Accidental Identical Twin Pregnancy

[greyby25]

Hi, I'm 20 soon to be 21 with an 18 month old, expecting my second, so yesterday I had my 12 week scan and we were told we weren't expecting only one baby but two, and not only that they share a placenta, and so are identical MCDA twins. I have been in shock since then as I had no idea, we even had a scan at 8 weeks after a bleed at 7 weeks but one was hiding behind the other and because they share the same sac there was no evidence of a multiple pregnancy and I had no overwhelming symptoms. I have an appointment with a specialist next week and then growth scans every two weeks after 16 weeks.

My question is what do you ACTUALLY need two of... I'm already going to have to move house, I had already decided I was using reusable nappies and breastfeeding, and now I'm questioning if I can do that with twins or if it will be too much.

If anyone can give me ANY advice on coping, the things you actually need two of, what you can cope with one of, breastfeeding, and any advice on twins in general it would be a massive help, twins don't run in our families and I don't know anyone who has twins. Seriously any advice will be taken into consideration, I think I'm still in shock to be honest.

TIA. X

Also you can get a trainee nursery nurse on placement from college I had one it was a godsend.
Also paid a local teen to help with Bath and bed time 3 nights a week

Congrats!!
My MCDA boys are now 14 months old. They made an appearance at 35 weeks and other than the lamps for mild jaundice, they needed no other additional care.

I tried to breastfeed however did struggle due to them being slightly early as they wouldn't latch. We ended up bottle feeding because of this however do ask for as much support as it is one of my biggest regrets.

Our first year double must haves:
-bouncers

• high chairs
• decent pram. You will benefit from one with a buggy board with having an older child
• rucksack changing bag frees hands up
• muslins ....buy triple

We used sleep nests downstairs for the first 4 months for any sleep as they were so portable however you may struggle with a toddler walking over them.

Cot wise we had a chico lullago travel cot as our main cot in the bedroom. Softer mattress and was raised up to level. They shared this until only 4 months though as they did tend to bump heads as they moved upwards in their sleep.

Sleep wise...if one wakes up, wake the other one up. If your feeding one, feed the other. Keep them on the same schedule so you get as much sleep as possible.

Clothes wise, zips are your friend. Doing up double poppers overnight is a chore.

Feel free to PM me if you want to ask any questions. Good luck and wishes for a safe and long pregnancy

My twins are 5 now. Breastfeeding is hard work, but doable - I managed to ebf mine, but the first few weeks were sheer and utter hell. After 6 weeks or so it was pretty easy, much easier than faffing with bottles!
I'd suggest getting 2 of those carriers that look like a sports bag with handles (just googled- snugglbundl), picking up number 2 when you've already got number 1 in your arms is nigh on impossible, and means you end up carrying them by the front of their sleepsuit, like a weird noisy handbag! I saw someone with those snugglbundl things once my twins were walking, and wished I'd had them when they were born!
Congratulations

Hi there, I’m just ahead of you as 13+2 with DCDA twins. One thing we’re not going to bother with is Moses baskets - we’re going to buy a travel system that has carry costs and car seats as well as pushchair seats; we will use the carry cots for sleeping downstairs and for most out and about. We intend to buy one of the Next to Me type cots for the first couple of months then into a proper cot in with us, we will buy a second cot once they get too big to be in it together.

Clothes wise, obviously we don’t know at this point in time what we are expecting so we plan to buy a lot of unisex outfits that it doesn’t matter what they end up in for the early days. By the time we’re looking at next stage clothes we can get stuff that is more individual. The biggest thing for us is buying a new car and we’re off to look next week!!

@Hollowvictory @changingagainagain I'll definitely look into both of those options Thankyou !

@Zillaindie aw brilliant! so glad they didn't need any extra care, that must of been a relief ! Thankyou for helping ! I feel lost 😂 I literally don't know anyone with twins ! X

@Whitelisbon I didn't even know the double carrier was a thing, I will be looking into that 100%! Thankyou so much for the reassurance about breastfeeding. I really do want to do it this time exclusively ! X

@Rememberallball yes ! I've just found a pram that is a double, comes with two car seats and carry cot ! Which one have you found ? Mine is a Hauck one ? I was thinking about a next to me as I presume it's bigger than a Moses basket and gives them a tad more room but I'm thinking them sleeping together will comfort them, clothes wise I'm buying everything unisex also but my gut says boys and I was right in my last pregnancy but who knows if I'm right this time. Sure I'll find out soon with scans every two weeks ! Thanks for the help xx

I have identical twins and managed to breastfeed, they were also early and cane at 34 weeks but we were very lucky and home after 5 nights :)
2 car seats and we shared a cot for the first 6 months. You will be fine x

@SheRaTheAllPowerful Thankyou so much ! I've found a travel system with two car seats, so we are all good to go on that part. This is really helping me get through the initial shock x

LOL I managed to scoop them both up at the same time.

Hand under bottom between legs arm up to head and scoop!

Funnily both clung to my arm as likenlittle monkeys as they seemed to know I only had one arm! Neither threw themselves back.

@GreenTulips how bloody cute ! Ahh I'm so excited ! but so nervous and overwhelmed ! Crazy to think there's two in there ! X

Yes my mantra was ‘at least it’s not triplets’ it’s wonderful being a twin mum :)
Loads of bargains on our local twins group FB page too x

I was in this position - pregnant with twins with a small toddler. Is the toddler in nursery or anything at the moment? I would try and get him used to some form of childcare before the babies arrive so that you have a day or two "peace" as it's such hard work! Mine was 22months when the twins arrived. It's beautiful as well watching their little relationships growing but exhausting.

I had a twin z cushion for breastfeeding twins which was fantastic and is still used now they are toddlers. Two bouncy chairs. I got two second hand sleepyheads as well which ended up being our most used things for a good few months.

My twins came early so had a few weeks in SCBU but still managed to bf both for 5 months and switched one then (she just wasn't thriving) and the other is still going now at nearly 18m.

@greyby25, we are looking at the iCandy Orange (yes I know it’s a huge expense - hopefully, by the time we’ve finished using it it will still be in good enough condition to pass on) which a friend with 3 month old twins has and likes because the rear seat is higher than the front one so baby isn’t looking at the back of the other seat!! We also considered the Bugaboo Donkey 2 but it’s very wide and I worry it won’t get through my narrow (1850’s) front door; then there was the Nuna Demi Grow but the lower seat is hidden by the upper one so no eye contact with that baby - same goes for the new Cosatto Wow XL!! Which Hauck model have you looked at?

I’ve arranged to go up to the Baby Show in Birmingham in May with my sister to look at all sorts of things baby related!! Could be an expensive trip!!

In terms of pushchair the best ones I have found are the baby jogger city mini double and the mountain buggy duet. Both fit my toddler in comfortably if needed and fit through doors and in the boot of the car.

We never had any bath seats for any of ours just laid them in a shallow bath.

Mine are still sharing a cot bed cot now! Planning to separate them soon but they don't really disturb each other so I'm happy to leave them to it.

Bottle feeding a singleton I think is £600 a year so I figured if I breastfed for a year it paid off the pram. I also had the icandy which I loved and sold on for a decent price :)

Congrats OP! I made the decision not to cloth nappy - we had done with dc1 but decided it was too much with the twins. I combi fed but mostly bf them till nearly 10 mos. Sounds like you are mostly sorted though if you are not 100% stuck on that travel system, I can second the Mountain Buggy Duet which you can also get a buggy board that transforms into a scooter with.

You will be fine though. Mine spent this morning earnestly tackling their big sister's walking roaring Trex - GirlTwin sallying forth to confront while BoyTwin cowered in the background

Our first had just turned 3 when our twins were born.

Not going to lie, it’s very hard work for the first year.

What you’ll need:

• a car wide enough to take all 3 car seats in the back. We got a Vauxhall Zafira
• car seats for all
• decent double buggy
• two Moses baskets
• two cots
• two playchair things
• two high chairs
• nappy bins dotted around the house
• if you’re bottle feeding, two sterilisers and a lot of bottles (we had about 30 bottles)

Mostly, you’re going to need practical, available, reliable help. YOU CAN DO THIS! But not without help and support

Hi I have identical twins who are now 5. Like you I had an early scan where they only found 1 so was a shock at 12w. O had a bit of a rough pregnancy and a premium labour scare but ultimately they were born healthily at 35w by CS as 1 was transverse. I had loads of scans and no issues with twin to twin etc girls were 5lb at birth and we had a week in scbu. You don't need 2 of everything. Car seats, cots, highchairs yes but play mats, bouncers etc we had one of each and rotated. Clothes wise lots of baby grows they only had their own clothes from about 1. Feeding wise mine were combined fed, mainly bf until 9 months. Was hard to start with as hardly any one bf their twins but it was doable when I found my groove! They are at school now and I am still sane and in one piece so try hard not to worry!

I really think disposable nappies are best for the first three months at least. You'll be feeding most of the and really won't have time to wash all of the nappies (up to 20 day).

A cloth sling may help to carry one in to settle.

2x bouncy chairs so you can rock them with your feet whilst sitting on the sofa, feeding another one or playing with toddler.

Get LOTS of help for the first 3 months at least. As much as you can. It's really hard work.

Twin feeding pillow is also useful!

You'll be much, much better prepared than I was as you already know how to look after a baby. Congrats!!

Mine were born naturally at 37 weeks - both were head down anyway, and it was a very fast labour! (2nd time)

I bf but gave them a bottle of formula at 6 pm, when I was tired and struggling to cook dinner for DH and DS. One bf until 10 months then went on nursing strike at Xmas (out of routine at a relative’s house) and I weaned the other at 16 months, as I was fed up with bf one and bottle feeding the other.

The NCT may or not be your thing, but often they do 2nd hand sales - which do equipment in good condition! Mine slept in the same cot for the first few months. Actually, once they could get out of bed, they chose to sleep in the same bed until they were ten, despite having their own beds!

Congratulations! I have twins. Definitely get 2 bouncers and 2 baby gym things so you have somewhere safe to put them while you make lunch etc. I ended up feeding them sitting on the floor in between the 2 bouncers!
If you end up mixed or bottle feeding get enough bottles that you can just do one big wash and sterilise session a day. Makes life easier! I breastfed at first but it got a bit much especially with an older one as well.
When they are toddlers you will need not just 2 of everything but 2 identical ones to avoid fighting

Toddler isn't currently in nursery but is starting in September. Twins are due early October, the 3rd but will most likely come before them I'm presuming. Reassuring to know you managed to breastfeed even though they were early xx