Help! Twins/Multiple births!!

gingersof_2

Hi,

My best friend and her husband just had a 12 week scan and found out they're pregnant with twins.

This has come as a massive shock as neither of them have multiple births in the family and now dont quite know what to do and how to cope financially.

They have a little girl now who will be 3 when the twins are born.

If anyone can offer any financial advice whatsoever they would be most grateful, also any insurance cover they can get even though they have now had a 12 week scan!

Thanks very much!

BusyLizzie_3

Hi - finding out you're expecting twins (or more) IS a massive shock - I'm still in shock and my twins are four now! I think it's natural to worry about coping financially, and unfortunately there are no extra financial benefits for multiples (apart from x2 child benefit). You could always direct them towards the entitled to website to check what other benefits they might be eligible for. They may be able to claim the Sure Start maternity grant which would be worth £500 per baby. I had three children under two and it is difficult financially - but you do cope, by cutting back and reusing/reducing/recycling wherever possible! Their biggest expense might be needing a bigger car, so it would be worth their while to do plenty of research early on.

When the shock has subsided a little, tell your friend to look at https://www.tamba.org.uk and https://www.twinsclub.co.uk which have very active message forums and are brilliant for the advice and support of other multiple parents.

I'm pretty sure that insurance is not an option, as it would have had to be taken out before the scan revealed they were expecting twins

ka7e

Tell her to definitely make contact with her local Twin's Club - details usually from Tamba. But also ask her midwife if there is a local club as some don't bother to get affiliated. They are a great source of second-hand prams, pushchairs and other baby goods. They recycle the tiny babygros you often need with twins! Mine (which I eventually ran for 3 years) welcomed expectant Mums, too.

angchris

just in case you didnt know, there is actually a twins and multiples category on ebay and you can pick up all the essentials dirt cheap for eg. 2 x moses baskets, twin pushchairs,2 x cots, matching twin clothes etc. its worth checking out before they go buying 2 x everything full price!

Penny_Watcher

gingersof wrote:

also any insurance cover they can get even though they have now had a 12 week scan!

I don't know if you still can, but it used to be possible to insure against the expense of having twins. My Aunt and Uncle took out a policy about 25 years ago at the beginning of the pregnancy with their daughter.

As a general principle you can't insure against an 'incident' that has already taken place.

BTW Apart from the expense :eek: twins are lovely (OH has twins from his first marriage). He said they were very content as they always had each other for company.

Good Luck to your pal and her OH.

Counting_Pennies_2

I think if you register with TAMBA you can get discount on some childrens purchases, some websites offered it when I purchased items for my son when he was born, I always felt it was a great idea for helping multiple birth parents.

Join the twins club that is local and start going while pregnant, it helps you get lots of tips.

Your friends might consider hiring a Doula to help in the first few months following the birth. They get quite booked up, so best to book early if they are interested. Look on http://www.doula.org.uk/content/duk/find/default.asp for more info

Advise them to read lots of books about twins, there are lots out there, and just be as prepared as they can.

NCT and local twins clubs do nearly new sales which should help enormously in picking up the additional equipment they need cheaply.

hth

Nicki

This idea of taking out insurance after the event, or signing up for a health care plan after a diagnosis is one which crops up again and again and really annoys me! Insurance is a small(ish) sum which you pay just in case something bad happens to you. If the bad thing doesn't happen you lose your money (and it goes into a kitty to pay to those for whom bad things have happened, less the insurance company's cut), if it does, you have your expenses met to the extent covered by the policy and don't have to pay out any more. The point is you are taking a gamble on an unknown event.

The only way to take out insurance after the event is to lie and say you don't know you are ill, or expecting twins. This is dishonest, illegal and if you are found out your cover will be refused, you will lose your premiums and you may be prosecuted.

How does the OP and all the other people who post this question on a regular basis think that insurance companies can afford to pay out to those who have genuine claims, if it is possible to wait until you know whether the bad thing will happen or not, then pay a very small percentage of the cost of the event and have the remainder paid by the insurance. Where do they think this money comes from, and do they never wonder why, if this is permissible under the rules, the rest of us poor fools pay out for insurance before bad news has been delivered (not that I think the imminent arrival of twins is bad news btw. I think its great!)

taffyswife

When I was expecting twins, I contacted the local twin club - quite often people are selling prams,car seats etc.
Also I registered with Tesco, Boots & Sainsbury's mother & baby clubs, also Pampers and Huggies, to get money off vouchers.

lebly

Wow concratulations to them. I didnt find out till my 20 week scan - bit of a shock.

Get them to consider terry nappies - even if they just use them at home and not for going out, if they are going to buy baby food get them to buy in jars per kilo much ,uch cheaper than powder food. Although fresh fruit etc even cheaper, though with twins sometimes its worth having jars at home. Go to some of teh smaller baby supplier outlets and ask for deals etc I had a very nice dealer who gave me discount etc as I was buying two of alot of things.

As they have one child hopefully they still have one cot, ask a friend if they can borrow buy thiers this goes for moses baskets etc too.

Charity shops for clothes etc as many baby clothes and childrens clothes never get worn so still have tags etc on.

As for affording it well you just have to do what you can. When they fill it Tax credits form they need to check that very carefully, (some people there dont understand the concept of twins) but only one baby will get the baby element the other will be classed as over one so they need to be very careful in checking this as I got stung big time (still paying back and now with adjudicator).

Buy a buggy that will last from birth (I found 3 wheeler best with air filled tyres and breaks) at 6 months between them they weighed the same as a three year old. Check out ebay etc as well for buggy etc, plus twins lubs, ask their midwife etc for details as most welcome member befoere babies are born. Start buying some things now such as formula if they are going to use it they will get through about a tin a week, you can get this cheaper at you local medical centre. Nappies v cheap in lidl. If they want to ask any questions feel free to pm etc

Best thing to do is enjoy it! I think my husband and I were laughing with shock for about three weeks!!

lebly

sorry just another though dont know what car they have but they will probably need a bigger one. We had a small one to start but had to get a bigger one. this meant we had to bu a smaller buggy first as the ideal one we could fit in the car!

As they have another toddler they may have problems with fitting 3 car seats in the back!

Kimmywim

First of all tell your friend Don't Worry! Of course it is a massive shock but once they come round that they will be fine! One of my best friends had twin boys and she coped absolutely fine, 8 months later she fell pregnant again...yep you've guessed it with twins again! so she had 4 under 16 months (and she breastfed all of them) but she just coped because inevitably you have to. The best thing for any multiple births is a strict routine, once this falls into place, she will wonder what she was worried about. Also rally around friends and family to see if they have any spare babygros or anything babylike. tell her to start buying bits now, every week little things like wipes and nappies, bibs etc to build up a stockpile to lessen the financial blow when they arrive and dont forget they will be inundated with gifts and goodies from friends and family too.

congrats to the family!

x