Twins: Who wants to discuss and share experiences?

[Wishingandhoping]

Margi- what great pictures of your beautiful babies! They are just so precious!

I'm just lying in bed these days praying that the babies stay put for now... I'll be 32 weeks tomorrow, but would really love to get to 34. I'm not on any meds because the contractions aren't very regular. I'm supposed to let them know if anything changes. They don't want to repeat the fFN because apparently it doesn't mean much once it's positive. If everything stays okay this weekend, next NST will be Monday. Thank you for your prayers!

[nwquiz]

hey ladies. i know i dont have twins but i have a question for you moms if you dont mind, am curious at what age do you start using the swing? am using a bouncer and my lil man enjoys it, i read this board and i see you guys mentioning the swing.

[margi26]

NWQuiz: Hey there momma! We have used the swing from the get go. The one we have has a nice deep, plush seat that keeps them at a great angle regarding reflux. It also can swing either back to front or side to side which I like. At the hospital, they had them there in the NICU, so I didn't even think twice about using it for our little ones. Much of the time I do not turn it on, but let them sit and hang out in it. It has a little mobile they like to look at and talk to, LOL. You are welcome to ask questions here anytime. Hope all is going well with you and your 'lil man! I know you and DH are totally in love with him!

[baby_blu73]

I wanted to weigh in on the "how many of what" topic. We have only one pack n play... huge mistake! They outgrew being able to share that so fast I can barely remember when they were small enough to fit in it together. Only one jumper roo since we have two exersaucers we just switch em around between the three. Had two bouncers, two swings, use two cribs, two highchairs... Let's see... I think that's it.

Wishing - Hang in there! Lots of prayers for you and your LOs! Drink LOTS of water, dehydration irritates the uterus causing contractions.

Margi - They are getting sooooo stinkin' BIG! Sofia has such a beautiful little smile and Levi's eyes are so big and gorgeous!

Rebecca - For naptime, we got them used to sleeping in their cribs at night, then once a regular napping schedule was established (no firing squad please!) we used CIO... but since they already knew their cribs were for sleeping, it wasn't a terribly difficult transition. Best of luck to you!

[WeHaveHope]

Hi ladies,
I'm pretty early but wanted to know if I could join this board as well. I'm almost 9 weeks pregnant with twin. I've had two prior MC's and have never made it this far so I'm praying that this is a good sign of wonderful things to come. We've already seen and heard both babies' heartbeats and I have my first official OB appointment in Monday. I have a hematoma and I'm on Lovenix injections so I've had some spotting on and off which is driving me crazy but my RE and Ob both seem to feel that this is pretty common with twin and that we will be ok. I'm starting to think about all the things we are going to need for the babies and how many of each. Do you guys have any suggestions? Also what bottles are the best these days? It's been 13 years since. Had to think of thes things. Thanks in advance.

[DillysGirl]

Hi all!~ Been busy around here and the one time I wrote out a HUGE post, it was ate! grrrr. I am going to do my best to catch up...

Rebecca- Adorable picture of your lo's!! We started feeding the boys food at 6 months. I never did the rice cereal, just started with vegetables. Avocado was their first food and is one of their favorite food still. I dont really remember how we got them napping in their cribs...

Wishing- Sorry about the bedrest, I know it is not fun! I hope you can cook the babies longer but the great thing is that they will be ok either way. My Dr.'s wanted to deliver me at 32 weeks because they said my boys would be fine, I didn't let them but it did make me feel a little better.

Dallas- Shopping can definitely be challenging! Whenever I can't round up a second person to go with me I put one in the cart and one in the carrier. I also plan all store outing around meals and never ever take a hungry child! I still shop this way and my boys are almost 2!

Margie- Your babies are beautiful!! I also bought a light single stroller so I could wear one and push one. It works well for smaller or more crowded places. Though, I joke that I must look like the crazy baby lady!

NWquiz- we started using the swings pretty early. At first as more of a place to put them and worked up to swinging them. I found the swing went to fast when they were little so I would put a blanket under them and let it drag the ground and that would slow it down.

We- Congrats on your twin pregnancy! I dont know what bottles are "best" but we used the playtex ventaire kind. In order for my littlest guy to come home from the NICU he had to be able to take milk from our own bottles. This was not as easy as it sounds so I went to BRU and bought about 5 different kinds and that was the kind that got him home so we stuck with it. Will you be finding out the flavors of your LO's?

Carolyn- Your Lo's are almost 2!!! Happy early Birthday!

On the baby items, we pretty much got two of everything as well. We only had one bumbo seat but I never really used it so that wasn't a big deal. We started with one Jumperoo but then acquired another because they both loved to jump in it soo much! I loved the double breast feeding pillow. A little intimidating at first but really helped tandem nurse. Most loved items/s is our Ergo carriers! Started with one for me and then bought another for DH. We use them like crazy and it's amazing. We are just starting to use them on the back now and it just makes me love them more!

Sorry to anyone I missed, that was quite the catchup I had to do! lol
I hope everyone is well and keep posting those pics! Cute group of LO's here!!


AFM- Long story short, we have co-slept with the boys since the beginning and just before Christmas we took back our bed! They now sleep in their cribs at night and we were shocked at how easy the transisiton was and how much sleep we are all getting now. They were waking up 2-3 times a night before and now sleep 11-12 straight!! I am on a major sleep high these days!! I forgot how much I loved sleep and how much better I function as a human when I get lots of it! I recently was a vendor at my first craft fair and I'm setting up an Etsy page this week. I really love to sew and create fun things so this is all making me really happy. I was inspired by the b/g twin outfit posts so I made sure to have brother sister coordinating outfits for my craft fair.

[DillysGirl]

Going to try to upload some pics... Sorry if they are huge.

The boys reading books together.

Hendrix reading in his big boy underwear

Halen- My little spaghetti head

[Wishingandhoping]

Thank you so much for all of the encouragement everyone! I really appreciate it!

Dillysgirl- what handsome boys!!! It's great to hear that your doc was okay with a 32 week delivery. I'm hoping to hold on longer, but we'll see!

Quick question- How many outfits did you bring to the hospital for the babies? Do they wear hospital clothes until they go home? Thanks!

[margi26]

Stephanie: Thanks for adding the exersaucers! I forgot about those because ours are still too little. We have two of them however. I did try to put Levi in it the other day, but the poor thing couldn’t reach the ground yet. Maybe in a few weeks! Thanks for the complement about the photos....any updated one of your boys? I bet they are getting big!

Maria/WeHaveHope: Welcome and congratulations!!!! So happy for you--I have been stalking you over on the IVF board. Yes, the hematomas are fairly common, unfortunately. I hope that yours goes away soon. We have been discussing exactly that fact, how many things one needs two of, and what one is plenty...regarding the bottles, I don’t know what is “best”. I chose the Avent bottles and have been very happy with them. They are wide which makes easier to clean and I got the Phillips Avent breast pump so it is compatible. PS. What is your Due Date so I can add you to the list?

Dillysgirl: First, the boys are ADORABLE!! Love Halen’s hairdo, and Hendrix reading in big boy pants. WOW. Impressive. Isn’t that really early for toilet training?! You must share your secret...lol...and congratulations on easy transition from co-sleeping to cribs. You clearly have some “skills” you must share. Not to mention your crafts....I haven’t had luck at all finding b/g stuff. And sleep....still very elusive for me....someday...I hope to again sleep a full night's sleep...it is nice to know it may some day be possible.

Wishingandhoping: Glad you are hanging in there. You hit the 32 week mark...now on the 33 weeks!!! KUP!! Regarding the clothes at the hospital: I was in denial I guess, and hadn’t purchased any preemie clothes as I was determined that I was going to make it to term. Ha on me. The hospital has a full supply of preemie clothes, so at first we just used those. Then some folks bought some outfits for us so I began to bring their own clothes to wear. We kept a bag hanging by their cribs so they would put the dirties in there for me to take to wash. Really it is up to you. I would definitely have a “going home outfit”. But again, it is hard to know in what size. I had bought going home outfits in size NB but then needed to purchase some preemie outfits after they were born. Oh, and definitely DON'T bring diapers to hospital...they have plenty, and you definitely want to save the money and use the ones provided.

And, Dillysgirl, thanks for bringing up the carriers. Seems like you like the Ergo....We have a Baby k’tan and a Baby Bjorn. I use the k’tan because I bought it for my size. I like it. It is easy to get on and versatile in terms of the different positions. It works really well for both around the house, and if I am out and about with baby. I put two in when they were tiny, but it began to hurt my back as soon as they starting gaining serious weight. DH likes the Bjorn, but it was a few months before the LO’s were big enough to go in it. What do you other baby-wearing-momma’s use?

[Wishingandhoping]

Margi- thanks for the input on what the hospital provides! Were you at Presby or CMC? We're going to CMC main.

[DillysGirl]

Thanks ladies!

Margi- not officially potty training but we are learning about poo and pee and toilets and underwear. Hoping to Officially start after their birthday in May (and when they can pee outside!). Some say it's easier to potty train cloth diapered kids, so I hope this is true!

Wishing- Our hospital had clothes for the babies or you could bring your own. I was able to bring clothes and they had me write our last name on them so they would go through the NICU wash with the others but still come back to the boys.

[margi26]

Wishing: Presby for us.

[rypell1985]

Just lost my whole post I'm on my phone, so retyping would kill my thumbs! I'll try again later but I haven't forgotten you!!

I did want to share my Valentines!

[rypell1985]

Oh, my thumbs can certainly handle telling you what gorgeous babies you all have!!! Margi I can't believe how big and beautiful Sophia and Levi are!

[margi26]

Ryann: I can't believe it either!! And your Valentines are adorable!. I love how Dylan's hand is on her head....looks so sweet. And love their outfits . Are they interacting much?

I don't want to be a photo hog...but I love this shot of my little princess: