Postpartum with Twins: Surprising Differences in US vs UK Healthcare
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- Опубліковано 16 лип 2023
- In this episode Blair and Mac sit down to discuss life as a family of eight and new adjustments as parents of twins. We will discuss the changes to the family and how the family is navigating our new normal. What is UK healthcare like after birth? How are the twins sleeping? How is Blair's postpartum journey going? What milestones are Blair and Mac looking forward to the twins reaching?
Topics
- US vs UK Healthcare
- Adjusting to twins
- Blair Postpartum (1 Month)
- Future Plans
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What more can parents ask for than healthy babies. And what more could babies ask for than loving parents.You're winning at life. Congratulations.
❤Awesome parents Blessings to all of you. Thank you for the update. ❤❤❤
A lot of the coming to the house is not just for the physical health of mother and baby/babies but also mental health. The midwives and health visitors can get a better idea of how you're coping if they see you at home and it's easier to talk. Congratulations and hope you get more sleep soon! ❤❤
good point. i knew of a single mother struggling to cope, she didn't want to tell HCPs as she thought they would take her baby from her. she told her friend that she felt like hitting the baby. the friend called her midwife who came round promptly, had her and baby admitted to hosp. from there to a special unit for several weeks. it saved her life. taught how to look after the baby, with other mothers, group therapy, etc. when she and baby came home she could cope.
It’s a legal requirement for midwives in UK to see the babies up until day 10 and this can be extended to day 28. Midwife here
Same in Australia. I loved my time as a domiciliary midwife. Supporting parents in their own home can be so empowering.
Lucian, what law is that please? Interested to know more.
Doula in the HOUSE! YAASSS! thanks fir chiming in, your THE IT, MISS! WE LOVE YA!!!!!
the NHS is a wonderful thing.
I remember when my boy was born. We had a thing called The Red Book, it was a record of the birth and all of the health visitors/paediatricians notes with growth charts, handy advice etc. It was easy to just hand it over to our GP's if we needed to see them, they had all the info they needed right there. I also remember that the health visitor would come every 3 months until he was 1 year old. Partly to check on him but also to check on his mother, it was a God send.
As a young kid of about 8 I dropped my baby brother, he landed on his head and got a carpet rash on his forehead. I lied and said he'd fallen over. He was fine but my mum, being a worrier, took him to A&E, I was dragged along, no babysitter. He was checked out and was fine, a nurse took me aside while my mum was talking to a doctor. She said 'babies always fall backwards onto their bum, be more careful next time'. She'd busted me but didn't tell my mum.
Anyway, glad you guys are coping, you must be totally knackered? I hated those night feeds/nappies, I'd do them all as his mum was struggling for a while. Then off to work at 8am, I was a zombie. The first time he slept through I thought he was ill, he wasn't, just content. But thank God for the NHS.
Still have the red book
The Red Book is invaluable
Yep got my 25 year old’s red book still.
Such a lovely couple. They deserve the beautiful family they’ve created together. Kind of sickening how amazing Blaire looks already 😂 nobody would believe she’s birthed SIX kids, I’m still recovering almost 27 years later.
Blaire, you abd papa are gglowwing! Pure love in that family
I'm one of five kids, and the youngest and only girl. Our age gap is 12/13 years and we're not close at all, so if there is a way to include the older children I'd highly recommend focusing on that somewhat.
I have CF and a Congenital heart defect. The NHS has cared for me for 30 years from birth. I spend half of the year in hospital and am on over 40 tablets a day. I get my prescriptions free as I've had to give up work due to my failing lungs and heart. I'm sure the cost of my treatments and care has gone into the hundreds of thousands of pounds over the past three decades but it's thanks to them and the doctors and nurses who've looked after me that I'm still here. I know it's got more than it's fair share of problems but I still believe it's the best in the world. Congratulations you two on your new family additions.❤❤
dear colin, it is for you and others who need it, that i happily paid NI/tax for years
Blair how can you look younger and even more beautiful after giving birth, I just don't know! Congrats to you, Mack, and the posse.💐
😊
Looks so fresh faced . Beautiful
You are both excellent role models for very caring parents.
So glad to hear the twins are thriving. They are, no doubt, benefitting greatly from having two such loving and attentive parents. Can't wait to see their appearance on your channel.
Despite the difficulties the NHS are going through, they are always there for everyone so I'm glad to hear they have been so supportive of you. A heartwarming video again, Mac!
Your kids are so lucky to have such measured, caring parents.
You're such exemplary parents and I'm so glad Blair's mum was able to come over to support you. I'd love to see baby smiles some time. I LOVE babies.
The NHS is currently giving me weekly medical care and has done so for the last 6 weeks. I can’t praise the NHS enough.
Blair, you look amazing! Love your hair like that x So happy to hear the Brit Babes are blossoming and that their siblings are coping well with the new family dynamics. You're both such a good example as parents - and as people overall. Hugs from Scotland x
Here in Scotland every single new born baby gets a free baby box full of everything a new baby will need - the box is so big you can use it as a cot - you should google it and have a look - there are videos on UA-cam that show you these baby boxes and whats in them - you will be shocked
From the video where you showed the new babies there has been something unmistakable, Blair were still tired but happy, Mac you just can't help yourself, you are both 100% made up parents and rightly so, these are smiles which are indelible, there is no wiping these smiles away, you have six wonderful children and you are a credit to each other, from what we see its not idilic, babies are hard work and you all seem to coping admirably and then some, I noticed in a recent video that Mac is looking buff, I thought he'd been at the gym, but no, lifting babies who are putting weight on, what lovely way to make such a difference, I'm genuinely over the moon for the whole family, I don't mean this in a negative way, I'm not surprised at how well you are all doing, you seem to be thriving on sleep deprivation while making sure that the rest of your family aren't feeling left out, you are a credit to all you inspire so much, take care to you all.
I'm a twin my brother is the eldest, for 67 years I have had to live with fact that I was the unplanned baby😂😂
Maybe you can wake the twins up during the day for their feeds. Then they may sleep longer at night. So the 2 hour feeds would be switched to the day and the longer span between the feds would be at night.
Congratulations on the birth of the twins🎉
Despite the difficulties in the NHS at present, the service really is from the cradle to the grave, something a lot of UK born citizens seem to forget in their criticism of UK healthcare. God bless you and your family.
Service where you have 7m people on waiting lists and most struggle to get a GP appointment. Outcomes worse than comparable countries, people literally dying early due to our health system but people don’t want to hear it. People will continue to worship the NHS even as it causes them to die earlier than necessary, it’s a lost cause sadly. USA system also bad for different reasons
@@Mike-jx6yw When it's funded properly it works extremely well. If you underfund it for a decade or more then results will suffer.
@@Mike-jx6yw And that is different to other countries how exactly? I haven't seen my GP since 2019 despite the fact that the meds I take mean I should be seeing him every 3-6 months [and I'm an EU country as well, not the US}, I won't even go into dentists, if you have something wrong you need to go to the dental hospital A&E/ER and sit in the waiting room to be seen, you'd be very very lucky to find a local dentist taking on patients whether private or otherwise.
@@Mike-jx6yw So you'd rather go to the US system where people are scared of having an ambulance called for them? Where they will leave easily treatable problems until they are leathal because they can't afford the doctors visit? How about where Diabetes sufferers have to decide between food and heating, or insulin?
That is another joke, our present "GP's" are far too busy to see any patients and leave it to the receptionists who mainly only have 2 brain cells and nurses, who are the most intelligent and best trained in the practice.
What amazing parents you are. So positive and full of love and happiness. I wish you all the best wishes in the world. You are raising children who can only succeed to be happy and blessed. 👍
You guys are so amazing, such beautiful people and parents. I hope the NHS system really worked out for you here in the U.K. We're very lucky to have that free health care and support. I hope it's all going well x
It's not free it's paid for in our taxes
@@gingernutpreacher 'Free' is shorthand for 'Free at the point of delivery.' But you already knew that. Sadly, it is not set to remain that way for much longer.
@@PortilloMoment know I did not know that is that in the urban dictionary? Assumption is the mother of all f**k ups
@@PortilloMoment I know labour have tried in the past to make it private healthcare only but I thought they had given up on that at this stage.
43% of the UK population don't pay any income tax. (HMRC).
So for that 23 million people it is free.
What a lovely update thank you. If there is only one thing I have learned about children its that healthy happy children are a blessing, as are healthy happy parents. Don't forget to look after yourselves too (date nights work wonders). The one thing those babies need above all else are happy loving parents.
Wow, your babies are so lucky to have you two as their parents. 🙂
mate just stay here, you are great people, and your children will thank you for it in 20 years time
Yup, they're all welcome to stay here 😊 A lovely family, and a great addition to our country
I subscribed about 17 minutes ago.
You two have made me smile more than I have for ages. ❤
🙂
Congratulations to you. I’m so pleased you have had a good NHS experience, I may be biased as I worked in the NHS for 35 years but the level of care and service is outstanding and, it’s all free.
It’s not free, we all pay tax towards it. My sister is an NHS nurse and it’s a shambles unfortunately despite the amazing efforts of staff. We should stop worshipping the NHS, when 7m+ people are waiting for operations and you can’t get a GP appointment that is in no way outstanding care/service. Outcomes are worse here than most comparable countries but nobody wants to hear it sadly. Of course people still have great experiences but overall it’s not working
@@Mike-jx6yw well, I know we pay taxes for it same as other countries in the civilised world and I know the NHS has its problems but I prefer our system to say that of America where people can’t afford to get ill or, if they do, they have to bankrupt themselves to pay for their care. The NHS doctors and nurses work hard and try their best it’s a pity they aren’t more appreciated.
@@Mike-jx6ywthe system may be failing, but the people who work for the NHS are definitely not failing. Your sister is wearing a cape under her uniform/cloths❤
@@Mike-jx6yw Sadly the NHS was ill-conceived at the outset. Then most people died within 1-5 years of retirement. Now it is 30 or more. Then everything was covered too. Aneurin Bevan was warned that it could not be supported long term. His answer was to say that that will be someone else's problem. We today are the ones having to pick up the problem - even after not covering dentistry fully, not having care homes paid for by the NHS, not having all medicines paid for - the list of these necessary cuts is huge. We still have hospitals where wards have to be mixed, where serious infection risks are put together (eg joint replacements in the same ward as those with rampant sores) and of course the biggest problem where those in work (and paying taxes) have to pay for the health of those in and out of work. My view? We need a Royal Commission (it's about the only cross party way in the UK to take long lasting decisions that cannot be changed by a new government).
That's the problem. The only thing keeping the nhs going is staff working themselves to the bone. The people working in health care are easily exploited because they're there to help even to their own detriment. In the field of mental health the system is so overburdned that you only get help if you're suicidal or violent, even selfharm is undertreated.
Blair you look fab , 6 babies and looking great. You are such a beautiful family. God bless and much love to you all ♥♥♥
My niece is a midwife at Warrington Hospital and she loves the job.
What a great addition to our country you both are !
you all 8 are indeed !
Absolutely agree.
I wish you all the best. God bless you all. ❤
I am a 70 year old English woman who has never been to the US but only know about it through the usual American films and TV shows and here on UA-cam.
I had girl and boy twins so I know what you are experiencing. My twins will be _30_years old on 30th this coming September and my eldest child, my firstborn daughter will be 36 years old in February (2024) so you can guess I survived my solo parenting (ex husband helped just a bit, don't t ask !!)
So, I am sure you two will be fine but regardless of your support and expertise, never doubt, you will be fine.
I was also had twins who would have been 32 next January but they died. Philip lived 6 hours and Marianne lived 12 hours, which taught me that having them and losing them, would be the worst thing that would happen to me and so having the next set of twins the following year, I knew I had to cope and I did, as will you. As babies, my daughter ate everything, my son was picky and difficult to feed.. Now, he is a 6ft beanpole and his twin sister is somewhat hefty (like me) !! 😃😃
Six children... You have a great family and your twins (and the other four) have lovely parents. To see you doing so well is fantastic. I wish you continued joy,, good luck and lots of love. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
We only had 1 baby but he was born the 1st week of lockdown march 2020 and we spent almost the entire 1st year without any support. My husband wasnt on furlough he was back to work after the first month and i had an emergency c section. It was the mosty lonely, scary and stressful experience of my life and im so bitterly jealous of my friends maternity leaves since then, being able to have family round for support, learning how to let baby nap out of the house, baby and mum groups.. it was just such a shame of a time to have had our beautiful boy. Getting advice from my mum and grandma over WhatsApp video calls, oh the memories make me anxious it was so stessful i just didnt know what i was doing wrong and it was so so lonely and scary.
We don't want any more kids and i think its down to traumatic birth and a fairly traumatic first year, but i absolutely applaud your positivity and your love and joy as parents ❤.
The good thing about twins rather than a toddler and a baby is that they'll get out of nappies at around the same time! Yippee!!!
Firstly congratulations and secondly, I'm a new subscriber but watched maybe 3-4 of your vlogs. What stands out is how lovely your children are and that has to be down to your good parenting. We're lucky to have you in England. ❤
Thanks so much! 😊
Lovely news, thanks for the update.
It's so great to see you enthusiasm about your family, enjoy your time in the UK,you are a great family so nice to see your experiences ❤.
You’re so welcome here! Long live the NHS! ❤
So glad everything is going well. Lovely family xxx
Enjoy them while you have control of where they are. As soon as they find their legs - you're going to need extra eyes in the back of your heads and you'll get very fit chasing after them. Kids are great!
Congratulations to the twins on picking the best family to join! It’s good to be reminded how awesome the NHS is - let’s hope it remains properly funded and all its workers adequately paid.
I love you guys, all the best for the future ❤
Glad it’s all going well, what I learned having three babies and seeing other peoples babies is that every baby is different and what works for one doesn’t work for another.
So glad to hear it’s been going well and that you had such good care from the NHS. You’re wonderful parents, making sure all of your kids are content and feel loved. Such a great team 👏
I’ve got to catch up on your last couple of videos now. Haven’t had a chance to watch them yet.
All the best 💕
Lovely to see you, Blair!
Very glad everything went well with the babies.
You're a beautiful woman.
I was smiling all the way through your update. Those kids are lucky to have you, too. Wishing you all the best.
Congratulations you wonderful people and all the best to all of your lovely children!
You are doing the most important work there is! Brilliant!❤
Great to see everything’s going so well for you. Blair is looking fantastic. Thanks for sharing this update.
That was so interesting to hear...how it is for you being 'new' parents again; it must seem like the first time...as it IS the first time having two together. I'm so pleased for your daughter that she has a sister 🤗💗 and congratulations to you all x
ooh! I'm going all weepy! I can just imagine you all at your next agricultural show!! Babies born in London sampling the rural dream xx
Good to hear you’re doing well
Congratulations on the birth of your twins. Your children are lucky to have such wonderful caring parents .
I had a cesarean and the midwife came in for a longer period of time which was fantastic for me...I've never had twins but just with one the sleep deprivation is awful so with two ...wow...you seem to be working it out well together though 😊
We remember the baby health books for our two. The visits from the midwives at home was very important and so appreciated. They check on the baby and the check on the mother. Then the six week check up at the doctor's surgery/health centre. Love the NHS.
been following their vids for awhile ..so a big thumbs up to them and a wave to gran..who will be probably doting on all the kids
An excellent start to a whole new chapter of your life
Great informative video of how you’re all getting on.
I hope you don’t mind if I mention this, but I am amazed at how bulked up Mac has become! Are you practicing for the triathlon? I can tell that Blair has gone down in size, but it’s hard to tell how much because quite frankly she looks positively tiny sitting next to you😁 I take it most of the problem with swelling has gone. I hope everything continues to go well. Take care👋
Mack and Blair Congratulations on the birth of twins I have been out the loop on your channel I didn't even know Blair was pregnant now you've got two bits in the family it won't be long before they are sitting on thrones with crowns on their heads stay focused and positive and the rewards will eventually come your way best of luck for the future.
Love to the family catch up with you soon all the best xx
Congratulations. I'm glad you are having a positive experience with the NHS. I'm also pleased that you are enjoying life in general here in the UK. You're a lovely family and very welcome. All the best.
If one twin wakes for a feed then feed twin two afterwards, get them synchronised.😃
First time watching , must say very impressed, you seem like great parents, good luck.
Welcome to the club (a dad of twin girls also from the UK)...my girls are 9yrs old..they do lots together....just letting you know they will have/create twin language(so cute)....when they start talking 🤣...also raising twins is on another level..!... keep strong... getting siblings involved as much as possible and it gets easier... congratulations...
Congratulations on the new additions to your family!!!!
Thank you!!
So pleased that everything is going well for the family. Moms/moms in law are so good to have around before and after the birth. They can take away just enough of the pressure. My kids were born decades ago, but I agree that each one felt like starting again. And the fatigue! That's why we are designed to have babies when we are young! Even more congratulations!
Now that your midwife visits have stopped you should be getting at least one visit from a Health Visitor. They follow up and advise on any problems.
Great video you Guys! The twins are forunate indeed to have such a loving and caring Mum & Dad. Pleased that your experience with the U.K. maternity services, gotta say "You two look like you need a solid 8 hours sleep!". Kind regards to you & the Family.
Wow wow wow. So pleased for you all and you know what they are British.. and couldn’t be more prouder than your family living in the uk.
Blair is glowing! ✨ 💖🙂
So wonderful well done to you both . You are both looking so well Blair looks amazing. Keep on doing what you are doing you are fantastic parents who adore their children and that is what is needed most ❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Thank you! Will do!
Congratulations on your growing family!
Thank you so much!
Congratulations peeps, I love this. You’re making me smile and remember. The weight I can relate to on so many levels. I to carry my 7year old brick to bed last week. I broke my leg 3 months ago. 😊
And in English
Put bluntly, it’s more cost effective to the NHS to make sure you and your babies are well, that any problems are caught early and the mum is doing ok than it is to react to any problem late. Happily this has the added benefit of making great post natal care, and keeps mum from unnecessary extra work which keeps mum happy and dad happy too ❤NHS. As an aside I haven’t checked in for a couple of months and bro you looking pumped
By the time my son was 3 we thought we had mastered parenthood. It wasn’t too hard, we had it sussed so when my partner became pregnant with twins, we were ready. Then my twin girls arrived. We didn’t manage to even get dressed for the first week. I remember our first attempt to go to the supermarket. We dropped our son at playgroup, drove to Tesco and then the feeding and nappy changing started….and never stopped. I managed to run in and grab a meal deal for our lunch but before we knew it, it was time to go get our son from playgroup. Shopping ? Nah, we didn’t get any 😂 Twins are three times as demanding as one baby.
They are 16 now and I still remember the tough early times, but every second has been so rewarding. Time moves so fast, savour every single moment.
If you want a vehicle all the family can fit in, a transit minibus will fit all of you with pushchairs and everything else you need. You can take out some of the seats (they just bolt down) to give tons of luggage space and enough room for everyone to have a window seat. They also have a sliding passenger side door to aid access in tight spaces and big opening rear doors for loading buggies, dogs etc.
Top tip for baby boys when nappy changing - have a wipe or cloth in one hand and the nappy in the other, in one swift movement uncover him and slide the wipe over to catch the inevitable jet of pee. Either that or learn to dodge it like a pro. My son could pee right across the room if I wasn’t fast enough 😂😂
In some cases there can be extra help available for parents or parent who have twins and are finding to hard to cope
Hi guys, wow you doing great !
i would like to know your thoughts on the differences in maturity leave in the uk vs us please. great videos. thanks and good luck.
Blair you look amazing motherhood suits youu well x
A lovely family. Wishing you and your children health, wealth and happiness ❤
Hope you get some sleep soon. X
Congratulations on the birth of your twins! My younger siblings are boy & girl twins, now in their mid 50s and my brother is still referred to as ‘the one with the wobbly head’😂
Are their personalities coming through, have to admit the couple of glimpses we have had the boy seems a little grumpier! And the daughter seems obsessed with dad. Is the boy more attached to Blair? And who has the magic touch of calming a crying storm, either of you two, or Blairs mum?
Or maybe even Blakely?
Best wishes and great work
Blair has the magic touch 🫴🏾
You are both looking real well, must have got everything well organised. Have you chosen their names?
Mostly...
Hi, i was curious maturity/paternity, does dad or mum have much leave, I would love for you to do a vid about that
The best for your twins is to be healthy parents. Exercise. Fresh air . Good diet.
Mac your T Shirt is GREAT! Where did you get it?
Target 🙂
Apparently its normal for babies weight to drop a little in the first few days
For the little boy, I recommend a pee-pee tee-pee to cover the fireman's hose! So glad you're coping as well as you can with two wee newborn babies - you're both superstars ❤
Mercedes-Benz Vito. 8 seater . Better than a mini bus. An old work associate had 9 kids and had a mini bus. But 8 would fitt into a comfy Vito
As a parent of twins you have my sympathy with regards to feeding etc. So glad we had our eldest five years earlier and having a vasectomy after the twins were born. 😜 Welcome to the world of the double buggy mayhem. 😁
My niece had twins after IVF as with her first daughter then 3. She breast fed the twins ( night feeds too ) for a yr. had to get her 3 yr old to nursery. She needs blood transfusions after each birth . She had no family nearby. But because she had had IVF she did not complain once about anything. AND she breastfed them both at once. She’s by heroine. It can be done.
lovely to hear everything is going so well.... how are you finding maternity leave from your work not sure what you would get in the usa.. how does it compare
Our leave is longer than most...
Great to here birth went well
I enj9y tuning into your channel
Keep up th good work
You're such nice people
You'll have a football team soon ❤😂
i was wondering did you get the book that comes with the new babies that monitors them over years and helps you keep a record of the stages of growing up and what to look out for and keeps all the stats in one place for the doctors and midwives to fill in all new mums live by it I hear
We do have 2 red books.
NHS - so we paid for all this - AND I AM THRILLED! Lots of love to all of you.
they would have paid a NHS surcharge as part of their visa applications so they have contributed to Blairs care
@@sjbict Thanks for the info. Would have been happy otherwise, though can see why that is done. Lovely the way they praise the NHS service.
@@sjbict plus both paying tax/NI for two years here.
hi apologies if this is a rude question but for someone doesnt have children im fascinated by the twins thing. does your body recognize and adjust to having breast feed twins or is it just bigger toll on you?
Milk production is up... it has increased more than with singletons. So I guess the body know...
@@MacandBlair thanks, thats so cool how our bodies work.
We had 6 in our family and we had a car called a montego. I dont know more, whats the other name or if I've spelt that right or if they still make those, but if they do, they seat 7
Edit, we live in the UK
Congratulations to you both again. Only need 5 more for your own Football ( soccer ) Team mate .Macs Maruaders .Would be a good name.
LoL... we are done. FIN
@9B4MTheFamily I had snip after a Girl and Boy mate .Done my Genetic Resonsiblity. Whoa .! My Doctor was Catholic What an Argument that was .Anyway I won but I had to pay .
I assume that the midwife would hand over to a health visitor...who would offer support on development up to the age of 9 months and beyond
Being a twin parent myself I can verify it’s hard work but the best thing ever. I have to chuckle when I hear singleton parents complaining that having one baby is so hard. 😂
So true!
And the fact that you didn’t have to pay thousands of dollars to have a baby/babies here, or pay ANYTHING to hold them 😱
that is madness to most civilised countries that you have to pay to birth and hold a baby
How are you finding parental leave in the UK?
👍🏾