twins at home? - Page 9

[Augustine]

Jill,
I am so glad this thread has kept going too, I have no one else to ask questions of! Yes, I'm feeling better, Last weekend, my friend brought me food and my husband cooked a lot and I just focused on eating and have stayed that way through the week, just making myself eat every two hours or so and I feel tons better, I think it must be the hormones and also I think I am a little hypoglysimic and if I don't eat, I "can't" eat, you know... thanks for asking! How are you?

mommy of twins,
I'm 18 weeks on Friday, and my fundus is 1 finger bredth above my navel or 24 cm...I will just wait and see if the measurements slow down or If I can hear two heatbeats and palpate three polls, It is hard to play the waiting game.... I will start using my fetascope his week to listen. That is cool about identicle twins maybe running in the family,,, "exerts" don't have personal expereince they just read a lot! lol
love to all,

[Cyan]

Hi!

I just thought I'd jump in here!
I'm having twins in January, and just had an ultrasound done yesterday and I found out what they are! It's funny because I had dreams the 2 nights before we went that they were one of each and they are! I know it doesn't matter, and I'd be happy with whoever they are, but I am thrilled it's one of each!

So they are definitely fraternal, and I know I don't have any twins in my family at all, so it isn't just related to heredity, other factors are involved obviously, and I didn't have any fertility treatments so that wasn't it, who knows!

I'm a bit concerned because there is a 24% difference in size between them (Boy is in the 85% and girl is 35%). It shouldn't matter too much though because they're not identical, right?

I've been following this thread for a while, and thinking of you Gogi, I hope you're holding those babes by now!

~Andrea
mama to Phoenix (Aug. 1/00)
and g/b twins January-ish

[KatherineinCA]

Congrtulations Cyan! We have girl/boy also (they're seven). That's great news.

[Theo's Mama]

Hi Cyan,

Welcome. How far along are you? I've been told that with fraternal there is still some worry that the placentas can fuse and one can take nutrition from the other--hence my more frequent ultrasounds even though mine are fraternal too. But 24% doesn't sound that large to me, because many of the people I know who have had fraternals have had quite a difference and had two healthy babies, they are just individuals right from the start. What do your caregivers (and who are you seeing--midwife/doctor, etc) say? ps. love the name Phoenix! Do you have names for your twins?

Art of Birthing,

Glad you are doing so well on eating. I thought my measurements were good too, and was congratulating myself on stuffing in all that food. It is so wierd because I usually have a huge appetite and now that I am supposed to eat all the time, I'm never hungry.

Gogi,

you must be cuddling those babies by now. I'm taking your absence on the thread as a good sign that you are busy doing more important things.

Mommy of Twins,

I am excited to have girls because I have a three-year-old son and wanted at least one daughter. He was hoping for another boy, but seems happy. Yesterday during the ultrasound he kept telling us that one might be a boy when they came out. . .

It's so exciting to have so many people on this thread.

[Cyan]

Thanks for the welcome!

Their placentas are on total opposite sides of my uterus so I don't think there's any chance of them fusing. I'm only about 19 weeks so I was concerned that the size difference will grow even larger. I guess if I'm eating really good though (I've got those damn protein shakes) their should be enough for both of them right?

I've had a *really* hard time finding an appropriate care giver. I was with my local midwives but when twins were found I was supposed to do shared care with them and an OB. Needless to say the OB was a nightmare, and the midwives couldn't help.

So. after trying to find a lay or direct entry midwife to help me have them at home (good luck if you're in southern Ontario) and coming up empty, and considering unassissted (would love to but dh would flip) I've found some good care. I have to drive almost an hour though but I'm with a midwife again, and an OB who is amazing. I have to have them at a hospital, but it's a really good one so hopefully it won't be too bad, I would love to have a home water birth though, and am so sad that it's not gonna happen.

Thank you, I love her name too!
I've been racking my brain for good names for these ones too, but really don't know yet. Any suggestions?!

[Chloe]

Augustine- you could very well be having twins!

You go ladies! Homebirth those twins!

[Augustine]

Cyan,
Welcome!! I am so excited we are only like a week apart! I still don't know yet if I am having twins, though and would love to know your whole story, how you found out, what made you suspect, do you feel yourself ovulate, and did you feel double ovulation, how far are you measuring, when did you start being measured?
oh my gosh, I am so sorry to go on and on, I am so excited to hear your answers, you may have some clues for me!
thanks a ton and welcome. This will be fun to be close to birthing together!

[laurashanley]

Jill - I'm glad you enjoyed "Clear Road"! I had fun making it. Jeannine Parvati Baker (who appears in the film) will be here next week for a conference. It will be nice to see her again. And there's another twin connection - Jeannine had her twins at home. She had planned on having them in the hospital but didn't like the way she was being treated. So in the middle of labor, she went home. The babies were born easily.
Laura

[Chloe]

Wow! Leaving the hospital! That is tempting!!! My husband wants the hospital birth, not me. What made me upset afterwards the first time- was how long it took the hospital to ADMIT me! I got there at midnight, was dilated to three, so they hooked me to that monitor (next time I don't want it!) and the contrax slowed down. They had been 5 min apart, or less. So I walked around, at the nurses' advice. Then I got to 5 cm in less than 2 hours. I was still in the TRIAGE! (I did have a very cool nurse...she was there almost the whole time.)

I felt like they were treating me like I didn't know I was in labor, being a "dumb first time mom" . These first timers don't have a clue!!! Yeah- if I wasn't in labor, why would I be there? If I was scheduled for induction, or having a scheduled c section, they'd take me right in!!! So, since I will probably have a hospital birth- I will stay at home for as long as possible...heck I might end up leaving the hospital, too!!! I guess they can't "make" you stay.

Francine

[Augustine]

Laura,
I believe that the english Anthropolist and birth activist, Shella Kitzinger, also had her twins at home!

[gogi]

Wow, you guys have been busy! I am sad to say that I am STILL pregnant. You know I would let you know right away if anything happens. I went for an NST and ultrasound on Tuesday and the babes seem fine, evrything went great. I had a vaginal exam and I am 4cm and 50% effaced. I was crampy all yesterday and had a lot of contractions last night. I though I might go into labor, but did not. I have had an increase in discharge (really slimy). There is progress but I am getting impatient, especially becasue I am having no contractions today. My doctors are fine with the length of the pregnancy and will not want to induce unless the babies start showing signs of distress. I want to get them out so that we can stop all the testing. I am officially "overdue" at this point.

My only fear is that we will get to the point where they don't look good and induction will be reccomended. I want to avoid that at all cost. If I don't have them by Friday I might consider acupuncture. My chiro. is a friend and will come to the house to do it.

I want to welcome all the new people to the thread. I hope I can share my birth experience with all of you very soon. Our twins were a complete surprise (no fertility drugs) and twins are not in my family. We don't know if they are fraternal or identical. There seems to be one placenta but often the placentas fuse together and they can't see that on ultrasound. So we will have a lot of surprises on the birth day.

Irealized that I have never used my real name and since we have become so personal I thought I would share it with you.

Thanks for all the support,
Denyse - wife to Desmond, mom to Sebastian and baby A&B

[Cyan]

Augustine,

I didn't have a clue actually that I was having twins. I had an early ultrasound because my cycles had been pretty screwy (dd is still nursing), (I almost refused it actually, but decided to do it, due to paranoia on my part), they wanted to do it for dating. I pretty much had a meltdown on the bed. I'm glad I found out so early because I'm still adjusting to the idea of it, although I'm much happier and excited now then I was then. I'm just concerned about tandem nursing with twins YIKES!

My symptoms haven't been that bad at all actually. Virtually no morning sickness (same as pregnancy w/dd) just more tired. I've got BAD sciatic (sp?) and pelvic pain, but that's the worse of it. I am bigger then for a single pg though, I haven't been measured in a while though, so I'm not sure just how big I am. I've gained about 10 pounds (approx.).

I can't believe that you can stand holding out and not getting one done! I really hate any interventions, but I'm glad I've had both the u/s I have had, I do feel uncomfortable about possible risks, but hopefully that won't be an issue.

It does sound like you're having twins to me though!

[Augustine]

Denyse!!!
wow, This is amazing!!! you are an example to all of us! I am just so awed by you carring so long, we all though for sure that you would have had them by now!! Oh well, it will be soon! and we all can't wait until then!!! to hear your story!!!!!!! wow that is about all I can say!
love and great birthing vibes!!

[Augustine]

Thanks for your post Cyan, I did double ovulate that month and have a lot of "twin" symptoms, and I considered an ultrasound, but to tell you the truth it is just too complicated to get it done. I am pretty much unwilling to get myself into the medical system and that is the only way to do an ultrasound!
There is no way I would ever go to the dr. that our military insurance covers! And then we would have to pay out of pocket assuming that wwe could find someone to take us just for the referal, which is unlikely, and all the midwives in the area know that I had my first two unassisted, so its not like they could believe I was maybe going to use theiur services. So actually it is impossible to get one, now that I really think about. I do know one doctor that might let me pay him out of pocket for an US in his office, but really, it seems like too much to get myself into and I know it would just increase my stress level!
I am so close now to being able to know better anyway, with heartbeats and palpation, that I will just wait, but it is really hard not to know like all of you!
I am 18 weeks on Fri and I have suspected twins since the day before I concieved! this has been a long wait! and bound to be longer! thank you all for letting me tag along though until I find out! Either way I will birth at home unassisted again! love to all

[Chloe]

CYAN- that sciatic nerve pain is the worst!!! had it with Keiran (first pregnancy!) I feel for you!!!! The best positon to alleviate it is to get on your hands and knees and arch your back and roll your back. At least it helped me, because it pulled the weight off the nerve. Hope it goes away. I also alternated hot and cold packs on my back.
How old is your dd?


Denyse- it is so cool that you have carried so long!!! Healthy babies! They just like their home tooooooo much!
But, it does sound like you are getting close!!! Keep mooving about, and walk as much as you can!!!!! I guess even intimate relations with your dh would help, though it could be difficult!!!! I've never carried twins, so I imagine that might be hard Baby dancing is supposed to help, seriously.

Maybe dancing would help!!! Just put on some swing music!! lol that should get those babies movin!!!

I told Keiran his house was getting to small, and he just needed to come out because we wanted to meet him silly. But he came almost on his due date. (the next day, early in the morning!!)

[KatherineinCA]

Cyan--

A thought on the pelvic pain. I had really bad pelvic pain toward the end of my twin pregnancy, and in this pregnancy, it's been bad since about 8 weeks. Some days I have to crawl because my legs won't work. A mom on the ICAN list posted an article on this. It's at plus-sizepregnancy.org, and I think it's listed under "Pelvic Pain." They say in the article that the pain is caused by a misaligned pelvis, and that chiropractic treatments have helped many moms. I haven't gotten in to a chiropractor yet, but I need to see if I can get some help. I am hopeful just thinking help might be out there, instead of the OB chalking it up to normal "aches and pains" of pregnancy. Anyway, just wanted to pass that info along to you. (I think the article talks about sciatica, too.)
,

[Cyan]

Thanks!

I have an amazing chiropractor, who I've been to a few times already, and it has made a big difference for a few days, but then the joints seem to just fall out of place again. I'm going to be going to her more regularily towards the end of this pregnancy, sooner if we can afford it. The pain so far seems to be mostly at night, when I roll over or move at all, it's getting hard for me to sleep already :

[Mommy of twins]

gogi,

It will all be over before you know it and you'll miss that big pregnant belly. Do you have a birthing ball? If so, it's really comfortable to rock your hips around and stretch that pelvis. Just a thought. More positive birthing vibes your way!

Welcome everyone else. I'm excited to hear everyone's stories!

[Mommy of twins]

I just read your other post and my dh is a chiropractor and I got adjusted practicly everyday carrying the twins. It really helped but I guess it was easier being married to a chiropractor.

[Augustine]

Oh Lucky you, I should have married a chiropactor!!!!! I am going to mine tomorrow! Can't wait!