Anonymous wrote:Anyone here get pregnant with a much wanted and planned baby #3 only to learn that surprise, IT'S TWINS?!

I am 37, we were not doing any fertility treatments and have no history of twins on either side in our family so I'm still totally in shock. We have a 4yo and 2yo and my head is absolutely spinning now (as well as DH) on how we are going to do this....someone tell me it will all be okay?!

I went from 1 to 3 within 12 months, at the age of 40. Yes, I had three babies within 12 months.

It was insanely difficult for the first two months, for I had three in diapers, three unable to walk, three nurslings, and three who weren't sleeping through the night (my oldest had serious sleep regression from 12-14 months and was up every three hours.).

But suddenly, 8 weeks in, the twins began sleeping 5-7 hours at a time, the oldest went back to sleeping all night, and i was able to fully wean my oldest. It was still hard, but I no longer felt as though I was drowning.

A few things that kept us as sane as possible:

1. Accept or hire help as needed. My adult niece moved in with us for six months and was our "night nurse" for our oldest so I could focus on the twins at night. She was remarkably helpful with the babies! We also had a housekeeper come every week to do deep cleaning, and we kept that up for a full year.

2. Get a very good wrap or carrier so you can wear a baby while you tend to your toddler and preschooler.

3.Get a double stroller. Even if you think your 2yo will walk, put the 2yo and a baby in the stroller while you wear the other baby, or put both babies in the stroller bassinet while they are tiny.

4. Focus on the important things: are the children safe, fed, and clean? Are YOU safe, fed, and clean? If so, brava! Don't worry about matching, cute outfits, perfect organization, etc.

5. Take time for yourself at least once per day. Take a bath, do yoga, meditate, read, or draw. Someone else can be responsible for the children for 20-30 minutes so you can attend to your mental health.

6. Soak it all up. It's HARD, but it's so rewarding!

If the babies' heartbeats are in sync, they can't tell. Or at least couldn't back then. I'm a twin and born in 1980. Told my mom "you're having a BIG baby." Mom's first pregnancy, so she had nothing to compare it against. My sister is born, all 5 pounds 8 ounces of her, at which point they realized "its' twins!" I can shortly thereafter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom got pregnant with twins when I was 2 and my older brother was 4. She was 35 when she delivered. Here’s the thing. Back then ultrasounds didn’t exist and my parents didn’t find out about baby number 4 until baby 3 was delivered and there was another to come out.

Hahahaha that must have been quite a shock!! 😀

This gives me stress just reading that...people often tell me they couldn't have tolerated surprise of baby sex but no clue how I'd tolerate surprise baby! ( and can't they tell 2 heartbeats?)

Anonymous wrote:My mom got pregnant with twins when I was 2 and my older brother was 4. She was 35 when she delivered. Here’s the thing. Back then ultrasounds didn’t exist and my parents didn’t find out about baby number 4 until baby 3 was delivered and there was another to come out.

Hahahaha that must have been quite a shock!! 😀

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom got pregnant with twins when I was 2 and my older brother was 4. She was 35 when she delivered. Here’s the thing. Back then ultrasounds didn’t exist and my parents didn’t find out about baby number 4 until baby 3 was delivered and there was another to come out.

Just curious: when was this??

DP but I’m guessing PP might have had the gist but meant something slightly different — I was born in 1986 and ultrasounds existed but used sparingly, not for routine low risk pregnancies. I know surprise twins born that year to the same reason.

Anonymous wrote:My mom got pregnant with twins when I was 2 and my older brother was 4. She was 35 when she delivered. Here’s the thing. Back then ultrasounds didn’t exist and my parents didn’t find out about baby number 4 until baby 3 was delivered and there was another to come out.

Just curious: when was this??

Happened to me, OP!! My two were older, 6 & 8 but let me tell you…twins are the winning lottery ticket! Yes, it’s an adjustment and it’s hard but they are truly the best. I’m obsessed with my big family and there is something so special about twins. It’s all new and fun to observe but also you are a pro at kids so it’s also familiar. It’s going to be ok, I promise!

My mom got pregnant with twins when I was 2 and my older brother was 4. She was 35 when she delivered. Here’s the thing. Back then ultrasounds didn’t exist and my parents didn’t find out about baby number 4 until baby 3 was delivered and there was another to come out.

Happened to me, except what I thought was my 3rd turned out to be 3, 4 and 5- triplets (also no fertility treatments). It’s been a wild ride but we’ve enjoyed it and like having a large family. You just have to embrace the chaos as a unique life experience not many people get and “own” it.

I know someone who was having trouble TTC and decided to adopt, processed the adoption and discovered she was pregnant. They thought, OK like fraternal twins. Cool. Then the pregnancy turned out to be twins. So fraternal triplets!

Happened to me. Mine were preemies so for several months we had four kids 3 years and younger.

If only I were in your shoes, OP. Ah well. Don't worry, you'll manage. Congratulations, and please prioritize your health!

I haven't but a friend did - had 2 girls, got pregnant one more time: twin girls. The youngest are in school now so they got through, but I know they had at least an au pair (possibly a nanny as well).

Congrats!

Twins are awesome!!! So much work but the best thing. But yes so much work. Just give yourself and your partner a ton of grace, outsource everything you can, and lower expectations. Congrats!!!

Anyone here get pregnant with a much wanted and planned baby #3 only to learn that surprise, IT'S TWINS?!

I am 37, we were not doing any fertility treatments and have no history of twins on either side in our family so I'm still totally in shock. We have a 4yo and 2yo and my head is absolutely spinning now (as well as DH) on how we are going to do this....someone tell me it will all be okay?!