Pregnant with Twins (or more!): Spring/Summer 2013 - Page 3

[jessmn]

oh...my...gosh....how cute are they?! Thanks for sharing, they are so adorable. Makes me excited to see our little ones!
 

[Brambleberry]

Congrats, Rblakley!  Beautiful little girls!  And great photos.  I need to get some better pictures soon myself.

AFM - They're here!  I've been too busy to post much (imagine that!).  I've been checking in here regularly, but can't type very well with a babe in arms, so I've just been reading. 

They were born Tuesday night (at 38w 3d).  Eleanor Florence and Sylvia Ruth, 7 lbs 7 oz and 7 lbs 10 oz.  Sylvia (baby B) was starting to show signs of placenta aging (decels on her NST strip) on Tuesday morning, so we went home for lunch and went straight back to the hospital to have my water broken.  It didn't take anything more than that to get going.  It was an INTENSE labor and birth, Eleanor was posterior, but my doctor was able to manually turn her, and Sylvia had to be rotated internally as well (she was transverse and we were expecting this).  Sylvia started showing signs of distress (really elevated heart rate) and she got a little vacuum assist along with pitocin to rush her out (actually my doula said that the pitocin never made it down the tube before she was delivered).  But both came out with almost perfect apgars and nursed well from the start.  They're doing great.  I'm still feeling beat up, but recovering.  I'm planning on posting a birth story at some point - hopefully soon.

[yallcomeback]

Hi, I'm joining! Just found out yesterday at 20 week ultrasound that we're having twins!

You and maybe your partners age at the birth?  me, 26. Hubby, 34.


Are the babies Mono or Di or what combo of both?  Di-Di


What number of kids will is be for you? 3 & 4


Sexes? Will you be finding out?  boy & girl!


EDD and or planned birth timing?  EDD July 13

[jessmn]

It's cool to see so many new people joining, I kind of feel like an old timer now :) And wow I can't believe so many people find out at their 19/20 week ultrasound about twins! We found out so early. I can't even remember now why the midwife suspected, I think she felt my uterus was ahead and then maybe heard something when listening for the heartbeat at our very first appointment. So she brought out a portable machine and there they were!

I have a question about clothes. I am 30 weeks tomorrow and measuring about full term. My clothes are beginning not to fit. I don't want to wear anything baggy, but I can't find anything that fits in my arms and chest AND covers my belly. I don't want anything that drapes because I feel like it makes me look huge, and I have a small frame and a giant belly. Since I have a ways to go still, I'm kind of at a loss for what to wear. Any ideas? I was considering doing some alterations to regular shirts, I'm probably capable of it but I just haven't made or altered clothing before.

Also - is anyone doing chiro? I go to a chiro and I think it helps my back, but I'm a little concerned that babies are getting squished, especially when I lay on my side with my leg bent and he presses down to get at my lower back.
 

[Brambleberry]

Originally Posted by jessmn 
...

I have a question about clothes. I am 30 weeks tomorrow and measuring about full term. My clothes are beginning not to fit. I don't want to wear anything baggy, but I can't find anything that fits in my arms and chest AND covers my belly. I don't want anything that drapes because I feel like it makes me look huge, and I have a small frame and a giant belly. Since I have a ways to go still, I'm kind of at a loss for what to wear. Any ideas? I was considering doing some alterations to regular shirts, I'm probably capable of it but I just haven't made or altered clothing before.

Also - is anyone doing chiro? I go to a chiro and I think it helps my back, but I'm a little concerned that babies are getting squished, especially when I lay on my side with my leg bent and he presses down to get at my lower back.
 

I was more comfortable in pants that covered all/most of my belly, which made it possible to wear shirts that did not cover all the way.  I had one pair of XL maternity leggings that fit up to birth, a pair of XL yoga pants that made it to 36 weeks, and a pair of stretchy non-maternity "fat pants" that I wore around the house :P.  You might need to hem the cuffs.  Tunics or short dresses with empire waists worn over leggings also work.

I went to the chiro right up to the end for help with pelvic pain and baby positioning.  It helped a lot, but the adjustments didn't "hold" for more than a day or two the last couple times I went since my joints were so relaxed from the hormones.  I never felt like the babies were squished, but I did have one adjustment where he twisted me a bit to far and I had a little sore ligaments afterwards, but I mentioned that the next time I went and he was more conservative after that.  I would mention your concerns to him.

[sophigirl]

Congratulations, Brambleberry! The girls look so adorable. And I am so impressed with over-7-lb. birth weight! Blessings on you and your little ones.

[MarcyWolfPack]

Name? Marcy

You and maybe your partners age at the birth?  36 & my hubbie Jeff will be 38

Are the babies Mono or Di or what combo of both?  Di-Di

What number of kids will is be for you?  # 6 & 7

Sexes? Will you be finding out?  Baby A ~ Girl & Baby B ~ Boy!

EDD and or planned birth timing?  June 25th

State you live in?  Oregon

Anything else you want to share?   The twins were a complete, and wonderful surprise!  We have two boys ages 10 & 8, and three little girls, one who just turned 7, 4 and the youngest will be 2 in April.  

[aprilv]

I saw a website with clothes especially for moms having twins, you could google it. The choices were limited, but better than nothing!
Funnily, my sister had twins in December and gave me a bag of maternity clothes before I knew I was having twins too. I totally thought I would never need that huge stuff, haha...

[yallcomeback]

Originally Posted by jessmn 

It's cool to see so many new people joining, I kind of feel like an old timer now And wow I can't believe so many people find out at their 19/20 week ultrasound about twins! We found out so early. I can't even remember now why the midwife suspected, I think she felt my uterus was ahead and then maybe heard something when listening for the heartbeat at our very first appointment. So she brought out a portable machine and there they were!


I have a question about clothes. I am 30 weeks tomorrow and measuring about full term. My clothes are beginning not to fit. I don't want to wear anything baggy, but I can't find anything that fits in my arms and chest AND covers my belly. I don't want anything that drapes because I feel like it makes me look huge, and I have a small frame and a giant belly. Since I have a ways to go still, I'm kind of at a loss for what to wear. Any ideas? I was considering doing some alterations to regular shirts, I'm probably capable of it but I just haven't made or altered clothing before.

Also - is anyone doing chiro? I go to a chiro and I think it helps my back, but I'm a little concerned that babies are getting squished, especially when I lay on my side with my leg bent and he presses down to get at my lower back.

 

What about putting a skinny belt at the top of your drapy shirts? I find them much more flattering that way, and it shows off your "waist" (non existent with pregnanct of course lol) or smallest part.
I am a huge chiro fan. I've gone regularly for the past 3 years and now that I'm pregnant I'm going twice a week, to keep on top of things as my hips have been in bad shape since my last pregnancy.

[Quinalla]

Was on vacation Friday & Monday, but all caught up and updated to here!

Welcome rynkat, we are starting a big remodel on March 4th but it should be done before the twins arrive, even if they come early, they shouldn't be at the house before it is done! I told DH it had to be done before they come or it would have to wait probably a year at least! Twin birth stories worry me some too, but there are some great ones here as well. I'm really going to be pushing my OB (gently) to keep things as normal as possible at birth, but I know its going to be much harder than last time. Congrats on your girls As far as three carseats, we ended up deciding to get a minivan finally as we could fit 3 seats in our car, but it was going to be a PITA getting everyone in and out. Definitely check out the safety forum for carseat fit advice.

rblakely, your girls are beautiful, thanks for much for sharing pictures I'm really getting excited to have two tiny babies soon

Brambleberry, congratulations! I hope you feel better soon and your babies are adorable

yallcomeback, welcome and congrats on your boy & girl It can be overwhelming when you first find out!

Marcy, welcome and congrats on your surprise twins as well. It was a surprise for me too even though twins do run in my family, I never thought it would happen to me!

jessnm, can't wait to hear more about your multiples class. For clothes, I have been wearing pants/skirts that cover more of my belly and with a fabric panel that is the same color as the pants/skirt so I can cheat if the shirt isn't really covering the panel. I've also been wearing long tank tops & camis under shirts to extend their life too and I know some will use belly bands but personally those don't work for me! Once it warms up a bit, I'm going to switch to more dresses & leggings. I've also been purposely buying the longest shirts I can find all this pregnancy, there are longer ones out there especially in the "stretchy" material, but it helps that I wear L or XL already so those tend to be longer. I don't like really baggy stuff either, but if it cinches above the belly somehow, it looks pretty decent.

As I said, we were on vacation Friday & Monday and went and visits my parents and DH's parents and siblings and also stopped by my youngest brother's place too. It was a great trip and nice to get somewhere one last time before settling in for the rest of pregnancy! My Mom offered again to come whenever we need her and our plan is to call her as soon as I go into labor (assuming everything continues to look good and I get to do a spontaneous delivery) and she'll start driving and hopefully make it before I give birth (she's 5 hours away and I labor fast) so she can take over watching DD so DH & I can focus on the twins for the first few days. She'll come after that as needed and I assume it will be quite a bit of visiting from her as she is an awesome helper. Also found out FIL & MIL are going to come visit sometime in June once we are a bit settled in to see the twins MIL hasn't been traveling because of health, but FIL has been encouraging her and so they are going to make the trip so that's awesome because I don't know how soon we would go out to see them otherwise (they are 5 hours away as well).

I must have passed my GD test as I haven't heard anything, but I'll confirm tomorrow. One more thing checked off! Have a regular OB appointment tomorrow, MFM next week and then OB again the week after. So many appointments! Babies are kicking a lot more lately, they seem to be kicking each other sometimes too, it's nice to feel them so much but I could do without all the cervix kicks from Baby A our girl

[jessmn]

Originally Posted by Quinalla 

jessnm, can't wait to hear more about your multiples class. For clothes, I have been wearing pants/skirts that cover more of my belly and with a fabric panel that is the same color as the pants/skirt so I can cheat if the shirt isn't really covering the panel. I've also been wearing long tank tops & camis under shirts to extend their life too and I know some will use belly bands but personally those don't work for me! Once it warms up a bit, I'm going to switch to more dresses & leggings. I've also been purposely buying the longest shirts I can find all this pregnancy, there are longer ones out there especially in the "stretchy" material, but it helps that I wear L or XL already so those tend to be longer. I don't like really baggy stuff either, but if it cinches above the belly somehow, it looks pretty decent.

As I said, we were on vacation Friday & Monday and went and visits my parents and DH's parents and siblings and also stopped by my youngest brother's place too. It was a great trip and nice to get somewhere one last time before settling in for the rest of pregnancy! My Mom offered again to come whenever we need her and our plan is to call her as soon as I go into labor (assuming everything continues to look good and I get to do a spontaneous delivery) and she'll start driving and hopefully make it before I give birth (she's 5 hours away and I labor fast) so she can take over watching DD so DH & I can focus on the twins for the first few days. She'll come after that as needed and I assume it will be quite a bit of visiting from her as she is an awesome helper. Also found out FIL & MIL are going to come visit sometime in June once we are a bit settled in to see the twins MIL hasn't been traveling because of health, but FIL has been encouraging her and so they are going to make the trip so that's awesome because I don't know how soon we would go out to see them otherwise (they are 5 hours away as well).

I must have passed my GD test as I haven't heard anything, but I'll confirm tomorrow. One more thing checked off! Have a regular OB appointment tomorrow, MFM next week and then OB again the week after. So many appointments! Babies are kicking a lot more lately, they seem to be kicking each other sometimes too, it's nice to feel them so much but I could do without all the cervix kicks from Baby A our girl

The class has been good so far; first was introductions and overview, last class was about preterm labor. I really enjoy interacting with other couples who are having twins. And I guess a lot of them do little reunions after the babies are born. so fun!

I guess I need to look into maternity tank tops! I have one from Old Navy but it doesn't cover the bottom of my belly. I did start wearing my belly band again, it actually provides a little bit of support and I think it (hopefully) looks like a tank top. I just feel silly with whatever shirt I'm wearing kind of dangling over my belly and not completely tucking under. haha. I have a few empire waist dresses I could wear with jeans or leggings, I think. ah! I just don't want to look frumpy in the final weeks, especially being at work.

How nice you have such a supportive family especially when they are quite a ways away! 5 hours is a long drive.

Cervix kicks! I think my Baby A has flipped (I hope so at least!) because I haven't been getting those recently. I have a really hard time telling who is where, though.

[jessmn]

I wasn't sure where to post this, but I guess the twins group is probably appropriate.

After our preterm labor class last Thursday I left feeling knowledgeable and empowered. Every once in a while the last few weeks I could tell there were days where I overdid it and would have quite a few braxton hicks in the evening. I have also been feeling really off. My doctor's office called me yesterday, two weeks after my last appt, to tell me my blood draw from that appt showed I was anemic. I am pretty upset because I have been feeling all of these crazy symptoms and I could have started an iron supplement if they had called me right away. Also, anemia increases the risk of preterm labor according to the mayo clinic.

Sunday night and Monday I was feeling a lot of braxton hicks, and then yesterday I was standing at work (I had been sitting all day so I thought I was doing well!) and felt a really sharp pain lasting about 5 seconds in my cervix. It was paralyzing and definitely not a baby kick. Last night I had a ton of braxton hicks, my husband and I timed them and I had 6 in an hour for two hours, despite drinking three glasses of water and laying down. I called the hospital and they couldn't decide if I should come in, because my last cervix check two weeks ago had been perfect. The on-call doctor was supposed to call me back to ask more questions, and while waiting for them to call, we fell asleep and they never called! (it was after midnight). I woke up in the middle of the night upset that they hadn't called, but we decided to see about getting an appointment in the morning. Now I am waiting to go in at 11. Hopefully I'm just being paranoid, but I swear I have been feeling aches and pains that I haven't felt before, something maybe like menstrual cramps but not as severe, or pressure, and definitely intestinal discomfort. It's just so hard to know if this is a new ache or pain  as the weeks go by or if it's something to be concerned about. My husband went to work but I told my mom who is at work, and she told my dad, who works from home, and now they are insisting on driving me. I am going to be majorly embarrassed if this is nothing, which of course I hope it is! I keep telling the babies that they have to come in April. In fact I was just telling my husband the other day that in my mind, March isn't even an option, it doesn't exist. Babies are coming in April, I feel like I know this for certain.

Thanks for listening. I will update when I get back from my appointment, hopefully with very boring news.

[mrsandmrs]

jess - thinking of you. fx that your appointment is very boring. 

[sophigirl]

Jess - praying for you and the babies! 

[AngelBee]

Jess....sending prayers.

[Quinalla]

Glad you are going in Jess, I hope it turns out to be nothing, but it is good that you are trusting your instincts! Don't be embarrassed if it turns out to be nothing, I would definitely be getting an appointment with those symptoms and even with one pregnancy under my belt, sometimes I still am questioning things. I'm so sorry they didn't call you back until so late about the anemia, I would have been upset too.

[jessmn]

Thank you everyone! It sounds like everything is okay - babies looked good (although A is breech, grrr). The babies are so big - 93rd and 86th percentiles - and I am measuring 37 weeks (I am 30) that the OB thinks my body is going to be having more braxton hicks than I might otherwise be having with a singleton or twins of a smaller size. He predicted they would come around 36 or 37 weeks. I have a non-stress test scheduled for Thursday (I guess this clears up what kinds of contractions they are?) and I will have one of those weekly from here on out as well as something involving amniotic fluid (this is why I normally have my husband with me - to take notes and ask things I'm forgetting!). Otherwise I just have to take it easy, I haven't been having 6 an hour but I've been having a couple an hour since. He didn't do any tests while I was there, so I guess he wasn't too concerned. He did make me feel better about coming in, though, saying that it's hard to figure out what your body is telling you, and it's even hard for him to tell just based on descriptions, so it sounds like the NST Thursday will be more informative.

About the anemia, apparently they lost some staff recently so they are behind on notifying patients. I made sure to tell them that wasn't acceptable!

[Quinalla]

Glad things checked ok and that your doctor was good about you wanting to come in. Good for you for growing your babies so well

For tanks tops, I've found JcPenney, Motherhood & Target all have longer ones.

[~Adorkable~]

Originally Posted by jessmn 

I have a question about clothes. I am 30 weeks tomorrow and measuring about full term. My clothes are beginning not to fit. I don't want to wear anything baggy, but I can't find anything that fits in my arms and chest AND covers my belly. I don't want anything that drapes because I feel like it makes me look huge, and I have a small frame and a giant belly. Since I have a ways to go still, I'm kind of at a loss for what to wear. Any ideas? I was considering doing some alterations to regular shirts, I'm probably capable of it but I just haven't made or altered clothing before.

i was really happy in form fitting stretchy things and had a number of long sleeve shirts that were ruched on the sides and covered my big belly curves beautifully. two of them was not even a preggo shirt,  they were just CRAZY stretchy. one was from a outdoor outfitters and was pretty strong stretch, it felt great to have it on cause it acted as just a light compression.  

i would look for shirts made of things with lycra in them, i felt soooo frumpy and horrible any time i wore loose things, but felt like a powerhouse in my sleek stuff.  i dont know how big you are, but i did feel like i was small for twins, though if i remember i was measuring full term about the same time you were. i started out weighing 171 at 5'7" and gained 31 pounds so was 202 when i went into labor at 36w

i also loved loved loved a few shirts i got from http://lilacclothing.com and i still wear all but one of them 2 years later and they good great on a 155 pound me. super soft, i could have been had 4 babies in there and they still would have fit. not the most durable fabric, they did pill up a bit, but worth it. i got them thru BabySteals.com where the brand comes up often. i think there still may a few thing in their archive. its a good place to look thru for sales you missed.  my favorite top i have of theirs is called Taylor.  another brand that is just luscious is Milkstars, i have my very very favorite nursing T from them, i think they make maternity stuff too.

[jessmn]

Originally Posted by ~Adorkable~ 

i was really happy in form fitting stretchy things and had a number of long sleeve shirts that were ruched on the sides and covered my big belly curves beautifully. two of them was not even a preggo shirt,  they were just CRAZY stretchy. one was from a outdoor outfitters and was pretty strong stretch, it felt great to have it on cause it acted as just a light compression.  

i would look for shirts made of things with lycra in them, i felt soooo frumpy and horrible any time i wore loose things, but felt like a powerhouse in my sleek stuff.  i dont know how big you are, but i did feel like i was small for twins, though if i remember i was measuring full term about the same time you were. i started out weighing 171 at 5'7" and gained 31 pounds so was 202 when i went into labor at 36w

i also loved loved loved a few shirts i got from http://lilacclothing.com and i still wear all but one of them 2 years later and they good great on a 155 pound me. super soft, i could have been had 4 babies in there and they still would have fit. not the most durable fabric, they did pill up a bit, but worth it. i got them thru BabySteals.com where the brand comes up often. i think there still may a few thing in their archive. its a good place to look thru for sales you missed.  my favorite top i have of theirs is called Taylor.  another brand that is just luscious is Milkstars, i have my very very favorite nursing T from them, i think they make maternity stuff too.

Awesome advice and resources, thank you! Yeah I really like wearing ruched sided tank tops, too, unfortunately even in a size up they are barely covering the underside of my belly. Maybe it has to do with the shape of my belly, everyone tells me I'm sticking straight out. I'm 5'3" and have gained 40lbs at almost 31 weeks so now I'm 159lbs. I'll check out those websites! I also saw an email today from Old Navy and they have some longer tunics on sale. Those might work, I just don't like drapey but I might have to do it.