[whiskers83]

Ok, been freaking out a little over the last few days. I don't frequent EB much as our DIG moved to FB and they keep me busy with vhat there

Hubby and I have an almost 3 year old and 10 month old Id twins. We have found out a few weeks ago we are expecting no. 4. huge surprise.

So many things to think about. A car is an issue as we need to have one that accommodates 4 baby seats. Many of the seven seaters do not. I have checked over in the car restraints section and got some info but really need to go see some in real life I think.

I am also worried about having the 17 month gap between the twins and bubba 4. Anyone here have such a small gap?

Also thinking that I may need a C/S as my first bub was an emergency C/S and the twins were a planned C/S due to IUGR of twin one and, (amazingly) making it to 36 weeks with Id's the Doc's wanted them out asap.

I am worried about recovery with 3 young ones at home and a new bubba.

We use a double pram atm for the twins but stilll have our old MB single which we could use when there are two of us. Other that that I assume we will make use of the baby carrier where possible as the few prams that accomodate three are a little large for me as I am only 5 foot tall.

Anyway, rambling.

Please feel free to share your experiences with four young ones or a baby close in age to toddler twins or other relevant info.

Thanks.

Jen

[SMOKER]

Congrats!

I just saw the other day valco have just released alight weight twin pram that takes a toddler seat, it is called a zee.

I want one for my triplets (my current pram weights 20kgs)

[KT1978]

I'm gobsmacked! Congratulations!

No practical advice whatsoever, I have one.

[bella_75]

Good luck!

I do not have twins but when DD was 6.5 months old I found out I was pregnant. So when DS was born there was only 14.5 months between them! That was tough, due to jealousy and the fact that DD was too young for me to explain that DS was her brother, I think she assumed he was a doll!

I wish you all the best. If you have a great support network around you, that will help. I don't have that as my family is interstate, but I manage!

[stella777]

Congrats Jen,

Wow what a surprise! It will certainly be busy for you, although lovely later on to have them all so close in age I am due with number 3 when my twins will be just shy of 21 months and I scared enough of how I will manage to get about with 3, let alone 4!

Most of the mums in my twins group with a few littlies have either the kia grand carnivale or the chrysler grand voyager as they take 5 restraints I think. The ford territory can take 5 but makes it awkward to get the little ones in the back and leaves little boot space. Then there are a few other less common options - VW, audi, mercedes benz etc

The only side by side prams I know that will take 3 are the ABC buggy which is high or the valco trimode (or apparently the new valco zee which i haven't seen yet). I will hopefully put the new bub in a carrier to start with and see how we go from there before I make any big purchases, although I have been looking at secondhand prams on ebay

I don'y know much about CS so can't really comment. Being that there is a short time period in between births they may want you to opt for another CS but I know little on the subject.

My SIL had 17months bw babies and did find it a little difficult and in hindsight said she wished they had a few more months between, but now they have made it through the first few months everything is much easier, so it was only a struggle for the first few months and now that their boy is 21months he is great around the bub. I guess it depends on you and your bub and what kind of support you have as to how hard it will be.

Good luck with your pregnancy, hope it is smooth for you

[newyearbaby]

Hi Jen,

I have 2 little ones and a step son, and am 29 weeks pregnant with twins, so we will soon have:

newborn twins
19 month old
3 years and 5 months old
9 year old

So I can certainly relate to a lot of your concerns and worries. When I had my last baby, I decided that 22 months was a bad age gap between kids, and thought a few months either side would be better, hence the 19 month gap this time around. I certainly wasn't banking on twins and if I had known, probably would have left it at least a few months on the other side (or maybe a few years). But it is what it is, and I'm sure we'll make it work out just fine.

We now have a VW Multivan which is brilliant. The seats are removable. We currently have it set up as a 6 seater, so only 1 seat in the middle row. Which means I can get in comfortably to buckle the others in. And you can adjust the size of the boot.

We have bought the Mountain Buggy Duet pram. I intend on carrying one of the twins so the 19 month old can stay in the pram until he is old enough to use a skateboard attachment. Could you possibly carry your newborn for a while so you don't have to worry about a new pram straight away?

CS - It sounds likely but you never know. How have you recovered previously? Will you have help at home for a month or so afterwards, or can you pay for some help?

Anyway, feel free to ramble some more. It's pretty full on. But apparently it will be worth it down the track.



Oh and congratulations!

[TwinMumNat]

Hi Jen

Congratulations! And Dont stress. You will find a way to cope with every issue that comes your way.

When my 4th child was born, my twins were 3 years and 5 months and my 3rd was 24 months old. So there is 17 months between my twins and my 3rd child.
For me, most of the attention and issues arise from the 3 eldest. The baby, despite having baby issues, is a relative dream.

We bought a kia carnival grande - which is great and accommodates the 4 baby seats.

I do have a MB double and a MB single. However none of the kids sit in them (once they could walk, they did) so they walk while the baby is carried in a baby bjorn. Because the twins think its funny to bolt, I tend not to go out on my own.

Of course it is busy and chaotic and loud. I am a compulsive list maker. I cook (or prepare) dinner in the morning or chop vegies of a night. I try to be organised as I find that makes life easier and enables me to give the kids more attention.

I has c/s for all. While my 3rd c/s was the most painful in the hospital, I only remember it being particularly painful the first 2 weeks at home. I did try to be as mobile as possible from day 1. My DH took 6 weeks holidays too. Gosh, even though this was only 7 months ago it feels like a looong time so its difficult to remember.

Good luck and best wishes OP, I have a feeling you really already know how to cope well with this. So dont stress and try to enjoy your pregnancy and your new baby. It really is a special time nad they dont stay babies long.

[whiskers83]

Thank you all for the replies.

It is sinking in a little more each day.

Will look into the cars and pram that have been suggested.

I hope everything goes nice and smooth as I can't imagine doing as many hospital visits as I did last time with the twins while carting three kidlets around.

I hope to learn a little more at my first hospital appointment in re to C/S etc. I recovered really well with the C/S for the other three but I also suffered a PPH which really knocked me around.

Will just take it as it come I guess.

\Thanks again.

Jen

[seeingstraight]

Congratulations!

Your in for a wild ride!

I had 4 under 3:)
ds1 was 2y 10mth
ds2 was 1y 11mths when my twins were born.

its 2 years on ( exactly as its my girls 2nd bday today) and im still alive!

We had to buy a new car.. We bought a cheap old 1996 toyota tarago.. its old but does the job.. Wish it had a slifing door on each side tho!

Pram we had an adventure buggy already so we bought the double toddler attachmment making it a quad pram.. It was big and heavy but done the job..
We now use a cheap target double.

I had 2 previous c/s and had a 3rd c/s with my twins.

Goodluck!

[TheLittleRedHen]

Congratulations!
When our twins were born, the other kids were 12mths, 27mths and just turned 4.
We also bought a Kia Grand Carnival and the Adventure Buggy which I already had as a double with a toddler seat for the older kids, but bought a double toddler seat and made it into a quad.

You'll survive! Good luck

B.
DD 10
DS 8
DS 6
DS 5
DS 5
DD 2
DS 1