Twins

trafalgar_2

Sasperella wrote:

Hi Trafalgar


Oooh, Im all broody again! Feel free to PM if I can help with anything

Sarah x

great first post Sasperella :T and thanks to your brother too for mentioning my post .........................I so hope she doesn't get broody again after the twins though or this granny is going to be worn out

prettypennies

I had my fraternal twins at 38 weeks. Just before having them my belly was so big it was level with the top of the bath when I laid down in it!!! (but thanks to copious amounts of ponds stretch mark cream amazingly no stretch marks) They weighed 7lbs and 6 lbs. If she is planning on breastfeeding, the V shaped pillows are invaluable.

Best of luck for the delivery. The delivery room can get pretty full and chaotic when having twins so its really important that her birth partner knows exactly what you daughters wishes are (in terms of epidural etc).

I must admit as the twins were my first pregnancy, I felt bit rail-roaded into doing what the 'professionals' wanted rather than what felt right for me.

One thing I found was a complete waste of money was buying two moses baskets and two cots. They would only settle when in the same cot. (They still get in bed together now and they are 7)

ka7e

I'd love to know what the odds are on my DD having twins - she is a fraternal one and so am I. I also have fraternal twin brothers. Actually, between my Mum and myself, 50% of our births have resulted in twins!

trafalgar_2

prettypennies wrote:

Best of luck for the delivery. The delivery room can get pretty full and chaotic when having twins so its really important that her birth partner knows exactly what you daughters wishes are (in terms of epidural etc).

)

this is whats concerning her at the moment ,they don't seem to want to discuss the options,........my first grandson ,her eldest 8 was delivered after a traumatic time messing about with an epidural,my daughter has very little gap where they need to put it in and it was unsuccessful after 3 attempts (during which time she was doubled up in agony and of course not allowed to move)

in the end I said enoughs enough and grandson arrived shortly after,second child was born without epidural..............she wasn't going through that again

trying to discuss this at the clinic is like :wall: ,this hospital seems adamant it will work and she is stressing incase it doesn't or takes 3 attempts:eek:

next time she goes though she will sort it out or gran will be up there like a shot:D

inkie

Does she want an epidural? If she doesn't then no point in feeling as though got to have one - the most memorable twin delivery I have done was with a mum who didn't have one and was mobile during labour.

trafalgar_2

inkie wrote:

Does she want an epidural? If she doesn't then no point in feeling as though got to have one - the most memorable twin delivery I have done was with a mum who didn't have one and was mobile during labour.

oh my wasn't she climbing the walls:eek:

not having had twins myself ,but I think if she could be reassured that it won't be any worse than a single delivery I think she would prefer not to ,it's the hospital that seems to be dictating rather than listening

prettypennies

I didn't want an epidural. I was 9cm dilated by the time I got to hospital and the labour seemed to be progressing well. The anaesthetist was pretty offhand and basically said if I was going to have an epidural I would have to have it immediately.

The first twin was in a bit of distress as the wrong part of his head was crowning. I was worried that if I didn't have an epidural and they needed to do an caeserian I would have to have a general (which I really didn't want).
I don't feel like I was in a position to make and informed decision at this point

I panicked and agreed to an epidural after which I could not feel when to push. The upshot was that the 1st twin got more distressed and I had to have an emergency caeserian.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it is really important that you discuss all possible outcomes/complications beforehand so you can make informed choices and your birth partner can make sure your wishes are adhered to.
Make sure any concerns re-epidurals or other inverventions are documented in you birth plan. You ar just as entitled and capable of deciding how you labour progresses as a singleton mother.

pavlovs_dog

just wanted to say thanks for a very informative thread, and hope everything goes well for your daughter, granny traf (or are you a nanny?)

my nan (my mothers mother) miscarried several sets of twins - she could not carry boys to term for some reason. my auntie (daughter 2 of 3) is a twin, however her twin brother was stillborn. my other auntie has also miscarried sets of twins, again apparently not able to carry boys to term (is this a known medical condition? )

my mother has no twins, and im secretly hoping it might be the skip-a-generation thing, and will land with me. ive always wanted a large family (when the time comes)

ka7e

Having had no pain relief when DS1 made his appearance (gas and air ran out!), I was very pleased to be told I would definitely get an epidural for the twins. In my local hospital, it is scheduled as a matter of course (in multiple births) to facilitate an emergency C-section if one is needed. Otherwise they would need to have an anaesthetist on standby the whole time.

inkie

Otherwise they would need to have an anaesthetist on standby the whole time.

In a Consultant unit you would have an anaesthetist on stand by all the time anyway - this is a must, and is why there is one allocated to labour ward 24 hrs per day.

If you havn't an epidural in situ, then a spinal can be done rather than a GA.