Midwife Cath has delivered over 10,000 babies throughout her 40-year career. She has worked with hospitals around the nation to develop a model of care for the Maternal and Child Health Service. In 2003 she was awarded the Victorian Premiers Award for her work. She has consulted for many high-profile clients including Rebecca Judd, who is pregnant with twins and due later this year.
If you have had premature twins, they will have spent their first few weeks in intensive care, and by week four you might only just be welcoming them home.
Multiple births are becoming more common for a whole host of reasons, such as IVF, and having babies after the age of 35 increases the chance of twins. Pregnancy with twins does increase the complications of pregnancy, such as diabetes, pre-eclampsia and premature birth. Pre-eclampsia is a condition peculiar to pregnancy that is diagnosed by: persistent high blood pressure during pregnancy or the post- natal period, evidence of protein in the urine and changes in blood platelets affecting the liver and kidneys.
Twins are hard work and I admire each and every mother and partner who has a multiple birth. It’s often a long and uncomfortable pregnancy and in most cases in 2016 the babies are delivered by caesarean section. It is ideal to maintain the pregnancy for as long as possible, to prevent any issues relating to prematurity. In all pregnancies we care for pregnant women and babies and must keep in mind the health and wellbeing of both. As Emily, one of the mothers of twins I look after, said:
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This article annoys me for a couple of reasons- first, does Midwife Cath have twins? If not, she can give professional advice but can't really profess to REALLY know what its like, just like I have no idea what have triplets would be like (of course, I don't know if it is her or mammamia that wrote that headline). Second, if a mum needs or wants to give her baby formula, thats fine. It is her choice and she should not be shamed. We mums need to be encouraged to do what we feel is best for our family. However, I don't agree with Midwife Cath 'strongly suggesting' mums of multiples give their baby some formula. I feel like this plants that little seed of self-doubt in women's minds before they even start trying. There is so much mistrust in women's bodies, its no wonder we struggle so much with birth, breastfeeding etc. The same with all the talk about all the complications and things that can go wrong. Ladies, sometimes things deviate from 'normal', and we do need help. But many many women have completely normal twin pregnancies, normal twin births, and go on to breastfeed. Its not all pre-eclampsia, diabetes and pre-term labour. Things CAN go wrong, and we should be prepared for that, but rest assured, in our country we have access to such fantastic care, those things will be taken care of if the need arises. And a shout out to the NICU/SCN mums who are juggling one twin here, one there, expressing milk, tube feeds, etc etc.
I have found my twins to be the hardest thing I've ever done (actually, my midwifery degree might JUST trump them). I won't even say its twice the work but twice as rewarding, because its bloody hard work, but I don't really find it any more rewarding than any of my other (singleton) kids. However, there is something so special about these little twinnies. They are so precious and beautiful and I just love them to pieces. They have completely ruined my social life (impossible to take anywhere once they started walking), I started growing grey hair soon after they were born, my stress levels are through the roof, my body is pretty much ruined because there is just no time/energy for healthy eating and exercise. But its kind of cool being in the 'multiples club'- meeting other twin mums who 'get it', because no-one else really does. We are pretty protective of our little club. And strangers think I'm supermum just for getting out of the house with my little tribe, even if only half of them are wearing clothes/shoes and we're half an hour late.
Hats off to all the mums out there, especially the twinnie mums <3
Never say you practically have twins when you have 2 children close in age! That's the biggest insult to a multiple mum. You did not carry them in your stomach at the same time, give birth to 2 babies within a few minutes of each other and have to deal with 2 newborns at the same time and everything wonderful that one child brings. We have it twice over. At the same time. That includes the nappies the formula the clothes the baby capsules. It's very expensive!
Hearing that hungry newborn scream TIMES TWO is a hell like no other. I agree with everything you said. I'm not discounting the challenges of two children of different ages, but I hate when people say having two young children is like twins. No clue.
Having twins is like....having twins.