*I’m not pregnant with twins anymore. They are now 20 months old. Here’s another look back at the emotions I was experiencing during my twin pregnancy.
Once I’d had some time to get used to the idea of having twins, I decided I needed to do some research on the challenge I was faced with. I spent several months scanning twin birth forums and trying to figure out how I was going to deal with not only the pregnancy and birth – the least of my concerns – but the aftermath of crying, vomit, sleepless nights and nappies. I wondered if I could find some hidden intelligence that comes from our animal counterparts. After all, many species cope just fine with more than one offspring at a time, right?
Drawing on the knowledge I had acquired through my study and work, I started to think more about the topic of raising multiple babies. My mind first wandered to Blue-tongued lizards. Not only do I use them to remind myself and other mums that we have it easy in the pregnancy stakes – blue-tongued lizards give birth to live young and can have to up to 10 babies – but also the birth stakes because each baby is a quarter of the size of their mother! Obviously my birth would be exceptionally easier than theirs, however, the species wouldn’t leave me much insight into my future challenges; her babies are independent as soon as they are born.
So I turned to marsupials next. Pain is hard to measure, but birth appears to be just as painful for them. I was lucky enough to see a kangaroo give birth to her little under-developed jelly bean sized joey and watch it crawl through the fur up into the pouch. The mother kangaroo was definitely feeling it – although there were no strings of obscenities coming from that little mouth! A marsupial’s pouch reminds me of the baby slings that are so popular at the moment, and although I am sure a sling will come in handy, my babies will weigh a whole lot more than a jelly bean (a reality I don’t think my back could handle 24/7). The human pouch arrangement would also be quite dangerous at night – I don’t see the SIDS foundation endorsing that any day soon.
Finding no pearls of wisdom in the world of marsupials, I turned next to the eutherians (placental mammals), the group of which humans are a member. Many eutherians have only one or two young per pregnancy, but some species may produce as many as 20 offspring at once.
I was fairly devastated when I read that, “Although twins have been born already twice before in wild mountain gorillas, there has been no previous case of both babies surviving.” Luckily I quickly had a look at chimpanzees and although twins are rare and again don’t usually survive, I found a lovely story about Gremlin, a mother of twins.
“Although twins result in a loss of mobility for their mother, as it is more difficult for her to travel while supporting her infants, Gremlin managed well, not only because she is highly skilled in her role, but because she has had the help of her older daughter Gaia.” Jane Goodall Institute
So it seems I have learnt well… not much that I didn’t already know, but perhaps it has given me more of a reason to let people help out. I am not good at accepting help, and I’m especially bad at asking for it. If a chimpanzee can graciously accept help, surely I can too.
In the animal kingdom, many species rely on the members of their gang (meerkats), pride (lions) or band (gorillas) to raise their young. I am sure all these animals – with help – still find bringing up their offspring quite challenging (although sometimes they make it look easy). Life likes to throw us curve balls when you least expect it, but fortunately for me, I like challenges!
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What an interesting read Penny, thank you for sharing. I really wish I had of thought to write more about how I felt during my pregnancies I love reading how others felt during their’s
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I wasn’t blogging (or writing much) when I feel pregnant with Miss Possum, so I do feel bad that I don’t have much to share in terms of the pregnancy with her. Both pregnancies were fairly similar though. I think she’ll forgive me.
It’s very interesting and thanks for sharing so many animal facts! I never knew pregnancy was so hard on blue tongued lizards!
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Yes, it’s full on. Poor things. So glad I didn’t come to this earth as a Bluey!
Very interesting! I didn’t know anything about this, so thank you for getting me informed a little. Rachel x
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That’s okay Rachel. It’s interesting where we try and draw inspiration from. It’s funny that I turned to animals but I guess that couldv’e been expected by most who knew I work with wildlife.
Oh I loved that video, but found it heartbreaking as well!
Poor Gaia! To go through the loss of so many babies! We as humans can certainly understand that emotion!
It must be lovely to have these musings to look back on Pen. I wish I had written stuff down back then. What a lovely keepsake for the kids when they get older!
xx
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I know. Horrible hey. So glad she had one eventually. Just goes to show that we can underestimate the emotions of animals.
The kidlets will probably say ‘ what were you thinking mum! Why did you raise us like chimpanzees’.
great post!!
Thanks Yvette
Oh, Penny. Your video made me cry. I’m wiping the tears as I type. Poor Gaia.
Thank you for reminding me of my own precious days of pregnancy. I’m going to go and read through my notes x
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Thanksfully she had her baby in the end. It’s an interesting feeling watching an animal go through loss isn’t it. To me it’s just as heartbreaking to watch th=eir pain as it would a person going through the same emotions.
I would love to hear more of your pregnancy experiences honey.
My best friends had twins a couple of months before my first child was born. She is still my hero to this day. Mother’s of multiples need to be octopi!!
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People make me feel like a hero (which is nice and gives me strength if I’m having a rough day) but I don’t think I’m a hero. I had no choice to have twins and although we do have tough times, they are far easier than I ever anticipated. I think I worried so much during pregancy that it didn’t seem as bad when they actually came along. Phheeewwww! lol
I am so glad I never had twins; one at a time is hard enough, but you are a super woman, and, I’m sure, much more adept than a gorilla.
I would have said the same thing Jess had I not had twins. I was sooo scared when I found out. As I said to Nee, they are good girls so really it hasn’t been as hard as I thought ( I did think a lot of horrible scenarios while I was pregnant though).
I love the way you researched info from your area of passion – wildlife! I did the same (with self-help and psychology) and while I didn’t always find the answers I was looking for; the actual process provided me with a little bit of comfort and inspiration. Twinnies rock!!
BTW – The video of Gaia….sheesh – that’s so touching.
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Such wonderful memories!
I wish i had of recorded more of my thoughts.
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