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Preeclampsia and twins. Part one of my twin birth story.

preeclampsia in twin pregnancy

Author: Kirsten Smith

36 weeks pregnant with twins

Everything was going pretty well in the pregnancy (except for being unbelievably uncomfortable) until our last ultrasound at 36 weeks. In the lead up to this ultrasound I was so big and so uncomfortable and really just quite miserable – and honestly I was just waiting for the doctors to announce an induction date. I was pretty convinced I’d be pregnant forever, but also on constant alert for pre-term labour. It was a very confusing time.

Anyway, the 36 week ultrasound was FINALLY here and I was so excited to finally know when this was all going to end. (I’m such a miserable pregnant person)

So the ultrasound goes ahead, Twin A was doing really well she was head down and her estimated weight was about 2.7 kgs (awesome!)

But we discover that Twin B is still really small, and we suddenly realise why she had been small through out the pregnancy.

Twin B had a minor chord insertion, which basically meant that her umbilical chord was attached at the very end of the placenta instead of in the centre -so she was working extra hard to get nutrients.

So we spoke with the obstetrician and the midwife, and we agreed to set an induction date for the next week. Which would make the girls 37 weeks.

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Twins and Tutoring. Our experience.

choosing a tutor for twins

*sponsored post

Our girl/boy twins turned nine in year three.  We had kept them back a year (they did two years of kindy/pre-school) as they were end of June babies.  In Queensland the cut off is 30 June.  If they hadn’t had been born prematurely, they would have been going to school the following year, so we decided to keep them back.  So far, I don’t regret holding them back at all.

To separate twins at school or not?

Our twins were in the same class in Prep and Year One at school. 

You can read about their first year of school HERE.

We were going to split them in Year Two, however our teacher said that there was absolutely no reason to split them as far as their school work and school relationships went. So why put the extra pressure on myself to have them in separate classes and have to remember two different library days, two different swimming days etc.  She had two children of her own (two years apart). She said if she had a choice hers would be in the same class purely to cut down on the mental load.  

My partner had been away working FIFO for the second half of Year One. We weren’t sure what was happening with his job for the following year. So we decided to keep them together to make MY life easier.

how to find a tutor for twins
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Having twins – 31 years ago

30 year old twins

Author: Meg Roberts

I saw an ad once for a new birthing centre on the Sunshine Coast.  It said if you have experienced any of these situations, then we are the birthing centre for your next child:

  • High risk pregnancy
  • Low birth weight baby
  • High birth weight baby
  • Pre-eclampsia
  • Caesarian Section
  • VBAC

Wow, I didn’t live on the Sunshine Coast and I was done having babies, but I could tick all those boxes.   And I think many of us can.  Having babies is risky business.  But we are very blessed in Australia to have excellent medical care and great health practitioners to help us on the journey.

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Camping with Twins, Triplets or More

Camping with twins or triplets

Author: Jenni from Big Vans, Kids and Camping

So, you’re thinking of going camping, but are you crazy considering it with twins, triplets or more?

Short answer…….NO YOU’RE NOT!!!

You are definitely not crazy, in our opinion, if you are organised and have thought it out, then it’s definitely a winner.  Camping comes in all sorts of forms and doesn’t have to mean a tent, and why should it be any harder than someone else taking their children.  If you are keen then we say “GO FOR IT”!!  

Here are some of our tips.

caravanning and twins
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Five reasons why backpack harnesses or wrist style leashes for twins, triplets or more are GREAT!

backpack harness for twins

Backpack harnesses or wrist style leashes for twins or triplets

Backpack harnesses or wrist style leashes for twins or triplets can sometimes be a controversial topic.  As the ‘perfect parent I was before I had children’, I certainly ‘judged’ those that used them. 

And then I had children of my own, and not just one child, but two.  At once. And now I understand.   With that said I want to apologize for being the perfect parent (who had no kids!) and was judgy. I never made snide comments to people nor was I rude about it to them about it but in my head I was totally judging.  Which was wrong.

Backpack harnesses or wrist style leashes DO NOT make you a bad parent.  Remember, your babies your rules.  No one has a right to shame you for it, not even family!

As a multiple birth parent myself, I have realised that there is no one way or easy way to take care of your babies.  So if something makes your life simpler, then do it!

leashes for triplets
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Conjoined Twins

rate of conjoined twins

Conjoined twins are identical twins who are joined together somewhere in the body, most often at the chest, abdomen or pelvis. They are monozygotic twins, in the sense that they share the same zygote.

The formation of this twin type is believed to be the result of late twinning. When the twinning occurs more than 12-13 days after fertilization of the egg, it may lead to the formation of conjoined twins because the embryo may not split completely.

Conjoined twin births are very rare, amounting to around one birth in every 100,000 births. The ratio of female and male sets was found to be three to one.  There is a slightly higher chance of conjoined twins from Africa and Southwest Asia.

Depending on where they are joined, some may share some vital internal organs.

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Talking Twins and More. S2 – Ep 18.

Talking Twins and More Season 2 episode 18

 

Talking Twins and More. S2 – Ep 18.

Meet Tori Rees – wife of James Rees or Jimmy Giggle and mum to three gorgeous boys including twins.

Tori joins Nix and Naomi to share her story to multiple pregnancy.

Tori discusses the challenges she and James faced when struggling to fall pregnant for a second time and how they found out there was more than one!

 

Listen to Talking Twins and More. S2 – Ep EIGHTEEN.

 

Talking Twins and More. S2 – Ep 17.

Talking Twins and More Season 2 episode 16

 

Talking Twins and More. S2 – Ep 17.

Mum of Microprems Claire joins us for a second week as we discuss the moments after her 24+1 weekers were born.

She talks about the challenges of NICU, facing challenges after birth, watching your pre-term babies grow in front of your eyes and taking them home.

Laugh, cry and be inspired by Claire’s amazing story.

 

Listen to Talking Twins and More. S2 – Ep SEVENTEEN.

Stretch marks with twin or triplet pregnancy

stretchmarks and triplets

Stretch marks with twin or triplet pregnancy

Stretch marks with twin or triplet pregnancy is one of the things that women fear most.   While stretch marks are not harmful, but they can cause women to feel distressed.  Yes, of course we are all grateful for our body and the amazing things it has done in carrying two, three or even four babies at once.  And yes, we all know they are our “tiger stripes which we have earned and that we should wear them with pride”.  

However, like anything, you are still allowed to mourn the fact that they have appeared!  It doesn’t make you selfish or self-centred. 

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