18 weeks 4 days and we're having....

TWIN BOYS!!!!

I had my level II u/s this morning. For some reason I was nervous the last day or two. I only got a few hours of sleep last night. This happens every time an u/s approaches even though I have one at least every other week. Can you imagine only having one or two your entire pregnancy like most "normal" pregnancies? I still haven't felt any kicking and it made me a little paranoid although my doctor said it can vary greatly from woman to woman. I sometimes feel little flutters that I think may be the babies but I'm not sure. I also feel something like bubbles popping but for all I know it's gas...

The babies most definitely have boy parts. No mistaking that...so it's very unlikely one will be turning into a girl at a later date. Both are measuring just right and look great. Dr. H spent a while doing many measurements and he seemed pleased w/ everything. I've gained 12 pounds and I'm 18weeks 4 days. I've gained 3 in the last two weeks so I'm starting to catch up since I gained very little the first trimester. My stomach is growing bigger by the day. We were w/ friends all weekend and everyone commented on how much I'd grown in just a week. My biggest complaint is the round ligament pains and the constipation. I double over in pain at times from the stretching pains...it feels like charlie horses (squeezing, pulling, tearing) shooting up from my vagina. And the constipation is ugly... I take two Colace a day and it doesn't help much. I finally gave in and took milk of magnesium yesterday and all it did was give me the runs. So I'm just going to do the best I can and up the water intake since I'm already getting a ton of fiber.

Back to how we're having two boys...We're excited. I don't think either of us preferred one option over the other. I think each twin combo has advantages so I was going to be happy no matter what. I just wanted to hear that they were looking good and measuring the way they should be. J might have been a tiny bit relieved about not having two girls although he won't admit it. I know he wanted a son and was scared of having two daughters (3 women ganged up on him). A little part of me was a little saddened at not having a daughter- and quickly though that we might try again...ha ha...that was a short and fleeting thought. We'll see but it's not likely since we're never going through infertility treatments again (although I have one frozen on ice...hmmm?). Either way- I'm truly thrilled. Two boys will be so much fun. We'll have a blast and many adventures and stories to share.

We are so truly blessed.

16weeks 3days w/ belly pics

Had another appt w/ Dr. H today. Babies look good :-) He said we should find out the sexes on our next visit in 2 weeks. I can't wait! I had the 1 hour glucose and that wasn't fun. They told me not to eat anything after midnight and I don't do well even when I'm not pregnant w/ having an empty stomach. So- I drank the nasty syrup and went to wait an hour. After about 5 mins my whole body was shaking like it was below zero out... they ended up wrapping me in blankets b/c it wouldn't stop. Finally after a long hour they drew a lot of blood for my AFP "triple" blood test, several different thyroid tests, the glucose test and I also had four more vials drawn so that I could ship those to Chicago for my Natural Killer Assay. Dr. H made that happen and I'm grateful b/c I don't have to drive many hours up North or have my neighbor attempt it. So after they took all of that blood I went to stand up and down I went. Yup- I fainted. I'm not a fainting type of girl especially since I'm a pro at having my blood drawn so it must have been the addition of pure glucose on my empty stomach.

Dr. H told me to knock off any kind of real exercise. I just started walking a few weeks ago. I was going about 45 mins and trying to keep a brisk pace. He told me no. That I can go but for short periods of time and only at a slow stroll. He evens wants me to knock that off if I have any cramping start up at all. The only other exercise he would approve was swimming. Basically only very low or no impact exercises. So I need to sneak into my neighbors pool while they are at work. I was excited to finally have some energy to get a little exercise and Dr. H said I shouldn't risk it. He said sex was okay at this point but he'd let me know if that should change. (Isn't sex high impact?) I have to say I was wasn't completely shocked at limiting the exercise but was a little surprised that he would basically prefer me on my tush 24/7 if possible.

J surprised me for Mothers Day. He bought me three cards. One from the "twins", one from my two "dogs" and one from him. They were wonderful and brought tears to my eyes. He also went and bought me the "snoogle" which is an awesome pregnancy pillow that wraps all around your body and supports you. This will be a lifesaver as the pregnancy goes on and I already sleep better b/c of it. It aligns the hips and takes the pressure off your back.

Now to the part you all really care about... I'm finally posting belly pictures. The first one is from 11 weeks. I actually already felt huge at this point. HA HA When I saw the picture I couldn't believe I wasn't bigger b/c I felt much so much bigger. The 2nd two are from 16 weeks 1 day.


11 weeks w/ twins


16weeks 1day w/ twins


16weeks 1day w/ twins

Feeling better @ 4 months

Finally got my NT results from Gen*zyme Genetics. My risk of one of the babies having downs based on the testing is 1:4300, which is much better than the 1:470 age related risk. So J and I are very relieved. I was told that Trisomy 18 cannot be accurately estimated in twin pregnancies so we were not given a "screening" risk but my age related risk is 1:1600. I'm having my AFP "triple" blood test and a one hour glucose test on Monday.

Yesterday was my official consult with the high risk OB/GYN (Dr. H). He did the NT test two weeks ago but we never had a chance to go over my medical records or ask questions. I think he'll work out... It's tough b/c no one can live up to Dr. Z and his office so I have to lower my standards. Whats important here is that Dr. H only takes high risk patients and has tons of experience with any possible thing that might go wrong. So I should be in really good hands. He actually wants to see me every other week for the next month or two and then he wants to see me every single week. The only part of the visit that scared me a bit was when he told me the babies would be early and is was just a matter of how early. His biggest advice was to run (not walk) to the hospital is I have contractions. He said women wait b/c they think its a false alarm b/c they're only 28 or 30 weeks. Or they think that it will go away and then they end up being too dilated and there is no way he can stop the babies from coming. Whereas if you get there early enough he might be able to stop the contractions and give the babies longer to grow. Sound like I may be running to the hospital a lot b/c aren't there a lot of false alarms in pregnancy and I'll be terrified its the real thing.

My biggest worry is that this doctor is about 45 mins away and he only works at/delivers at a hospital that is near him. So if I don't make it to his hospital and have to go to the local one near my house than I'll have to use whoever is on call. Hopefully this won't be an issue and 45 mins will be plenty of time to get to the hospital... I'm also one of the few women that wants a C-section. It seems that most women really want a natural delivery but I just don't feel that way. For some reason I'm terrified of labor with twins. What if something goes wrong. What if I go through labor with one and then I still need a C-section...yadda yadda.... and Dr. H actually agreed with me. He said the last point I just made happens more frequently than you realize. He said 85% of his twin deliveries are C-section. So I'm planning on a C-section and hopefully I make it far enough to the scheduled date so that there are no issues on getting to the hospital on time.

And when I was weighed yesterday I had put on 5 pounds in 2 weeks. So obviously I'm feeling much better! I'm just about 16 weeks and have gained 8 pounds total. The doctor wasn't very concerned b/c he said I'm gaining now and as long as I try to hit the 40 pound minimum. Ideally more like 45 pounds than I'll be fine. I haven't had a migraine in over a week (knock-on-wood) and I have a little more energy. I still get tried rather easily but overall I went from feeling like death to feeling decent and what a nice change that is! I was actually able to go on 3 walks last week. This is the first time I exercised this entire pregnancy and I'm a person that was extremely athletic and active before I was pregnant. So it felt good to move around some. I'm eating as evidenced by the sudden weight gain. When I feel okay and don't have a pounding sledge hammer in my head than I eat non-stop.

My biggest new symptom is round ligament pains. This started about 2 weeks ago and scared the heck out of me. I was getting out of the car and pain shot up my groin and to the lower left side of my abdomen. I almost fell over. It really hurt and that one lasted for a while b/c I tried to walk it off which is the wrong thing to do. I was walking around a store holding my groin. Everyone probably thought I desperately needed to pee. It's happened probably a dozen times since and usually the pain doesn't last more than a few minutes. It feels like a Charley horse in your groin and mine seems to always lean to the right side. You're supposed to sit down or lay down if possible when this occurs to take the weight off the stretching ligaments. Dr. H said this is completely normal and a perk of pregnancy and will only worsen.

I will post a belly shot soon. I'm growing like crazy. Just the last 2 weeks alone have been drastic. I've actually had a neighbor point it out and come over to rub my belly (very annoying). My belly button is becoming more and more shallow... I bet it pops in the next 6 weeks. My biggest growth has still been in the boob area. That is becoming ridiculous. I've been a regular B cup pretty much my whole life and now I'm a D cup... who knows how big those babies will be when this is over.

Ohhhh and I ordered all kinds of expensive belly butter/lotion to prevent stretch marks. I'm sure its all a gimmick and won't help but I still feel that I have to try. I have been using Palmer's Cocoa butter up to this point but decided to try the "good" stuff. Anyone out there have any tricks/ assvice or brand they used that they like?