Help-just found out I'm having twins!

chmmy

Oh lovely, Congratulations!:j My b/g twins are nearly 5 now, and my older 2 are 11 and 13, so a bigger age gap between.
In some ways it's easier to be moneysaving with twins, because it makes more sense to use washable nappies, make your own babyfood and breastfeed. Check out the forums on https://www.twinsclub.co.uk and also the local twinsclub is a great way to meet other twin parents and get news of nearly new sales (have a look on the Tamba website for details of local twinsclubs).

BusyLizzie_3

Congratulations - twins are great, they're certainly a conversation-starter anyway! You're already an experienced Mum, so you'll cope just fine. I second everyone else who has said check out your local twinsclub while you're still pregnant - they'll tell you how it really is and they'll give you the low-down on twin births at your local hospital, which buggy to go for, how to breastfeed two at once etc. Tamba discounts are good, especially the Clarks one which can be used for your older boys as well. If you haven't got much baby stuff left from them check out freecycle/ebay/twinsclub sales etc - or just be cheeky like I was and ask if you can borrow things from other people! Also - if you're working be prepared to finish work a bit earlier than for a singleton pregnancy and budget accordingly - you'll get child benefit x 2 of course but only one baby element for working tax credits and obviously no extra maternity leave. The tamba and twinsclub.co.uk message boards are great - they both have pregnancy sections.

Good luck!

Miss_Scarlett

I can't add much, other than congratulations x

HariboJunkie

Firehorse wrote: »

A huge congratulations. It will take a while for the shock to wear off! We'd watched the film "twins" the night before we found out.

Anyway, my girls are now 15yos, and I had two more after them...so it couldn't have been all bad. It will obviously be very busy, especially with the others, but you WILL cope. I notice that your boys are 5 (school age) and 3 (nursery age) so that should fee a little time for you.


* Approach the local twins club - lots of info and sale items.

* NCT sales

* Freecyle, friends, local jumble sales

* Join TAMBA, also includes a discount card

* Ask for discount, most local traders can be quite generous

* Approach CAB, check if you're entitled to anything

* Stock up the freezer, to get you over the initial busy stage

* Involve the older children as much as possible

* Keep a notebook of all the info the Health Visitor will want to know, ie how
much food taken, medication given etc. Sometimes I was too tired to
remember and this proved very helpful.

* When friends visit, don't get up and make them tea etc, get them to make
you one and do the ironing or watch the children whilst you soak in the
bath!

* Take your intended buggy with you when sourcing vehicles, make sure it
fits in the boot! (Yes we did make this mistake).

I could go on for ever.

It was hard work, a lot of it was a blur, but I wouldn't have swapped a minute of it.

What she said.:D

And....rest. This pregnancy will be harder than the previous two and you have two boys to look after. Your body will have alot to cope with so try to take it easy as much as you can.
My girls are 5 and although they certainly have their moments I wouldn't swap having twins for the world.

Take care

Haribo x

clarew

Thanks for all your advice, it is slowly sinking in! I had noticed i was more tired and vomiting more, but had just put it down to the fact that maybe i was expecting a girl, hence different pregnancy to my boys. Was certainly not expecting that there would be 2 in there!!!

Have emailed close friends and have had kind offers of car seat to borrow and double buggy which is great. I guess its just a case of being daunted by the challenges to come, physically,emotionally and financially. As you say, i will cope, i have lots of family and friends around to help and have the space to put the 2 boys in bunk beds etc in 1 room and eventually the other 2 in the other room.
Have joined tamba, and beginning to get to grips with the idea of it now. But thanks for all the reassurance and support you have given me-it was a great help.

ritac1

My twin boys are now almost 13 years old. They are a delight and a joy to have.

When I was told I was in complete shock for about 48 hours. I already had two daughters aged 6 and 7, wasnt expecting to be pregnant (dont know how it happened:rolleyes: ) never mind expecting twins. I had just lost my mother the year before and my marriage was collapsing.

However, after the first 6 months of their life (which was spent in a combined state of tiredness and exhaustion) life began to get better.

My husband and I seperated when the twins were 12mths old and since then I have been bringing up 4 kiddies on my own. Very difficult at times but lots of pleasure to be had from twins - everybody wants to help (well except my ex) !!

The very best of luck

DonnaP

Hi there

I have twin girls who are almost 4 years old. The main problem (as I see it) it when you have twins and have no other children, you are thrown in at the deep end. You not only don't have a clue about babies but you have two to contend with!

I loved it though, but felt (still feel) very tired.

You will at least now how to change nappies etc and do all the practical stuff (I didn't have a clue).

My husband worked permanent nights and I wore myself into the ground trying to do it all on my own really. Plus I tried to treat the girls as if I only had one. I was determined they wouldn't suffer being a twin, but looking back I made it harder than it needed to be. I think the thing I learned from my experience, is that if you have to adapt how you do things to make it easier for YOU, then you shouldn't feel guilty.

You will love it (even though there are times when you could cry your eyes out with exhaustion). The worst is ignorant comments from others - only the other day did a woman who didn't know me herad me talking to a friend about twins and she pipes up 'my daughter had a 19 month old and a newborn and it was just as hard as having twins'!! Out came my response 'at least your daughter had 19 months to learn how to look after a baby before having the 2nd, NOT like having twins'!!

My twins bring a tear to my eye every day - I am so lucky to be a mum of twins.

(Mind you, the big downfall is how big you get in pregnancy - I went to 38 weeks and they were 6lbs 10oz and 6lbs at birth!!)

Good luck

Donna