EVER wondered what it's like to have two sets of twins? Three families who have been doubly blessed - twice over - tell all.
Tom and Alison Colegrove had twins Alex and Stephen, after IVF treatment. A year later they conceived naturally and by accident. Again it was twins (non identical).
At the time of writing, Toby and Daniel were four-and-a-half months old and Alex and Stephen were two.
Alison said: "We tried for two years to have a baby before we went to the doctor and because of my age he recommended that we get on with IVF. It was three-and-a-half years in total before we conceived.
"I guess we weren't that surprised when I was told it was twins because there's always a higher chance of multiple births with IVF. I did feel a bit scared about how I'd cope but mainly we were just glad that we were going to have a family at last.
"Alex and Stephen were born 11 weeks prematurely, by caesarean section.
"They were fine but had been born early because I'd got an infection. They spent eight weeks in the special care baby unit. Having had them in hospital for so long it was strange bringing them home. Tom took time off work and I also had help from my parents.
"In October I went back to work part time and the boys went to a childminder.
"I felt I needed to do that for my own sanity but also to keep up to date with developments in my industry (engineering).
"We did talk about having another baby. We didn't want to have another too soon but then we knew that time was running out. We didn't want to attempt IVF again because it had been a very difficult, disruptive and painful experience, we just hoped it might happen naturally. I fell pregnant much earlier than we'd have wanted - around the twins' first birthday.
"I did a couple of pregnancy tests because I just couldn't believe it. It wasn't until an 11 week dating scan that I discovered it was twins again. I'd been saying to everyone, 'Of course it won't be twins this time - there are none in the family' but when they told me it was, I was devastated. I knew exactly what I was in for. It was so early to be having even one more baby - let alone two.
"The pregnancy was very difficult. I got to the point where I could hardly leave the house - never mind pick them up - I was so big and so uncomfortable and I think Stephen and Alex missed out on their mum because of that. When Toby and Daniel arrived, they both weighed over 7lbs, so no wonder I'd been so big.
"In some ways, I had no experience of having one baby so I was just doing it all again but of course it is hard when you've got the other two who are still so dependent on you.
"And I think as a sort of reaction to their arrival the older boys have taken to wanting us to feed them again.
"We're gradually working things out. Tom's a very hands-on father but we'd never have managed without the help of his mum, June.When I've got them all at home she tends to look after the babies for me so that I can spend a bit of time with the boys.
"I'll be going back to work part time again and we've worked out a system where three of the children will go to the childminder and each child will spend one day a week at home with their grandma.
"I think it'll be good for them to have time on their own. I'm looking forward to when they're older because being so close in age, they'll all be able to play together. It's been a good form of contraception. There's no way we're having any more. I'd just be scared it'd be triplets next time."
Rachel and Ric Williams' first set of twins, Anna and Kate, (identical) aged seven, were conceived on honeymoon.
Jessica and Emily (non-identical) arrived three-and-half years later. Rachel, a paediatric nurse, is now a full time mum.
Rachel says: "I burst into tears when I found out I was having twins the first time. I was delighted but really shocked even though I had suspected it might be twins because I was so big. There were no other twins in the family so it was a real surprise.
"They were born at 36 weeks after a long labour. I found it really hard for the first couple of years and at the time I thought I wouldn't have wished it on anyone. I felt a lot of guilt because I couldn't give them one-to-one attention and you don't feel you really get time to enjoy them.
"But then it started to get easier. When they got to about two-years-old I suddenly felt like everything was good and we started to think that we might try again.
"We thought it would be easy because I'd fallen pregnant so quickly the first time round but nothing happened for a year.
"We started to look into fertility treatment but when the doctor said it was more likely to result in a multiple birth I thought 'we don't want that'.
" Little did I know I was already pregnant again. I had thought that it'd be just my luck to have twins again but tried to put it out of my mind. However I was being very sick so I paid for an early scan at eight weeks - supposedly to put my mind at rest.
"When I was told, I was absolutely devastated. I really wept.Anna and Katie were three-and-a-half. They'd never had 100 per cent of my time and now I thought they never would.But those negative feelings didn't last long. When I got home and saw them I began to feel happier.
"Twins was all I'd known and it was all they knew too. The girls each adopted a baby in the womb - Anna (the eldest) adopted the first born and Katie the second.
"Jessica and Emily were born by Caesarian section and I had an infection so it took me a while to get my strength back. It was hard to begin with because I did feel like Anna and Katie missed out on having me there.But they didn't feel too pushed out because they helped by fetching and carrying for 'their' twin. They still do that to some extent.
"Whenever I go out in town people stop me. You feel like a celebrity.So many positive things came out of it. The second time around, I feel I've been able to enjoy it a bit more and notice things about the younger girls' development that I missed the first time round."
Sian and Andy Davis's first set of twins Ricky and Nicky, now teenagers, (non identical) were unplanned. They now have Jack and Harry aged seven (also non identical).
Sian said: "I found out I was expecting my first twins during a scan at 14 weeks. There have been other multiple births on my side of the family but it wasn't something I'd really thought about although I had been very sick early on.
"People were very negative about it when I told them but once Ricky and Nicky arrived we just had to get on with it. A good friend helped me out a lot and other than that we just muddled through. In fact I went back to work as a care assistant for a time.
"When they were six we decided to try again and I fell pregnant straight away.
"I was really sick again and it just felt the same as it had before so I knew it was twins. I'd tried to tell Andy that but he was still really shocked when it was confirmed on the dating scan at 11 weeks.
"I was worried about how we'd cope because we only had a two-bedroom house.
"Also I'd given all our baby stuff away so we had to start from scratch. Jack and Harry arrived and I'd forgotten how hard it could be. We had to move to a three-bedroom house.
"When they were younger and both in pushchairs people stared at us in the street.
Because they're not identical it's not so obvious now but they do still look alike and we seem to cause a stir wherever we go. People always ask if they were naturally conceived.I think there are positive things about it though - they'll always have a friend and no matter how much they argue between themselves they'll always stick up for one another.
"I would like to have more once Jack and Harry are at school but we've been told that there's a very high chance it would be twins again. I could cope with that but I think Andy worries about how we'd manage financially."
Twins twice? How Tamba can help:
Tamba has a range of experts on family issues available to discuss the dynamics of having more than one set of twins. (More details from the Tamba office).
You can also ring the Tamba phone service Twinline, where trained listeners offer help advice and support. If you'd like to get in touch with other families in the same situation, please contact me.
A version of this article first appeared in Tamba's Twins, Triplets & More magazine.
i have a 6 yrr old singleton and two sets of twins and i was on the birth control pill both times i got pregnant with the twins how comman is that?
Posted by: tiffany | December 17, 2007 at 05:50 AM
I also have 2 sets of twins. One set boys, one set girls, and a singleton son in the middle. All 5 were under 4 years of age at one time. That time is a blur, but I know I loved it.
ps. they were all conceived naturally and on the first attempt. ME MOMMY MACHINE!
Posted by: Sammi T | May 26, 2008 at 05:12 AM
I also have 2 sets of twins. One set boys, one set girls, and a singleton son in the middle. All 5 were under 4 years of age at one time. That time is a blur, but I know I loved it.
ps. they were all conceived naturally and on the first attempt. ME MOMMY MACHINE!
http://motherslane.blogspot.com
Posted by: Sammi T | May 26, 2008 at 05:16 AM
2 sets of twins here too. Identical girls followed by identical boys. My kids are 5, almost 4, first set of twins are 2 now, and expecting the second set soon. It's twinsanity!
Posted by: Heather | June 02, 2008 at 02:20 AM
i too have two sets of twins which i am raising on my own after separating from my wife nearly 2 years ago. identical girls and a set of boys.. many many sleepless nights, but more rewarding than anything ever experienced
Posted by: daniel.w | July 19, 2008 at 11:21 AM
i too have two sets of twins which i am raising on my own after separating from my wife nearly 2 years ago. identical girls and a set of boys.. many many sleepless nights, but more rewarding than anything ever experienced
Posted by: daniel.w | July 19, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Hey Im a mom of two fraternal sets of twins I have nine year old boy girl set and a two year old boy boy set! Wow I feel at home here hahah Way to go everyone We are all SUPER HEROS!
Posted by: Brandi | August 12, 2008 at 04:13 AM
We have 1 set of 11 mth old twins, and we just found out we are pregnant. We are not sure what the stats are on having two sets of twins...they typically run in both our families - more so in mine (i am a twin of a boy-girl set). My husband is using the theme "one" daily...I did not think it was likely to happen a second time around...Any advice or website would be greatly appreciated - we have yet to confirm the number...but in case it happens I would appreciate the resources.
Posted by: kl | August 19, 2008 at 12:23 AM
We have 2 sets of twins 10.5 months apart!! Girls just turned 3 and boys just turned 2. They're so close in age, and size, they look more like quads. I love it when during those 6 weeks out of the year when they are the same age when people stop us in public (which happens ALL the time) and ask if they are quads, we say no, then they ask how old they all are, and we get to reply that they are all 2!! Leaves people baffled! It lightens up the fact that it takes us forever to get anywhere with all the curious folks who stop us!!
Posted by: Sarah Baird-Forner | September 02, 2008 at 04:08 AM
Hi everyone i am also the mother of two sets of twin girls, there are 2 1/2 years difference. I have been writing a book over the past 18 months and would appreciate anyone who has twins especially more than one set to contact me, i can be contacted at mumof2xtwinz@y7mail.com. The book is covering experiences in raising twins rather than the pregnancy itself. please feel free to ask me anything and i will answer the best i can.
thanking you all in advance
Michelle
Posted by: Michelle Parkinson | September 08, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Hello I am the mother of two sets of twins who were conceived naturally they are a boy and a girl who are 6 years old and 6 month old boys.
Posted by: Michelle Warner | November 01, 2008 at 04:10 PM
My first set of twins are 7 my oldest is 8 and i JUST found out i have a second set of twins on the way. Im only 6 wks but already scared. they are pure old fashion babies no help anywhere. Thank You to everyone that posted a comment you give me hope.
Posted by: cary | November 07, 2008 at 04:55 AM
I also have two sets of twins, they are 22 months apart. A set of fraternal boys and set of fraternal girls. They are now 7 and 5. It has been hard at times, but I would say it is getting easier now. They can definately fight with each other, but they will also stick up for each other at any time. After getting past being stopped in public all the time when they were younger and being asked lots of questions, things have calmed down a little and still getting better.
Posted by: Lisa Bergeron | November 16, 2008 at 07:22 AM
hi all i had a singlton my 1st pregnacy and fraternal twin girls second time around i am now 7 1/2 weeks preganet,i do not know how many im having yet but i just have this strong feeling its twins agin is there any mums out there who just knew second time around?????
Posted by: kate | February 06, 2009 at 03:51 AM
Heya I have two sets of twins too.
First identical twin girls Ciara and Lily
Then i had just had identical twin boys Dylan and Graire and i have a singleton called Isobella (Iza)
We also have nine horses, three dogs and two cats
We get lots of people coming up to us in the streets too.
Its great to hear from others that know what its like!!!
Posted by: Leah | March 03, 2009 at 08:05 PM
hi im gigi & yes i have two sets of twins but they r one set identical & the other is ferternal . its funny seeing them grow up plus an 8 year old girl ,sorry its identical 6yr old boys & ferternal 5 yr old boy& girl my home is very crouded but i like hearing them talk at night in there room all i can say is if u never lived it u cant knock it .i thought it was very rare but now i see im not alone .
Posted by: gigi | March 25, 2009 at 07:13 PM
yes i know the feeling i knew it from the moment my doc said you are pregnant i said its twins & it was a set of ferternal boy & girl
Posted by: gigi | March 25, 2009 at 07:16 PM
Thank you so much to everyone who has continued to comment on this piece and lots of love and luck to you.
Posted by: Linda | March 25, 2009 at 08:52 PM
I just gave birth to a boy and girl that where born premature on march 30,2009 and I already have a set of girls that are 16months old.
Posted by: tasha | April 09, 2009 at 08:10 AM
p.s my twins that were born on march,30 2009 were only 28 weeks old and are in the N.I.C.U please pray 4 them!!!!
Posted by: tasha | April 09, 2009 at 08:15 AM
Tasha, please keep us posted on how your babies are doing. Thinking of you! ~ Becky
Posted by: Becky | April 12, 2009 at 02:42 PM
I have 16 month old twin girls and we just found out we are 10 weeks pregnant with another set of twins. We are very excited and a little scared.
Posted by: Brandie | May 07, 2009 at 01:26 AM
Good luck Brandie! I hope the experiences recounted here help you not to be totally scared!
Posted by: Linda | May 07, 2009 at 04:01 PM
Hi Everyone,
I also have two sets of identical twins. All natural no ivf. My older set of twins are four years old and my younger ones are three.. Hats off to you all because I know how difficult this is. It's a blessing, but that doesnt make it easy. Check out our website for some health and fitness tips that might make life a little easier. Peace to all!!
Posted by: Leisa Naples | May 22, 2009 at 05:48 AM
Hi Everyone,
Oops sorry forgot to give the website. livingwellwithleisa.com. My brain gets a bit foggy at the end of the day, which I'm sure you can all relate to!!! I pray for all of the preemie babies. Both sets were preemies and they are all very healthy now. Yours will be too! Peace...
Posted by: Leisa Naples | May 22, 2009 at 05:55 AM