20 Weeks!

It is a very special day for me. I am 20 weeks pregnant today. What an amazing thing.
Only 16 more weeks to go until the caeser date, if we make it that far - so hope we do and they don't arrive earlier as I don't want them in NICU if possible. I am starting to feel the babies more and more...but not enough - wish I could feel them all day long, it is so very very special.

How far along? 20 weeks! Wow.

Maternity clothes? Same.

Symptoms? More backache, especially during the night and in morning on waking. More difficult standing up and really uncomfy bending over!

Stretch marks? No new ones.

Weight gain? Haven't weighed myself lol.

Sleep? Up at 12pm and 3am to wee.

Movement? One day of amazing activity, then nothing the next day, then a little rolling around or changing positions the following day...want more!

Best moment this week? DH saying goodbye to his babies every morning by tapping and rubbing my belly and saying "goodbye babies".

Food cravings? Slap chips...so so bad.

What I miss? Walking without losing my breath, but wouldn't change anything.

What I am looking forward to? Only 6 more sleeps until the 21 weeks anatomy scan...oh please let all be perfect. Can't wait to see how much they have grown and what they weigh now.

Milestones? Official halfway mark, even though it is less for us...still feels incredibly monumental and special.

Emotions? Renewed positivity. Connectedness to these special souls starting to get more real...

General... I think I must start shopping soon - already feeling overwhelmed. Went into Babies R Us the other day, looked at the car seats and promptly walked out again...No idea where to start! I realise now that I am going to start slowing down even more...better not leave it too long...

19 Weeks!

How far along? 19 Weeks and 1 day today!

Maternity clothes? Same as last week.

Symptoms? Some aching yesterday and some tweaks in the lower regions...hopefully all ligaments stretching!

Stretch marks? No new ones.

Weight gain? 10kg!!!

Sleep? Down to once or twice night wee trips, but DH still in spare room - think he prefers it too to me prodding and rolling him over all night lol.

Movement? Not much :( - haven't been feeling the rolling movements at ALL...worrying, but hoping it is because I haven't been active this week due to my cold so they are also chilling...come on babies, kick for mom!

Best moment this week? Seeing my belly almost visably grow before my very eyes!

Food cravings? No real cravings...still not into chocolate at ALL, which is wierd for me. Also, can't really taste much due to cold.

What I miss? Wouldn't trade this for anything in the world no matter what is missed.

What I am looking forward to? Still to feeling real kicks. The 21 week anatomy scan (12 more sleeps) and of course to date of viability so I can try to relax.

Milestones? Over halfway if their due date is still 36 weeks!!!!

Emotions? No crying, feeling quite calm except for my paranoia about the rare incidence of incompetent cervix issues...going to email my Prof to ask him what he thinks.

General...Haven't been to gym this week as I have had a nasty cold...spent day in bed yesterday which was great. SO looking forward to a cosy, chilled weekend. Still in awe of this experience everyday.

18 Week update

Here is the 18 week update...

How far along? 18 Weeks and 4 days today

Maternity clothes? Still maternity pants and usual tops - just love tight tops that show my belly!

Symptoms? Round ligament pain when I move fast to the side. No aching or cramping this week. Lots of discharge. Breathlessness when walk too fast or talk too fast. No stamina - went for long walks in Arniston and my heart almost beat out of my chest on the uphills - no power!!!

Stretch marks? No new ones - should mention I have loads of existing ones on my hips...hope they stay there and don't grow! Using tissue oil mixed with Jojoba oil every morning and night.

Weight gain? Too nervous to check - next week lol.

Sleep? Still getting up at least once to wee, but usually 2 or 3 times a night. DH has moved into the spare room as I disturb him too asking him to stop snoring all the time lol. He slept in our bed last night but wish he hadn't as he kept snoring and I could'nt get back to sleep!  But I miss snuggling up to my warm sweetie. Also a bit uncomfy now - will start using my dream genie pillow I think.

Movement? Realised that those strange movements I have been feeling is definitely them!!! Feels like a weight rolling around inside me - must be them turning! Love it.

Best moment this week? Realising those strange motions in my belly are in fact my babes moving!

Food cravings? None really except for Nik Naks. Have been a little nauseas again here and there - may be related to this strange lingering diarreah problem I am having.  Appetite not as strong as it has been.

What I miss? Wouldn't trade this for anything in the world no matter what is missed.

What I am looking forward to? Feeling real kicks. The 21 week anatomy scan (16 more sleeps). 26 Weeks when my Obgyn says she can help them if preterm. 36 weeks, when I get to meet them.

Milestones? 18 Weeks!

Emotions? Bouts of feeling very tearful.  Saw a woman who looked like my mum and started crying.  Worrying about my diarreah and it affecting my babies - starting crying. Setting up Scrabble - started crying - not sure why lol...

General... Really want this diarreah to go away now - getting really tired of it after more than 10 days now.  Have to drop off a stool sample to my GP (how dignified...NOT) to have cultured in case any lurgy bacterias there!  Very worrying. But he said he is only worried of I start dehydrating...so we must keep an eye on it.

18 Weeks Belly!

It will be 18 weeks tomorrow!
Finally...here is my first belly pic...

We are off on a R&R weekend away to Arniston...despite the rain, hoping for a relaxing weekend with no routine! Will post again next week...

Scan Day!

Went off to my Obgyn appointment looking so forward to seeing our babes and especially how much they have grown! Had a good chat with Dr H, who was being as ever practical as usual, but nice. She told me to see a GP about the loose stools issue (tmi I know but has been going on for a few weeks now) as I might have a virus and a GP must sort that out as pregnancy does not cause loose stools eeeeeeek!  My BP was perfect and urine showed no problem and no infection.

She also said the heavy feelings, tight pulls in vagina, uterus etc are all normal.  If it wasn't normal, I would know about it as it would get more intense and painful and would not be a great sign.  She said the only concern at this point is preterm labour before 26 weeks but there is nothing any Dr can do for this...so we hang in there and start monitoring more closely (cervix etc) from 26 weeks when they could be viable if born. Such reality...I will hold onto my positivity and keep strong that all goes well.  That my cervix is long and tight and my uterus strong to hold these babies in place until their due date.

The breathlessness is also normal - more blood to pump around and with twins it is more like 80 - 100% more! She also measured my uterus which is 2 fingers above my naval already (where it would be at 24 weeks pregnant with a singleton).

Then we saw them...gosh they have grown and their eyes are in front so looking more like babies! Hearts beating strong. They were lying face to face with their noses almost touching, she is on top and he is below. Saw his little willy again lol. Then she turned around with her back to us showing off her beautiful spine. They are both measuring about 13cm crown to rump and 16cm head to toe.

                                         Our Boy at the bottom looking up at his sister...

                                         Our girl's beautiful spine...

I am really looking forward to the anatomy scan now - another hour staring at these miracles...only 22 sleeps....

17 Weeks 3 days

Found this on a co-blogger's page (Tx :)) and thought it would be kinda fab to update each week with this...

How far along? 17 Weeks, 3 days.

Maternity clothes? Maternity pants, normal tops.

Symptoms: Achy uterus, headaches, heartburn, bloated feeling in the past few days, bladder issues.

Stretch marks? None yet...hopefully never!

Weight Gain: 8kg or so and counting

Sleep? Getting up twice to wee, tossing and turning from one side to the other

Best moment this week? Feeling positive.

Movement? Nothing really yet...but can't wait.

Food Cravings? Ate a whole tub of Haagen Daz Cookies and Cream! Cold water. Chips. Fruit.

What I miss? Leaping about...and this is sure to get worse if I am already shuffling around at 17 weeks lol.

What I'm looking forward to? Feeling them move.

Milestones: 17 Weeks and counting to 27 weeks...then 33 weeks...then 36 weeks...

Emotions: Been a bit snappy at work, but for reasons...A bit tearful but not a lot...not as emotional as I though one is supposed to be when pregnant, but maybe this gets more intense?

General: Looking forward to seeing our babes on Tuesday. Don't want to hear anymore negative stories about losing twins at 21 weeks due to cervix funnelling etc - going to chat to my Obgyn about checking my cervix etc...this just happened to another blogger and got me completely freaked out after I was doing so well being positive!!!

17 Weeks!

17 Weeks today!  And my Mexican Bola arrived. So I now have a tinkly silver ball hanging around my neck which plays soothing tinkly sounds to my babes as it bounces against my bump.  After birth, the sound apparently may soothe them. So sweet.

The email from Babycentre today says "You may be gaining weight rapidly at this point, even if you're not eating much. Experts say that the amount of weight you put on during pregnancy is dictated primarily by your genes, so don't necessarily blame yourself if the weight's accumulating faster than you'd like. Your baby's movements are felt as a gentle, fluttering sensation at first, but get stronger and more obvious as time passes. Some babies kick vigorously and often, others are quieter. And many seem most active at night"

I think my genes are seriously into weight because I think I have put on about 8kg since falling pregnant!!! There seem to be mixed views on this.  Some say 14kg max, others say twin pregnancies must put on more weight - at least 25kg. 

About the movement...can't really feel them yet.  Did feel a few popping, bubbly feelings but nothing for a while.  I even listened to them with the doppler this morning just to say hi and there they were, hearts beating strong. The next thing to look forward to is to start feeling them often...can't wait.

Next scan: Tuesday yeah!

Twins at 16 weeks...

Here's an update of how they look now...and growing....

"Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he is about the size of an avocado. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop." (http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-16-weeks_1105.bc)

I am really looking forward to the 20 week scan now...

Pops and Bubble

I have to start calling the twins something so I can start talking to them. We just listened to their heartbeats with the doppler and the nicknames came to me.  Our little girl is Pops and our little Boy is Bubble. DH found them straight away - the heartbeats were easy to find and so strong. Pops was louder and being girl-like lying still, but Bubble was whooshing about so we kept losing his beat...obviously doing somersaults in his fluid lol. I think we are getting closer to their actual names - two keep coming in strong, but we will wait until they are born to decide. We may change our minds and name them before...let's see what happens.

On Friday I had a great session with a light worker and we shifted a lot of my negative gunk and fear.  I feel so much lighter and from here on I choose positivity. I am living my dream. Now. I do not want to lose a minute of this magic. This may mean needing to stay off the forum (or some of the groups) for a while as any sad news or loss fuels my anxiety...so I don't need to be part of that right now - it is in my past.  This does not mean my heart isn't still sending love and light to all my IF'ers still on the journey - it is...so so much...just that I need to protect myself in my now so I can fully commit to the reality of having these babies.

I felt so emotional hearing them tonight. My special babes.