Thread: Multiples FAQ

So I was thinking (I know- dangerous) that we answer the same questions over & over a lot. Obviously we don't mind it much since we're all still answering the questions, but I thought maybe we could put together a post with the answers so the preggos & future preggos could check it out. So here's a bunch of questions I thought of, I'm sure there's more but I figure it's a start... So if you'd like to answer & maybe one of our sweet attractive Mod ladies would sticky it?

Name:

Kids:

Age when pregnant with your multiples:

Fertility treatments or spontaneous?:

Were you multiples your 1st pregnancy?:

When did you find out you were carrying multiples?:

When did you 1st feel movement with your multiples?:

Did you have bad morning sickness? Any tips?:

Did you see a specialist during your multiple pregnancy? If so when & why:

How often did you see your Dr after you found out you were carrying more than 1?:

How often did you have u/s’s?:

How much weight were you told to gain during your pregnancy? How much did you actually gain?:

When did you find out the babies sexes?

Did you go on bed rest? If so when & why:

What did you do while you were on bed rest?:

How far along were you when you delivered?:

If your babies were preemie, why did you deliver early?:

Vaginal or C-section? By your choice or the Dr’s?:

Did your babies spend time in the NICU? If so, why & how long was their stay?:

Did you breastfeed?:

Fraternal, identical or questionable?:

What items do you recommend for a mommy-to-be of multiples?:

What are some things you consider Must Have items for new mommies of multiples?:

What are some items you found completely useless with your multiples?:

What items were you glad you had multiples of & what items do you feel you wasted money on by buying more than 1?:

Pregnancy after multiples?:

Anything else you’d like to add?:

Wow Jessica. You should think more often - haha! I think this list is great.

Name: Jessica

Kids: Gabrielle, Caroline & Elizabeth (triplets)

Age when pregnant with your multiples: 26/27

Fertility treatments or spontaneous?: spontaneous

Were you multiples your 1st pregnancy?: yup

When did you find out you were carrying multiples?: 8w

When did you 1st feel movement with your multiples?: flutters about 15w, big kicks & punches about 20w

Did you have bad morning sickness? Ant tips?:
I had major food aversions. Everything smelled so bad I was afraid to try to eat it. By 15w or so my Dr prescribed some meds to help with the nausea.

Did you see a specialist during your multiple pregnancy? If so when & why:
I was referred to a Peri at 8w & saw him the remainder of my pregnancy, my normal OB always referred out multiples

How often did you see your Dr after you found out you were carrying more than 1?:
I had bi-weekly appts from 8w on

How often did you have u/s’s?:
I had a level II u/s 1x a month & “quick peek” ones in the Dr’s office 1x a month

How much weight were you told to gain during your pregnancy? How much did you actually gain?:
My Dr wanted me to gain 75lbs, I only managed to gain 24lbs

When did you find out the babies sexes?
We found out 1 at 16w & the other 2 at 20w

Did you go on bed rest? If so when & why:
I was put on home bed rest at 24w due to a shortening cervix & put on hospital bed rest at 29w for PIH & no measurable cervix.

What did you do while you were on bed rest?:
Watched a lot of TV & became 100% addicted to pg.org The laptop was a live saver!

How far along were you when you delivered?:
31w 1d

If your babies were preemie, why did you deliver early?:
We delivered early because G & E had not grown from 28w-31w, also G had cord blood flow issues (giant knot) & I went into labor I was scheduled for the next day already.


Vaginal or C-section? By your choice or the Dr’s?:
C-section. The Dr almost gave me a choice- for about 30sec, before I was wheeled to the OR.

Did your babies spend time in the NICU? If so, why & how long was their stay?:
G spent 5w in the NICU growing & learning to eat, she also had small apnea/bradicardia episodes. C spent 10w in the NICU she had a harder time getting past the A’s & B’s. E spent 5w 3d in the NICU for the same reasons. They were all transferred from the level 3 to the level 2 unit after a week.

Did you breastfeed?:
I tried but was never successful. Latch & supply issues. I stopped pumping at 6w.

Fraternal, identical or questionable?:
1 frat (E) 2 questionable but most likely frat (G &C)

What items do you recommend for a mommy-to-be of multiples?:
Good pillows, the book- “What to expect when your expecting twins triplets or quads”, lots & lots of rest

What are some things you consider Must Have items for new mommies of multiples?:
Good swaddling blankets, I could not have survived without bouncy seats & bottle props, a stroller to get you out once in a while

What are some items you found completely useless with your multiples?:
Personally I found the swaddle me or miracle blankets a waste of money, they were way too big for my girls & by the time the girls were big enough to fit in them I had the folds down

What items were you glad you had multiples of & what items do you feel you wasted money on by buying more than 1?:
glad to have 3 swings & bouncy seats, didn’t really need 3 exersaucers

Pregnancy after multiples?:
the magic 8 ball says- “outcome unlikely” :rofl:

Anything else you’d like to add?:

oh my gosh.....

Name: Cecilie

Kids: Christoper (6), Nicholas and Sarah born March 13th'05

Age when pregnant with your multiples: 25

Fertility treatments or spontaneous?: Got pregnant on the 2nd cycle with Clomid.

Were you multiples your 1st pregnancy?: no, 2nd

When did you find out you were carrying multiples?: At the ER when I was 7 weeks along.. I was bleeding.

When did you 1st feel movement with your multiples?: 14 weeks

Did you have bad morning sickness? Any tips?: I had 1 day with morning sickness.

Did you see a specialist during your multiple pregnancy? If so when & why: I only seen a specialist during my level 2 ultrasounds.

How often did you see your Dr after you found out you were carrying more than 1?: once a month untill 20 weeks and then every 2 weeks,then every week starting at 30 weeks.

How often did you have u/s’s?: At every doctors visit.

How much weight were you told to gain during your pregnancy? How much did you actually gain?: I don't remember how much i was suppose to gain but I only gained like 30-35 lbs.

When did you find out the babies sexes? at 14 weeks

Did you go on bed rest? If so when & why: No

What did you do while you were on bed rest?:

How far along were you when you delivered?: 36 weeks and 6 days

If your babies were preemie, why did you deliver early?: My water broke

Vaginal or C-section? By your choice or the Dr’s?: Vaginal, by choice and the fact that I got to the hospital 10 cm dialated.

Did your babies spend time in the NICU? If so, why & how long was their stay?: They spent a week in the infant nursery.

Did you breastfeed?: Briefly

Fraternal, identical or questionable?: Frat's

What items do you recommend for a mommy-to-be of multiples?: Bouncer seats, a rocking chair, bottle proppers and a swing.

What are some things you consider Must Have items for new mommies of multiples?: all of the items above.

What are some items you found completely useless with your multiples?:
I don't remember

What items were you glad you had multiples of & what items do you feel you wasted money on by buying more than 1?: I was glad I had 2 cribs, 2 bouncer seats and the boppy pillow.

Pregnancy after multiples?: No

Anything else you’d like to add?:

Name: Rebecca

Kids: Madeline (singleton), Lucas and Hannah (twins)

Age when pregnant with your multiples: 30

Fertility treatments or spontaneous?: Spontaneous

Were you multiples your 1st pregnancy?: nope

When did you find out you were carrying multiples?: 21 weeks

When did you 1st feel movement with your multiples?: ~16 weeks

Did you have bad morning sickness? Any tips?: not too bad, had to eat a lot of protein and then I felt fine!

Did you see a specialist during your multiple pregnancy? If so when & why: Nope

How often did you see your Dr after you found out you were carrying more than 1?: Same as singleton, and then additional ultrasound appointments

How often did you have u/s’s?: every 3 weeks starting with the first one at 21 weeks

How much weight were you told to gain during your pregnancy? How much did you actually gain?: told to gain up to 50, I gained 35

When did you find out the babies sexes? 21 weeks

Did you go on bed rest? If so when & why: nope

What did you do while you were on bed rest?: n/a

How far along were you when you delivered?: 37 weeks

If your babies were preemie, why did you deliver early?: n/a

Vaginal or C-section? By your choice or the Dr’s?: C-section, my choice

Did your babies spend time in the NICU? If so, why & how long was their stay?: nope

Did you breastfeed?: only for the first week

Fraternal, identical or questionable?: Fraternal

What items do you recommend for a mommy-to-be of multiples?: great doctor that you are comfortable with, What to expect when Expecting for multiples book, stocking up on some diapers to take the load off the budget once they are here…great water bottle that you can carry around with you, actually 2 because you will get pregnancy brain and lose at least one for sure!!!

What are some things you consider Must Have items for new mommies of multiples?: Pack-n-play to use as bassinet, swings, bottle proper (2), HELPERS, tons of bibs and even more blankets…man we ran out in the middle of the night quite often…it never fails that their diaper leaks or they spit up every feed in the middle of the night! hehehehe

What are some items you found completely useless with your multiples?: bottle warmer, swaddle blankets (it really is not that hard!!!!!), regular bassinet (too small)

What items were you glad you had multiples of & what items do you feel you wasted money on by buying more than 1?: SWINGS, and exersaucers…the only waste of money I found was buying name brand wipes and diapers…we use Target brand and they have been great!!

Pregnancy after multiples?: Um, no thank you; three is enough…

Anything else you’d like to add?: That this questionnaire is awesome but PLEASE feel free to re-ask the questions for more details if you need/want them…that is what this board is for…this is a great jump off point though!!!

Becca

Name: Michelle

Kids: Gwenith & Gilbert

Age when pregnant with your multiples: 27

Fertility treatments or spontaneous?: Spontaneous

Were you multiples your 1st pregnancy?: yes

When did you find out you were carrying multiples?: 7 weeks

When did you 1st feel movement with your multiples?: 14 weeks

Did you have bad morning sickness? Any tips?: none!

Did you see a specialist during your multiple pregnancy? If so when & why: Nope

How often did you see your Dr after you found out you were carrying more than 1?: every four weeks, until I was 20 weeks then I went every two weeks until I was 36, then I was suppose to go in once a week

How often did you have u/s’s?: every 4 weeks

How much weight were you told to gain during your pregnancy? How much did you actually gain?: I gained 40

When did you find out the babies sexes? 17 weeks

Did you go on bed rest? If so when & why: nope, was told just o take it easy

What did you do while you were on bed rest?: n/a

How far along were you when you delivered?: 36 weeks 6 days

If your babies were preemie, why did you deliver early?: n/a

Vaginal or C-section? By your choice or the Dr’s?: I was in labor for 13 hours but I was not progressing pass a 7 so the doctor said C-section

Did your babies spend time in the NICU? If so, why & how long was their stay?: not really, Gilbert was having troubles breathing (breathing to fast when he was born so they were watching him in the NICU for two hours to make sure he was going to be fine

Did you breastfeed?: yes for 6 months

Fraternal, identical or questionable?: Fraternal

What items do you recommend for a mommy-to-be of multiples?: [b] What to expect when Expecting for multiples book, buy lots of diapers before you have them (I bought two packages each month I was pregnant), drink lots and lots of water. [b]

What are some things you consider Must Have items for new mommies of multiples?: a swing, bouncy seats (2), tons of bibs and burp cloths, bumbo seats (2), exersaucers (2), and a twin nursing pillow

What are some items you found completely useless with your multiples?:

What items were you glad you had multiples of & what items do you feel you wasted money on by buying more than 1?: NEED bouncy seats , bumbo seats, exersaucers.

Pregnancy after multiples?: I would like to…

Anything else you’d like to add?: At about two months make sure you do tummy time!! Make sure your babies are not always sleeping on the same side of the head. positional plagiocephaly is common in twins.

I think this is a great idea Jessica!

Name: Shanna

Kids: Gracie and MoJo

Age when pregnant with your multiples: 25

Fertility treatments or spontaneous?: Fertility treatments - Gonal F and IUI

Were you multiples your 1st pregnancy?: No, I had one miscarriage before

When did you find out you were carrying multiples?: 5 weeks

When did you 1st feel movement with your multiples?: At 14 weeks I felt what I would call twitches

Did you have bad morning sickness? Any tips?: Sorry ladies - no morning sickness here

Did you see a specialist during your multiple pregnancy? If so when & why: Nope

How often did you see your Dr after you found out you were carrying more than 1?: Once a month til around 16w, then every 3 weeks, then every to weeks at 28w

How often did you have u/s’s?: After the big one at 19w, every 6 weeks

How much weight were you told to gain during your pregnancy? How much did you actually gain?: I wasn't told what to gain - I gained 16lbs but I started out overweight too

When did you find out the babies sexes? When they were born

Did you go on bed rest? If so when & why: Yes, a day before they were born due to preterm labor and the threat of a prolapsed cord

What did you do while you were on bed rest?: Watched TV

How far along were you when you delivered?: 31w, 6d, 10hr, 58m (but lets just call it 32w

If your babies were preemie, why did you deliver early?: Preterm labor and if my water had broken, a prolapsed cord

Vaginal or C-section? By your choice or the Dr’s?: C-section, doc's choice

Did your babies spend time in the NICU? If so, why & how long was their stay?: Preemies, Gracie spent 2.5w and MoJo spent 3w

Did you breastfeed?: Only socially nursed

Fraternal, identical or questionable?: Fraternal

What items do you recommend for a mommy-to-be of multiples?: Swings, Snuzzler by Kiddopotamus (since most twins are relatively small at birth), Swaddle Mes, a nice big savings account, whatever help you can get!

What are some things you consider Must Have items for new mommies of multiples?: Swings for sure, Swaddle Mes, and bottle proppers

What are some items you found completely useless with your multiples?: Single bottle warmer - I should've asked here what everyone did and used a crock pot instead - it can warm up more than one bottle and is half the price!

What items were you glad you had multiples of & what items do you feel you wasted money on by buying more than 1?: At this point, I'm thrilled I had the swings, and everything I bought two of, I was happy to have. We only have one Pack n Play and I'm considering another since we plan on spending weekends away once the babes are a bit older.

Pregnancy after multiples?: I'd like more

Anything else you’d like to add?: The first few weeks are a nightmare, but you just truck on through. My twins are 6 months old today (4months adjusted) and they've been amazing since about 3 months. It does get better, even though you can't usually see the light at the end of the tunnel til you're there!

Name: Kathryn

Kids: Isabelle and Sophia (Mar 28/06)

Age when pregnant with your multiples: 25

Fertility treatments or spontaneous?: Spontaneous

Were you multiples your 1st pregnancy?: Yes

When did you find out you were carrying multiples?: 20 weeks, 3 days

When did you 1st feel movement with your multiples?: at around 14 weeks I felt flutters, I felt a real kick at 19 weeks

Did you have bad morning sickness? Any tips?: No just felt nauseous when I had low blood sugar. I would eat and the feeling would go away

Did you see a specialist during your multiple pregnancy? If so when & why: I was referred to an OB by my regular GP. I had 'shared care' from 20 weeks on.

How often did you see your Dr after you found out you were carrying more than 1?: once a month, then once every 2 weeks at 28 weeks, and once a week after 34 weeks.

How often did you have u/s’s?: once a month after 20 weeks

How much weight were you told to gain during your pregnancy? How much did you actually gain?: 45 lbs.

When did you find out the babies sexes? at birth

Did you go on bed rest? If so when & why: I went on bedrest at 36 weeks due to pre-eclampsia. It only lasted 2 days

What did you do while you were on bed rest?: talked to my DH, read magazines, complained.

How far along were you when you delivered?: 36 weeks, 4 days

If your babies were preemie, why did you deliver early?: my water broke (baby A)

Vaginal or C-section? By your choice or the Dr’s?: C-sec by choice

Did your babies spend time in the NICU? If so, why & how long was their stay?: No, they were 6#11 and 6#9 at birth.

Did you breastfeed?: Yes, for 6 1/2 months

Fraternal, identical or questionable?: identical

What items do you recommend for a mommy-to-be of multiples?: Eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired and take it easy. Pregnancy is not an illness but you do have to be careful of preterm labour.
STAY AWAY FROM INTERNET SEARCHES, you will only scare yourself!

What are some things you consider Must Have items for new mommies of multiples?: Lots of burp cloths, premie clothes, a good breastfeeding pillow, a patient daddy, lots of diapers. We loved our 2 swings, and 2 bumbos. We only had one bassinette and the girls loved to be snuggled up together. Good blankets for swaddling (a little stretchy), pacifiers.

What are some items you found completely useless with your multiples?:
rocking chair (it was too narrow for all 3 of us), 2 of certian toys

What items were you glad you had multiples of & what items do you feel you wasted money on by buying more than 1?: 2 carseats, 2 swings, 2 bumbos, 2 excersaucers, 2 jolly jumpers, but everything else we pretty much have one of and they are learning to share/take turns. I love my Chariot double stroller and you can get little snuggli's to fit in it so that they can go in the stroller when they are really little too.

Pregnancy after multiples?: Not quite sure yet. I say probably no, DH says probably yes.

Anything else you’d like to add?:Just take it one day at a time.

Name: Jen

Kids: Sean and Emma

Age when pregnant with your multiples: 29

Fertility treatments or spontaneous?: In-Vitro Fertilization

Were you multiples your 1st pregnancy?: yes

When did you find out you were carrying multiples?: 7 weeks

When did you 1st feel movement with your multiples?: I forget - around 16 weeks or so

Did you have bad morning sickness? Any tips?: No morning sickness at all!

Did you see a specialist during your multiple pregnancy? If so when & why: I saw a maternal-fetal specialist just because every woman having multiples at my OB's office did - just to be safe

How often did you see your Dr after you found out you were carrying more than 1?: every 4 weeks until 20 weeks then every 2 weeks

How often did you have u/s’s?: every 4 weeks starting at week 20

How much weight were you told to gain during your pregnancy? How much did you actually gain?: I was never given an amount to gain but I gained 55 pounds

When did you find out the babies sexes? at 20 weeks

Did you go on bed rest? If so when & why: I was on modified bedrest from week 28 on for contractions
What did you do while you were on bed rest?: watch TV, sleep, eat!

How far along were you when you delivered?: 38 weeks

If your babies were preemie, why did you deliver early?: N/A

Vaginal or C-section? By your choice or the Dr’s?: C-section because of breech babies

Did your babies spend time in the NICU? If so, why & how long was their stay?: Sean stayed overnight because he gulped some amniotic fluid during the c-section but was back with us by 6AM the next morning
Did you breastfeed?: No

Fraternal, identical or questionable?: definetely fraternal

What items do you recommend for a mommy-to-be of multiples?: Lots of reading material in case of bedrest!

What are some things you consider Must Have items for new mommies of multiples?: Swings, bouncy seats, bottle proppers - if you are bottle feeding lots of bottles so you don't have to wash them constantly

What are some items you found completely useless with your multiples?: We found the bassinet useless because they grew out of it so fast - so far everything else we have used

What items were you glad you had multiples of & what items do you feel you wasted money on by buying more than 1?: I am glad I got two of everything. We were fortunate to have a lot of generous people at our shower. So far we have used both of everything we got.

Pregnancy after multiples?: NO WAY! (I say that now because I am sleep deprived - ask me in a few years - hehe)!

Anything else you’d like to add?: The first few weeks are very, very hard - especially if you are trying to do it alone while DH is at work. Don't be afraid to ask people for help - it doesn't mean you're not a good mom if you can't handle it! It is much more enjoyable if you have an extra set of hands. The first 8 weeks are a blur - but it is so worth it to see their little faces smiling up at you from the crib!