OK so - originally I wasn't going to post until after our 20 week appointment next week, but I haven't blogged in a while and I feel like my soul needs it.
Also, after reading some other blogs I've decided my new goal beginning this week will be to post a picture weekly along with an update on how I'm feeling, how the babies are developing, etc. I am currently searching for a standard format to use each week and my goal will be to have the posts up each Friday. Thursday is my week marker so by Friday I should have a current picture and be ready to complete my update.
I should have started this sooner, but between the sickness of the first trimester and my new found love of being l.a.z.y. I just didn't really think of it.
That being said, I am entering into the neurotic phase of pregnancy where I want to read every bit of detail I can on what I should be expecting, what I need to be looking for, what should be done to prepare etc. Poor Mike. He has been so sweet juggling my crazy. I owe him.
Speaking of Mike being sweet... I've realized that it takes a little bit of time for men (or my man) to really let pregnancy sink in. He, like me, has been very excited about the babies, but I think as my belly grows it is becoming more real for him.
These last few weeks he has been so attentive. Asking how I am, checking to see if I need anything, sending me for naps, and my most favorite of all... his hands on my belly. <3
Melt my heart.
There is nothing more beautiful in this world than watching a good man love on his children. Mike has always been such a great dad to Jake so I never doubted his excitement about these two... but I have realized that as the dad he doesn't have that direct interaction with the babies yet. I'm sure, in a lot of ways, it's easy to sort of go through your daily routine as normal when your wife is in the early stages of pregnancy. Granted he has to listen to me remind him how NOT NORMAL my life is at the moment, but you get the idea.
Now that I am feeling the babies move (a lot) and getting bigger he is dying to feel them too. My two favorite parts of the day right now.... greeting my sweet boys when we all get home from the day and then laying in bed at night while Mike tries to feel movement.
In those two moments, the uncomfortableness, the back pain, the stretching ligaments, the constant urge to pee, they all melt away.
Alright, enough with that... on to the babes.
Today I am 18 weeks 5 days. Half way through my twin pregnancy (or close enough). The babies are growing like weeds and between my bladder, hips and back I am constantly reminded of that. In the past 2 weeks I have really been able to feel a lot of movement, especially at certain parts of the day.
So far, there hasn't been much to report because with twin pregnancies no news is good news.
Last week, the night before New Years Eve I had been feeling pretty bad with what I thought was a sinus infection. I kept telling myself I would ride it out - as I don't want to take any medicines unless I am desperate.
Sinus issues, in general, are super common in pregnant women. During different stages in pregnancy it is totally normal to be excessively... well... boogery. It has something to do with your hormones and your body working double time and the increased blood flow... Any who, lets just say I have become obsessed with making sure there are no bats in the cave.
So back to the night before NYE - I didn't really feel all that bad... just exhausted. Mike let me slip off to bed while he managed Jake and I fell asleep fast. A few hours later I woke up with pain and my first thought was contractions.
I have had contractions before (obviously with Jake) and they are a distinctive pain as any mom can tell you. I was a little nervous but I decided to try and sleep through them and just call the doctor first thing in the AM. If it would have happened in the middle of day I may not have been so calm... chalk it up to my love for the bed.
That morning I called the doctor as soon as they opened and told the nurse what was happening. She put me on hold to speak to the doctor and then came back and asked me to come in right away. I kept telling myself that freaking out did no good and that I would remain calm. I called Mike, he left work and came and got me and to the doctor we went.
As soon as we went there a nurse practitioner (who I adore) came out to see us and told me she wanted me to get an ultrasound right away. Mainly she wanted to see my cervix and then on to the babies to make sure they look good.
The ultrasound tech (who I also adore) came and got us and took us back. She hadn't scanned us in 5 weeks but remembered us both right away. She checked everything the NP ordered and said that our NP would go over the results, but that everything looked good from what she could see. My cervix was measuring at a 4.6 and they just want to see it above a 2. She then moved on to our babies! We hadn't seen them in over a month and every time I recognize that outline of a head my heart starts to swell.
They have both grown so much! Heartbeats were great, she confirmed genders for us, and told us everything looked really good. The babies were measuring well, had plenty of fluid surrounding them and were in great shape.
She finished up and told us we could go back to the waiting room for the time being. Once the NP called us back we went over all of the results. She concluded that my contractions were because I was most likely dehydrated (woops) but that this was ok because it would be easy to fix and my cervix looked great. No signs of early labor! Praise God!
She then went and read through the babies stats and explained to us where they are in my belly. Baby A - our girl - is on my left. She is lower than B and in the head down position. Her placenta is behind her (ideal) and she is measuring perfectly. Baby B - our boy- is on my right side. He is slightly higher up, also head down. This is exciting for me because it is a crucial part of if we will be allowed to try and deliver these two naturally. I am praying daily for them to stay this way and for a safe and healthy delivery.
As for Baby B's placenta - it is in front of him, or anterior. While this can make life a little harder on the doctors it isn't any cause for concern for me or the baby. Unfortunately is does explain why I haven't felt much movement from him. His placenta is taking the blows. The NP explained I may be able to see him move before I can feel him. She also explained that the lack of feeling causes some moms concerns but for me to not worry because they can rarely get him still for measurements.
While I would love to feel even more movement, I am thankful that there are no real worries with either baby for now. Plus I know it's a matter of time before space gets so tight that anterior or not, I will know he's moving!
All in all, the babies are doing great and I am doing pretty well myself. I know my harder days are ahead so I am trying to soak in the easy days right now. :)
Oh! I think we have our names locked down... but I want to talk it over with Mike and get his approval before I release them to the world. Naming humans is a big undertaking. That being said, I'm dying to have the ability to monogram something so pretty soon we will share the babies names!
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