According to the ticker on my computer, I have exactly 23 days to go before I reach full term with this pregnancy. In reality, it's probably going to be half that. So I've reached that phase where I'm just, well, waiting!
The twins are growing beautifully and last Wednesday were approximately 5lb 12oz according to the ultrasound. By now they have probably hit the 6lb mark. Not bad for two! But the downside is they are running out of room...and there's only so far I can stretch. Apparently I'm stretchier than I realised, although the reverse stretchiness that is required after the birth...well, let's just say I'm not counting my breath on ever wearing a bikini again!!! Which, by the way, I have no problems with whatsoever. Stretch marks and extra skin are the least of my concerns and pale into such insignificance compared with the joy I've had at carrying my boys.
But I do wonder when they are going to arrive. Today is Labour Day in Queensland - so I don't know if that's a good thing or not!! I could give a new definition to the term, perhaps its true meaning afterall. None of this marching on parliament for better working conditions - check out your local maternity hospital instead.
Sleep is a challenging prospect with two babies wriggling around. Hiccups from the boys now feel like small earthquakes in my nether regions, which is not exactly what I would call comfortable. And if either of them decide to stretch lengthways, I'm in real strife! There's just no more room and they run into ribs and pelvis...and a range of internal organs that I'm quite attached to and still need.
I'm not ready for them to come just yet though -although I'm sure I would cope if they did. I'm happy for them to stay put for another week. And I hope it doesn't sound like I'm complaining because I'm honestly not - just making a few observations about what being 36+ weeks pregnant with twins is like!
What a privilege it is, however, to actively partner the Creator in creating new life. I am so blessed.
Showing posts with label twins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label twins. Show all posts
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Baby's Breathing?
I had a bizarre experience last night. Sitting on the couch I had my hand resting on my ginormous belly...a regular practice for me! I can't help but want to touch my beautiful baby boys and I love to feel them move.
Twin #2 sits highest on my belly and is closest to the surface. I feel him move much more frequently than my placid Twin #1. As usual, it was Twin #2 that I noticed. It was a really subtle, gentle movement. It suddenly occurred to me that it was just like I had my hand on his chest and he was breathing. It wasn't like the hiccups - both boys have those on an almost daily basis so I was certain this was different. It was gentle and rhythmic, a rise and fall.
I called Mike over and he too could feel the regular movement. It felt like breathing to him too. So we decided we had been privileged to feel our baby breathe in utero...
...until this morning when I sat down and thought about it - and of course, the obvious suddenly struck me - he can't breathe yet!! He has no need to breathe yet! There is no oxygen in the womb. So, what was this all about??
I have decided that he was practice breathing. Apparently, in utero babies swallow amniotic fluid and practise the breathing process. I think Twin #2 was doing exactly that. If anyone else has any wonderful explanations of this unique experience I'd love to hear from you!
Twin #2 sits highest on my belly and is closest to the surface. I feel him move much more frequently than my placid Twin #1. As usual, it was Twin #2 that I noticed. It was a really subtle, gentle movement. It suddenly occurred to me that it was just like I had my hand on his chest and he was breathing. It wasn't like the hiccups - both boys have those on an almost daily basis so I was certain this was different. It was gentle and rhythmic, a rise and fall.
I called Mike over and he too could feel the regular movement. It felt like breathing to him too. So we decided we had been privileged to feel our baby breathe in utero...
...until this morning when I sat down and thought about it - and of course, the obvious suddenly struck me - he can't breathe yet!! He has no need to breathe yet! There is no oxygen in the womb. So, what was this all about??
I have decided that he was practice breathing. Apparently, in utero babies swallow amniotic fluid and practise the breathing process. I think Twin #2 was doing exactly that. If anyone else has any wonderful explanations of this unique experience I'd love to hear from you!
Friday, April 11, 2008
A Lot Can Happen in 8 Months
I've been a very slack blogger I know, so here's a summary of what happened after my last post...
- had another IVF cycle, this time classed as a natural cycle where I didn't have any drugs until about day 10
- scans showed I had 2 follicles
- Dr decided that was as good as it was going to get so went ahead with egg pick up
- ended up having 6 eggs (4 were playing hide and seek)
- 5 fertilised
- 4 made it to day three
- 1 embryo was transferred on Sept 5, 2007...
I knew I was pregnant within about 5-7 days - it was just something that felt very familiar. I had the positive home pregnancy test, followed by successful blood tests and then booked in for my 6 1/2 week scan with Dr Julie.
Scene: Curtained cubicle in Julie's office
Cast: Me, hubby & baby #1
She Who Writes (SWW) is lying on the bed, discreetly covered by a sheet. Dr Julie approaches with the lovely ultrasound wand for an internal ultrasound. We are looking for a foetal heart beat.
SWW watches the grainy screen for the tell tale flutter...but also watches Dr Julie's face. There is always that seed of fear of "What if there's no heartbeat..."
Dr Julie scans the uterus and suddenly becomes very still.
SWW holds her breath for a moment, noticing Dr Julie's change in demeanour. She wonders for a split second if her worst fears have become reality...
Dr Julie looks at SWW and says: My darling, there's 2.
SWW starts to cackle at the absolute irony of it all. How hilarious! I'm pregnant with twins.
From behind the curtain hubby takes a sharp intake of breath and shouts: No way!!!!
It really was a funny situation. Here I am, laughing at how ridiculous life is and how lucky we are; Dr Julie is shaking her head in disbelief - she's on a run of twins at the moment; hubby is picking himself up off the floor just in time to ask the all important question: Do we get double the baby bonus (a $4,000 payment the Aus government gives you when you have a baby). The answer is yes.
So here I am now, almost 34 weeks pregnant with my identical twin boys. We assume they are identical anyway - that's the only logical explanation but we'll be having DNA tests done on the placentas at birth just to make sure.
I've had an easy pregnancy with no complications, the boys are growing absolutely on track and all is well....except for a revolting bug I've picked up that I can't get rid of. You know, the head cold, aching body, rib-hurting cough etc. If only I could have codeine or pseudoephodrine, but alas, mummy-to-be cannot. So instead I sleep a lot and rely on hubby to look after baby #1. My obstetrician, Dr Neroli (fantastic, awesome, wonderful woman she is) says that it's going to take a long time for me to get over this as my boys are taking priority.
The good news is that it hasn't affected them at all. And sometime between now and 6 weeks down the track I will get to meet my beautiful boys. We are so excited and so blessed. These are my promise boys - they are God's extra special gift to us.
I will keep you posted...although it may be another 8 months before I get time to write!!
- had another IVF cycle, this time classed as a natural cycle where I didn't have any drugs until about day 10
- scans showed I had 2 follicles
- Dr decided that was as good as it was going to get so went ahead with egg pick up
- ended up having 6 eggs (4 were playing hide and seek)
- 5 fertilised
- 4 made it to day three
- 1 embryo was transferred on Sept 5, 2007...
I knew I was pregnant within about 5-7 days - it was just something that felt very familiar. I had the positive home pregnancy test, followed by successful blood tests and then booked in for my 6 1/2 week scan with Dr Julie.
Scene: Curtained cubicle in Julie's office
Cast: Me, hubby & baby #1
She Who Writes (SWW) is lying on the bed, discreetly covered by a sheet. Dr Julie approaches with the lovely ultrasound wand for an internal ultrasound. We are looking for a foetal heart beat.
SWW watches the grainy screen for the tell tale flutter...but also watches Dr Julie's face. There is always that seed of fear of "What if there's no heartbeat..."
Dr Julie scans the uterus and suddenly becomes very still.
SWW holds her breath for a moment, noticing Dr Julie's change in demeanour. She wonders for a split second if her worst fears have become reality...
Dr Julie looks at SWW and says: My darling, there's 2.
SWW starts to cackle at the absolute irony of it all. How hilarious! I'm pregnant with twins.
From behind the curtain hubby takes a sharp intake of breath and shouts: No way!!!!
It really was a funny situation. Here I am, laughing at how ridiculous life is and how lucky we are; Dr Julie is shaking her head in disbelief - she's on a run of twins at the moment; hubby is picking himself up off the floor just in time to ask the all important question: Do we get double the baby bonus (a $4,000 payment the Aus government gives you when you have a baby). The answer is yes.
So here I am now, almost 34 weeks pregnant with my identical twin boys. We assume they are identical anyway - that's the only logical explanation but we'll be having DNA tests done on the placentas at birth just to make sure.
I've had an easy pregnancy with no complications, the boys are growing absolutely on track and all is well....except for a revolting bug I've picked up that I can't get rid of. You know, the head cold, aching body, rib-hurting cough etc. If only I could have codeine or pseudoephodrine, but alas, mummy-to-be cannot. So instead I sleep a lot and rely on hubby to look after baby #1. My obstetrician, Dr Neroli (fantastic, awesome, wonderful woman she is) says that it's going to take a long time for me to get over this as my boys are taking priority.
The good news is that it hasn't affected them at all. And sometime between now and 6 weeks down the track I will get to meet my beautiful boys. We are so excited and so blessed. These are my promise boys - they are God's extra special gift to us.
I will keep you posted...although it may be another 8 months before I get time to write!!
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