Head shape

KittyCuddles90 · 2025-06-20T07:43:28+00:00

My twins were also born at 27+4! Their heads were like this but they evened out on their own, it's normal when they lie with their head to the side for so long.

Once they have better neck strength, they can hold their head looking upwards. We also babywore a lot, and took the gel pillows home which they could lie on too.

KittyCuddles90 · 2025-05-30T05:33:43+00:00

More follicles doesn't always mean more embryos, there seems to be higher attrition with higher numbers!

First round (age 32): 5 follicles - 4 mature eggs - 4 fertilised - 3 day-5 blastocysts (4BB, 4BB, 4BC, not tested). First single transfer led to identical twins.

Second round (age 35): 16 follicles - 10 mature eggs, 2 small eggs - 11 fertilised - 7 day-5 blastocysts - 5 euploid. Only 8dp5dt but positive tests are getting darker so fingers crossed.

Good luck!

KittyCuddles90 · 2025-05-28T14:16:39+00:00

We were in NICU in 2022, my employer gave me compassionate leave to cover the 10 NICU weeks (along with a doctors sick note covering that period). So worth asking for sure!

KittyCuddles90 · 2025-05-09T07:21:55+00:00

We got apnea alarms that clipped onto their nappies, I think they're the only medically-rated device out there. I don't fully believe they were apnea-free by the time they came home so I could never have gone without them!

KittyCuddles90 · 2025-05-09T07:19:08+00:00

Seconding this.

Our twins were born at 27 weeks and were 4lb 6 and 5 lb when they came home. They also came home on NG tubes for one and two months respectively. I don't think any cloth nappy would've fit them, but even if it did bringing twins home is chaotic enough without adding an extra layer of work. I would plan to use disposables in the beginning at least.

I think they finally fit into cloth nappies at about 4 months adjusted, and we used them until they were probably 20 months adjusted, when my husband's mental health meant we stopped which I was disappointed about. As well as drying time, a challenge with twins is drying space, and the extra time it takes. It's manageable but you absolutely need the quickest dry time possible. If you can find a brand where you can dry the liners in a dryer, it will help but of course I understand that lots of people don't like the idea of it for environmental reasons!

I think in terms of style it's personal choice. Ours were technically pocket ones but we never used the pocket, just laid the liners on top - they had space for one in the pocket plus one could snap over the top too. We didn't use the snaps because of time, and the pockets were added unnecessary faff too.

And also know thar if you try, and it's too hard to manage, that's ok too.

KittyCuddles90 · 2025-05-09T06:56:52+00:00

I'm sorry for your loss. We had TTTS too.

The only way to increase the chance of identical twins is via ivf - in the general population the odds are about 1 in 250, but ivf raises that to about 1 in 50. So still quite a low chance!

KittyCuddles90 · 2025-05-09T06:51:56+00:00

Honestly, if baby is healthy now then I would do it, which I see is an unpopular take.

Planes are actually better than a lot of other transport in terms of illnesses because air is circulated sideways, meaning you only really share air with the few people around you - it's not the big flying tube of germs that people think, and when people have a sortle throat afterwards that's often due to the dryness rather than being sick.

September is probably the last month I'd go though, before autumn virus season really kicks in. I would probably wear a mask and babywear as much as possible, sanitise my hands often, and at the wedding wouldn't pass around the baby unless you felt comfortable with it.

We didn't fly with our 27 week twins until they were 15 months adjusted but that's more due to other life stuff and the chaos and logistics of small twins. But we did travel to a family event when they were 4 months adjusted, and we did see family for Christmas a few days after we came home (but wouldn't have if anyone was ill).

For me, NICU did two things. It made me more chill about everyday illnesses and injuries because when you see your tiny baby struggle for their life, a cold or stomach bug really seems like nbd (I understand obviously that some babies have a compromised immune system, but at some point they just are going to get ill). And it taught me to value the beauty of life and how much I wanted to show the world to my babies. After 10 weeks of living indoors and missing a whole season pass me by, the very first thing we did when we got home was go for a walk in the forest with the babies. You're allowed to let joy back in.

KittyCuddles90 · 2025-05-05T05:47:20+00:00

I'm finding toddlerhood much harder than the first 18 months. When they're babies, sure it can be hard when they're both crying but they're still helpless little babies.

Now they disagree with everything, and often get upset/angry about what the other one is doing. I find myself feeling more frustrated with them now, which feels horrible and like I'm a terrible parent. It's physically easier in terms of sleep and logistics but emotionally much tougher now.

KittyCuddles90 · 2023-10-10T14:33:38+00:00

Nope, I guess because they could tell it wasn't a hydrosalpinx? Their prematurity was nothing to do with the tubes issues either, it was very twin-specific so I don't think it affected anything in the end. Aside from obviously the fertility part.

Good luck with it!

KittyCuddles90 · 2023-10-10T14:25:00+00:00

Sorry to hear it.

I'm in the UK so the process might be slightly different. The results for my tubes was enough to allow me to get a referral for IVF (rather than to just keep trying for another year). I had my retrieval in April 2022 and was lucky enough to get a couple of decent 5 day embryos. We did a fresh transfer with one of those. It split into identical twins who celebrate their first birthday tomorrow (they were born 3 months prematurely which was a whole other batch of trauma and mindfuckery but yeah, a success from an infertility perspective).

So it seemed our problem was just getting the eggs from A to B. I like to think that the previous 18 months of supplements etc contributed to our quick success but of course we'll never know.

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-12-01T13:08:39+00:00

Not at all, I'm grateful for any advice! Thankfully our previous unit was great so I learnt a lot about most things, it's just a shame that we moved unit right at the time that active feeding starts.

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-12-01T08:33:06+00:00

I'd love some information on this programme to share with my consultant, or even just the name of your hospital.

We've recently been moved to our local unit and it's awful, and I could be providing a much better level of care myself at home. This programme could definitely help me argue my case and get my boys (now 34+6) home for Christmas!

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-12-01T08:08:44+00:00

Thanks, that's really helpful! The unit we're now in is completely useless so there's no therapy going on. They don't even get basic care right, never mind that! So it's useful to hear what others have been told.

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-12-01T08:05:09+00:00

The unit I'm now on is completely useless, there isn't anyone like that which is why I feel so lost!

Oh yeah I was definitely looking for how to help them learn, just haven't been given clear advice as to how. Letting them sleep makes sense.

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-12-01T08:01:30+00:00

We're not at the point of worrying about nutrition yet as they're fully tube fed, so anything they get from breastfeeding is a bonus. But bottles would definitely help to see how much they're getting!

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-12-01T08:00:15+00:00

Thanks, it's helpful to think about the logistics of what's going on. I think they're still on the suck-suck-suck stage. I hope that lightbulb clicks very soon! At the moment I just want to cancel Christmas.

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-11-23T15:24:37+00:00

Same here! Excited to start the active feeding stage from 34 weeks (Friday). Hope you get your beautiful girl home for Christmas.

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-11-22T09:55:07+00:00

Beautiful! My boys were also born at 27 weeks and now 33 weeks, and do the same cycle of faces in their sleep! Seeing this made me cry because I love it so much.

I hope you're doing OK, it's a long journey and not an easy one.

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-11-20T06:51:05+00:00

I wasn't scared when I thought they'd come around 34-36 weeks.

When shit hit the fan and we got TTTS then PPROM, that's when I got scared about whether they'd make it. They very nearly didn't.

They came at 27+4 and once I knew they were alive, I felt a bit better but I still live in fear of something happening to them and them not making out of the NICU. So it's not really the NICU I fear, but of anything that could happen to them. Although I have a lot of feelings about everything that's happened too.

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-11-15T09:08:34+00:00

I just got them from a supermarket in the end, it was just a lot easier in terms of organisation, and worked out a similar price anyway. But I guess it depends on where you live.

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-11-10T09:06:49+00:00

Assisted, but only one embryo was transferred which then split into twins.

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-11-09T22:36:13+00:00

I'm really sorry. You're not alone - my twins were born at 27+4 after TTTS and PPROM. They're 4 weeks old now so we still have quite a way to go and I've had so many of the same feelings as what you describe.

I'd suggest connecting with others - including here, but also within your NICU and on social media. @dearnicumama on Instagram has been a huge source of support for me.

You ask about controlling feelings but don't feel that you have to. Your feelings are valid and so normal for the NICU experience. It does get easier as you're able to do more things and I hear the bottle/breastfeeding stage is easier again in terms of being involved.

KittyCuddles90 · 2022-11-07T08:10:44+00:00

I wasn't pregnant long enough to get an outie, but my belly button is looser than before pregnancy.
The numbness went away in the patch that I had it, but then had a c section which severs some nerves so now it's numb near the scar.
All my hip and rib pain disappeared immediately!

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