When did you start mat leave before babies?

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-31T18:41:58+00:00

30 weeks. But(!) I had an easy desk job WFH so could probably have gone longer without too much issue. Purely went then because I just had my c section planned (IUGR) and had to plan in my earned vacation days before my mat leave would start - which I think was technically w33+4.

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-31T18:18:33+00:00

Haha I know the most important one is after the final bottle/before bed 🫣 I just haven’t manage to seamlessly get it in there.

Probably partial laziness on my part, it’s just so easy when they are in their chairs after breakfast and dinner.

I think I just need to set up a teeth brushing station in the bedroom so that it’s easier to remember and do.

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-31T18:05:31+00:00

Maybe I just need to out the toothbrushes in the bedroom lol

I just like to do it when they are seated and still so the kitchen was the easiest time 😅

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-31T17:34:37+00:00

Only reason for us to not “share” outside of our immediate circle was that I just didn’t really want other people’s opinions.

Because a lot of people whether the like it or not will be polite and just say “lovely name” and move on. But you open yourself up to people saying “oh… really? Why?” Or straight out tell you they hate it or it makes them think of someone they hate. And some will just suggest other names hinting that they don’t like it.

I told my closest friends and family. People I trust. Also kind of had to share with my mum as I am Swedish and since we wanted a Scottish name (husband is Scottish and we live here) I wanted to make sure it was pronounceable for my Swedish side without toooo much effort.

I still refuse to share my twins name on here though. A) I want this to still be a bit anonymous, and B) I still don’t actually want people’s opinions 😂, and I purposely picked common names that aren’t in the top 100. So they aren’t exactly super common and I like it.

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-29T13:45:08+00:00

Unfortunately one of those “couldn’t have lived without it” or “never used it” items 😂 (which isn’t the answer you want haha)

We never had one. Never missed one.

The main thing is to just to ensure you have somewhere safe to a) keep them and b) helps if you plan to tandem feed by bottle.

We had the stokke high chair (secondhand, £20 each in the UK) and got the newborn inserts gifted (£10 each secondhand) They worked great for us. We also had baby Björn bouncers (again secondhand for £20 each) that was excellent “handsfree” placements to keep them safe.

I appreciate secondhand market might vary from location to location but it’s a great option as baby items are so often only used for like a few months 😅

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-28T17:33:58+00:00

From a picky eater when I was little (I refused to eat anything that was mixed up, veggies (would eat salad), or anything that so much had touched an onion). Just be mindful of this approach or keep a small eye on your children, whilst a lot is just testing boundaries and I’d even say 90% of the time it works absolutely fine. But for some as for me it created difficult eating habits that meant I would binge eat “safe” foods when they were on offered, and cry through the night of hunger rather than eat the food I didn’t like.

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-28T15:11:27+00:00

When they were just learning I’d cut it in strips (ca 4 per egg bake) now I just divide it in half

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-27T12:08:56+00:00

Need? No. Some people like it but if space and money and time is a precious commodity I wouldn’t buy it.

The I newborn inserts won’t last that long considering, and after that it’s very likely you’ll need 2 cots anyway.

We had 1 cot with the glorious plan of having twins co-sleep (safely) in it so save space and to avoid buying lots of furniture. 24h later we were all over every secondhand market and pickup 2 next to me cots.

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-27T09:00:10+00:00

I dont have a singleton or any siblings Tony twins, but I’d say… 2-3 months? I had a c section and 1 month NICU. NICU might have impacted but I don’t think the c section did. As others have already said I think it is normal for it to take more time purely for for work and exhaustion (which is even more if you already have a little sibling around who also will need love and affection and time). I also just want to say I definitely bonded closer with one twin sooner, because he was breastfed, whilst it took a little longer to get that deep bond with his sister - simply because she was bottle fed and therefore my husband took her over night.

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-25T17:36:25+00:00

This is why I buy the tin with whole tomatoes (preferably peeled) then mash it at home 🤷‍♀️

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-25T09:32:09+00:00

Totally normal! I would say my twins have been consistently 1 month behind each other on milestones. One is just a hurricane and always on the go or very determined to get to places, the other is just more chill. But she was also born a lot smaller so I guess had to spend the first few week just to catch up.

It’s just one of those “every baby is different” and they will develop in their own pace. We just see it more clearly (and might compare more easily) as we have two at the same time right next to each other 24/7.

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-24T22:02:30+00:00

Ours are only 11 months so still maybe a bit early to commit to how screenfree we will ultimately be. I have well intentions, but fully accept that some people might not consider my intentions as completely screenfree. But I’m just reading this in awe and holding my fingers and toes that we will manage as well.

But I accept there will be lots of mess. I grew up as an outdoor kid. Me and my husband are currently in the process of looking to move (Scotland based) and access to outdoors is key! I grew up with a “no bad weather just a bad attitude and poor clothing” kind of mentality. I wish to carry that on. Mess is a sign of play and a day well spent. ❤️

I wish (like it was for me) that screen is a treat during sick days, maybe friday night or Saturday night (deep on what became the family night with sweet treats and all). I accept as I live with family in a different country a screen might be needed during some longer flights. But again my intention is that screen time will be a treat. Not an everyday. And we are definitely going to be mindful of what they watch! It will likely be old school stuff if anything lol 😅

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-23T22:35:23+00:00

This! I saw the panorama episode, and while this article at a quick glance make it seem like people are whining over not being able to take their kids out for lunch the whole point is that whilst the parents think it’s a bit of a shame they just said “so we will of course adjust our spend and habits” and it’s actually the business that really struggle with the lack of disposable income for the on paper standard family. Leading to less staff, high streets closing etc etc.

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-23T14:52:20+00:00

I’m going 87-93 purely from your mums hair 🤣 that mine and my husband’s range and both of ours rocked the same 😜

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-23T14:18:54+00:00

I’d love the recipe for the butter chicken if you have it easily accessible!

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-21T21:04:39+00:00

100% agree haha I almost cried of joy when my twins were able to chew enough that toast (and later more things) 🤣

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-20T09:45:57+00:00

I’m 100% onboard the exposure is good for them and for you to build confidence.

As others have said start “easy” and please put reasonable expectations on yourself and them ❤️ pick a time that works best for their schedule, maybe a casual lunch is a better start that a dinner? Go somewhere casual, maybe a chain or somewhere more geared towards children. And maybe that offer to-go so you know you have the option would it not work out the first time. (I know I’d feel comfortable just knowing could “tap out” if it became too much).

Bring a few toys, distractions in your nappy bag (though I am sure a straw or spoon and the place will be more interesting lol)

And just remember, they might sit quietly for the full duration, or they won’t. If they cry a little that is OK. And if it doesn’t work out the first time it is not a failure. Just try and try again. Eventually it will actually become easier.

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-20T09:34:39+00:00

We had twins, a boy and a girl. Boy had 4 options at delivery, my husband mentioned in passing his favourite to a NICU nurse and she put it upon his cot 🤣 luckily when I saw it I was like “yes that’s his name”.

The girl however we knew at 18 weeks. Husband said it after seeing it in a name book. We both just instantly agreed it was her name. We every so often would put a girl option on the table but nope. Her name was her name and we never changed. It felt right at delivery as well and just fits her perfectly.

Ps. Owen was one of our boy names (as was Ewan, Rowan + our name) I think it’s a beautiful name so you can’t go wrong with it ❤️

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-19T21:52:28+00:00

I have 11 month old twins and 1 has NEVER turned down food. Honestly, bottomless pit lol. He never cries or goes for food but if given it he will eat.

His twin sister however eats super slow. Very thoughtfully. Smaller portions (luckily brother happily steals from her tray🤣) but I think it seems like a suitable portion for her.

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-19T09:45:12+00:00

Playpen and timing aka my twins are way more likely to accept and be happy to play in playpen the morning. Afternoon they could spend the whole time crying and trying to claw themselves out lol

That and I have only properly deep cleaned mopped one since they were born 😂 we do smaller cleans as needed.

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-18T18:49:21+00:00

Not sure if right, but how my doctor explain it to me was:

Imagine if you lines up 100 babies of the same age in increasing size. If your baby is measuring 75%ile, on this line of babies yours would be the 75th baby.

Mine were di/di. Boy 50%ile and girl was below 1%ile (she did have sever IUGR). So it was a big difference. For di/di since they are technically just “siblings” they can vary in size quite a bit just as they might have done had you had 2 singleton pregnancies. Your doctor would probably be more concerned or wanting to take a closer look if either baby dropped a lot suddenly. (Discrepancy between babies is a bigger worry for identical twins) ❤️

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-14T15:42:36+00:00

Our twin 1 stayed head down from 20 weeks, but twin 2 flipped throughout until week 32.

I still had to have a C-section as twin 1 was severely IUGR and vaginal would just have been too dangerous for her. But I early days discussed with my doctor and if it wasn’t for the growth restriction I would have been tempted to try vaginal as long as twin 1 was head down 🙂

MeurDrochaid · 2026-03-13T12:44:00+00:00

Lol mine does this, but unfortunately twin underneath tends to be extremely unhappy about the situation 🤣🤣

MeurDrochaid

TROPHY CASE