FEBRUARY HEARTS Due in February 2015 , open group all welcome!

[bridgetboo62]

yeah i have never heard anyone use that term here in the US

 

[MellyH]

I'm familiar with the term 'muddled' = mixed up from Australia!

 

[RaspberryK]

That must be the uk origins of most of the aussies xx

 

[Feronia]

Zombie, omg I would have been furious if that many people showed up unexpectantly demanding to hold the baby! Good idea only telling the essential people when the time comes. I’m still not going to announce on Facebook or to extended family until after 20 weeks, but I sort of wish AND don’t wish I had waited until 30 weeks! I’m glad that MIL and FIL are going to help us buy a 4-door car, and that probably wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Though I’m also getting annoying advice from my mom… *sigh* I’m definitely excited to hear about the awkward times you have in December!

I would personally recommend against What to Expect when you’re Expecting. There are soooo many better pregnancy books out there that don’t function to scare the shit out of you about everything! I really dislike that book and took it out of my doula lending library, lol. Try:
-Birthing From Within
-Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (by Penny Simkin), and definitely get
-The Birth Partner
for your partners and for all other people who will be at your birth. My midwife had my husband read The Birth Partner when we were expecting our first and it’s a fabulous read. It talks about pregnancy, childbirth, and ways to support the birthing mother from the perspective of the father or birth companion. The full title is: “The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions.”

I just bought some great books to prepare my toddler for a home birth! So excited!

 

[bubbamadness]

Hello ladies, congratulations on all the scans and on your sisters beautiful baby Bridget.

I've just got back from 3 nights camping. Was really nice, my kids really enjoyed it. I cant wait to jump into my lovely comfy bed though! Really need a good nights sleep.

Was really happy when I got home to find a letter with my first scan date waiting for me Roll on 14th August

 

[bridgetboo62]

thank you bubba madness!

 

[savvysaver]

savvy saver, no need to panic twins are often different weights to each other, and in my limited experience of my daughter, I knew when she lost ounces or gained ounces as it was so obvious on her arms legs wrists and chin, so if they are even half a pound different in weight (and often it's more) you will tell so easily when they are just in a nappy. and by the time they even up I'm sure they will be their own little personalities, even at a few Weeks old! wow twins are generally just amazing, babies in the first place are a bit of a wonder! x x

Thanks! I would feel bad if I got them mixed up but I am sure there will be some way to tell them apart. It would probably be worse if they were identical twins in the teenage years - they could really pull some stunts on us!

I think I would thinking about it, can you get cute twin id bracelets?
Xx

I would definitely get bracelets if I needed them!

My silly twin worries...I guess I should be more concerned about feeding two hungry babies at the same time or changing 100's of diapers a day!

 

[crysshae]

I know the word muddled and I'm in the US. Maybe it's a southern thing here....

Feronia - I've never read what to expect. Hearing you talk about it I'm glad I didn't.

Savvy - I'm sure you'll get in a routine after a bit and everything will go smoothly. I breastfed my twins until they were 15 months old. I couldn't feed them at the same time as it caused me anxiety for some reason so the double pillow I bought for that before they were born was no use. I or someone else would comfort one while I fed the other and we took turns with who was first.

 

[MellyH]

Thanks for the suggestions, Feronia! I didn't find WtE to be too frightening, but I didn't read the whole thing.

 

[Feronia]

Thanks for the suggestions, Feronia! I didn't find WtE to be too frightening, but I didn't read the whole thing.

Overall, I've found that What to Expect dwells quite a bit on rare, worst case scenarios and complications and really helps to instill and reinforce more worry in a process where many moms are already overly paranoid about! If you read it, read it with skepticism and try not to think that all of the horror stories and complications will happen to you. In the vast majority of cases, your body knows how to grow and birth a baby... or two!

The book even tells you that you shouldn't receive oral sex when you're pregnant because it might kill both the mother and the baby! Don't worry, this is ABSOLUTE nonsense!

 

[ttc126]

Thanks for the suggestions, Feronia! I didn't find WtE to be too frightening, but I didn't read the whole thing.

Overall, I've found that What to Expect dwells quite a bit on rare, worst case scenarios and complications and really helps to instill and reinforce more worry in a process where many moms are already overly paranoid about! If you read it, read it with skepticism and try not to think that all of the horror stories and complications will happen to you. In the vast majority of cases, your body knows how to grow and birth a baby... or two!

The book even tells you that you shouldn't receive oral sex when you're pregnant because it might kill both the mother and the baby! Don't worry, this is ABSOLUTE nonsense!

While i agree the book does present worst case scenarios a lot, probably too much, nowhere does my copy say anything about oral sex killing mother or baby. I have it on my e-reader and searched the term to double check and it does not say that. On page 350 it says, "Oral stimulation of the female genitals is as safe as it is potentially pleasurable throughout pregnancy, so don't hesitate to go for it."

I do agree with you that it can be unnecessarily scary in parts. But o find a lot of the people saying negative things about the book haven't actually read it....just hear it's bad and assume the worst.

 

[River54]

I am familiar with the term muddled as well (I am in Canada).

With identical twins - you colour code them as babies, and when they get older, there are always some differences, from gene expression. I have 2 sets of identical twin nephews, in pictures it is really hard to tell them apart - but in person - easy once you actually know them. Their personalities are very different - mind you they'll tell you right away if you call them by the wrong name!

So, stopped my meds last Sat (Estrace and Crinone) and my symptoms have eased up quite a bit. Sort of worried about it, and can't wait for the u/s on Friday to ensure all is well.

 

[savvysaver]

Feronia, I just read What to Expect since I got it free on my kindle. I decided to skip any part that would make me nervous and not focus on the worst case scenarios since I am a nervous person to start with. Thanks for your other book suggestions, I am definitely going to check them out!

crysshae, thanks for your positive comment! I am most worried about the first month or two as I get into a routine. My husband will take a week or two off work to help get us started but after that I will be alone for about 9-10 hours a day. All of our parents still work and cannot help us out, though I think my mom might take a week off to help me. I am thinking of hiring a nanny part time for at least the first few months. Breastfeeding two at once while I am alone seems almost impossible but I will do my best or feed one at a time. I really hope to breastfeed as long as possible! If you don't mind me asking, how old are your twins now?

River, thanks! I will definitely make sure I color code them somehow! My aunt is an identical twin and while they are both so different personality wise, they look the exact same which is a bit scary. They are in their early 50's and have the same hair color, hair cut and dress the same.

 

[Captain]

Thanks for the replies re the scan ladies, I'm seeing my ob in about a week's time so I'll be having words with him!

 

[ZombieKitten]

You know... speaking of pregnancy educational books.. I think that's how I'll make my FB announcement (when the time is right). Maybe I can find some kind of book about like "3 under 3!" or "Expecting another baby!" or something like that, and I'll be sure to read it, rate it, and review it via GoodReads and I'll make sure it "shares" to my Facebook!! I'm sure people will catch on quite quickly . Won't be for a while though so I have quite some time to pick the perfect Title

 

[River54]

Another trick with twins - paint one of their toe nails...to keep track of who is who.

 

[savvysaver]

Another trick with twins - paint one of their toe nails...to keep track of who is who.

I like that idea! Thanks!

 

[SurpriseBub]

Feronia, I just read What to Expect since I got it free on my kindle. I decided to skip any part that would make me nervous and not focus on the worst case scenarios since I am a nervous person to start with. Thanks for your other book suggestions, I am definitely going to check them out!

crysshae, thanks for your positive comment! I am most worried about the first month or two as I get into a routine. My husband will take a week or two off work to help get us started but after that I will be alone for about 9-10 hours a day. All of our parents still work and cannot help us out, though I think my mom might take a week off to help me. I am thinking of hiring a nanny part time for at least the first few months. Breastfeeding two at once while I am alone seems almost impossible but I will do my best or feed one at a time. I really hope to breastfeed as long as possible! If you don't mind me asking, how old are your twins now?

River, thanks! I will definitely make sure I color code them somehow! My aunt is an identical twin and while they are both so different personality wise, they look the exact same which is a bit scary. They are in their early 50's and have the same hair color, hair cut and dress the same.

I was an au pair for a family that had a 3 y.o., a 4 y.o... and then their 'last baby' turned out to be twins. I had an amazing time, and consider them a part of my family they had me for that first year, as it was too much for the mum home with the kids to handle and feel comfortable. We would wear a baby each and either do stuff with all four kids, or split them up and have someone do food shopping with a baby, the other do an outing or something like that. Like I said- I loved it and they seemed very happy to have had me. I left after 1 year (I was a student and had to go back to uni) and they didn't have a new nanny, as by that stage everyone (esp. The twins) were happy and settled into a routine. I think the mum stayed home for another 6 months, and then the twins were in daycare (and the older kids at kinder/after care). They came to my wedding in the US from Switzerland, so I took that as a sign that they were happy too!

If you are interested in doing the nanny thing, I would definitely recommend looking into it. I had three great experiences- you just need to be fair (ie. Be Kind and pay a fair wage) and choose carefully. If it is a good match, I think you would be very happy!

 

[savvysaver]

I was an au pair for a family that had a 3 y.o., a 4 y.o... and then their 'last baby' turned out to be twins. I had an amazing time, and consider them a part of my family they had me for that first year, as it was too much for the mum home with the kids to handle and feel comfortable. We would wear a baby each and either do stuff with all four kids, or split them up and have someone do food shopping with a baby, the other do an outing or something like that. Like I said- I loved it and they seemed very happy to have had me. I left after 1 year (I was a student and had to go back to uni) and they didn't have a new nanny, as by that stage everyone (esp. The twins) were happy and settled into a routine. I think the mum stayed home for another 6 months, and then the twins were in daycare (and the older kids at kinder/after care). They came to my wedding in the US from Switzerland, so I took that as a sign that they were happy too!

If you are interested in doing the nanny thing, I would definitely recommend looking into it. I had three great experiences- you just need to be fair (ie. Be Kind and pay a fair wage) and choose carefully. If it is a good match, I think you would be very happy!

Thanks for the great tips and such a positive story! What a special bond you have with the family. I babysat a long time ago when I was in high school for a family with 3 girls, I spent 4 years with them a few nights a week. Luckily they lived down the street. They are now grown up themselves and in college (gulp, yep I am getting old!) and it is great that I have kept in touch with them on facebook, etc.

I definitely have to gather more info about a nanny. I don't think I would need someone full time, but I would need someone responsible. Luckily I would be here the entire time and basically just need an assistant!

 

[SurpriseBub]

I definitely have to gather more info about a nanny. I don't think I would need someone full time, but I would need someone responsible. Luckily I would be here the entire time and basically just need an assistant![/QUOTE]

When I did my Masters, I watched two little girls 2-3 days a week, which worked great for me (and again- they were a lovely family and still in touch). If you are flexible on days etc, I am sure there would be lots of options. My husband is still in touch with the elderly lady who watched him and his sister 30 years ago. She was seemingly about 50 then and just looking for a bit of part time work. I guess you just have to find the right fit for you.

Lovely that you are in touch with your old charges, too!