This is my final weekly update. I can't believe I just typed that! My scheduled c-section date is in less than a week, and it's looking less and less likely that I will go into labor before that point.
I'm big and heavy. For each person who tells me that I'm tiny for twins, or that they can't believe I'm carrying two, or that they were the same size I am when they were due with one baby, there is someone else who says, "Holy cow, you're ready to pop!" or who just stares, wide-eyed, at my belly as I walk by.
Physically, I'm ready. CC's in her new room, which frees up the nursery for the twins. The newborn laundry and linens are all washed. The crib mattress in the twins' room is moved up to the highest height. And I'm uncomfortable enough to want the babies out.
Emotionally, I'm ready. I am eager to meet them, find out their genders, introduce them to CC, share them with family and friends. I want to smell their newborn smell, cuddle them, and start to get to know them.
Otherwise, I'm not sure I'm ready! Then again, I'm not sure I could ever be ready for newborns and a 16-month-old at the same time. Once the babies are here, though, I won't have a choice and we will figure things out.
Plans have been made for our hospital stay and visits from the grandparents. CC will be cared for by my parents, who will stay at our house while we're in the hospital and also take care of Rory.
I've taken care of everything I can think of. And I've deliberately not planned anything for this last week, knowing that a) I should rest as much as I can, and b) tasks are bound to pop up.
I will probably post one more picture on Thursday, the last photo I will take of myself pregnant before the twins are born. Next Friday's "Photo Friday" will be a picture of the twins!
Holy cow, only two weeks left. Be still, my beating heart -- everything will be fine. Even if CC's room isn't done yet, at least she has a crib to sleep in. Really, what else does a baby need? To be totally honest, the room I'm preparing for her is more for me than for her. She won't know the difference!
I'm up to 50 pounds now, and I hope I don't gain much more. MJ tells me that if I was a professional boxer, I'd qualify as a heavyweight. And he also tells me that never in his life has he weighed as much as I do right now. Ha -- thanks, honey! Fortunately I am feeling pretty good about myself and my weight gain, and I'm hopeful that the weight will come off relatively easily after the twins arrive.
I've been a mad flurry of activity lately, and sometimes I need to tell myself to sit down, drink some water, rest, and put my feet up. I am lucky that I'm able to do so much at this late stage (I don't know how I'd get all this stuff done otherwise!). And I actually feel better when I'm busy -- it takes my mind off the discomfort my body is going through.
It's not that bad, in the grand scheme of things. My carpal tunnel syndrome came back this week, which was a surprise to me. I'm not going to bother getting another cortisone injection at this late stage, so I'll just deal with the nighttime pain and daytime aches and tingling. My ankles are swollen like crazy by the end of each day, but in the mornings they are back to their (almost) normal size. My back aches in the evenings, but I ease it with an ice pack while I sit on the couch. And my restless leg syndrome keeps me twitching at night, but that affects MJ's sleep more than mine!
At my appointment this week, my OB was "staggered" (his word, not mine!) by how high the babies are, especially Baby B, who is laying cross-wise between my ribs. Assuming I have a c-section, my doctor told me he's interested to see how Baby B comes out. C-section incisions are made very low on the abdomen, so after Baby A is out, my doctor will have to reach all the way up into my body cavity to pull Baby B out!
No more than 3 weeks left. And I'm in a mad scramble to get ready. Every project I plan seems to take three times as long as I expect! But assuming these babies don't come early, I should be in good shape.
I'm still at 47 pounds gained, although with how much water weight is stuck in my ankles, I'm not sure how that's possible. I have basically lost the battle of the bulge in my feet, but with less than 3 weeks remaining, I can't really complain. I've decided I don't care -- I'm going to walk around in public with gigantic cankles anyway. It's too hot to wear compression stockings and long pants!
Much to my dismay this past week, stretch marks have appeared on my belly. Bummer. I managed to make it all the way through CC's pregnancy without any, and up to 35 weeks with these twins. I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose -- it's twins for goodness sake. Is it even possible to make it through a twin pregnancy without stretch marks? I'll try to be happy that for the moment, they are just tiny little squiggles on each side of my belly button.
As far as the babies are concerned, they are considered full-term now. I am past the average birth mark for twins (35 weeks) with no signs of delivering them anytime soon. They are probably over 6 pounds each now, about the size of crenshaw melons. My doctor anticipates that they will be "good-sized babies," which he defines as 7+ pounds. Wow!
(Cue music from Queen) And another one bites, and another one bites, another one bites the dust ...
Four weeks left! And by that I mean: no more than four weeks before these babies are here. That's my 39-week deadline, beyond which my doctor will not let me go. Holy cow!
Unfortunately, the battle against ridiculously swollen ankles has begun. I am humbly grateful that I've gotten this far without grotesque cankles; based on my pregnancy with CC, my doctor and I both assumed I would be battling them from early on in this pregnancy. If I only have to deal with them for the final month, I am lucky. But I haven't thrown in the towel yet -- I am keeping my feet up as much as possible, drinking a lot of water, trying not to stay in the same position for too long.
Otherwise, I'm doing fine. I've made progress on CC's new room and on many of the tasks on my to-do list. Biggest things remaining: decorating CC's big girl room; hiring a cleaning service (how decadent!); and finding someone to watch all three children for a few hours each week so I will be able to run errands, make appointments, or just get things done around the house.
The twins are probably almost 6 pounds each at this point, about the size of honeydew melons, so I'm carrying a lot of baby! I've been feeling very large movements lately, so I'm really curious about whether the babies have changed positions. Unfortunately, with no more ultrasounds left, I won't know until they're born!
This was a big week for weight gain; I'm up to 47 pounds now. The babies are effectively done developing now, and are just packing on some extra weight before their births. But I'm glad they're still tucked up tight inside me, because there can be a significant amount of brain and lung maturity happening these last few weeks.
Five weeks left. Time is starting to fly by as I scramble to get things crossed off my to-do list!
I feel about the same, except my back is starting to bother me a little more often. Every night I alternate ice packs and hot pads while MJ and I relax on the couch. Also (and this is not entirely bad), my appetite is back. I haven't felt uncomfortably full this week, and every few hours I'm starving. It's like the first trimester all over again! I suspect it has something to do with all the weight the babies are gaining -- they double their birth weight in the last 8 weeks, and the calories have to come from somewhere!
I am feeling well enough to be getting a lot done. And, of course, chasing after CC (who, by the way, is apparently battling some brutal new teeth because she's been inconsolably fussy for 4 days now. God help us both!). Almost everything is checked off my list now -- more on that in a later post -- and once I get CC's new big-girl room put together, we'll be in very good shape.
My weekly non-stress tests (monitoring the babies' activity) begin this week. I'm not sure how it will go, considering I will have CC with me, and the test involves me laying still in a recliner for 30 minutes. I will bring a lot of toys and snacks for her, and hope for the best!
The twins, meanwhile, are as active as ever. I have felt so much large movement in the last few days, I almost wonder if Baby B has flipped again. I don't know when my next ultrasound is, but I'll ask my OB this week.
They are about the size of cantaloupes, and based on my last ultrasound estimate, I assume they're both well into the 5-pound range now. Their lungs and nervous systems are completing their development, and their immune systems are starting to work on their own. Many women I've met online who are expecting twins at the same time I am have already had their babies!
I can't believe the twins will be here in less than 6 weeks!
This week I felt like my belly grew a LOT, although I'm not sure it's obvious in the picture. Other than feeling very large, not much has changed: I'm still sleeping okay thanks to Ambien; my wrist isn't bothering me too badly thanks to the cortisone injection; my ankles are still in existence; and I still get very uncomfortable if I eat more than a snack at a time. All in all, I'd say I'm doing pretty well for this late in a twin pregnancy.
I'm getting a mix of comments from strangers. Some think I'm huge and about to give birth imminently ("What, are you due tomorrow?"), while others think my belly is relatively small considering I only have 6 weeks left.
The twins are likely just under 4.5 pounds each, about the size of pineapples, although we'll get a better estimate at my MFM appointment this week. Finally, their combined weights are probably more than CC's was at birth! I feel them moving constantly, elbows and knees rolling across my belly, and almost nonstop pressure pushing my ribs out. And their tastebuds are developed, so hopefully they will come out ready to eat!
... and another week hits the dust. Only seven more left!
I haven't gained any more weight, for the second week in a row, but I'm not too worried. I'd been warned that weight loss would taper off and maybe even reverse towards the end of a twin pregnancy, since there's less and less room for my stomach.
I have definitely noticed that I get very uncomfortable when I eat a large meal. It's like the worst post-Thanksgiving overstuffed feeling ever. I've even asked MJ to remind me, when we go out to a restaurant for dinner, to order just an appetizer instead of a full meal. I'm hungry, so I forget that there's no room for a regular meal, and I end up regretting it for hours later.
I've been feeling pretty good this week. The cortisone injection into my wrist seems to have really helped, because I'm not getting any more nighttime pain, and I was even able to assemble and install a new coatrack/shelf the other day without my right hand going numb. Also, the Ambien is a godsend. I sleep soundly every night, and I don't even feel groggy in the morning.
This week I went swimming several times. Aaah ... the luxury of having a close friend and neighbor with a pool! It's lovely. Fun for CC, fun for me, and oh so comfortable to escape the heat and take a load off -- literally. I have a feeling CC and I (and MJ too, on the weekends) will be spending a lot of time in that pool this summer!
The babies are moving like crazy. I told MJ the other day that I'm not sure if it's because they're more active than CC was, or if it's because there are just twice as many body parts to feel. Hopefully it's just because there are two of them -- I don't need hyper babies!
They are just under 4 pounds now, and they have hair and miniature fingernail and toenails. Their skin is getting soft and smooth, and they're starting to get that adorable baby chubbiness. And at this point they're probably crowded enough that they won't be flipping over anymore -- where they are now is where they'll likely stay. I have an OB appointment on Tuesday, so we'll find out what position they're in.
Eight weeks left!
I didn't gain any more weight this week, so I'm still at a hefty 42 pounds. But just yesterday I was thinking that these babies are only about half the size I'd like them to be at birth, so trust me, I still have plenty of weight -- and size -- to gain. It's strange to think that although I only have 8 of 39 weeks left in this pregnancy, the babies still have so much to grow!
There were two major improvements this week. First, the orthopedic PA I visited on Thursday was able to give me a cortisone injection in my wrist that has helped tremendously with my carpal tunnel syndrome. I still have a lot of numbness and tingling in my hand during the day, but the pain at night has gone away and for that I am incredibly grateful.
Second, I took my OB up on his offer of a prescription for Ambien. It's considered extremely safe for pregnant women, but even so, I was hesitant until now. But after about a month of terrible sleep, and a straight week of waking up at 2:00 each morning and not being able to go back to sleep, I finally caved. Friday night I took it for the first time and it worked like a charm -- I woke up at 7 am, feeling more refreshed and rested than I have in ages. I hope not to have to take it every night for the rest of this pregnancy, but it's great to have it in case I need it.
I also realized this week that I have quite a bit to do to move CC up to the "big sister" position before these twins get here. I have to clear out our guest room (her new room), sell the current furniture, purchase new furniture for her, and buy her new "big girl" carseat. I'd better get moving -- that's a lot to do in a short amount of time.
As for the twins, they are over 3.5 pounds each now, and their eyes are open and responding to light. They can also react to loud noises (although I haven't noticed this -- and I didn't with CC either). Their immune systems have started to develop to get them ready for life in the outside world. Every system in their body is ready to go, with the exception of their lungs, which need a bit more cooking before they're mature.
The final countdown! I'm finally in the 30s, which means we have just nine weeks left before these babies join us. I couldn't be happier, for multiple reasons.
I've gained 42 pounds, and starting to feel it. I find myself tired after carrying CC upstairs, or asking MJ to slow down a bit on a walk around the neighborhood. It's embarrassing! I have to remind myself how much extra weight I'm carrying around, especially if I have CC in my arms. With our combined weights, I am lugging over 60 pounds that my body is not accustomed to having!
Fortunately, the last few nights have given me some unexpected relief from the carpal tunnel pain. But I'm not deluding myself into thinking it's gone for good. My appointment with the orthopedic surgeon is, disappointingly, not for another month. But I will see his PA this Thursday, and hopefully she will be able to help.
Babies this age are usually about 3 pounds, but we know from my appointment this past week that the Morrison twins are a bit larger. They are able to regulate their own body temperature, so they will begin to shed the coats of hair they've had until now. They have the proportions of newborns, but the biggest weight-gaining period is just beginning. From now on they will be gaining about a pound every 2 weeks. Goodness, I wonder how much that means I'LL be gaining?!
We're back from our whirlwind trip visiting MJ's family and celebrating his grandmother's 90th birthday. I promise a post with lots of details and pictures soon. But for now, here's the latest on the pregnancy:
I've gained a total of 40 pounds now. But everyone I saw this weekend raved about how small I looked. Hmmm. Normally I would assume it was just family trying to be nice, but enough people said it to me that I've started to wonder. Am I measuring small? The twins certainly aren't -- at every ultrasound so far, they've measured right on track. And I've certainly gained a normal amount of weight for a twin mom. But maybe I'll have my doctor measure me at my appointment this week. I'm curious!
I'm feeling decent. The same old issues are bothering me (carpal tunnel, back pain, etc), but in general I'm still pretty lucky to be feeling this well 29 weeks into a twin pregnancy.
I am thrilled to report that my ankles are not swollen. Woo hoo! At 29 weeks with CC, they had been swollen for several weeks and I was already wearing compression hose. I know that every pregnancy is different, and maybe I wouldn't have gotten swollen this time around anyway. But all the water I've been drinking, and putting my feet up as much as possible, definitely hasn't hurt. I've worn sandals every single day for over a month now, and I'd like to keep it that way!
The twins weigh just under 3 pounds each now (roughly the size of butternut squashes) and are approximately 15 inches long. Their skeletons are hardening, so I'm under orders to consume a lot of calcium in the next few weeks. No problem -- I love cheese and milk!
Another week closer to meeting these little babies! We have 2.5 months to go now, and I have officially entered my third trimester.
I'm feeling better now. Last week I was having a little pity party (hey, everyone's entitled to them once in a while!) but fortunately things are looking up. I bought a small, firm pillow that's the perfect size to put under my ribcage while I'm sleeping, so my nights have been more comfortable lately. And although I've had some tired days recently, in general I'm still feeling up to my normal activities. This week I even went washing machine shopping for an entire afternoon (more on that later), as well as attended an annual party for MJ's firm that involved several hours of standing up. So I haven't thrown in the towel yet!
My weight actually went down a few pounds this week, but I'm not concerned. I doubt I've hit the point yet where twin moms often start losing weight (there won't be much room for my stomach towards the end!). I think it's just normal weight fluctuations.
I had an appointment on Thursday with my OB, and everything went well. He took a quick peek at the babies on the ultraound, and everything looked perfect: good fluid levels, strong heartbeats, and normal movement. They are currently both head up (breech) although there's still plenty of time for them to flip. And it doesn't really matter what position they're in, I suppose, since I will almost certainly need a c-section anyway. Baby A is always on the right, and Baby B is always on the left, and this time they were facing away from each other.
Since I'm at 28 weeks now, I also had a RhoGAM shot because my blood type is Rh-negative. I had to do this when I was pregnant with CC too. If either of the babies have Rh-positive blood (possible, because MJ is Rh-positive), my body might start making antibodies against them. Because we don't know what blood type the babies are, I take this shot as a preventative measure to keep my body from making any antibodies against them. Once the babies are born, the hospital will test their blood type. If they are Rh-negative (like me and CC), then I will not need another RhoGAM shot. If they are Rh-positive (like MJ) then I will need another one at that time.
Lastly, I was tested for gestational diabetes. I am at very low risk for this, but it's a standard test. I had to drink an extremely sweet drink (stomach-turning at 8:30 in the morning!), and then wait an hour before having my blood tested. I'm sure it will probably come back normal -- as it did with CC -- but it's a good thing to be tested anyway.
The babies are about 2.25 pounds each and 15 inches long now, about the size of eggplants. They are blinking and coughing, and moving around a TON. They are most active in the evenings and when I first wake up, although admittedly it might just seem that way because that's when I'm staying still and their movements are most obvious. I'm trying to pay attention to each baby separately, to see if I can tell if one of them is more quiet/mellow, versus more active, but so far they both seem about the same.
I apologize for a lack of posts this past week. We have company in for Memorial Day weekend, so things are busy but fun. More on that later! In the meantime, this was an eventful week, pregnancy-wise. Here's the summary.
The good:
MJ was able to feel the twins move for the first time this week! I've been feeling very strong and frequent movements for several weeks now, but every time MJ put his hand on my belly, the twins would stubbornly refuse to move. But one morning this week before MJ got up to get ready for work, I could feel the twins practicing their MMA moves, so I grabbed MJ's hand just in time for him to feel a few good wallops. Finally!
Also, the babies appear to be doing fine. They are currently about 2 pounds each, and their eyes can open and shut and respond to light. They are about the size of heads of cauliflower, and they are getting plumper and more baby-looking all the time.
The bad:
I'm afraid to say that I started getting pretty uncomfortable this week. Up until now I was feeling pretty good, but this week I've had an almost constant backache that has been fairly bothersome, especially at night when I'm trying to sleep. The hip pain I had briefly last week has not reappeared, thankfully, so hopefully that's a thing ot the past. But unfortunately I've also come down with a cold.
Needless to say, sleep has been elusive between my backache, my stuffed-up nose, and the carpal tunnel syndrome. A few nights ago, as I lay there tossing and turning, I recalled pregnant friends of mine raving about their pregnancy pillows. So out of sheer desperation, I shoved a spare pillow behind my back. WOW -- what a difference! It didn't miraculously make my back pain go away, but it definitely eased the discomfort enough that I could sleep. Hallelujah!
This week I also had to say goodbye to my beautiful engagement and wedding rings. My fingers had swollen just enough to make taking them off tricky lately. I didn't want to risk waiting too long and possibly needing them to be cut off if they got too tight later, especially since I still have 12 weeks left to go (sigh). So now I'm wearing the temporary wedding band I bought when I was pregnant with CC.
The worst of week 27: The dreaded ankle swelling has appeared! So far it isn't too bad -- nowhere near how swollen I was the last few months of CC's pregnancy. But I am frantic to keep it at bay. I am drinking water like a maniac and putting my feet up at every conceivable opportunity. Please please please let it not get worse -- I still have three months to go!
The ugly:
I am, at this very point, the exact weight and size I was when I gave birth to CC. I've gained 35 pounds (same as with CC) and my belly is now 38 inches around (same as with CC). It's a disheartening thought, especially since I'm only carrying about 4 pounds of baby (compared to CC's 8 pounds, 9 ounces). I have to remind myself that I am also carrying two placentas and two times the amniotic fluid.
From now on, I'll be in uncharted territory. The next three months will probably be the most difficult of my life, physically speaking. Every week, I'll be bigger and heavier than I've ever been in my life, and who knows what symptoms that will bring?
Ten more weeks and I'll be considered full-term! Not that it means much; I'm still hoping and assuming I'll have these babies closer to 39 weeks than 36 weeks. But it's nice to be ticking the weeks off, slowly but steadily.
I'm still feeling pretty decent. The carpal tunnel syndrome is getting worse, and I've started wearing a wrist brace to bed at night. Sometimes, like last night, it helps. But other nights I end up tearing it off in the middle of the night because it's actually keeping me from sleeping.
I also started getting a pretty intense pain in my hip this week. It's not constant, thankfully, but on Thursday and Friday I had some periods of fairly bad pain while walking. It hasn't returned since, so I'm hoping it's not a new pregnancy symptom. Maybe I just slept on it wrong, or bruised it somehow.
But overall, as I was telling my neighbors at a recent get-together, I feel much better than a 6-months-pregnant-with-twins woman has any right to feel! When I found out that I was expecting twins back in January, I never would have thought that I would feel basically normal at 6 months. Thank God! With CC to care for and a constant list of things to do around here, I am extremely grateful to be feeling as well as I do. Let's hope it continues!
Right now the babies weigh just under 2 pounds each, and are about the size of cucumbers. Their ears and hearing are developing now, so they can hear me and MJ talking, CC babbling (or, more likely, yelling!), and Rory barking. They are taking practice "breaths" of amniotic fluid, which we should be able to see on an ultrasound one of these days (I remember seeing CC do this on one of her ultrasounds last year).
I had to think for a few minutes in order to figure out which week I'm in. This middle-of-the-pregnancy period all starts to run together! (Kind of like my age -- I often have to actually subtract my birth year from the current year in order to figure out how old I am. Maybe it's a defense mechanism!)
I'm getting bigger and bigger, naturally. But although this might seem normal for most moms, it's quite a departure from my pregnancy with CC, so it's new to me. I've gained about 32 pounds now, and I think I'm averaging a gain of about 2-3 pounds per week lately. I've been told that twin moms often lose weight in the last few months (as the twins get so large that there isn't much room for mom's stomach), which is why it was so important for me to gain weight early in the pregnancy. Time will tell whether I lose weight at the end, but so far my doctor is pleased with my weight gain.
My symptoms remain the same: only the carpal tunnel syndrome to complain about. So yes, I'm lucky that I still have energy and I still feel good. But the pins-and-needles, aching, and stiffness is irritating. It has worsened so that in the last few days I've been feeling it throughout the day, instead of just at night and first thing in the morning. But -- thank the Lord -- no grotesquely swollen ankles just yet, so it's worth it.
The babies are about 13 inches long now, and more than 1.5 pounds. They are about the size of small eggplants. Their bones are solidifying and their hands and feet are fully formed. Their wrinkly skin is starting to fill out with fat, and they are starting to grow hair. Apparently around this time twins will start interacting with each other, feeling each other's faces and limbs!
My next appointment is Wednesday with the MFM, when they will conduct a fetal echocardiogram to get a detailed look at both babies' hearts.
Only 15 weeks left! On one hand, that seems like a short period of time. On the other hand, it's 3.5 months, which sounds like a long time. Good thing we have a lot to keep us busy!
I've gained 30 pounds now, and realizing that I didn't have as much maternity clothing as I'd originally thought. A twin belly grows out of shirts awfully fast! Right in the nick of time, four boxes of maternity clothes arrived at our house this week, thanks to my friend Carol. In addition to much-needed summer tops, there were two pairs of shorts, which I was actually brave enough to wear this week. What a relief! (MJ told me I looked great in them, which made me feel good even if it was a bald-faced lie!)
I had an OB appointment on Thursday, and all is well. I got to sneak a peek at the babies, since my OB keeps a portable ultrasound machine in his exam room and uses it at every appointment. It's not as clear a picture as the large machines at the maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists' office, but it's still nice to see the babies squirming around. They were so active, in fact, that he was laughing because they kept kicking the ultrasound probe!
At the end of the appointment, he informed me that although he would normally start seeing a twin mom every two weeks from now on, my pregnancy is going so well that he feels confident waiting another 4 weeks before beginning the bi-monthly regimen. Great news! I already have to go back to the MFM in two weeks, so it will be nice not to worry about yet another appointment that same week.
The twins are about 12 inches long, and weigh about one and a half pounds each now. Their taste buds are developing, along with their respiratory systems. We are just now entering the period of viability, where they would have a good chance at survival if they were born at this point. Obviously I don't want them to be born yet, and I have no risk factors for pre-term labor, but it's still a nice stage to reach in the pregnancy.
The weeks are starting to chug along now. I'm hitting a familiar stride, very reminiscent of this time during my pregnancy with CC: I'm squarely in the middle of the 9-month marathon, with the end not really in sight, yet the weeks are passing by fairly quickly. I think it's because I haven't gotten to the point where I'm horribly uncomfortable, or or dying with anticipation -- that makes time really crawl!
I've gained 29 pounds so far, and I'm still feeling good. My appetite isn't as voracious as it was at the beginning, yet clearly I'm still eating enough because the weight is packing on. Boy, I hope it comes off as easily as it did after CC was born!
I had another appointment with the MFM this week (Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist), and all was well. They confirmed the check that assured them I am at very low risk for pre-term labor, which is great news. Unfortunately we didn't get any good pictures of the babies, but it was still great to see them squirming around in there, hearts beating strongly.
My next MFM appointment is in three weeks, when they will do a fetal echocardiogram on both babies, which is a detailed look at their hearts. Apparently twins have a very slightly elevated chance of heart defects, so when I am 26 weeks along, their hearts will be big enough for a very in-depth scan. The doctor assured us we shouldn't worry, because a) the increased risk is very small, and b) both twin's hearts were examined during my 20-week anatomy scan, and no abnormalities were noticed.
At this week's ultrasound, the size estimate for both babies was 1 pound, 5 ounces, which is right on track for their age. They are about the size of winter squashes. They are practicing their "breathing" at this point, and their skin is starting to become less translucent. In the next month, they should double their size!
I have an appointment with my OB this coming Thursday, and I think it will mark the switch from monthly to biweekly appointments. My calendar is really starting to fill up!
Another week has gone, and it was a busy one! I will post lots of pictures tomorrow about CC's party and big birthday weekend, but CC and I are both still recovering. Tomorrow, I promise!
I still have lots of energy, thankfully. And in general, I feel good. But a few little annoyances have popped up this week:
- Swelling. No, not (yet) the horrible edema that plagued me in the third trimester of CC's pregnancy, although I fear that will arrive soon enough. This is the more typical swelling that pregnant woman get: ankles a little puffy at the end of the day, rings starting to get tight. My wedding and engagement rings, thankfully, are loose enough that a little swelling isn't a concern yet. But the ring I wear on my right hand, the one MJ gave me for my 30th birthday, has always been a bit tight. When I was pregnant with CC I waited too long to try to take it off, and it would not come off no matter what I tried. For the remainder of that pregnancy, I was worried that they might have to cut it off. Fortunately that never happened, but I learned my lesson: this time I took it off early, just to be safe!
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Yep, this one has reared its ugly head again. Pins-and-needles tingling in my right arm at night when I'm trying to sleep, and an ache and weakness in my right hand in the mornings. It's not the end of the world; I can certainly deal with it (and would prefer it to some other symptoms, like massive ankle swelling!). But I had mostly forgotten about this particular symptom from last time, and it was an unwelcome reminder when it returned this week!
Otherwise, all is fine. I've gained weight again; I'm up 27 pounds now. That means I've already achieved my goal of gaining 25 pounds by 25 weeks, so at this point I've been able to do everything my doctor recommended to ensure these twins are healthy and full-term. Now I just have to take care of myself, pray that God keeps these babies healthy, and start slowly getting ready for our new additions.
The babies are about 11 inches long now, and weigh about a pound each. This week their taste buds are forming, and they are starting to react to sounds and my movements. I can feel their movements more easily now, and MJ would definitely be able to feel them -- if we could only get the timing right!
I have another ultrasound this Thursday with my high-risk specialist, which will confirm the measurement they took last time about whether I am at risk for pre-term labor. My OB and I are not worried -- my history with CC, as well as the ultrasound and measurement I had three weeks ago both tell us that pre-term labor is not a concern -- but it will be nice to get more confirmation, and, of course, see those babies again!
Another week past, another week feeling good. Thank the Lord!
I haven't gained any more weight in the last few weeks; my total weight gain is still at 22 pounds. But I'm okay with that -- I am very close to my 25-pounds-at-25-weeks goal, and I feel confident that the twins are growing well.
I enjoyed a luxurious bath in our new master bathroom, and I think I'm hooked -- I will definitely be having more of those during this pregnancy! The new tub is so large that it takes almost half an hour to fill up, and I can float and flip over while I'm bathing, almost like a mini swimming pool!
I'm actually starting to grow out of some of my maternity clothes. Not that the shirts are too narrow for me and my growing belly, but that they're too short. I normally have a long torso, and with a bump getting larger each week, it's hard to find shirts long enough to cover my belly. Fortunately my good friend Carol is letting me borrow a ton of her maternity clothes, which should increase my wardrobe exponentially.
The babies are about the size (length) of bananas now, and are moving like crazy. Not that I feel them constantly (although that's coming), but I definitely feel 2-3 movements per day. There's no way to tell which baby is moving, though, but presumably I feel a little movement from each.
(Note: I would have posted this yesterday, except for all the excitement that CC started walking and I was able to actually catch it on video!)
So ... I'm past the halfway point and still feeling good, praise God! I'm definitely getting bigger -- my belly is starting to actually get in the way occasionally (or at least enough that I'm noticing it!). But fortunately I'm still feeling about the same, something for which I'm very thankful.
As I reported after my appointment last Thursday, all is well with the twins, too. It's nice that we're all faring well so far on this journey together.
They are each about the size of a can of Red Bull (how's that for a comparison!) and weigh 10 ounces, according to the ultrasound estimate from Thursday. That's spot-on for where they should be.
Odd symptom: MJ reports that my breath is atrocious. This is not something I recommend other husbands tell their pregnant wives, true or otherwise. Fortunately he assures me that my breath is not normally this bad, just apparently when I'm pregnant.
I am halfway to meeting these little babies! Normally the halfway point wouldn't be until next week, but since my OB told me that twins do better when delivered a week or two early, I think it's safe to say I'm halfway there.
I've gained 22 pounds, which means I can rest assured I'll meet my goal of 25 pounds by 25 weeks. So far, everything is going swimmingly, and I've been able to do everything that I've been recommended to do to ensure these babies are healthy and full-term.
The weather's been very warm, so I've been extra thankful for the non-jeans I've borrowed from my sister-in-law. The jean skirt, the capri pants, and the light cotton pants have been a godsend! I probably need a few more short-sleeve t-shirts, but fortunately those are pretty inexpensive.
I'm still feeling good, eating well, and living life fairly normally. I take it easier than I used to, but other than that I'm still able to do mostly everything I've always done.
CC has taken an interest in my tummy, but I'm sure it's just a coincidence, as we've been teaching her the parts of the body. Still, it makes my heart happy when I walk up to her crib and she reaches out to pat my tummy.
The babies themselves are now approximately the size of mangos, about 6 inches long. I am more definitely feeling movement now, the occasional kick or squirm, although it's not too frequent. I've heard from other twin moms that movement gets very noticeable around week 24, so I will enjoy the relative peace and quiet until then. Once I have two heads, four elbows, four feet and four knees jabbing me, I'm sure life won't be quite so comfortable!
I have my first appointment in 5 weeks this Thursday, and it will be a doozy: the complete anatomy scan of both babies, which I've been warned can take up to 2 hours. But it will be great to see the babies again; it's been a while since I've had confirmation that everything is going well. It will be a relief if the ultrasound goes well and we are told that they are developing well and on their way to being healthy, strong newborns. Stay tuned!
