triplets

Juggling!!

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Okay so now I get it.  I have been waiting all week for this madness that people expect with one toddler and three newborn babies.  Now I get it!  Saturdays and Sundays might just be my nightmare days.  I have planned for all eventualities but Saturday and Sunday mornings are just not going to be too smooth.  I have great help and support for the week.  The girls are on a great schedule, my son is in creche and I have extra help in the house.  All of this happens Monday to Friday.  By Saturday it all changes.

This morning it was just me and my four little goonies.  Rise and shine its 6am!  First breakfast for my son, get a wash on, get him changed and dressed, clean up the kitchen, empty the dishwasher.  Now this is nothing new!  Except from now on, on top of this there are three new mouths to feed.  So bottles to be sterilized, more nappies to be changed and two more hours of feeding.  Also playing lego, building train tracks, making pillow forts and driving cars all over the room.

I remember back to when my son was born and how calm it all was.  This lovely bundle of joy snuggling in my arms!  And how I never felt like I had a minute, how even boiling a kettle or having a shower was an achievement.  Now I am running a marathon!  While playing with my son down on all fours, I was also juggling at least one baby in a hope to get the wind up.  Feeding is now done with great speed and finesse.  With my boy, I have a stop watch – 20 minutes on each breast.  Burping was a leisurely pass time.  They say it changes with y0ur second  – this is so true and the third and the fourth!

So now I get it!

Home Sweet Home

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My three little ladies have arrived home and now our ‘normal’ can begin!

Our house is now full of muslin squares, blankets, baby grows, nappies, bottles and wipes.  There is a lot of paraphernalia when you have three babies but i am loving the chaos.  As someone who generally loves order this chaos could send me into a tail spin but god bless those love hormones.  It just doesn’t matter at the moment.  The most important thing is how all four children are doing.

Thankfully all are doing great.

My little boy headed off in his red dragon costume this morning, the girls have been fed and I have just had a cup of coffee.

Its the simple things.

Now that they are born I so much feel more human and have energy again.  That was a bloody tough pregnancy so it is great to be able to run up the stairs, jump out of a chair and run after my boy.  Christmas is only around the corner and I definitely think by then I will be ready to step out that door with my heels on, hair down and make up done. (Not yet though!!!!! – jelly belly from three babies and the hair doesn’t usually see a hairdryer these days)

Few tips that have helped me:

Feeding chart! – brilliant as long as you stick to writing everything down.  This includes times, amount and nappy changes.

Downsize! – Make one room your new home (for the moment) – we are literally living in the kitchen/play room.  The girls are in a cot, the changing station is here, their clothes are in a basket in the corner and the kitchen allows feeding of all! This allows us to live quite easily and no one is left on their own.

Swaddle! – premature babies are difficult to wind and are more used to being inside you.  There isn’t much room in your belly so like are used to being tucked up and cosy.  They tire easily and need a lot of sleep so wrap them up, put them down and let them sleep!  Don’t keep picking them up as tempting as it is.

Get help! – there is no point in being a martyr.  You will not receive any gold medals for doing it on your own.  All you get is absolutely exhausted!  I am feeling pretty calm these days because I have help.  Help is offered and I have learnt to accept it.  You need to find time for yourself, for your toddler and for your triplets – that is not possible without help!

While they are this size, life is pretty calm.  In no time we will be dealing with rollers and crawlers.  I am going to enjoy this phase first.

Somethings have an unexpected way….

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My three beautiful ladies have arrived. All got here safe and sound approximately two weeks before expected and are the absolute apple of my eye!! I know most new mums who have other children can relate – the worry is always how will I be able to love them as much as my little boy. I shouldn’t have worried! It was immediate. Even in the incubator with tubes and masks they were beautiful and perfect. They were born at 32 weeks and very small so it’s been a slow progress over the last two weeks. Two of the girls will home this weekend, while one little girl is taking her time and will be home when she’s ready. 

My contractions started early. I started to feel Braxton Hicks for a few days. The were getting stronger and stronger. I knew my doctors appointment was only a day or two away so I waited to see. The last thing you want to do is land in too early to the hospital. The morning of my 32 week appointment I dropped my boy the crèche. Driving and lifting a 16 month I’m sure are on the ‘don’t do’ list!! By the time I got to the doctor I was having fairly strong contractions every 10 minutes but they were a bit all over the place. Still hadn’t said anything and sitting with doctor and my mother who were having a full conversation about very little. I waited patiently and then told him I was contracting and it wasn’t just Braxton Hicks. At which point he stood up and guided me to the door. ‘Right we will admit now and you will probably deliver this afternoon then.’ 

‘What?!’ My mother was not prepared!!!! She had broken her foot and cracked her ribs only two weeks previously – another story!!!

By 2pm I was dressing into the gown and socks. By 4pm I was in the delivery room getting prepped. By 5pm my girls were coming! 5.04pm Stella arrived, 5.05pm Francesca and then 5.06pm it’s a girl! Abigail arrived. 

All perfect!

I finally got see and touch them at midnight. Was such a long wait and I was aching to see them. It was a very strange experience being in a room without your baby but all three had to stay in ICU to get strong. So far they have been thriving. They get stronger every day and feeding is going well. 

This time I’m bottle feeding. As a mum of four under two I have to be practical. It wasn’t an easy decision but a necessary one. But I am flabbergasted at some nurses nerve! Less than 24 hours after delivery one of the ICU nurses approached me about how important it was and how I really should be giving my children a better chance. Now I’m a strong person but in that moment I was very vulnerable and she made me feel terrible. I was very hormonal and cried all day. They have no right to do that to someone when you’re seeing your girls in a very vulnerable state and not able to hold them. Myself and my doctor had discussed my options it was none of her business. Funny how many do ask you though. I have had a number of people approach me and ask. 

The same people also love to ask about conception. Eh none of your business!!! Do I ask you about your sex life?!

Anyway, so here we are! Soon we will all be home. The girls need to reach 35 weeks, gaining weight and feeding on bottles. I’m very proud of them as they soon graduate ICU and the real fun begins! 

Getting excited!

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So i know its been a while since my last post but there have been times that i just didn’t feel the urge to put down in words how it was all going.  When you start sounding like a broken record to yourself you know it is not the time to share your thoughts.  Sufficed to say i am glad another month has gone by and i am now only 6 weeks away from welcoming the triplets into this world!

Sleep – well who needs it.  I have learnt to manage on very little these days, and although i get tired, i am learning to pace myself a bit better.  I am generally awake by about 3.30am and up by about 6.30am.  The 6.30am start is more due to the fact that my little 15 month old is not too keen on a lie in.  I usually get a yelp from the other room or a ‘Mama’ which means rise and shine another day is here.  We have had a couple of weeks of sleeping through the night – those mothers who love to tell you about how long their little one sleeps – i don’t listen to anymore! But there has been the odd night where, even after the 5 minute wait to settle, i have had to go in. We recently had another sinus infection to contend with.  The poor fella was miserable – as you would if not able to breath properly.  So after the 5 minute wait in i went to a very upset little boy.  I lifted him up and cuddled him for a little while. It was still pitch black in his room so i couldn’t really see too much.  As i sat there sushing him and letting him know everything was all right i leant down to kiss his forehead.  To my joy i realised that i had just kissed a lump of snot.  So while sushing and cuddling i was also gagging and desperately trying to get the snot off my lips.  This is all in the name of love and truly only something a mother would go through!

Went to visit a mother quads last week – best tip ever – get colour coded feeding charts!!!  I’m off to google a feeding chart!

Edging closer to D day!

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Now 22 weeks and getting so excited. Not a thing has been done in the house to prepare for my three new delights but all will be ready by the time 34 weeks comes along. (I hope!)
Had another check up on Tuesday and everything is going great. They now each measure approximately 16 ounces. Of course, this doesn’t mean much to me but the delight on my doctors face gave me great comfort. He reckons the triplets are all progressing really well.
Still suffering with tiredness but finishing work very soon so that should help. Went to yoga last night and feeling it today in my pelvis. I’m just really stiff this pregnancy – think I might try some one on one yoga and see if I can get some good stretches incorporated into my programme. Triplet pregnancy is completely different to carrying a single baby. The aches and pains are very tough. I’m just not able to do the exercise I did when carrying my son. Even though the end was most definitely a waddle, I was out walking every day to keep moving. The lesson learnt is how much I value my fitness and being able to exercise.
It will be challenge when I next step foot into the gym to loose all the weight and get fit again. But I think that I will relish the challenge (and the head space from 4 little ones).
So roll on the next 12 weeks and please be fast! I want to meet all my ones!

Week 20 of triplet pregnancy

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This week my new nanny started and I feel a bit lost! I get such a kick out of spending time with my son and the fact I can’t at the moment is breaking my heart! I have another 13/14 weeks to go and it can’t go fast enough. I am really looking forward to being able to play chase, get down on the ground and play with his toys, carry him upstairs without running out of breadth! It’s the simple things in life!

However, despite how I feel about it – she is the Mary Poppins of modern day and I am blessed! She is a lovely girl and I know we will all get on great. My son seems to have taken a shine to her already – so I have no doubt that this will be very successful. When you have to sacrifice time with your son so that you can rest it is reassuring to know he is in safe hands.

But children are amazing at expressing themselves and this morning I noticed a lot of whining. He only does this with me – which made me realise that actually this is his way of expressing his annoyance at the lack of time we are spending together. This, I am sure, is a talent that will only perfect even more over time. As he gets older I have no doubt that this is one habit he won’t grow out of.
Had a wonderful moment yesterday when he walked for the first time – oh what a joy! It’s such a monumental step in a child’s progression and to be honoured with the first time he did it is such a gift. At 13 months this is still quite young so don’t expect any marathons to be run anytime soon.
Had a doctor’s appointment this week and all is going great. They babies are each measuring well and they estimate the weight at nearly a pound per baby – which is wonderful! Still struggling with ferocious tiredness and would love a burst of energy but that is minor when I think about the miracle of my three little ones. We discussed the due date again and now he is saying it will definitely be before 34 weeks. I’m happy to have a date in mind now and hopefully it will fly in. Have another 4-6 weeks in work and then I’m off with my feet firmly in the air. I generally like to keep busy but at the moment a couch and some pillows under my feet sounds like a lovely idea!

 

Great day! 

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I’m officially the mother of one beautiful boy and three healthy tiny babies to be. Had my big scan today to check for any abnormalities. Unfortunately, when pregnant with triplets a simple blood test won’t give a definitive answer so the scan today was really important. 

Thankfully they all look perfect. I am 13 weeks and 3 days today and each baby measures exactly that! Woo hoo!!!! They passed with flying colours – very proud moma. 

Chicken Pox

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There are plenty of mothers out there who will have gone through the trauma of a child with chicken pox. The sleepless nights, the cries, the grumpy child and the itching are only the start of it. It is a week I never want to repeat. Oh sweet Jesus! And of course, pregnancy fatigue and nausea combined with chicken pox meant a very long week! My poor son got a bad dose and welts started appearing all over his body. He still has the scabs as a result but my gagging while applying the cream to the blistered back was sight to behold. Neither of us were in a fit state for the week and especially in the middle of the night when he was in most pain.  But I have a few words of wisdom following my experience and thought I would share them. The first is – DO NOT give Phenergan or Dozol. They caused even more heartache as my lovely happy baby turned into a possessed child from the exorcist! He went hyper – I only gave very small doses of these drugs but the effect was extraordinary. No sleep or broken sleep for an hour or so and then more hyperactivity. Keep it simple and stick with paracetamol. Cool baths are great – the heat just aggravates the skin even more and don’t use any soap or bath solutions. Add a stocking or mesh full of oats to the water. Oat milk is an old wives tale but really does work to help calm the skin. Another great product is PoxClin. This saved us! Instead of old fashioned camomile cream this creates a barrier over the chicken pox and helps them heal.

So a busy week but my sanity was rescued when my very kind mother took my miserable little boy for a couple of nights. This meant sleep!!!! For the first time in a very long time I got to sleep! Apart from the week from hell I have been suffering from insomnia. This is a cruel side effect of pregnancy. I have run through the full archive of BBC Desert Island Discs (practically) and tried all sorts of relaxing techniques. Some of them work, some of the time. The worst words of wisdom I have got so far is ‘this is nature’s way of preparing you for when the baby arrives’ always followed with a little chuckle to themselves. Really?! 9 months of no sleep is going to help?! Anyway, my saint of a mother took my son and I feel rejuvenated.

It is so true – accept all help that is offered. Parenting is tough, so sometimes you need a little break to catch your breath. But the most wonderful part of this week was being reunited with my beautiful boy. Now fully recovered, he is back to his happy self and last night we both slept soundly until the alarm woke us up this morning.  

Next week, I get to have another big scan to see how the triplets are doing. I can’t wait! I know you get plenty of side effects to remind you – yes you are pregnant! And a belly that is ever expanding! But for some reason until I see them on the screen in the ultra-sound room, I never fully believe its happening to me. Will keep you posted…….

Saw and felt my babies move!

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There is nothing more magical than a baby scan. And when you have three babies growing inside you it makes it triple the fun!  Three perfect little hearts beating away and three perfect little bodies kicking away. I’m nearly 11 weeks pregnant with my triplets and even though it’s early, I can already feel them moving. It’s like little pops in my lower tummy. I asked the doctor it this is possible – appearantly yes because I have already been pregnant. 

Thank god for the joy of a baby scan to keep you going! As this week I have really needed something to keep me going. It can get a bit overwhelming at times. The unbelievable tiredness, constant sea sickness and sleepless nights. On top of that the guilt that I can’t spend energetic time with my little son. He needs lots of activity and I’m like a mopey teenager lounging on the couch! I hate guilt – I know it’s a mothers curse and no matter what will be I will always want to do better for my children. 

At least I know this is only temporary, 20 weeks to go – nothing in a lifetime!

My mother bears the brunt of my moans and even though she says I’m doing great, I can’t help but think it must be torture listening to me! 

A couple of weeks ago my family decided that I was a problem to fix and the solution – sell my house! Now that’s stress! Trying to move, start a new job, be a single parent AND be pregnant with triplets!!!! Needless to say I decided to put a hault on it. Although they are absolutely right – a move is very necessary for many reasons not just space but financially (live in an old house – bit of a money pit). I can’t do everything. I know I’m sometimes Wonder Woman but now is not the time! Unfortunately, this was taken up as I just needed another push! So next minute the property man was at my door telling me the sign is ready to go up! So I did what any strong independent woman would do – I called my mum!!! 

So babies are thriving, work is going great and Red is just amazing. He said choo choo today – Mensa child!!!!! Enough to be very grateful for! No more about the moans (for the moment).  

 

What a difference a day makes!

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So 24 hours ago I was all doom and gloom.  Shattered and grumpy!  But today I feel so much better.  The lesson I have learnt is to try and find balance.  Doing too much, cramming in too many chores in a 48 hour window is just too hard on my body.

These three little babies are certainly keeping me on my toes!

I can’t remember being this bad on my first son but according to my mother I was!  Obviously it was much harder for others to be around me than I can recall.  I am sure I wasn’t this bad but the mind has a wonderful way of being selective.  During my ‘feeling sorry for myself’ day my mother also said -‘well i’m sure your body can only produce so many hormones’ ie. having triplets can’t be that bad.  EXCUSE ME!!! It was like adding fuel to a fire!  In my very irrational state it is incredibly hard to be rational.  So god love them but my loved ones will probably remember this pregnancy without fondness as I continue to being a walking ‘hormone’.  And of course, I’ll remember none of this and will tell stories of how easy the triplet pregnancy was.