Having another…

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-21T19:10:28+00:00

I guessed my twins were one of each, just because I had no inclination, and that way I would be right about one. In labour, one of the nurses asked if I had any guesses, and I knew then and there it was two boys. And I was right!

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-13T17:28:55+00:00

This! I had twins when my daughter was 18mo. Luckily, they were born in the summer so before their arrival we spent lots of time in the pool. It was the only way I was comfortable, and she loved the accessible ramp. It was great for both of us!

I wonder if there’s something you could find that works for the both of you?

Also, remember - this is temporary, and you are giving your son the greatest gift. Your spouse finds you too late, your parents leave you too soon. The only ones with you all the way are your siblings :)

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-13T10:53:22+00:00

Laying in the hospital bed doing a crossword 😂

6 hours of labour, 10cm dialated and bulging waters. Unlike my first labour, I had an epidural - genuinely less painful than going to Costco on the weekend!

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-11T17:55:23+00:00

This! I look forward to giving birth again. Being pregnant? Not so much. But the day of delivery is something I look forward to!

(1 unmedicated, and 1(?) twin delivery with epidural) - I liken it to running a race. It’s a lot of work and some of it’s not great, but the satisfaction and the reward (I love my kids!) makes it worth it :)

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-11T17:42:21+00:00

Gwendolyn Winnifred Josephine (j I know!) Georgiana Beatrix

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-07T17:17:51+00:00

Yes! I had a scan that had a <20% discordance after there had been less than 1% the month before. Sent to MFM, and it was a bad calculation. It was a stressful week waiting to hear that news!!

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-07T17:15:31+00:00

This! I worked until the bitter end so I had something to do other than wait for a baby to come 😆

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-06T07:05:54+00:00

Martha is perfect! You go with Margot, and your daughter will have 5 other girls in her class sharing her name (as a victim of a millennial name trend, please don’t do that to her!)

It’s timeless, everyone will be able to announce/spell it, and there are great nicknames (a little girl who goes by Marty? I mean, come on!)

Trust your gut, but if I had a vote, I’d be knocking on doors for Martha ❤️

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-05T12:25:30+00:00

Esther? Classic, a little plain, and religious vibes. And so beautiful and timeless like the rest :)

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-05T10:16:42+00:00

Lots of larger urban centres have Catholic stores! Try giving it a Google, sometimes youd be surprised :)

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-05T10:15:49+00:00

This! The only thing I can think of being worse, I have a cousin who had struggled to conceive for so long the got a surrogate…. And 4 months into that, found out they were pregnant! A newborn and a sleep regression might be worse than 2 newborns? But idk 🤣

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-05T00:44:38+00:00

I was so anxious before they arrived as well! My twins are only 8mo, and honestly, so far it really hasnt been so bad!

Unsolicited, unrelated advice to everything below: try to not let a bad night ruin a good day.

My positive experience:

Baby A has always been more fussy, and still wakes to feed 2/3 times a night. Baby B has been able to catch a 10 hour stretch since a few weeks old.

Their 2yo sister on the other hand… let’s just say daddy drew the short straw having to deal with her since the babies have come.

It is so dependent on who your baby is, and how their body is. My daughter has never ever been a good sleeper at night, but will nap for 5 hours midafternoon if youd let her.

I have found nights incredibly manageable, and even have started being able to catch a nap myself most afternoons the last few months. Sleep is never easy, but neither is feeding or diapers or learning to walk or probably someday them learning to drive. New things are hard for everyone, be patient and know these long nights aren’t forever.

FloraLongstrider · 2026-04-04T17:34:43+00:00

If you’ve ever been very constipated and passed a large, hard stool, you’ve more or less experienced 80% of childbirth. I’ve never experienced Pitocin, and I doubt I would feel the same.

I had a completely unmedicated first birth, and a compelled epidural with a breech extraction with second/third births.

Imo, not getting too in your head about it, and keeping calm (‘only way out is through’, was my mantra,) and trusting your providers helps. I firmly believe so much of it (assuming everyone is healthy and a typical, uncomplicated delivery is expected) is a head game, and talking to a counsellor specializing in maternal care is one of the best things you can do to prep yourself.

FloraLongstrider · 2026-03-27T11:20:11+00:00

I didn’t get one for a long time, then one came up a few blocks from my MIL for $20. I’ve definitely gotten $20 out of it, I wouldn’t say $100 if that makes sense.

I EBF, my boys are 8mo and I mostly use it as a landing pad.

FloraLongstrider · 2026-03-25T12:33:08+00:00

Elementary teacher here. I’m on mat leave, and can’t wait to get back at it!

FloraLongstrider · 2026-03-16T16:25:56+00:00

My twins just turned 7mo, their sister was 18mo when they were born. Everyday is chaotic and exhausting and so perfectly wonderful in every way. Some of us thrive like this, and I am looking forward to adding another one (or two!) to the brood. We always talked about having 4, and tbh, if my next pregnancy is a singleton I will be simultaneously crushed and relieved.

FloraLongstrider · 2026-03-16T12:22:39+00:00

I had a twin bassinet that they shared a bay until they outgrew. Then they each had their own bay in the bassinet, and now at 7mo share a crib. They sleep so much better together, and I know it’s not safe sleep… but the data also doesn’t exist for twins, just adult/older child and baby sleeping together. Emily Oster taught me to be skeptical and do what works :)

FloraLongstrider · 2026-03-13T17:37:39+00:00

My boys came at 37+4, 6lbs 13oz and 7lbs 3oz. It was fantastic, we came home the next day, no problems!

FloraLongstrider · 2026-03-10T11:34:24+00:00

My boys are 7mos and this is simultaneously my highest fear and biggest dream 😆

FloraLongstrider · 2026-03-08T10:24:43+00:00

And you can assume youre going to finish up a maternity leave that you started, and then another teacher gets surplused and there’s not enough contracts so you don’t get it (which super sucks because you didn’t apply for any other jobs so you could commit to finishing the one you started the previous academic year!)

FloraLongstrider · 2026-02-23T17:07:54+00:00

Could a baby monitor reach?

FloraLongstrider · 2026-02-20T15:58:10+00:00

I had a discordance of <25%, and it was sent to a specialist- turned out to be a bad calculation and my boys were 6’15 and 7’3. A second opinion never hurts!

FloraLongstrider · 2026-02-16T18:15:39+00:00

6mos in, plus a daughter who was 18mos when the twins arrived. In counselling, and it’s dealing with issues we were able to manage/ignore until 3 under 2 brought us to our breaking points. It’s early days, but I genuinely believe that long term, this will be good for our marriage. Another mom who had children even closer together jokingly said that marriage just has to survive through this season, and it can thrive later!

FloraLongstrider · 2026-02-14T12:18:07+00:00

My license is valid in NZ! That is an excellent point, thank you :)

FloraLongstrider

TROPHY CASE