found out I'm having twins?!?! Now what!

aubrey_martin

Hi everyone!

This is my first time posting here. I'm 21 wks pregnant and found out two weeks ago at my ultrasound that we are having TWIN BOYS!! My husband and I are super excited but a little nervous. I had my ultrasound after my dr. visit. So I haven't even talked to him about them and my next appointment isn't for 3 more weeks! Should I be doing anything different since they're twin? I'm starting to panic about when I should have cribs, strollers, etc.. by. My family hasn't started planning a baby shower. When should I take birthing classes?! This is my first pregnancy so any information would help. Thanks! 

raynadawn

Congrats! Twin boys for me too! Honestly, I still get a little panicked about it.  The one thing that being a mom already has taught me is that it may seem like a huge mountain to climb but you take it one step at a time and before you know it, you're at the top!  You'll be okay!  I think most mom's mottos becomes "This too shall pass"  

Expect to have way more doctor's appointments and sonograms than with a single baby.  With twins you'll have a sonogram at least every 4 weeks and that should start now.  You're biweekly visits will also start earlier (like, soon), you should ask your doc about it next visit.  The twins are a bit more of a drain on your body so be religious about prenatal vitamins and be prepared to drink TONS of water and I've found that frequent small meals throughout the day keep my blood sugar happy, my energy up and heartburn at bay. 

Talk to your mom (or sister or aunt, whoever you're comfortable with asking) about a shower. It just might not have occurred to them that you need to plan any earlier and I'm sure they'll want to help out.  The amount of help I've gotten from my family has been amazing, much more than my first pregnancy actually! Since the average twins are born at 35 weeks and not 39 weeks, and you'll have to fill in some gaps on your own no matter which way you look at it (Think about 20 diapers a day for that first three months...  that's about 1800 diapers!) , try to plan for one at least 8-10 weeks before your due date.  It gives you time to exchange, fill in and get organized before you potentially pop without having to rush it.  Just keep in mind that you don't need double of everything. Unless you intend to dress them alike every day, you can get buy with 1.5 times the clothing (yea to having two of the same sex!), just one bathtub, a single grooming kit, changing pad.  But you might want to double up on a few things, like swings.  Try and think about what will go down in pairs and what won't.   Oh, and even if you intend to breastfeed, get a good supply of bottles, bottle coolers, a good warmer and a good pump.  You will want your husband's help, trust me!

Good luck, remember to breathe every once in a while!  

raraavis28

Congratulations and welcome!! PP gave excellent advice....I would ditto everything! I'd also add that, depending on how many levels your home has , to even double up....or register for two....changing pads and diaper pails. A friend of mine sent me an extra of each and at first I thought I wouldn't need it but I've found it invaluable to have "baby stations" on both levels of our condo, esp. after a csection when I can't climb stairs every 10 minutes.

HTH! GL!

Eta: I have twin boys too! Hooray Team Blue!

rinascita

I also agree with most (if not all) of what PP have said.

Do you know what type of twins ( i.e., mo/mo mo/di or di/di)?

I would call your OB and ask about a Perinatalogist consult ASAP because if your boys are even thought to be sharing a placenta you need the additional monitoring and you're currently in the more critical window when to be monitored.  FWIW, at this point or this late they won't really be able to tell you 100% if you have mo/di twins with 1 placenta or di/di twins whose 2 placentas have fused to appear as 1 (assuming they have separate amniotic sacs).

ETA: Welcome to team Blue !!! 

PregoAnja

Congratulations!  Boys are lots of fun.  

aubrey_martin

I know they have separate sacs and placenta so the ultrasound tech said they were not identical. However i read there is a slight chance they still could be.

kiwi443

rinascita:

I also agree with most (if not all) of what PP have said.

Do you know what type of twins ( i.e., mo/mo mo/di or di/di)?

I would call your OB and ask about a Perinatalogist consult ASAP because if your boys are even thought to be sharing a placenta you need the additional monitoring and you're currently in the more critical window when to be monitored.  FWIW, at this point or this late they won't really be able to tell you 100% if you have mo/di twins with 1 placenta or di/di twins whose 2 placentas have fused to appear as 1 (assuming they have separate amniotic sacs).

ETA: Welcome to team Blue !!! 

Ditto this. Not all OBs are informed about the types of multiples pregancies and the associated risks. I too found out that I was having twins at 20 weeks. I ended up switching OBs because mine didn't even think it was important to determine chorionicity (how many placentas).

Best wishes! It's a lot to process. Keep checking out this board, I found it to be hugely helpful as a resource during my pregnancy.