Those of you who had a multiple birth. Can you answer some questions please?

Question

Were you on bed rest? How many babies did you have? Did you use fertility treatments to get pregnant? How old were you when you got pregnant (I'm 36 btw)? How did you feed your babies at the same time? Did you have any help for the first few months? Did you hire anyone to help you? Where did you buy your stroller for your multiple births? Did you use cloth or disposable diapers? IF you used cloth, which ones worked the best for you? Do you recommend a specific formula? Did you have your babies sleep together for comfort? Do you have any ways of being able to help prevent a premature birth (before 36 weeks)?

The reason why I'm asking all of these questions is because I'm going to start fertility treatments in the fall. My chances of having a mulitple birth are higher with my age, and because I have twins in my family.

Any other advice would be welcome.

Answer 1

yes.  I had twins i was 26. I was on bedrest,(very boring)lol. I didn't use any treatments i thought i was having one until later in my pregnancy.  Feeding was sometimes a challenge i put both of their seats on the table and as i did one i would do the other. My husband was a big help, and he enjoyed feeding them! My mother, sister and my nieces helped me and it was a big help especially once going back to work.  I didn't hire anyone because i have a big family.  For the twin stroller i got it at my baby shower but it was from babies r us.  I used disposable diapers(much easier, more trash bags) The babies did not sleep together because i was scared they would roll on each other.  They had seperate beds but in the same room.  I don't have any ways of prevent premies.  

Good Luck!

Don't rush your pregnany enjoy every minute of it.  Make sure you get all of the sleep you can get, especially with multiples you're always on the go..relax though it will all be worth it!

Answer 2

I don't have multiples, but would like to throw some info out there.

When you take medication to make you ovulate, the medication trumps whatever pre-disposed tendencies your body has towards fertility.  In other words, having twins run in your family doesn't give you more of a chance at having twins because the medication is in control of what your body is doing, not your body.  So when taking fertility meds, everybody has the same chance at multiple births, regardless of family history.

Also, there is a higher incidence of multiple births with fertility treatments, but it's not the case for everyone.  It all depends on your egg quality/quantity.  After 35, fertility diminishes, so sometimes women need aggressive fertility treatment just to give them a shot at one egg being fertilized.  Your FSH level and antral follicle count are good indications as to how you will do with stimulation.  I'm assuming at 36 and with fertility treatment around the corner, that you've had these tests done.

Another tidbit, with Clomid there is an increased chance of twins by 7-10%, which means you have a 90% chance or more of NOT having twins.  Put that way, the risk isn't that high.

Answer 3

Wow, lots of questions, ok

Were you on bed rest?  Yes I was but I was a high risk pregnancy.

How many babies did you have?  2

Did you use fertility treatments to get pregnant? Yes I used injectibles and IVF

How old were you when you got pregnant (I'm 36 btw)?  I was 37

How did you feed your babies at the same time? I tried to breast feed, but I had complications and was sick and I guess stressed out so I couldn't produce enough by the second month.  Then I used formula.

Did you have any help for the first few months? My husband was home with me for a month.  I think it's more having experience people around that could be helpful.  I didn't have that.

Did you hire anyone to help you?  No, but I recommend at the very least, a cleaning lady.

Where did you buy your stroller for your multiple births? Eddie Bauer online

Did you use cloth or disposable diapers?   Disposable.  I didn't feel like scraping p**p off the cloth.

Do you recommend a specific formula?  I think they are pretty much all the same.

Did you have your babies sleep together for comfort? No

Do you have any ways of being able to help prevent a

premature birth (before 36 weeks)?  No, I went early.  My best advice is to stay calm and relaxed.  Avoid stress.

The reason why I'm asking all of these questions is because I'm going to start fertility treatments in the fall. My chances of having a mulitple birth are higher with my age, and because I have twins in my family.

Good luck to you.  If you have multiples and the are premature, be prepared for zero sleep for a few months.  It feels horrible at the time, but it will pass.  You will be up every 3 hours to feed your newborn(s) and if there are multiple, by the time you are done, it will be time to start all over again.  Eat right.

The best advice I ever got was to sleep as much as I could while I was pregnant.  I did and never regretted it.