Twin Babies!

Today we're speaking to Mandisa, one of the mums in my New Mums club. She had twin boys earlier in the year. I'm sure you will find this interview extremely useful especially if you're pregnant with twins or desiring to have twins. 

Enjoy!

1. How did you feel the first time you realised you were having twins? 

My husband (Michael) always said he wanted twins! He'd joke about it ALL THE TIME!and to be honest I paid very little attention to it, I guess it may have been because I couldn't fathom carrying and delivering one human being, two seemed a stretch...plus twins in both our families seemed unlikely at the time. So at the scan, the sonograther says "oh it looks like you have two in there". All I did was stare at Michael and think "its all your fault", LOL! It was exciting and terrifying at the same time...

2. How was the pregnancy? 

It was a challenging one, I honestly lost count of the hospital admissions. To begin with, within the first few weeks of the pregnancy I couldn't keep anything down, every smell/scent resulted in unbearable headaches...it was ridiculous...and it lasted till their birth! I was so unwell the GP had me referred to the Royal Hallamshire's Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit. I was diagnosed with hyperemesis (severe morning sickness). We had so many scans, about 7 before the week 20 anomaly scan, and were constantly monitored thereafter. We had a few unexplainable scares too but came out victorious in the end by the grace of God.

3. Could you tell when a different twin kicked? 

Yes, they were in very distinct positions one was on top lying transverse and a frequent kicker the whole pregnancy, the other was at the bottom moving and turning a bit more frequently but didn't kick as often. 

4. Briefly describe your delivery story... 

We had scans every four weeks from the anomaly scan in week 20. At 28weeks one of our boys didn't seem to be growing at the same rate as his brother was so we had scans every week from then on and they mentioned the possibility of delivering them early. As all this was happening we didn't give it any mind, we figured we should be fine to get to 34weeks at least. So in week 31 we went for the usual weekly scan, it was just a normal day, our appointment was around 3pm we'd planned to be in and out before 5. But by then it wasn't looking good for our smaller twin and it all escalated so quickly by 5pm they were prep'ing for the c-section, Michael rushed home to get my bag, I had to actually call him to hurry back cause they were getting ready to wheel me in! Soon as he got back he got changed into hospital scrubs and I was in the theatre room at 6:30pm. I was still sick the whole time. Started throwing up soon as they started the section, so I'm lying there trying to remember to be calm whilst being sick and feeling so drowsy. Boys were born around 7:15pm but I didn't see them, they went straight into incubators in Neonatal intensive care unit-NICU. I was completely knocked out after the surgery, was taken to the ward and slept till 4am the next morning. Soon as I got up the nurse wheeled me down to NICU to see them.

It was already hard for me as they put the boys in two different rooms. That mommy connection took a while to kick in. It wasn't until they got them into the same room in High dependency unit HDU (a step lower than NICU) and then they got them out of the incubators for kangaroo care that I felt them, all those emotions came through. It hit me then that I was a mommy of two and it was lovely.

Out of their incubator for kangaroo care (skin to skin)

5. How were your medical team at the hospital. From labour to discharge?

I was initially discharged about 3-4days after delivery, I was healing well from the c-section and no concerns. The staff then was nice enough but they definitely couldn't wait to have me evacuate their maternity ward. The boys, however, were to be in hospital until their original due date! So I was discharged to go home but returned to hospital everyday to be with the boys for 7weeks. The last 2 weeks of which I was readmitted into the Transitional Care unit with the boys to help us adjust, teach them to breastfeed etc. And I have to say Jessops SCBU staff were absolutely fantastic. They understood the challenges I was facing and did their best to encourage and assist us. 

6. Are your twins identical? 

No, completely different in every way.

7. How old are your twins now? Have they always developed at the same pace? 

They are 8months now. The have developed at different rates but close enough to manage.

Boys were tube fed until they could latch

8. Do you breast feed them? 

Yes I used to, but it had its challenges. I was expressing for them from birth until they learnt to latch. After they learnt to breastfeed, my supply began to reduce. The night before our discharge from TCU it disappeared to nothing. I tried to express and rebuild my supply when I got home but I never produced enough to continue to exclusively breastfeed as I wanted to. Eventually my supply dried up again, this time I couldn't get it back so they went on to the prescribed preterm baby formula.

9. Buying double of everything most be a great task. How do you manage this and avoid waste? 

We didn't have to buy much in the beginning as Jessops provided until they got out of incubators and family and friends brought a lot of gifts. Also because of the pregnancy journey I didn't have the opportunity to 'overshop' before they came, so we've developed the routine of buying only when and what we need in real time.  

10. How do people react to you when you go out? 

Oh...twins? Are they identical? (...then a whole host of questions about their behaviour) 

Double trouble!?

Oh you have your hands full love?

Can I have a look...oh he's the cheeky one (referring to one of our boys who smiles at everyone)

Our pram draws a lot of attention too.

11. What's your sleep like? 

Variable, routines are ever-changing but God has always provided and helped us cope. Family has been absolutely fantastic, especially my mom and my sisters, they helped in every way imaginable meaning I could actually rest sometimes!!! 

The Handsome Boys!

12. How has having twins affected your marriage? (do you do stuff together, is it a team effort to take care of them???) 

Definitely team work! The only way we have survived recently...Help from family has been priceless too can't stress that enough, to give us some time alone.

13. What are some of the joys of having your boys? 

Double cuddles! Watching them play together. Dressing them up little young handsome men. Seeing them with their dad and how excited they get when he walks into the room.

14. Any advice to ladies expecting twins?

Every pregnancy is different. Enjoy YOUR own experience. Surround yourself with helpful visitors especially in the beginning, the last thing you need is to be running around trying to make other people comfortable, you already have your hands full. You will need your family, keep them close and appreciate them.  Secondhand stuff will save you loads of money. Remember, they may be twins but they are individuals. Help them develop as individuals, encourage their individuality even from birth...they don't necessarily have to match at everything, dress them up a little different, it will remind you of their individuality. Pray for them and for yourself!