There are pregnancies that we desire more than anything. Others you don’t expect. And then there are those that don’t go as planned. As she approaches her forties, Sandrine has one wish: to complete her family. Already the mother of a 12-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son, she and her husband were considering “a little third,” not realizing that the ultrasound had a little extra surprise in store for them.
“At 39, I had more time for myself. It was a good time to get pregnant again Sandrine recalls. The age difference with the first two children does not scare him. “I got pregnant quite quickly. And it can be said that the family was well replenished. He remembers the announcement like it was yesterday. Being used to ultrasound, she goes to the gynecologist without really having any fears. The husband is not late either, it is obvious that he is late. “We’re starting without him,” laughs Sandrine, “I quickly understand what’s going on.” I know what an ultrasound looks like, and this time it’s not just one baby. » Sandrine is expecting twins, for real. As soon as she gets dressed, her husband finally arrives. Sandrine’s first words were “we need to change the car”. »
Double pregnancy
Parents see twice. Those who do not have a genetic factor predisposing to multiple pregnancy (except for fraternal twins from the paternal grandfather) end up in a large family. According to the INED (National Institute for Demographic Research), the rate of twin pregnancies has been increasing for 30 years, “from 9.1 per 1,000 births in the 1980s to 12 in the 2010s”. One of the reasons for this growth is. Later motherhood. Indeed, the probability of having twins increases with age.
“I felt better during this pregnancy than during the first two”
There is no question of the end of pregnancy for Sandrine. “We were laughing nervously at first and then it quickly hit me,” she recalls, “my fear at the time was having identical twins and not being able to recognize them.” Fear, which, however, concerns not all women who are expecting twins. Because twins mean delivery at 8 months of pregnancy, medical checkup every 15 days and regular bed rest. However, Sandrine wants to reassure, this latest pregnancy will be the most enjoyable. “Of course, age plays a role, I felt better during this pregnancy than during the first two,” she says, “I was well taken care of, I was more mature and confident.” This probably wouldn’t have happened if I never had kids. »
Pregnancy approached with confidence, but which involves some changes. Living on the Ile de Ré, the family home needed some work. You should also consider childcare that can accommodate two children and expect double enrollment in school. “It is at these moments that we understand that the classic pregnancy was not so complicated,” the forty-year-old girl laughs today.
Find his place
Announcing her pregnancy to her first children was also a key step. “It took us a while to tell the adults that they were going to be a big sister and a big brother. Not only because there was a risk of miscarriage at the beginning of the pregnancy, but also because everyone had to find their new place,” Sandrine thinks. The news of her latest child was harder to take. “Everything was more difficult with Guillaume because he was the youngest. He was upset because the twins were taking up so much space in our lives.”
Their loved ones were also very surprised by that news. “Before, I never thought that I could expect twins,” recalls the mother. “Then all our friends started thinking about a little third. We had the surprise of pregnancy and twins. Sandrine confides that she never faced the public’s view of her multiple pregnancy, “a lot of people must have thought it would be difficult, but they didn’t tell me,” and rightly so, “because, yes, everything is more complicated with twins. . »
He felt this unrestrained look especially after the birth of his sons. ” Public view It’s quite a burden when children grow up, because they are seen as curious animals.’ From this observation, Sandrine has always ensured that we distinguish Hugo from Louis. Because, yes, despite her initial anxiety, the mother immediately knew how to recognize them. “We voluntarily segregated them in school from CE1 onwards,” he was quoted as saying. “People imagine they think the same thing, call them ‘twins’ instead of their names, it amuses them. But they are two different people. »
After eight months of an extraordinary pregnancy, the mother recalls a “wonderful experience” that she was allowed to live, even if it was “very strange to have two babies on the same day. “Now at 54, she believes that every member of the family had a role to play in this pregnancy and this new concept of family. “When you are well surrounded, there is no reason to worry. »