Seeking Advice on Twins

Hi my name is Mariana I have 3 kids (one 3ys & twins 13 month) they are 3 boys and they have 25 month a part. My pregnancy was very well I work until the last day (35 1/2 weeks of pregnancy) I was on bed before going to sleep and my water broke, I had C-section because I had C-section in my first pregnancy (the baby was bridge) and in this case first baby was bridge also. I breast feeding both until 6 month and I stay home until 13 month. Now all of them are on daycare for me to comeback to work. If you have any other question just let me now.

Good luck !!!!
Mariana :-))

Hi K.,
Congratulations! I have 7 month old identical twin girls and it is the MOST amazing, MOST fun, MOST special thing! Twins are such a blessing, and while they are a handful, you'll get through it. Start working on those biceps now! There are lots of twin groups in the area and I would suggest you join one first thing (while pregnant that is). You can get lots of advice, meet and socialize with other moms with twins and what I have found the most helpful, you can get lots of "stuff" at a very discounted price. Lots of moms in my twins group have other children and would be very helpful to you in answering your questions about your other little peanut! Where do you live? I can suggest a club for you.

Best of luck to you!
S.

I have 3 yr twin boys. I was 36 when I got pregnant. This was my 2nd pregnancy, I have a 10 yr old daughter. My biggest advice is that you need to keep those babies in til atleast 36 weeks so insure their health. DO all you can by staying off your feet. I carried the boys to 36 weeks working part time, but when I was at home I was on the coauch with my feet up. Another idea, get involved with a local twin group, they are so supportive. THey have New mom activities and are a huge resource. I am a member of BAMOMS. They are in the Tampa area.

Hi K.

I gave birth to twin girls via scheduled C section and I wouldn't have had it any other way. C section was great for me. I was up and walking the very next day. I don't have any experience with vaginal birth so someone else might be able to add their 2 cents on delivering twins that way. The most important thing during your pregnancy (which usually with twins gets labeled high risk, at least it did in my case) was drinking plenty of fluids. Minim a day 64 oz but drink drink drink. at 31 weeks i ended up in hospital for a few hrs because of dehydration.
get a good automatic breastpump, you'll need extra breastmilk during the nights when hubby can help you feeding one and you breastfeed the other one. and get a lot of rest now, you'll need it later
you'll do fine (i keep saying this to myself now when they're two, but you will)
:)
god bless
V.

First of all-take good care of yourself and hopefully you won't have to go back to the hospital. I had terrible nausea for about 5 months with several pregnancies. I used to only be able to drink purple grape juice and gingerale, water gaged me!! I found peppermint tea was also good from time to time. I eventually could handle water and gatorade. Being dehydrated can cause preterm labor. I also have a toddler, she was 22 months when the twins were born. I said I had Irish triplets-3 under the age of two. I was 44 when I delivered them via scheduled c-section. I was hoping for a vaginal birth but was okay with the section. Mid pregnancy I developped terrible insomnia and could only seem to get about 3-4 hours of sleep at night and then I would work a 12 hour shift as a nurse. I got my warning signs-BP went up to 150's one day at work and I got very short of breath. My doc cut back my work week to 2 twelves but I felt so aweful that he put me on medical leave at 6 1/2 months. I slept for the first 2 weeks on and off all day so that I was accumulating about 6-8 hours of sleep a day and I felt so much better. I ended up letting my daughter watch more tv than I would have liked but now she hardly ever watches tv(I was afraid I'd get her hooked and we'd have some issues later on). She's so busy having fun with her siblings. She's pretty good with them and enterains them quite a bit. She is 3 and they are one. My best advice is to try and take good care of yourself and hopefully everything else will fall into place. Let us know how you're progressing. (I joined and internet breastfeeding twins group if that interests you-very supportive and helpful.) LaurieK

HI, congratulations!!!! It is a fun and wonderful venture that you have been blessed with. I have 23 month old twins and a 4 month old. It's not hard, you just have to be organized. You have been through the labor, so you know what to expect. Normally they do c-sections but if you are blessed like I, you will be able to have a vaginal birth, if you don't have complications. I have 2 good books on twins and multiples, that I would love to give away. I enjoyed having them to give me reference. I live in coral gables and if you would like I can give/send them to you(I of course don't need them anymore).
You will be fine and do great, I am sure. The hardest part is the beginning when you have to get your routine down. All the best and let me know if you'd like the books.

I HAVE A SET OF TWINS,THEY ARE 2 MONTH OLD RIGHT NOW......I HAVE A BOY AND A GIRL,AND I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD GIRL,THE PREGNANCY IS COMPLETLY DIFFERENT WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT WITH 2!!YOUR BELLY IS GONNA BE HUGE AND YOU AREGOING TO BE VERY TIRED,BUT IS SO WONDERFUL TO FEEL THEM MOVING AND KICKING INSIDE OF YOU.....I HAD A C-SECTION(CAUSE I HAD ONE WITH MY FIRST CHILD)......THESE 2 MONTHS I HAD SOME HELP FROM FAMILY MEMBERS TO TAKE CARE OF TWINS,MY OLDER CHILD AND MYSELF,CAUSE IT COULD A LITTLE OVERWHELMING........IAM STILL TRYING TO WORK IT OUT ....BUT AT NIGHT ,MY HUSBAND TAKES ONE TWIN AND I TAKE CARE OF THE OTHER ONE,DURING THE DAY I HAVE HELP,WHICH THEY ARE GOING TO BE GONE IN FEW DAYS......AFTER THAT..THEN I 'D LET YOU KNOW HOW IAM DOING......
BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR PREGNANCY ,AND I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE HEALTHY AND BEAUTIFUL TWINS......FOR MY 3 YEAR OLD I TRIED TO READ HER A LOT OF BOOKS ABOUT BABIES,AFTER THE BABIES WERE BORN,IT WAS NO SURPRISE FOR HER TO HEAR THEM CRYING OR BREASTFEED,SHE REALLY LOVES THE TWINS!! TRY TO PREPARE YOUR OLDER ONE TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER,ALSO MAKE ROOM FOR THE OLDER ONE WHEN DAD GETS HOME OR THE TWINS ARE TAKING NAPS
GOOD LUCK,
S.

How exciting that you and your husband are going to be blessed with twins! Your "peanut" will always be special to you because he is your first. You and your husband will be able to handle the twins when they come. I did not have twins, but I did take care of my friends children when my youngest daughter was small. I actually thought that taking care of 3 little ones was easier than just one. As for your other two questions, enjoy your pregnancy as much as you can and the labor will happen, you can handle it. Depend on family and friends to help out as well. Besides, you will have a big brother to pitch in. Just keep thinking that when they get older, what fun you and your family will have during the holidays!

Lots of prayer honey and support from your family! Best of luck, I will pray for you!

there are some really good books on twin pregnancies and dealing with multiples. try joining an online "moms of twins" group, and start asking for favors in advance NOW! try potty trainning our older one early so you only have 2 in diapers instead of 3. good luck and i hope you feel better soon.

K.
Hi. I have a little girl, three, and twin boys that are now nine months. My pregnancy was very difficult and I was on bed rest from thirty two weeks on. I think the important thing during your pregnancy is not to have unrealistic expectations. Your pregnancy with the twins is going to be different than with your first one. My unrealistic expectations caused me much disappointment with my pregnancy and abilities during my pregnancy. Dont hesitate to take help from those who offer.
I had a vaginal delivery, and the boys were seven lbs ten oz and seven lbs five oz. They were big and healthy and no NICU.
The important thing is to include your oldest child in as much as possible, as to not allow that child to be feeling left out and invaded on. My daughter helped with getting diapers, giving the boys kisses and hugs, and keeping them entertained as they got older and could see and interact with her.
keep yourself on a schedule and the entire time you are getting up with the babies, feeding them, rocking them etc, remember that it wont be long before that time is over and you will be happily sleeping through the night.
I wish you all the luck. Twins are a true blessing from God and I cherish every moment I have with my kids.
Jen

CONGRATS K.! I AM A MOTHER OF FOUR-INCLUDING A SET OF 3 YEAR OLD FRATERNAL TWIN BOYS. EVERY STORY I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE PREGNANCY AND THE LABOR HAS BEEEN DIFFERENT. I HAD ONE NATURALLY AND ONE BY C-SECTION. IT WAS A ROLLER COASTER RIDE SINCE I HAD A 5 AND 1 YEAR OLD AT HOME AS WELL. I WAS IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL UP UNTIL I WAS 30 WEEKS AND OPTED TO GO OFF OF THE MEDICATION I WAS ON TO STOP MY CONSTANT LABOR. OFCOURSE EVERYONE I KNEW THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY- EXCEPT MY DOCTOR, WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT MY BODY WAS TIRED. I WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL AND WENT 5 MORE WEEKS WITH NO PROBLEMS. IN MY CASE, THE MEDICATION I WAS ON WAS FORCING ME INTO LABOR! I OFCOURSE WOULD NEVER ADVISE ANYONE TO JUST STOP THE MEDICATION THAT THEIR DOCTOR HAS PRESCRIBED FOR THEM, BUT ASK ALOT OF QUESTIONS. SOMETIMES YOU KNOW BEST! THE BOYS WERE BORN HEALTHY AND ARE DOING GREAT NOW. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND HOPE TO SEE UPDATES FROM TIME TO TIME!!!-- A.

The best advice I would say is to educate yourself as much as possible. The longer you can stay pregnant, the better. The more you know, the better you will feel about things. You need more protein in your diet for multiples. Education is also important since you risk of C-section is higher. You need a supportive care provider that will support you having a vaginal birth. In addition, read up ahead of time about breastfeeding multiples. Your body will make enough milk for however many babies you have. I know someone who breastfed triplets exclusively (no supplementation) for 20 months!!
Congratualtions and good luck!

What part of FL do you live in? I have some resources I can give you if you are in the Jacksonville area.

Congratualtions!! I am a 36 y/o single mom of 16 y/o twin girls---been single mom with them from 2 1/2 y/o and a 6 y/o girl---been single mom from 1 1/2 y/o. Take one day at a time. Start signing up for all the help you can get. Take care of yourself and don't stress out. It will be just fine.....make sure you take your son to the sibling class that the hospital offers. Plan for someone to help you everyday for a while...try to arrange it prior to having them.

Hi K....

Congratulations on your twin pregnancy. Not sure where you are located, but there are 25 mothers of multiples groups in the state of Florida, the largest one being in Greater Orlando. www.FOMOTC.org to find one closest to you. Also, Florida Hospital ###-###-####) offers a childbirth education class specifically for multiple birth pregnancies called "Multple Blessings" and even though you have an older child, you will soon find out that a twin pregnancy is VERY different.

Hope this helps.
L. Dana, LCCE, CPCE, CD(DONA)
Birth Options: Education and Doula Services
Orlando, FL
###-###-####
www.hometown.aol.com/doulaMOT
____@____.com

Hi K. I know the feeling you have. I have 5 year old twins a 3year old and a 15 month old daughter. Yes we have a very busy house. I suggest you maybe ask for some help to get through the first 3 months. The first 3 months was difficult for me. Of course I was a first time mom with twins. With you already having a little one. I would say feeing and sleeping times aree going to be difficult. After 3 months thought it does get easier. Wit my pregnancy I had double everything. I had double hormones double morning sickness. My experience with labor was not good only because my epideril would not take and the twins got jammed together so they could not come out. I ended up with an emergency. I am not trying to scare you. I am sure that is not a normal birth of twins. We had three sets of twins born at that hospital that day and I do not remember anyone else having that problem. During my pregancy at about 6 months they put me on a monitor to keep track of any contractions and I think about 7 months they gave me shots to make sure the twins lungs wre fully developed incase they came early. Also about that time I was put on medication to stop any contractions. I carried all the way until almost 39 weeks when I decided I was to big and to swollen so I stop taking the medication and I went into labor that day. Through everything having twins in the end has been a great experience and I would not have done anything different.