Hi

I’m 24 weeks pregnant with twin boys, at this stage all is going well !

I have been looking at the messages on this web site and have found them all very helpful !

I had a couple of questions ……..

Work – Realistically, when do most people with twins finish work? I originally planned to finish at 32 weeks but, I am starting to feel that I am not going to feel like being at work at that stage !

Leave – How much time do twin parents have away from work ? I am thinking about having a year off and then going back part time. My partner is looking at having 4 weeks off before he goes back to work.

Activity – I am going to 1 aqua aerobics and 1 yoga class each week. Any other ideas on suitable forms of exercise ?

What To Buy - Being our first babies, I am not sure what items are essentials and what we won't really need (the lady at the baby shop gave me a 'list of reccommened items' - it was quite big)!

Thanks Heaps !

Kylie


This message was edited by eilyk on Wednesday, 5 January 2005 @ 6:24 PM

Hi Kylie!

Wow and Congratulations!!

With work, I left at 30wks, my job is quite physical and I could not longer do all the climbing and carrying that was necessary, I also could no longer sit comfortably in front of the computer either. That's not to say that 32wks is not likely for you. I found it completely different to my singleton pregnancy in that I could only decide on a week by week basis whether I felt I was going to be able to continue to work and I had a VERY understanding employer (my Father ;p ).

I'd suggest that you talk to your boss and see if you can't work a short notice maternity leave out. It might not be possible but hey, if you don't ask you certainly won't get!

I've had 18mths off work, which is 16mths longer than the boss planned ROFL and about 12 months longer than I planned. But I had PND and couldn't function so I had no choice. I think it again depends on your work, whether your boss will hold your job for you for 12 mths and whether you can afford to have 12mths off.

As for your activity WOW!!! I sure didn't do anything like that, ROFL, i'm not an athletic person, you could probably talk to a professional trainer about how much more exercise is best for a twin pregnancy. Personally I think you're doing fantastic to be doing both of the things you are!

What to buy? Well, you certainly DON'T need 2 of everything despite what you might be told. To begin with you might choose 1 cot and put them in it together (there are examples of how other mothers have chosen to sleep their twins in the stickys at the top of this forum), you probably wont need a pram immediately you might choose to use to slings.

There are a lot of things you can layby for quite a while yet. There are also a HEAP of great things on Ebay too which would be perfect considering a lot of clothing and things are quickly grown out of.

What else would I suggest???? My girls lived in Wondersuits for quite a while all day but I wouldn't suggest buying yourself too much in the way of clothes as people will give you truck loads of new and preloved clothes! There's something about multiple pregnancies which encourages people to give clothes LOL. I WOULD however suggest nappies, either cloth or disposable and yes cloth can be used easily with twins believe it or not! You will need LOTS of nappies.

You will probably want a few sets of sheets for your cot. Sick seems to seep through to sheets quite quickly.

Gosh I can't think atm, i'll come back later! I've probably overwhelmed you anyway LOL.

Welcome to the Multiples boards

Hi and congratulations! I finished work very early in my pregnancy. I worked as a primary school teacher and initially when I worked out when to stop working, the date would have been in the middle of Term 3. This would have been very hard on my students so I stopped at the end of Term 2; earlier than I had anticipated but I really appreciated the rest! I have yet to return to work as we had a third child.
Re what to buy; I talked to friends with twins and babies, read books and also joined the Multiple Births Association and that helped a great deal. Plus I visited a great shop (baby Bunting in Balwyn Melbourne) and they helped me too. Exercise? I didn't do much at all! I went for the occasional walk but really just ate sensibly and rested. I had been exercising a bit before my pregnancy so I was reasonably fit and my obstetrician just said to take things very easy. No bending, lifting, vacuuming... Towards the end I waddled around like a hippo and didn't do much of anything except smile, rub my tummy and look forward to my boys' arrival.
Well enjoy your pregnancy,
Maycee

Maycee (35)
DH (33)
Twin boys (4/12/01)
DD (7/10/03)

Hi Kylie,

Welcome aboard and congratulations on your twin pregnancy.

I have an office job, and finished work at about 30 weeks. I was really tired and uncomfortable at the end, for the last few weeks, I finished work at 4pm and went home and had a nap before I cooked tea. My ob. told me to stop pushing it at the end and kpt asking me when I was going to finish up!!

I had 8 months off work before I went back 2 days per week ( I still work 2 days now). For me it was a sanity thing. I'd always been a bit of a career person and needed to get back to it for myself. I still breastfed them until they were 13 months, but just dropped the middle of the day feeds for the work days. My husband had the first 5 weeks off which were fanstastic especially after a ceaser, where the recovery time is a bit longer.

I did aqua aerobics (for pregnant women) and loved it too. I did it right to the end. I looked forward to it each week. I couldn't manage any more than that.

Like Lullabelle said, you don't need 2 of everything! My girls went straight into a shared cot and stayed that way for the first 4 months. The other thing I used HEAPS were rockers that lie flat, they can sleep in them anywhere, can be propped up, and can be used to sit them in when they start on solids. Nappies, nappies, nappies was the other thing, and mine lived in Bonds wonder suits too for the first few months.
I hired capsules from the red cross for the car, you might want to think about that too.
Like Lullabelle said, the pram thing is pretty major, so check out the other thread on that.

Goodluck and ask any more questions you want!

Cheers

Kate
Alicia and Sophie 2/12/02

I am a high school teacher and worked until 27 weeks (end of term 2). It was just too difficult to be on feet in a science lab all day. My doctor gave me a medical certificate so I recieved sick pay.

All the rest did great things for me as I carried the boys to nearly 36 weeks!

I went back to work two days a week when the Boys were 10 months old. I needed a sanity break! They next year I worked three days and now I am continuing with 4 days a week. The Boys are in Family Day Care and will start pre-school one day a week this year!

I was told to work on 1 1/2 times clothes etc. I used bassinets (two) to start as I could borrow them from friends. The Boys then went into two seperate cots in their room at around 3-4 months.

Like said previously I just dressed the boys in Bonds suits for the first few months. If we went out I just put a cute cardi over the top (winter babies). We recieved lots of cute outfits as presents (as well as supplies of baby sorbolene, powders, etc etc that we are still using 3 1/2 years later LOL !).

Jo, Mummy to Cameron and Joshua 21/06/01
[img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0eQAaA1Ejr7dAk13j4i![img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0aAAaA4wdV0E!Sjltm01aQldyS3mQCax94HWAE5[img]

congrats on the twins, I have ID twin boys born 1st Nov so I am fairly new at this although I did log on to this website constantly during my pregnancy.

I planned to work until 32weeks but went into pre-term labour at 30 wks due to the size of my boys.

I am not planning to return to work before July 05 (the boys will be 8 months) and even then I will play it by ear.

I was unable to exercise after about 20 weeks duw to the pelvic pain and sheer size of me so I can offer any advice on that

and finally - Lots of wondersuits - All sizes and stock up on nappies!

Best of luck

Lauren (22)
DH (24)

"The Boys" 1st Nov 2004 (35weeks)
Hamish Scott - 3080g
Dylan Murray - 3145g

congrats on the twins, I have ID twin boys born 1st Nov so I am fairly new at this although I did log on to this website constantly during my pregnancy.

I planned to work until 32weeks but went into pre-term labour at 30 wks due to the size of my boys.

I am not planning to return to work before July 05 (the boys will be 8 months) and even then I will play it by ear.

I was unable to exercise after about 20 weeks duw to the pelvic pain and sheer size of me so I can offer any advice on that

and finally - Lots of wondersuits - All sizes and stock up on nappies!

Best of luck

Lauren (22)
DH (24)

"The Boys" 1st Nov 2004 (35weeks)
Hamish Scott - 3080g
Dylan Murray - 3145g

Thank you for your advice and feedback – it is much appreciated. It is great to get feedback from people who also have twins !

Kylie