This week we had another ultrasound.

The babies are both head down. There they were facing each other ‘kissing’ as the technician said. Very cute, but as a seasoned mother my first thought was, “that won’t last.”.

They both measured at 2 pounds and 12 ounces, both in the 75%. I’m wondering if I spoke too soon about them not being identical?

Now I understand why I feel a lot of rolling sensation over my bladder and more of the jerky, kicking close to my ribs. I’ve also started to feel some hiccuping close to my butt.

I weighed in at 162 pounds, which puts me at a 42 pound weight gain.

I see my ob/gyn again in two weeks then starting at week 32, because they are twins, I have an hour long check up weekly at the hospital. Dr Katz told me I would hate her by the end of it. I can’t wait.

She also went over acceptable dates to have the twin. Anywhere from April 28th until the due date, May 18th is a good range. So I just have to keep them in a minimum of 10 weeks. Seems like a long time considering how big I am, but at the same time I can’t believe it will all be over in a short few months!

Seems like natural births and home births are experiencing a bit of a renaissance.

I know so many people who have opted for the drug free option. Jessica, Heather, Michelle, Becca, Tracey, Margie, Laura, Chrissy and probably more that I can’t think of right now. And some of these babies were over 9 pounds!

Can I push this out drug free?

For my first pregnancy, I really wanted to have a drug free birth. At my friend Jennie’s suggestion, I read Hypno Birthing and listened to the CD every day. I was in labor for a long time with Jack. After 22 hours, I was in a state of extreme pain followed by the extreme high endorphins produce. Over and over again. Every time they came into to check on me, I wasn’t dilating any more – stuck at 7cm, yet the pain was intensifying every minute. Finally I looked at Adam in desperation. He said, “I think you are focusing too much on the wedding when it’s really about the marriage. Do you know what I mean?”

That’s all I needed to get the epidural. Ah, I can still remember the relief.

After 28 hours of labor PLUS 2 hours of pushing, I ended up with a cesarean. The heart rate was fine but he wasn’t budging. My doctor said I could push for another 2 hours but in her medical opinion, he wasn’t coming out.

I signed the papers and in 15 minutes Jack was born. It was so easy. I wanted a cesarean the next time!

So I scheduled one with Ben. But when I got to the hospital, I was 7cm dilated and he came out the regular way. Without any preparations for natural childbirth, I asked for the epidural immediately to relieve the pain. Ten minutes after I got it, I started pushing. It took over 2 hours of pushing but he came out like Superman, with one arm next to his head.

So, with this pregnancy and the trend of going naturally all around me, I can’t help but think – this is my last chance to go for it.

Given that they are twins, they will probably be smaller and easier to push out than the last two, right?

But given my history there is no way I will get to give birth in a tub at home.

Anyway, something to think about. In the end, I’ll probably chicken out.

And by the way, I got the ultrasound date wrong. It’s next week.

As I reach the cusp of my third trimester, I’m starting to notice things are changing.

The soft baby flutters in my stomach have turned to almost aggressive punches. And one of the babies has found the same painful spot where Ben used to stick his head. Above and to the right of my belly button this new baby will wedge in, leaving a sharp pain any time I move.

If I don’t make it to the bathroom the minute I feel the urge to go, I might not make it. I can’t tell you how often I find myself hunched over and running to the toilet.

Pregnancy waddle is in full effect.

Every couple of nights I’ll pull my shirt up in the bathroom as Adam and I get ready for bed and he’ll give me an appreciative, “Wow, that’s impressive.”

I think this week the babies are going through another growth spurt because I’m hungry all the time. Luckily I haven’t reached the stage that some woman with twins tell me about, where the babies take up so much room that they squish your stomach and you can’t eat. I’m still eating lots of everything, especially the naughty stuff. In fact I was embarrassed to see the first four things on my shopping list this week were 1. Whipped Cream, 2. Oreos (double stuff of course!), 3. Butterscotch Pudding, and 4. Silk Chocolate Soy Milk.

I guess I’d better enjoy it. After this I’ll have to watch what I eat for the rest of my life!

Next week we have another ultrasound. I’ll let you know how it goes…

This week I had another appointment with my Ob/Gyn as well as the Glucose test.

I’ve never had a problem with the this particular test in the past, but I had a friend over the other day who did and she told me the way you eat the day before really effects things. She said she ate cinnamon the day before to lower her blood sugar and was sure it helped her results.

Since my last pregnancy, they have changed the Glucose test. They used to give you the syrup to drink before you came in, then took your blood when you got there. You had to fast for 12 hours before taking the test.

This time you still had to fast for 12 hours but instead of imbibing at home, you go to the doctor’s office and get your blood taken, then drink the Glucose, then wait an hour and get your blood taken, then wait another hour and get your blood taken again.

It’s a much stricter test and it requires you to either 1. leave your other kids at home 2. get someone to watch them or 3. entertain them for 3 hours in a waiting room. Thanks Adam, it was much nicer to read my book and watch the other mothers with their screaming kids than have a screaming kid of my own to chase after!

The doctor checked my weight, which was 157 pounds, so I’ve now gained around 37 pounds. My heart rate is still good at 102/66 and the babies heart rates came in at 134 bpm and 147 bpm, also good.

I’ll let you know how the Glucose results came out as soon as I hear.

Finally, I was also scheduled for another ultrasound, called a ‘growth’ ultrasound in two weeks. I’m looking forward to seeing the babies again.

I can’t believe how quickly this pregnancy is happening. Already I’m starting to get upset that it’s all going to be over too soon. Unlike any other pregnancy, I KNOW FOR SURE that this will be my last pregnancy.

Like a told a friend of mine the other day, I kind of like being pregnant. (Although I do remember thinking “I will never get pregnant again” a short two months ago).

Eating whatever I want is so much fun. Unlike normal times I don’t push myself to get things done and I don’t feel guilty at all. And I love how woman, complete strangers, will talk to you intimately about their kids, pregnancy and twin stories. It makes me feel like we are all part of a secret club together. They will tell me how difficult and hard it was, but the smile on their face betrays something else. It says – it was the best time of my life as well. Birth is sloppy, risky, and exhausting but it’s exhilarating as well.

I love the feeling of anticipation, the part where we are now. How will this science experiment, this mixing of our genes turn out this time?

Anyway, enough drivel. Here is another belly comparison for you…

Seven Months Pregnant with Ben

Five Months Pregnant with Twins

Hanging with the Biddies

Seems like everything in this pregnancy is exaggerated. Everything is bigger, sweatier, more emotional, and more exhausting. I’m still waiting for my 2nd trimester where I’m not tired anymore! Shouldn’t it be here by now?

I guess some other signs I’m in my second trimester have surfaced, like I’ve been slowly cleaning and organizing every bit of our house. Nesting, they call it.

Perhaps the reason I’m still tired well into the 2nd trimester is because I’m so huge that just carrying myself around all day leaves me worn out by 7pm. Lately even walking up the stairs too fast can cause me to want to throw up from over exertion.

If that little amount of effort can effect me, it means that most things I love to do at the gym are now off limits. Lifting weights, my favorite yoga class which leaves me feeling like I’ve been wrung out like a wet rag, or the elliptical (45 minutes of sweat and TV watching combined – a multi-tasker’s dream).

So, I’ve started a weekly morning water workout class at my gym. I’m the youngest person there by at least 25 years, but I’m panting away like the rest of them. Every time I go to this class I think, I can’t wait to be old so I can take this class without looking like a freak! It’s just one of the many reasons why my husband always says I would make an excellent old person. Water workouts, my want for a huge Cadillac and my closet obsession with country music will all fit together nicely at that point.

I think at this point I’m fully aware that we are going to have FOUR kids. We are duly preparing for it by gathering baby stuff, setting up the nursery, looking at minivans, bunking the older boys, going to all the right doctor’s visits. We have hired a summer helper. I’m starting to get excited about the next challenge I’m going to face.

However, I’m not sure I’ve really got my head fully around it all. A few weeks ago, after the 20 week ultrasound showed how different the babies looked, Adam said, “Maybe it will be a girl and a boy.”.

I replied, “Ugh, girl and boy! That would be the worst! The whole benefit of twins is one drop off instead of two! If we have different sex they will have different activities.”

So Adam said next, “Maybe it will be two girls. Then you will finally get your girls.”

I replied, “Ugh, two girls! All those female drama hormones doubled! Forget it!”

So, what was left but for Adam to say, “Maybe it will be two boys?”

Me, “Four boys! Are you crazy! I’ll be bruised forever!”

Finally Adam sat me down and looked me in the eye and said, “You realize one of these three scenarios is going to happen, right?”

Hmph. I guess I haven’t really thought it through! Right now it’s just a haze in my mind. A haze with Jack, Ben and two other blobs swirling around. And Adam!

In truth, I don’t care what the sex is. As long as they are healthy it will be great. And no matter what the sex of the twins are, I’m the kind of person that eventually feels no matter what the result, I’m lucky that it turned out that way. I guess I should start thinking of those positive reasons now, eh?

I did get a comment I liked from a Dad in the park the other day. In his East End accent he said, “If it’s two boys, no one is going to mess with them in school, are they?”

Now that’s a plus!

Belly Shot 21 Weeks

This week I saw my Ob/Gyn again.

I weighed in at 152 pounds, so I’m up about 32 pounds. For some reason it looks like more, based on my last two pregnancies – see my Belly Comparison. The clothes I wore when I was 8 months pregnant don’t fit at all. But I hate the thought of spending money on clothes that I will only wear for a few months. In the end, Adam eyed my last two ill fitting outfits and marched me to the fancy maternity store and spoiled me with a new wardrobe. I tried to buy everything tent like. Hopefully it will cover me until the end of the pregnancy.

People keep asking me if it’s a girl or a boy in there. I love to see the reaction when they find out it could be both! Then they realize I’m carting around 2 other kids! I should start counting the times I’ve heard, “Good Luck” and “Oh My God” when these sort of conversations occur. It’s a lot.

I’m also starting to gather a lot of very odd and funny comments about twins and pregnancy. For example, one woman at Whole Foods the other day said, “I gave birth to a 10 pound, 5 ounce baby so I know what that feels like.”

Two Heads are Better than One

This afternoon Bubbie graciously babysat the two kids I already gave birth to so Adam and I could go see two kids I have yet to give birth to.

Today was the big 20 week ultrasound. And this is a picture of the two babies. You are looking at the top of their heads.

Our most important discovery was the fact that the babies look great and are developing normally.

We also found out some other interesting things…

The ultrasound technician pointed out that our twins had a Lambda sign, a triangular shape where the membranes meet the two placentas. She said it was normally a sign of fraternal (not identical) twins.

Another thing that makes me thing they are fraternal is that the twins are already showing their individuality. Twin A (AKA the one closest to the exit) is in the 75% for it’s size. Twin B is in the 50%.

Twin B

Twin A had long, narrow feet reminiscent of our first born. Twin B’s feet were shorter and fatter.

Twin A was hiding by the time the technician was very nicely taking the 3D scans for us for free. But here is the 3D image of Twin B…