How far can I go with twins?

Replies

• Team_Blue_aka_doublebubble

  Oct 10, 2007 5:20AM

  Hi congrats on getting so far. If you are carrying non-id twins and pregnancy is going well some hospitals will let you go to 40 weeks, and some people in my twin group have. however lots of research seems to suggest 38 weeks is optimum gestation for twins.

  re painful braxton hicks, I had them esp in week b4 i delivered, if they are getting really uncomfortable then imo you must be nearing b-day!

  As for strech marks mine are awful but my boys are worth every single one!

  good luck with it all xx

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• jaskulka

  Oct 10, 2007 10:21AM

  thanks for your reply, I've just came back from hospital, had scan and seen the doctor..Everything is well, my boys are non-identical, they're head is engaged something/5 I dont know the number before .My braxton hicks are painful for some time already,but doctor said every pregnancy is different...anyway, i had more pain recently cause the heads were engaging...I have another appointment next week. Maybe I'll have them by that time...we'll see..i will try normal delivery.I wanted c-section but I considered all pros and cons and because I have a baby at home it will be easier to have normal delivery...One twin is 2.404kg and the other one 2.507kg...Average for twins is 2.500kg. So I am glad they wont be underweighted. My back hurts like hell from picking up my son, it hurts actually since he was born, I wish I could go swimming...I have stretch marks just around my belly a 3 long ones on the right side...I didnt have a single one with my previous pregnancy...but I dont really care that much...How did your birth go? How did you cope after delivery? And how long did you stay in hospital after birth? Also the doctor said they won't let me go further than 38 weeks...Anyway, thanks again and looking forward to hearing from you soon...
  Renata

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• Lowri

  Oct 10, 2007 2:14PM

  I agree with doublebubble - it usually depends on the consultant you are seeing, some will let you go full term, others will deliver earlier. I've been seeing my usual consultant who is experienced with triplet pregnancies throughout my pregnancy, and he says he will deliver at 34 weeks, whilst another consultant I saw last week, who is based at a hospital which has a unit specialising in multiple births who has said he can't see there being a problem with me carrying to at least 34 weeks and I just have see how well things go!
  
  I've been having braxton hicks since about 20 weeks, I was a bit worried at first about whether having them so early meant that I was in danger of premature birth (i.e. before 34 weeks), but my consultant said that as long as they aren't painful and regular, then they're nothing to worry about.
  
  Renatta, it does sound as though the birth might be imminent now, as the heads are engaging - I think usually on a second pregancy the heads don;t tend to engage until much later, although this could be different because its twins! You must be getting really excited.
  
  The skin around my belly button is really stretched and sore as well - I felt this tear really early on and I think it's goignt o look really horrible when I'm not pregnant any more, but at the moment I don't seem to have any other stretch marks yet.
  
  How have your feet and ankles been? Mine are really swollen and sore - the skin is stretched so much that it's painful to touch and feels really bruised - I need to go and see a GP to get some support/compression socks but it really hurts to walk and driving is getting really awkward now as well - and I've got at least 6 weeks to go before my girls are born! (I'm thinking positively - determined to get to 34 weeks).
  
  Hope everything continues to go well - at 36 weeks you should have two healthy, happy babies!

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• jaskulka

  Oct 10, 2007 5:38PM

  Hi Lowri,
  you are right, I can feel my twins will be born in the next couple of days, it feels like I am dilating already...but Im not..Yes, my Braxton hicks started very early as well...my ankles were really swollen but not the weather changed little bit its better, I also wear socks up to my thights which help a lot.But I feel my legs are swollen cause my tights /socks are bit tight...hope i didnt mess up spelling...anyway, I am glad I've gone so far with my pregnancy...Maybe the secret is that I move a lot, I didnt put on much weight, I actually put on 12kg only.With my first pregnancy I put on 15kg because a month before my due date I went on maternity leave and I had time to rest, sleep..now i dont have time cause my toddler is walking already and is everywhere...I admire you cause you are carrying triplets, thats a lot...are you babies growing well?So you are expecting girls?I have boy at home and expecting another 2boys.
  Good luck to you..keep on moving..i dont have a car,I am walking everywhere...its good...
  Renata
  

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• Team_Blue_aka_doublebubble

  Oct 11, 2007 5:01AM

  Hey jaskulka

  The birth wasnt great but the problem arose from fact my hosiptal didnt have 2 spare incubators so I was transferred to a hospital 40 miles away whilst I was in labour- they gave me an injection to stop labour so i didnt give birth in ambulance but it worked so well it stopped me from dilating at all. My waters were broken and i was given the synoctin (spell wrong prob) drip but progressed really slowly. Was bullied into having a epidural as it was hospitals policy and they said it would be easier if i had to have a c-section. Then i developed pre eclampsia and was rushed to theatre but top up of epidural didnt work (turns out ive got some condition which means that anesethtic doesnt work properly on me) so was put under general. Boys were in nicu for 3 days and then transitional care for 2 weeks as the bigger twin (who was 6lb 8oz) wasnt feeding very well. Then had a week at home before having to go back in to hospital for a week as smaller twin (4lb 15) had a virus which made his temp drop to 30c

  As for coping it was no where near as bad as I expected. My dh had just set up his own buisness when i found out i was expecting and had to work long hours (he'd leave at 7am and not be back till after 9pm) so most of the time I was on my own. I breastfed which for me was the best thing to do as it left my hands free to eat and drink, and if your thinking of breast feeding it will leave your hands free to read your son a story.
  I Just left the housework. It will be harder for you as you already have a wee one but try and rest as much a possible. good luck with it all xx

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• jaskulka

  Oct 12, 2007 2:18AM

  Hello doublebuble, your birth story was like birth stories from hell.Thats what I am worried about that there will be problem with lack of either pain relief I would want or the staff or I dont know...The last thing I need is the stressful labour like yours must have been. But I thing my hospital is well equiped, its in North London...I chose the hospital on my friend's recommendation and its by bus 45min...by car approx.30 i suppose, but I know that there are few places prone to traffic so I hope my babies wont decide to come at the peak of it...Its my biggest woriest to start with...I am not keen on giving birth in the minicab in the middle of traffic jam...I've heard that giving birth to twins is fast...my mum said that her friend's daughter gave birth to twins within 30 minutes, but maybe because she didnt realise she was in labour cause normally with twin pregnancies you get more pain than usual so you might not pay attention too much at the beggining when its the real thing...What do you think?How about your labour started?
  Yesterday for the first time I was walking like pregnant woman, with pain in the back , ducklike walk...before I was very active, with pram fully loaded with shopping, briskly walking up and down the highroad but yesterday I couldnt...so I think its time to slow down, cause I think I was doing too much and too fast...But I felt well not I dont...Its a backache...I have to pick up my son and thats killing me.
  Anyways, I still dont know which pram to buy, I am thinking to buy second hand pram for triplets and in about 6month s I will buy brand new just for twins...Its big dilema for me...What are the names of your twins???We still dont know how to call them....
  I feel totally unprepared this time...they say with second baby you seem to relax more about getting everything ready.We dont have nursery yet, no pram, no names....Maybe I am just being little bit scared...
  Anyway, its tradition not to buy pram before the birth, like with my first..We bought it the day when I came back from hospital. But in the shop they knew which one I wanted...my partneer picked it up only...Now I have no idea which one and where to buy it...maybe ebay...
  Did you buy anything via ebay?
  Have a good day...
  One more question, do your twins wake up at the same time for feeds?Did they have colics????
  Take care,
  Renata
  

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• Team_Blue_aka_doublebubble

  Oct 21, 2007 9:55AM

  Hey there, sorry its been a while computer was in boys room so didnt get to use it much so decided to move it and now cant get internet to work from home never mind. Your situation is so different to mine as you already have a wee one, which does make everything much more difficult. I havent bought that much off ebay as tbh i found a lot of it too expensive. my best buys were from nct and local twin club sales. By far the best thing i bought when they were newborn were two baby swings. It kept them happy for just enough time so that I could make dinner etc. I bought them 2nd hand as could never afford to buy them new but they are in great condition.

  Regards feeding except for the first few weeks when I was in hospital I have always fed them together. For the first 6 months If one woke in the night I would wake the other as i wasnt willing to risk him waking as soon as i put the other back down. However I found tandem feeding fairly easy, had they fed seperatly I wouldnt have woken them.

  regards the buggy problem have you considered a sling? Ive looked after my friends baby whos 2 and ive put him and one of the twins in my double buggy and put the other twin in a hands free sling. I do have 3 buggys 2 doubles (one graco shopper and one big urban detour mothercare three wheeler which is great for walking the dog but crap for going anywhere as its too wide) and a tandem which ive just started using- its ok but front seat doesnt lie flat so they never sleep. have you seen the fold up seat attachments that you can fix to side of buggy? think maclaren m ake them will have a look on google n send you a link.

  hope all is going well lol xx

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• jaskulka

  Oct 23, 2007 6:33AM

  Hi there,
  as for the baby slings I am bit concered about baby not lying flat.I think babies should have firm flat surface to lie on...thats why I hardly used car seat for my first son.As we dont have a car I had to walk everywhere and he felt most comfortable in buggy not car seat.Also its winter time, how can I carry a baby in freezing cold in a sling??? I would prefer baby carrier where the baby has firm back...what do you think??I am thinking to buy Maclaren twin techno plus buggy board where seat is as well.I found it on Ebay, I am just wondering If I go with all of them to GP for example my son sitting on that buggy board there is no strap to keep him safe, he is still little and he might slip from it...Its available from online4baby ebay shop.I am not sure if its the best option. Maybe I buy these 2 things and baby carrier as well. But then can I keep the baby warm enough protected from cold????I know about seat that attach to the side of the buggy but if I have double buggy it would be too wide...Buggies one behind each othetr dont go completely flat which I dont consider at all.
  Feeding : How did you feed them at once? Anyone helped you to latch them on? Or you managed to do it on your own?Well, I think easier is to feed them at once so you have that extra time...I am still carrying my babies I am 38weeks plus 2...I feel like a whale...
  Gotta go now...talk 2 u soon

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• jaskulka

  Oct 24, 2007 10:17AM

  Hello, I had a membrane sweep this morning and I was 2cm dilated...I wonder when they decide to come out...its my sister's birthday today, It would be nice if they are born tonight...
  keep fingers x...
  renata

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• Lowri

  Oct 29, 2007 11:03AM

  Renata,
  
  I'm guesssing that by now your babies will have been born. I've been away for a week so haven't been online - hope everything went okay.
  
  Just to try to help out with the travel problems - you can get baby slings that slip over one shoulder and under the other, so the baby is carried lying down - we've just bought one by Premaxx, you can get them in mothercare and John Lewis, so you could always try one first. As for the baby being cold - with this type of sling you can keep the baby wrapped in a blanket. We bought a sling because even though we've got a triple buggy, we've also been given two single's, so when both my husband and myself are out with the babies, we can push one each, and one can be carried - I'm thinking of buying/borrowing a twin bugy as well so I can do something similar when I'm on my own!
  
  Anyway, keep us updated on your progress, hope the birth went well and your boys are doing okay

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• jaskulka

  Oct 30, 2007 9:19AM

  Hi Lowri,
  not yet, I am still carrying my bump and its getting bigger cause I cant stop eating..since my bump dropped my stomach is not squashed anymore and I have a big appetite..I hope I wont be the next one to be the next one with the biggest twins in UK...I will think of that sling...My son doesnt want to be in buggy but he is too little and too slow to walk everywhere....anyway , tomorrow is my appointment at hospital I will ask for another sweep and we will see what happens...I am not keen on induction cause apparently the contractions are more painful..,would you go for an epi if you were me? I am not sure yet....
  Talk to you soon,
  Renata

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• Lowri

  Oct 31, 2007 4:20AM

  Epidurals are usually recommended in multiple births because of the risk of one of the babies getting stuck in a transverse position and needing to be pushed or pulled a little...... When I first found out I was pregnant I wanted everything to be as natural as possible and was dead against anything like that, but since finding out I was carrying three the whole decision has been taken out of my hands.
  
  I know that one of my girls is lying transverse under my ribs, whilst one is in the perfect position for vaginal delivery and the other is breech, so if it was possible for me to deliver naturally at this stage, I would definately opt for an epi (unfortunately my C-section has been booked and I'm looking formward to a 6 week recovery period whilst trying to look after three girls with onl ymy dog to help!)
  
  How are yours lying? I would probably ask that an epi is on standby just in case, but only given if you request it. It has to be your choice though.
  
  Hope this helps

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• jaskulka

  Oct 31, 2007 12:51PM

  Hi there.
  I had another sweep this morning but nothing's happening.I am booked for induction for tomorrow 8am.I am scared how the labour will be , I am almost 3cm dilated.But on the other hand I'm feeling excited about meeting my sons...They are both cephalic head down, one twin's head is 3/5 engaged....so perfect position for vaginal birth...but I am worried about second one turning when the first is born...I will probably have an epidural, I am scared too much....thx for help anyway....
  When is your c-section day??? I was shocked to find out I am carrying twins and you are carrying triplets!!!!Imagine you have a toddler at home plus your triplets....It would be hard hard work....My mom is coming on Monday so just in right time...I am so scared about tomorrow...my babies are moving a lot today probably they are having good-bye party in my tummy cause they know their time is up....
  take care and talk to you soon..
  

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• Lowri

  Nov 1, 2007 6:00AM

  Hope things go well for you..... if you are already 3cm then it probably won't take much to get things going!
  
  My C-Section is booked for 29th Nov at the moment, but my consultant doesn't know whether he's going to be back from his holiday or not (he's due back the next day, but normally tries to get back for his Thursday clinic!). The clinical director of my local hospital doesn't really want me to have the triplets there, and has been doing everything he can to pursuade me to go to another hospital thats about an hours drive away.
  
  I've got an appointment today so will hopefully find out whats going on - there's a part of me that doesn't think I'm oing to last another 4 weeks. I've got a really bad itchy rash all over my belly, hands and ankles and my legs are swollen so much I can hardly walk, but again, hopefully someone will give me some advice today! I need something to cheer me up as I'm getting really down now - everything is so difficult!
  
  Anyway, hope things work out for you - Good luck

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• kaboo

  Nov 1, 2007 6:40AM

  Hi there
  
  I went the full 40 weeks and had a sweep at 38 weeks and ended up being induced on my due date. I was very large and boys weighed 6 lbs and 7 lbs - but the longer they are cooking the better. I had a natural birth with an epidural. Good luck and enjoy leave it with the doctors they tend to know best.
  

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