Double, double the love for the Lang family

It’s double the nappies, formula and children in the Lang household as the Lake Pukaki family settles into life with another set of twins.

Betty and Delilah Lang were born in Timaru on New Year’s Eve, two-and-a-half years after their siblings, twins Bernie and Dorothy.

For parents Nicole and Angus, the beginning of 2018 has been a blur as the couple adjust to life with four children under the age of 3.

According to Statistics New Zealand about 1 per cent of pregnancies in New Zealand involve twins. Triplets are about 0.01 per cent.

The family’s uncommon situation is not lost on Nicole, who said it had been enough of a surprise to learn she would be having twins the first time around.

"I got a hell of a shock when I found out the first time," she said.

"I have cousins that are twins but that’s it in our family. I cried the first time around when I found out."

When she discovered she was pregnant again she had a scan at 8 weeks. "There was a student doctor doing the scan.

"Dr Makary [Timaru gynaecologist Albert Makary] let them do the scan and he looked and said ’you’ll never see this again’ to the student. He said ’there’s two in there again’."

The pair were born at Timaru Hospital at 10.46am and 10.47am on December 31, both weighing about 2.72 kilograms.

While it was a busy time, Nicole said the family was lucky to have the support of friends and family. They also employed a nanny.

"Having an extra pair of hands around is essential."

She said her relaxed nature also helped.

"I was pretty relaxed the first time round with twins," she said.

"We have a lot of experts to help us out and I don’t sweat the small stuff."

She said it was possibly easier as she had "done it all before".

"I can’t remember what I did the first time around really but I just make it up as I go. I do remember that Bernie and Dot got easier."

She said the family would also qualify for some home help.

"We couldn’t get it last time as you have to have an older child. We qualify for 240 hours for someone to come and do general things. We will take advantage of that too."

Nicole said she tried to keep a routine with the youngest twins, and tried to be as organised as possible.

"Organisation is the key, though I also think you need to relax."

Their older siblings were enjoying having the babies around.

She encouraged anyone expecting twins to take any help they could get once they had their babies.

"When they’re small, help is the biggest thing to get through the first stage.

"Also, it does get easier. At the moment, when they’re not sleeping, I have to keep telling myself that."

While their situation was uncommon, Nicole said she knew of another mother with two sets of twins. She was also part of a multiple birth club. She had found the group supportive, especially the first time around.

The couple are development managers at Simons Pass Station. Nicole plans to go back to work in the near future. However, more children are not on the cards, she said. "We’d have to buy a van then and we’re not buying a van."

Statistics New Zealand figures show 780 of 57,828 births in 2016 were twins.