"When's the baby due?" When people asked in shops or on the street, I learnt not to correct and to be vague: "Summer".

Much was different from the conversations I had when pregnant with my first baby. Generally, pure joy was the theme then. By contrast, there was a note of panic in my voice when I shared the news I was expecting twins. Those responding often raised their eyebrows and gasped. The words "double trouble" sometimes followed. Even if excitement was the response, I struggled to relate when I felt overwhelmed above all else.

Due date was irrelevant. I had to trust that the hospital team knew when would be best for the babies to arrive. I was never going to make 40 weeks. It may be 37 weeks, 34 weeks or sooner. As a born planner, it was hard coping with the uncertainty and imagining the different scenarios which may lie ahead.

I was fortunate to be a patient of St George's Hospital, an exemplar in managing multiple pregnancies. The specialists caring for me were outstanding, but even while I knew I was in the safest hands, a level of anxiety remained with me. 

My pregnancy was classified as high-risk, a label I struggled with. I had regular scans and before each I feared the findings. I heard at 21 weeks that twin 1 was 25% smaller than twin 2 and read what research I could find about fetal growth discordance, trying not to scare myself. 

After all the worry, it was magical welcoming Cassie and Rita into the world when they were born at 36 weeks. A new phase began as I found my way as a twins mum. 

The exhaustion and blur of the early weeks will be familiar to any parent. While handling and breastfeeding two tiny babies was immensely challenging at first, practice helped. Doing so out of the house, however, seemed impossible and I barely left home for weeks. The cabin fever was tough and I can understand why many mums of newborn multiples feel isolated. 

Eight months on, our routines are easier and I can reflect on how lucky we have been as a family. Lucky that Cassie and Rita arrived safely. Lucky that I had great support to help me through my first months as a twins mum. 

As a mark of gratitude, just before Rita and Cassie’s first birthday, I will be running the Asics London 10K in aid of Tamba, the Twins and Multiples Birth Association. 

Tamba funds research which aims to save the lives of babies who are multiples. It also provides support to families and comprehensive information about issues specific to twins, triplets or more, both before and after they are born. 

At the start of our twins journey, we have already benefited from Tamba's work and will continue to do so. Your donation will make a difference to many more families of twins and multiples, and will mean such a lot to Team Davis.