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My calm twin birth

Calm birth for twins

Author: Melanie Geary

As soon as I found out I was pregnant with fraternal twins, my dreams of a natural calm birth felt like it was slowly slipping away.

The only stories I had heard of were c-sections, or an attempted vaginal birth then emergency c-section, and very premature babies to top it off. I was petrified and spent the first few weeks considering just booking in for a c-section rather than attempting vaginal at all.

Thankfully my midwife was so supportive of my wishes for a natural delivery, as was the obstetrician that oversaw my pregnancy (if twin A was head down). The hospital strongly recommended an epidural and considering up the pro’s and con’s to this was on my mind for months. I was also concerned as I was a public patient I would get whichever obstetrician who was there on the day and they might try to change my birth wishes.

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Retained placenta after twins. My story.

retained placenta with twins

Author: Sarah Fraser

Back in September last year I was blessed to welcome 2 healthy babies into our family, making them kids number 3 and 4 for hubby and I. Plus 4 under 4 

I always knew the twins would come via c-section as both of my previous pregnancies were also c-sections due to them being breech and not turning. I am also lucky that with all 3 pregnancies I have never experienced labour (bonus!!). 

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Newborn Photography for Multiples

newborn photography for multiples


Newborn Photography for Multiples

Sarah from Dart Newborn Photography is not “only” a photographer; she is also a NICU nurse with over a decade of experience in handling premature babies.  So you can rest assured that your precious multiples are in the very best of hands.

How long have you been working as a newborn photographer?

I have been a professional newborn \photographer for 5 years now, it is crazy to believe that the first babies I photographed are starting school!!

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The Multiple Birth Dictionary. An overview of common multiple birth terms.

multiple birth terms

Please note:  This is recommended to be used as an overview only and has been compiled from a variety of web resources. For further clarification on any term and any medical advice, please speak to your health care professional.  

Some terms are more ‘general’ baby terms however I have been requested to include them.

Please contact us if you would like a term added or updated. Thank you.


A

Adjusted age – See ‘corrected age’

Advanced maternal age – Pregnancy when the mother is 35 years old or older.  Sometimes referred to as a ‘geriatric pregnancy’.

AMBA – Australian Multiple Birth Association was formed as a volunteer organisation in 1974. AMBA is the only national charity in Australia focused on improving the lives of twins, triplets or more and their families.

Amniotic sac – a bag of fluid inside a woman’s womb (uterus) where the unborn baby develops and grows. It’s sometimes called the “membranes” because the sac is made of 2 membranes called the amnion and the chorion.

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Expressing for twins and triplets. Tips for getting started.

expressing for twins and triplet

Lynne -McKensey Hall is an internationally certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Registered Midwife.  She has helped hundreds of families on their breastfeeding journey.  Lynne’s focus is centred on supporting mothers by offering options available for breastfeeding that will work within the family unit.

She shares with us her tips for getting started with expressing for twins or more. Please note this article includes affiliate links.

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Post Natal Depression: what to watch for in parents of twins and multiples (and tips to help!)

PND with twins

Most new parents will feel overwhelmed at times, and it is incredibly natural to have a cry. With next to no sleep, peace or fun in sight I would be surprised if mums of newborn multiples don’t feel down or have a good bawl every now and then. But there are the ‘baby blues’ and then there is something much more concerning, and that is post natal depression with twins.

PND is concerning in any new mum, not just parents of twins and multiples. Any mum suffering from depression has it incredibly hard and needs help and support through this time.

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Pregnant with Triplets: What to Expect

pregnant with triplets

Congratulations! Finding out that you are pregnant with triplets can be both a surprise and a delight. From stronger pregnancy symptoms to eating advice and guidance on risks, there are a few things you should know about this kind of pregnancy experience.

There are few women in the world fully prepared for being pregnant with triplets. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were just under 60 sets of triplets born in 2017.


The proportionof confinements resulting in a multiple birth has remained fairly consistent for the past decade, ranging from 1.5 to 1.6% of total confinements. In 2017, there were 4,528 confinements resulting in a multiple birth and 60 of these were triplets or higher order births. There were 50 less multiple births in 2017 than in 2016.

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Even if you knew having three babies was likely and even hoped for, you will probably still be surprised by exactly what a triplet pregnancy has in store for you.

Women everywhere, every day, are absolute mum-bosses at having triplets – we know that you have got this!! You might just need a little heads up on what to expect and time to get ready for one or two (or three!) of the extra treats that could be coming your way.

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Twin to twin transfusion syndrome – A Dad’s view

Twin to twin transfusion syndrome - Dad's perspective

Author:  Aaron Smith

My introduction to Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) was kind of subtle, at first.

Pregnant with MCDA twins

We had just found out Casey was pregnant and had our 12 week scan booked in, excited, nervous, ecstatic….. We had a young assistant conduct the ultrasound, not long on the job, and she was speechless when the image of our girls came into view. Looking back it’s easy to forgive her for her excitement as they were our first twins too, but it’s hard to forget that look that came across her face when she said, ‘Oh, they are MCDA twins’.

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Laser ablation surgery success story | Twin To Twin Transfusion Syndrome

Laser ablation surgery success story Twin To Twin Transfusion Syndrome

Author: Alisha Winslade

Finding out we were having identical twins was exciting yet overwhelming.

Not knowing much about twins google was my go to for all things twins until I read about a rare condition called Twin To Twin Transfusion Syndrome ( TTTS ). TTTS only occurs in identical twin pregnancies. It scared me but I never thought it would happen to me.

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I gave birth vaginally to one twin (in the toilet). The second twin was born by caesarean.

I gave birth vaginally to one twin in the toilet

Author: Anonymous Twin Mum

Let me just start this by saying I don’t know if I have ever been 100% certain on having babies. My husband and I thought that we would leave things to chance and see what happened, if we didn’t conceive then that was it. Well, little did we know that we would conceive within the first month of leaving things to “chance”!

I guess all the usual things happened in those first few weeks. I took a pregnancy test at home first one was negative, did a second 3 days later which was positive. Went to the GP, had the “I’m pregnant” conversation and was sent for blood tests and an early scan to confirm the pregnancy. I had a conversation with a friend about 3 days before my scan and had a joke saying that I bet that I am carrying twins, we laughed and wrote it off as joke. Well we all know what happened next, we went and had our scan and there were two heartbeats with perfectly defined embryonic structures!

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