Hello , I am new to this forum . I am looking to hear anyones experiences with twins . I am mum to a large family & am currently carring twins 19 weeks . I have no idea about twins & just have some general questions about twins etc . Is there anyone who can share there experiences with me ?? . Thanks mumtomany .

[color=Blue]Welcome!

Just ask away and I'm sure you'll find that someone here will answer your questions.

1st ICSI November '02 successful!
(Ryan & Kai - 29 July '03)

Hello No_idea, thanks for your reply !! I also have no , No Idea about twins !! & i am the first one in my family to carry twins !! I have many questions to ask but they may seem silly to others who have twins !! Here are just a few , I am wondering about giving birth to the placenta , I know this seems strange but my question is do I give birth to one baby , then placenta or both then the placenta's ?? Sorry my twins are not identical & there are 2 placentas with a fin membrane seperating the Two . Another question is I know that twins do not make it to 40 weeks gestation , how early do most women give birth to twins ?? I am I pushing it to want to make it to 36 weeks as I already have a large family ?? . I welcome an answers that anyone can give , have many more questions !!! Thanks mumtomany

[color=Blue]Good questions! I'm actually not too sure about the whole placenta thing as I had an emergency c-section, but I'm sure one of the other girls could answer that question for you.

I made it to just under 37 weeks with our boys, but everyone's different. I think you'll find a thread here somewhere that says how far most of us made it before we gave birth.

Vanessa

1st ICSI November '02 successful!
(Ryan & Kai - 29 July '03)

Thanks Vanessa , for being so friendly !! Here's a few more questions !!! Do twins wake up at the same time ?? e.g do the have the same sleep , eating patterns ?? And here's one that I thourght of yesterday whilst shopping !! How will I know who , is who ?? My ultrasound was incomplete as the babies were laying across my baby my belly one under the other exact same position so they could not measure there faces or heart chambers or really tell the sex of the babies but looks like they are girls !! Have to go back on the 29th hopefully they can then get the measurements they need !! 2 girls how will I know who is who ?? Thanks once again Michelle

Hi Michelle,
We also had the same problem w/ the sex of our kids. They thought they were both girls but weren't at all sure because of the way they were lying. Because of the lengths, weight etc they were able to tell T1 from T2. We definately knew about T2 she never kept still, and I spent 9wks w/ her kicking my L ribs. 4 wks before they were born T1 also turned so 4 feet under the left ribs were extremely painful. We called T2 the aerobics queen..
I believe the average gestation for twins is between 32-35wks.
As for routines, we were extremely lucky (apart from the fact they were 29wkrs) that they came home in a 4 hour routine. (Has to be some advantages of having babies in the special care unit I guess)We didn't walk the floor w/ them, they slept together for 7mths and apart from reflux they have had no antibiotics since they left hospital last May. They are now 21mths and generally still sleep at the same time. As for who is who my girls are so different, one has absolutely NO fear at all whilst the other sits back and observes her sister. Their cries are different, their personalities are extreme and they are very demanding as any other twin mum will tell you. But it is twice as nice to have all those extra cuddles and when you put them down at night and watch them sleep you've passed another day of total insanity and everyone is still alive and well.

Congrat's on having TWINS!

Ok, I'll try to answer some questions, yes often twins do come a bit early. Mine were born at 30 weeks (spontaneous labour when my waters broke & then had an emergancy C/section). They were in hospital for almost 7 weeks. Now they are 2 & you would never know they were prem. I have known woman to carry twins to 38 weeks, so it's not impossible.

I don't know about the placenta! Some woman are lucky enough to have a natural birth. My girls were also breech, so they did a c/section.

Did you know that twins are classed as high risk? You have to take it "easy" with carrying twins. Just thought I'd let you know in case no one has said anything. You should your OB more often & will be monitored more closely.

With you not telling them apart, I don't think you will have a problem. As your twins are not identical, they shouldn't look the same. It's like having 2 kids, just that they are born on the same day.

Our girls always slept & fed at the same time. It's the only way I could cope! If not, I think you would spend most of your day just feeding, changing etc. I did like to feed them seperately though, just not all the time. I was able to breastfed my 2 for almost 9 months.

They never slept in the same cot. When they were tiny, they sometimes slept together, but as they got bigger it was less & less. One seemed to move a lot more than the other.

My advice is that you get things ready while you can. Make things as practical as you can!

Ask away with any other questions you have!!!

Goodluck

Belinda







Mummy to twin girls born @ 30 weeks Oct 2002

Hi

Congratulations on your twins. Mine are fraternal as well. I can not help you with the placenta question as I had a c/s.

I made it to 34 weeks due to gestationl diabetes. Full term for twins is 38 weeks but many are born earlier. As Belinda said you need to take it easy with twins as the pregnancy is considered high risk.

Best of luck with the rest of the pregnancy.




Toni & DP Ryan
Kaylee & Jordyn 25/04/03 ANZAC DAY 34 weekers
www.babiesonline.com/babies/k/kayleejordyn
tjminotti@yahoo.com

Hi There and congrats on your twins! I delivered my boys naturally @35wks, my waters broke naturally. I had 2 sacs and 2 placentas. The delivery went exactly to plan, ie deliver baby 1 (Xander) and then my ob clipped the cord etc, broke the second sac and delivered baby 2 (Noah). Then I delivered both placentas just like I had with my single babies. He had gone through the whole process with me only a few weeks before as he didn't want to give me too much info too soon. But he also said he knew I wouldn't make it to 38wks! (the boys were 6p7 and 6p11!!-they would have been close to 9pound each @38wks! ouch)

In terms of identifying them in utero they only ever tunred updie down, never side to side once we id them @ 19wks. Xander was a lot more active, we even had a few extra scans at times when we thought Noah was no longer with us. I was blessed with a great ob who trusted my instincts and knew I knew what I was doing. He had no fears of natural delivery and had even said he would either turn Noah or deliver him breech if need be.
I find that I am constantly torn in terms of their needs and routines. I kept them the same at the beginning and then let them set their own routine for a while to see if either would sleep through if left- they didn't LOL. Right now I think Noah is ready for just one sleep a day but Xander isn't even close, so...Noah gets 2.
My only main advice would be to try and keep their sleep and feeds together as much as possible. Tag teaming is draining especially when there are other children and although you may get to spend individual time with the twin awake, you never get a break from the baby bits! IYKWIM
I would not trade my dynamic duo for the world though, I love every minute of their hijinks.
Hope I haven't raved on too much!

Letitia 34
Dan 34
DD 6
DS 3
DS 1
DS 1

hmmm I'm pretty sure I delivered baby then placenta then baby then placenta. I had them at 37.5 weeks.

My kids did not wake and feed together. I had horrible (but healthy) babies. Once they developed a pattern I was ok with the different wakings, but when I got them into a better routine of waking together it was SO much easier -and I was less of a zombie.
Routine is the most important thing!

With telling them apart -lol just the way you tell your other kids apart except their the same height!

~Jen (21)
Tyler & Riley (10/1/02)
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