My name is Bec. My husband and I are expecting identical twins (our first babies) in March/April 2010. I'm from the Northern Rivers area, NSW.
Our twins were conceived through IVF. Only one blastocyst was transferred so we were excited, shocked, humbled and amazed when two little heartbeats showed up at our first ultrasound!
My pregnancy journey since then has been fantastic. I was very, very tired early on, but have never struggled with morning sickness or nausea.
We decided not to find out the sex of our babies. There has been a size difference between them for the entire pregnancy and we've been monitored very closely (every 2 weeks) since 14 weeks. Doctors were concerned about Twin To Twin Transfusion Syndrome, although it never developed.
Now almost 30 weeks along, babies are doing very well. We're not sure quite how soon we might meet them yet, but we hope it won't be before 34 weeks, and possibly as long as 38 weeks if we're lucky and babies continue to grow with gusto!
Would love to hear from anyone with similar stories or experiences, or from an area close by to me.
Hi Bec
Congratulations, that is wonderful news, it has been a little lonely in here lately.
Where abouts in the NR do you live, what hospital are you going to?
I just had my twin girls 1 month ago, it has been the most amazing experience. I went to 37 weeks, however developed colestatis which meant I couldn't go past 37 weeks (it is a liver/bile issue where bile acid goes into the blood stream and makes you extremely itchy/also puts bubs at risk). Both my girls were breech so a C-section was the only option. I went to John Flynn, it was the best experience, as the girls were almost full term they had not time in special care, the C-section was quick and smooth, I held them while they stitched me up, we had skin to skin in recovery and they were breast feeding within 30 minutes of being born. And they roomed in with us for the entire time. I have had them home now for 3 weeks and it is going really well.
I too had fears that mine would come early, so had my hospital bags packed from 28 weeks. It is really great to get to those major milestones, 28 weeks, then 32 weeks, then 34 weeks, I guess after that anytime is an ok time. I hope you are looking after yourself and having plenty of rest. I had a few false alarms and spent a couple of nights in hospital around 34 weeks with lots of braxton hicks contractions. But all ended up fine.
Even thought our girls aren't identical and no TTTS, we did have some weight discrepancies, my Sophia was 2830gms and my little Aria 2330gms at birth. So 500gms different. Aria is slowly catching up on her sister.
I am currently feeding them solely breast milk. I started expressing pretty much straight away every 3 hours, by hand at first and by day 3 with the electric pump, and got a good amount of colostrum and my milk came in by day 4. I hired a twin breast feeding pillow from the multiple birth association, and it is working really well for me. I am also following the feeding routine from Save Our Sleep by Tizzie Hall, and it is working really well. They are feeding at 9.30 pm, again at 2.30 am, then sleeping until 7.00 am, so I am actually getting some decent sleep.
Anyway, DH is telling me to get off the laptop, better go, would love to hear how you go the next couple of weeks. Take care xx
Congratulations on your two baby girls! It was lovely to read your email, it sounds like you've had such a positive experience with the birth of your babies.
I live in Goonellabah (just up the hill from Lismore, towards the coast) and my husband and I are also going to John Flynn hospital. We see Dr Trueman - who did you see throughout your pregnancy? We also see Professor Cincotta each fortnight when we get our scans done. Both Doctors have been lovely and very reassuring.
I had my 30 week ultrasound yesterday and both bubs are doing well. Twin A weighs about 1400g and Twin B weighs about 1000g. The Doctors still seem to be pretty cautious, they're aiming for 34 weeks. I really hope we can stretch that out to 36 weeks.
Twin A is head-down and quite low, but Twin B is breech. My Obstetrician seems pretty keen for a caesarian birth as well. If I could get the babies to 36 weeks and everything was ok, I would love to try a natural birth, but at this stage we're planning for the c-section. We will likely have Easter babies!
I'm so pleased to hear a little about your caesarian birth. It is fantastic to know that you had so much contact with your babies straight away and that everything went smoothly. How was your recovery afterwards? I'm a little nervous that my bubs might be so early that they will be rushed off to special care straight away and be in hospital for quite a few weeks, but I'm sure we'll just make the most of whatever happens.
It was also great to hear that Aria is catching up to her big sister, and that breastfeeding has been going well for you all. I'm looking forward to the little things... hearing their crys for the first time, spotting the differences between them, seeing if they get my feet or my husbands nose, and of course just being a new mum!
Would love to hear more about how your going and your girls.
Best wishes
Bec
It is great to hear from you. I can't say enough about John Flynn, I popped in to see the midwives yesterday when I had a paediatric appointment, and they were so warm and happy to see us. Hopefully you will love it too. My OB was Dr Dutt, but I have heard good reports about Dr Trueman also.
Glad to hear that your appointment went well and that your bubs are a good size. Fingers crossed you can hang on I guess it is every day at a time, make sure you are resting. I pushed it a bit and was rennovating the house, painting etc up to about 32 weeks. You must be feeling heavy and stretched now, I think the last month or so was the hardest, and you feel like you can't get any bigger, and then you get bigger still . Though in saying that I am quite happy with my post birth belly, and I was lucky no stretch marks, though my belly button will never be the same again.
I was really keen for a vaginal delivery, but unfortunately my girls had other plans. If you are able, go for it. I was the same as you, what ever is best for your babies and you at birth, and again I ended up totally happy with the C-section. Will be crossing my fingers for you aiming for 36 weeks and hoping no time in special care. Are you planning to breastfeed?
And I agree with you, I just couldn't wait to see what they looked like. They have their own little personalities already. Here are my girls if you are on Facebook if you want to have a look. Log In | Facebook
Let me know how you are going, will check in to see your new. xx
I had a look at the photos of your beautiful girls - they are gorgeous! Both girls look so healthy and happy. Yourself and your husband are glowing! The photos are fantastic, thanks for sharing.
I finished work a week ago, so have been able to put my feet up a little each day. I'm appreciating the time to rest more than I thought I would. I'm just getting to the stage now where I'm feeling quite heavy and tight, and sleep is becoming more interrupted due to stiffness. In all though, I feel great. I've had a terrific pregnancy so far and have enjoyed every stage.
Ronnie and I have been very pleased with our decision to go through John Flynn to date, and hearing your experiences makes me even more happy. Thanks for your tips too about what to take to hospital. I haven't packed a bag yet but I guess I should start seriously thinking about it soon!
My babies kick, wriggle and move around quite a bit. I love the feeling and the odd shapes that my tummy forms! My round belly often looks like a figure 8 rather than a nice, round shape.
I'm on facebook so I'll add you. You're welcome to take time to have a look through some of my photos. There are a few copies of our scan piccys.
I am planning to breastfeed. It sounds like you've got a great routine going. We thought we would end up doing something simiar - feeding them together, either when one or the other wakes or at regular times.
I'll keep you posted on how we're travelling. Be sure to do the same, it's exciting to read about how your bubs are going and what I have to look forward to.
congratulations bec on your little twinnies hunny.
im not a mummy of twins but just love stalking my twin mummys lol so glad you found our babydreamtime as she just a beautiful girl.
i wish you all the very best hun xoxo
Thank you Smithy! Baby Charlie is beautiful Big congratulations!
My husband and I had IVF treatment also. We had a sense that we might have some trouble so when the time came we decided to see a specialist from the beginning. We were fortunate to have a very encouraging and fast-acting specialist who was quick to diagnose blocked fallopian tubes. We had to wait only a short amount of time before getting into the next round of IVF treatment locally.
We found the treatment itself not too bad. However, once it was all over I got a case of hyperstimulation and the clinic very nearly pulled the pin. Thankfully our specialist assessed us for himself and advised we could go ahead. The hyperstimulation got a little worse when I became pregnant and I was very bloated and fluid filled for about 3 weeks! In hindsight it makes sense, as my hormone levels would have been doubly as high with the twins, but at the time we didn't realise.
We've had our ups and downs getting to this point, so we're so extremely greatful to now be expecting our first babies. I've thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of pregnancy. The entire journey is such a miracle. We've been humbled, overjoyed, apprehensive and excited all at the same time! Now I can't wait to meet our little creations.
I hope you are well and would love to hear all you goo-gaa baby stories any time you feel like sharing
Hi Bec,
Just checking in to see how you are going. You will have to add a signature so we can tell how far along you are. Hope you are resting up and have had no dramas, will check FB too.
I am going really well, though the girls have been going through a bit of a growth spurt and cluster feeding every day for the past week between 4pm and 7pm, and getting really frustrated and tired at the end, it is hard work to BF both and there is no time to give your breasts a rest and allow them to fill up again lol. But I am getting there, and have started squeezing in expressing again, just to have extra for back up.
Let me know how you are going.
Also just for fun I posted on FB some pics from a twin mothers group I went to today, 8 mums and 16 babies, it was incredible and lots of fun. Here is the link.
Smithy my love, thanks for popping in to say hi xx
Expecting Twins March/April 2010
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Big congratulations!
hi bec,just popping in to see how your going hunny..i hope all is going well for you
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