Hello everyone
I'm 34 weeks with twins which make no 5/6 in our family. I have not as yet joined a twin club. What's your experience with twin clubs?. Did you join before or after the birth? Is it more for first or second time parents. We live in surrey hills in Melb. Does anyone know of a good club near us?
Thank you once again for your help.
Stacey

Hi there ~ Yes I am a member of the local Multiple Birth group here in Kalgoorlie...It is run by a wonderful lady Mirium and she is also a member of EB so it was easy to feel comfortable on the first visit..
We get together each fortnight for 2 hours or so and it is great!! I love going to it and have gained so much reassurance, support, guidance, tips and also have been able to assist other twin mums and Mums to be!
There is agreat variety of ages in the group of children and parents (I think I may be one of the youngest members?) not sure but, that doesnt make me feel any different.
I have gained lots of ideas and inspiration for activites from the group and watching their older twins and sibling interact with each other....
Quiet an important time for me and also took DH along with me so he also understands what its like and always asks me how everyone is each week.
We have morning tea, a cuppa, help each other, cuddle and admire other kids, listen to whats working and whats not, compare strategies, chat, fundraise and support each other.

I cant say enough great things about the wonderful group we have and the organisation behind it all. Do it - attend and see what you think, the best part is they understand fully what your going through.

Agree totally that EB is also a fantastic supoort group for us all! We all need a pat on the back!!!

Haylie & Phil,Ebony(15),Hayden Phillip & Brooklen Lily 21st March 05

[center]Wake up yummy Brother!![center]

hi I joined my local MBA just before my girls were born and I am now the president of the club.I have found them great for advice and understanding about raising mutiples. There is a website for the Australian Mutiple birth assoc. The website is www.amba org.au they have all the clubs in your area on the site.
I have you find lots of information on this site and we will help any way we can with questions on raising mutiples.
Rosie

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Hi Stacey :-)

I'm behind you (16/40) but I live 2 suburbs away! I'm trying to decide which MBA branch to join- we fall in the catchment area of 2 branches. Maybe we could join the same one? (safety in numbers!)

Thank you so much everyone. I'm going to give it a go. Looks likely I will have a c/s in 2 1/2 weeks. Will make contact with a club prior to this in case recovery is slow.
Christie sounds great. Do you have any other children?
Stacey

We are still members of our local multiple birth club. They had an antenatal night which was great as we were doing regular antenatal classes but it was good to hear some multiples only info. They do have playgroup/morning teas every couple of weeks but I haven't been to many as I found it so hard to get out early on and have been back at work since the girls were 6 months.

I think the best part for me is the monthly newsletter - has items about multiples, also for sale etc. But the most important multiples support for me has been EB and the two other wonderful twin mums in my antenatal group. Out of 11, 3 of us had twins. We still meet every Friday which is great.


Maree

Eleanor 1/8/03
Harriet 1/8/03

I'm another one that didn't really enjoy the local twins club. I was the only one with other children and everyone there was acting very precious about having twins. I tried to understand what it would be like to have twins as your first babies but they just constantly complained about everything.

I was breastfeeding and had decided to do one at a time when out as I had to watch my other two, and everyone was sitting back for hours on end feeding, relaxing and drinking coffee (and still complaining about their lives).

I ended up just sticking to my original Mother's group that I have been with for 6 years. They were fantastic and offered to help out with looking after the boys, cooking meals, doing the kinder/school run for me and just being there.

Would like to meet other twin mums with older kids, so I can relate to them.

Dolph

Mum to
DS Bailey 6
DS Jesse 3.5
DD/DS Summer & Taylor 1

Step-Mum to Elodie & Brooke

I joined my local club when I was pregnant and yes they do seem to have a lot of people who have their twins as their first children. But I did meet anither lovely lady with twins the same age and 2 others as well and we have hit it off really well. We get together once a month, on top of the morning teas and the occasional playgroup.

I guess I get a lot out of our newsletters and the social part of twins but it is also reassuring that if I have any other concerns there is always someone to call and speak to about it (other than the EB contacts of course!)

Letitia 34
Dan 34
Georgia 6
Hamish 4
Xander 21mths
Noah 21mths
(plus angels Jesse, Dale and Matilda)

Hi Stacey

We joined shortly after the bubs arrived (meant to do it before before but pregnancy brain and all that...). Perth MBA has coffee groups, but none near me so I haven't been involved with any of them.

I do love getting the newsletter and using the web site, and I REALLY love the MBA discount at baby stores etc I also used the Parent Contact service when my girls were babies and not sleeping - it was just good to have a moan to someone who had been there done that.

Just today I have signed on as a Parent Contact myself so I guess I will be much more involved than before - I will be helping to organise the expectant parent meetings, new mums morning teas etc as well as being a phone contact and on the committee. I'm really looking forward to it.

Nicolie
DDs Paige & Hannah (23/09/03)

Hi Stacey
I joined the Eastern Area MBA in Melb and have found them to be great (I live in Box Hill). I joined before the birth and it was nice to have someone who had twins ring me to see how my pregnancy was going and to get a card from them when I got home from hospital!

My twins are my first babies so when compared to my singleton mother's group (where I am the only one with twins and the mothers all watch me struggle at times to feed/comfort them etc while they hold their one calm baby!), the twins group seems to be a little more supportive. There is a mixture of 1st/2nd time mums who belong.

As others have said, I find the monthly newsletter really good and they have lots of events where you can meet others with multiples to share experiences.

Can't recommend them highly enough!


Lisa
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