heavily toward the earlier end (di-di and di-mono twins, with a small fraction as mono-mono and a vanishingly small fraction of conjoined twins).