July Multiples Mamas - Page 3

[AmyC]

Oh, Karen, I wish the iron weren't messing you up more. Would it be possible to take a break from it? Or try something different? Are you already using Flora(dil? dix? I suddenly am drawing a blank. You know, the one you always hear recommended on the MDC boards!) If not, maybe switching to the drops will help. I hear they are easier on the system, better absorbed, and more bioavailable in general (so they work better, anyway.) But if that's what you're doing already, I guess that's not going to help.

I hope you can get the eating thing together. I find that if I am not basically focused on the kitchen, on gearing up for every snack & meal at 1.5 hour intervals all day long or something, I lag behind and do poorly. I sometimes make it up a little later in the day but I'm sure this isn't the way to do it. (Case in point: since getting home from my appointment today, I've had two quesadillas with cheese & avocado & sour cream, a bowl of miso soup with tofu, another bowl of miso & udon noodles with tofu, and half a grapefruit. On the way home I ate an apple and about 3 oz of cheddar cheese.) I've been eating non-stop, no breaks between, and I feel ravenous. All good, I guess. But I did terribly this morning, mostly because I was distracted and absorbed by being online and having my daughter around the house and just feeling busy since we were going to be heading out. That's not the way to function well.

I hope we can encourage each other to take the time and do better. I know you've encouraged me in the past. I am trying to figure out what other foods I can fix for dinners....my family isn't going to deal well for much longer with the steady alteration of chicken stir fry with rice, and quesadillas, every other night! Tonight it's a beef stew, but I have no idea if it's going to "fly" with me....

[ketilave]

I meant to post this earlier - I do zofran too and I hear you on the constipation not to mention headaches! Last pregnancy I tried to control MS with homeopathy but it really didn't do the trick. Have you tried liquid chlorophyll, may be similar to floradix, mine tastes like mint and makes my water green but other than that I can keep it down. Also, pregnancy tea (nettles) will help. Another good thing for iron when you can't keep meals down is to make a trail mix - sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, pistachio nuts, dried peaches, cashews, pineapple, almonds, raisins and coconut.
I lost 15-20 lbs and have gained back about 3. I take a gummi vit (only one I can keep down), children's omega 3 and b6/b12/folic acid quick dissolve. I can only eat/drink cold things. I blend my pregnancy tea a hibiscus tea (vit c is good for keeping your waters intact) and sweeten with a local wildflower honey. That's my key nutritional intake.

[MollyKenzie]

Hi all,

I too have just sort of checked out of being on the computer for awhile, I think I needed a break from my Preg. after a Loss group. There are a lot of women who have twin lossess and my crazy brain has just been running with it. I get soooo scared that these little ones are going to be okay. Anyway, that being said, I think all is okay. I have been having a lot of movement and look huge!!! At our last u/s, about 5 weeks ago they were 9oz and 10oz, so I think doing good on the size part of things. I wonder how big they are now?

Amy, I'm sorry I havent posted earlier, it sounds like you were have a rough time with the switch over in providers, but at least you got the us, and everything seems to look good. I wouldnt worry about the size difference too much yet. Right now, you can just focus on eating the best you can, and having people around you that can help support you. Wait to worry until there is something to worry about (a lot easier said than done, I KNOW!)

How is everyone feeling? This pregnancy has been pretty hard for me. Lots of Braxton Hicks, especially if I dont get enough sleep, and lots of sickness. I have had the stomach flu, two colds and now a sinus infection. But I just started taking antibiotics for the sinus infection and am already starting to feel better. I think I'm also just feeling so big and tired and heavy all the time! I truly dont know how I'm going to make it through another three/four months of this. My due date is the 8th, but aughhh, I hope I go a little early .

Anyway, I'm going to sleep now. I wanted to be asleep an hour ago, but got sucked into computer land.

[4Marmalade]

Hi everyone, here goes my long-winded update. I have been having trouble sleeping. I've always been a side sleeper but I guess the extra weight is really putting pressure on my hips. I am constantly switching sides and my hips get so sore. And if I stretch my legs out I have to be really careful about the way I do it so I don't get leg cramps.

I'm feeling pretty big lately and very out of breath. I can barely read my dc's a story as I run out of breath before I'm done one tiny sentence! Eating at the table is hard because I'm more hunched over and it feels like there is absolutely no room in there. I think I've gained about 29lbs so far. But it's all belly so it gets in the way. And my belly button!!!! So sore and tender lately. It hurts to just run my hand over it.

Tons of movement! I think if I didn't know I was having twins I would really be wondering by now. I'll feel one way up on my right side and then the other one kicks me in the bladder at the same time. We have tall genes in the family but I think that would be a bit ridiculous .

We had a great weekend. We shopped for a new to us van and actually purchased one and brought it home. I was so proud of my kids. We had to drive 2-1/2 hours to the city to drive around to a few different locations. Then we usually sat in the car while dh did the talking, test-driving, etc... We got out a few times but overall the kids were in the car from about 7:30am until 3pm!! I just packed a cooler full of food, lots of books and aside fomr a few tiny outbursts we all did great. The reward (other than getting the van) was spending the next day at the science centre which had a great kids section. After 4 hours there we picked up our new van and drove home. I was sooooo tired.

AmyC - I'm not sure about the Floravit. I was taking that twice a day which was giving me about 180mg of iron plus some B vitamins. But my OB recommends 600mg of iron and advised me of a kind that would be easier on my stomach. I wasn't sure about just upping the floravit because I wasn't sure about increasing the B vitamins. My OB said 95% of women carrying twins become anemic. Not sure if that's accurate. I'm hoping to see the bloodwork results next time I get it done and see if it would be possible to lower my iron intake. I doubt I will be much inspiration in the dinner department. I rarely make dinner anymore (worst time of the day for me). Dh does after coming home from work. But our diet lately is so disappointing. We are normally pretty whole foods, healthy vegetarian eating so it's hard to see my kids sit down to a dinner of cream of wheat and strawberries. Could be worse but not something I'm particularly proud of .

ketilave - Sorry you've been feeling yucky too. My last midwife appointment she talked to me about adding gravol to my routine but I don't want to be taking that every 4 hours for the rest of my pregnancy. I think I've just reached the point where I just want to get through this and get it over with - kwim? Not a very positive outlook but I figure I've done 4 months of nausea I can do another 3-4. Only 3 more days until your ultrasound! Exciting!!

MollyKenzie - I'm glad the antibiotics are working. I hope you feel better soon and stay healthy. I haven't really been enjoying this pregnancy much either. I am counting down way more than I ever did for my last two pregnancies. So sick of the nausea. I figure about 3-1/2 months to go . Some days it seems so far away.

Have a great day ladies! Keep posting and keep this thread alive .

[AmyC]

Glad to see some twin moms posting! I know it's hard. I can relate to a lot of what's been written.

The shortness of breath....oh my goodness. And just squatting last night (sort of on the late side--I played in a late-afternoon orchestra concert then had to go grocery shopping, and I just couldn't get right to making dinner when I got in the door, so it was after 8 p.m. when I STARTED cooking!) at the refrigerator to get bok choy & ginger out of the bottom drawer....I think it being late in the day amplified the discomfort, but after squatting (can't just bend over) to get out some mixing bowls from a bottom shelf, I was not only grunting but crying out with the effort. It didn't feel "wrong" in the emergency/something's wrong sense, but it definitely didn't feel comfy or "right." If you know what I mean.

Soooo much pelvic pressure, and just an ache deep inside the vagina. I've been feeling that for awhile (since they both turned vertex?) and was wondering about my cervix, but it looked great on the transvag ultrasound last week (which was even after I'd been having this feeling and wondered if it meant "things" were happening prematurely), so that helps me not to worry.

But whoo. I get out of breath easily, over big and small things. ("Big" meaning carrying an armful laundry, or walking upstairs and then back down. "Small" meaning walking across the room and attempting to talk to my husband. And having to stop to catch my breath, gasping a little!)

I still can eat a decent quantity at meal/snack times, but it takes awhile for me to get through a plate of food. I have added ice cream to my "okay" list and I stir in two tablespoons of peanut butter (not really "me" but it works for now, while I'm pregnant.)

My big news is that I actually ate a steak last week (!!!) and then I made a beef stir fry (instead of chicken) and was able to eat the leftovers of it (including 5 oz. of beef strips) for breakfast the next day. And I ate a 3-egg broccoli & cheese omelet yesterday! (This is big news because beef hasn't appealed to me at all, up to 20 weeks. And I have eaten eggs but it's been a real struggle. And dairy leaves me with the worst aftertaste, as do baked goods and sweets.) I even ate a thick tuna sandwich (the first bread I've really tolerated in months--I know, weird. Who feels sick at the thought of toast?! But I did!) the other day.

I am hoping that I can do well with the "bigger bang" protein foods like this through to 24 weeks, as I think the twins have a big growth spurt around this time. It feels good to be able to "support" that, more, with the calories & the grams of protein. Anyway, it looks like (from the diagrams in the Barbara Luke book) the head circumference nearly doubles between 20 and 24 weeks, and grows more steadily but less dramatically in all the other 4-week intervals. I have felt the skin stretch, too.

I'm up to about 165 lbs, now. (Still not sure where to start counting from, though.)

Before pregnancy, I was overweight for my size (even though I pretty much hid it well and most people didn't think of me as "overweight.") Even back when I weighed 132, people would be amazed to hear it. They thought I looked like I was about 120. I think I have a heavy-ish frame, in terms of weight of bone & muscle, and I look lighter than I am.... (My husband has a very slight frame and I think his actual skeleton is lighter than mine, even though he has over 6 inches more height than I do.)

But anyway, at one point either in early pregnancy or just before, I actually weighed 162. At my last appointment (I had a physical about 3 weeks before becoming pregnant) I think they clocked me at 155 and I was surprised because I knew I'd tipped just over 160, and I was a little freaked. (In that appointment, I told my doctor about my ambivalence about TTC because I felt so heavy and out of shape, and unhealthy.) My plan was to get it together and maybe start trying in the spring....then we boom got pregnant in a matter of days! Obviously, not trying. Then boom...it's twins! I was kind of depressed.

In very early pregnancy I was eating ravenously but not really gaining (I thought it was because my choices were healthier, and I thought it was a good thing, considering where I was starting--around 160/162) and then when morning sickness hit, I eventually got into a hyperemisis cycle and dropped pounds drastically and fast. By the time I was starting to eat again, with more "normal" nausea, I was starting out at 142. That's actually still heavy-ish for my size, in general....I started my last pregnancy at about 132 or 135.

Anyway, I still don't know where to start my count, but I have been counting from 142 and I know all the weight gain from 142 to 165 has been on healthy stuff. People say I'm "all belly" but I know I've put on the weight other places, too. (I measured my hips & chest for some clothing sizes a few weeks ago, and my hips are an inch larger now!) I still think it's all good...it probably will be that much harder to eat a lot six or eight weeks from now, not to mention the stores needed for breastfeeding. I am not stressed at the prospect of gaining inches/padding or pounds at all!!!

I met with my OB for the first time last week. Talked a lot about birth protocol. Will have to update on that later.

Sending healthy vibes to my fellow multiples moms! I know that feeling sick and run down is a real drag & drain...hope you're feeling better very soon, MollyKenzie. You have been through it!!

[4Marmalade]

Originally Posted by AmyC

.People say I'm "all belly" but I know I've put on the weight other places, too. (I measured my hips & chest for some clothing sizes a few weeks ago, and my hips are an inch larger now!) I still think it's all good...it probably will be that much harder to eat a lot six or eight weeks from now, not to mention the stores needed for breastfeeding. I am not stressed at the prospect of gaining inches/padding or pounds at all!!!

I know my hips are wider too but I don't think it's extra weight. My hips widened at 9-10 weeks even before I put on any weight. I think they were just figuring "Ok...let's start getting ready to birth these babies" .

I'm also not stressed about putting on weight. I am trying really hard to follow Dr. Luke's guidelines on weight gain only because it feels like the one thing I can try to do right. My diet has been all over the place lately because I have such a hard time preparing anything to eat that I feel like if I can at least stay close to the goals outlined in the book it will help. I have a tall, slender build and have never put on weight easily so even if I'm a bit below the goals I will feel OK. Plus at the 20 week ultrasound both babies were about the 50th percentile (according to Dr. Luke). I will be interested to see what they weigh in at when I go for another ultrasound at 28 weeks.

[MollyKenzie]

Its so nice to see that I am not alone in this twins thing!! It seems like the time when everyone else is having their "dream" period, I am getting d.o.n.e.

Just to add my two cents into the weight thing, I started out on the heavy side, I have always been too big, but I have been really trying not to worry about that this pregnancy and just focus on nutrition. I know the Luke book talks a lot about weight gain, but I figure if I can eat fairly close to her protein guidelines (which seem the most important) then I'm not going to worry if I dont get in all the calories she recommends. At my 19 week us, the babies were 9oz and 10oz, which everyone said was good. I should check the book to see.

On other news, I called in sick today because my midwife recommended that I lay low. I have been having so many bh contractions and this morning woke up with lots of cramping. I dont think its early labor, either a bladder infection (which I thought the antibioticts wouuld have taken care of by now) or just overdoing it. I walked/excercised way too much yesterday. I have been finding it really hard to find a spiritual center around being preg. with these guys. I really think that if I could just get to a place where I was more calm, not so freaked out about weather they were going to be okay etc, then I wouldnt be having so many problems and worries.

Anyone else feeling that way? I think they were just such a shock at first, and then trying not to worry about their health/birth and the money after they are born....well, I guess its no wonder I'm not feeling very serene :

Thanks for posting everyone! I love keeping this thread up!

[4Marmalade]

MollyKenzie Sorry you're feeling so bad. I read your post in the multiples forum too but wasn't sure what to say. I know that I have been feeling crampy once in a while too but I think mine is related to the iron supplements. I get crampy feeling and then shortly afterwards I do go to the bathroom. I do have to take it really easy though and that surprises me. I think you said you were 24 weeks? I am today too! This morning walking ds to the bus stop I felt so out of breath and weak. I got home and had to lie down right away as I was feeling very out of breath and light headed. It freaks me out. I think part of the reason I am having such a hard time now is just all the inactivity over the past 4-5 months. Being so sick and winter time has definitely limited me in what I can do and feel like doing. Now, I think my body is just shot and I won't be able to be more active until after these babies arrive.

I hope you take it easy today and feel better. Try not to worry about the babies. You are doing what you can to ensure their safe arrival. Although I am guilty of the same worries (especially at night when I can't sleep).

[~Megan~]

Not a multiple mama, at least I don't think so

But I did start Floradix yesterday. It tastes terrible! I'm sure it will help me though. Another good way to get in vitamins is to drink Emergen-C. I can tolerate that a lot better than pill vitamins.

Though I'm no longer nauseated, at least not all day sickness like the first trimester, I am still having trouble with food myself. I just eat whatever sounds good and try to eat all day long. Some food is better than none, right?!

I can't imagine what its like to grow more than one at a time!

[4Marmalade]

Hey AmyC, I just read your reply to Jen regarding her loss. So sad . But I needed to post here to tell you that I have been experiencing the same thing with regards to twin B here too. I was feeling so much movement all over before and now movement has been mostly on the right side again. But it's lower than normal so I'm hoping maybe both babies just moved positions and are transverse or something. I will be relieved to hear the heartbeats on Tuesday when I have my midwife appointment. I am sure your babies are fine and you get some sense of relief soon.

It is so hard to see the posts about loss and early labour. I keep checking in today and hoping everything is going well for Kourtiney.

[AmyC]

Originally Posted by Mama to one

It is so hard to see the posts about loss and early labour. I keep checking in today and hoping everything is going well for Kourtiney.

I completely agree...it is so hard. I think it's hard for everyone, because we're all gestating (together) and carry that vulnerability. And empathy comes so easily.

I was thinking maybe Twin B was transverse, and I did feel a relative lot of movement on the right side yesterday when he (Twin B) was keeping an "uncharacteristically" low profile, but this morning I took a minute and talked to him and asked for him to move for me a bit. I felt two definite movements over on his side almost immediately after that....still nothing huge, but definite. They seemed kind of low-ish, so maybe not feet? Or has he flipped? Or maybe he's slid down into "A" position and is the one in the pelvis closest to the cervix?

Somehow, I doubt all of that (I think they are in roughly the same position, as far as proximity to cervix, and most likely both vertex) but no matter what, I am not really anxious in a big way. It was unsettling to realize I wasn't feeling anything, though.

I don't have an appointment until April, which feels long to wait, but I have a hunch that if I really were anxious or had some kind of intuition that something had gone wrong, they'd pull me in (even just to check heartbeats.) I don't know, and I've only had 2 appointments there so it's not like I know the practice for certain....but it just feels likely that they'd be open to putting my mind at ease.

[AmyC]

On another note, after a short plateau period on the weight gain front, I seem to be growing again. And also gaining. I had been having "good" days where I'd end the day pretty heavy, but then I'd be less stellar and the scale would show me backtracking a bit. And no matter what, I seemed to start the mornings at 162, sometimes not bumping up too much throughout the day, either.

(I think how well I do with my water intake has something to do with that.)

But at least two distinct times in the last couple of weeks, I could feel the growth. And with this most recent "spurt" (yesterday), I've gotten pretty uncomfortable. And now I'm starting my mornings at 165 or 166 and going up from there during the day. It feels good.

I was in a lot of pain (skin stretching/pulling discomfort) last night and I was convinced I was growing. I had measured my belly diameter (I know this isn't official) on Sunday the 16th, so I measured again last night on the 22nd and was 2 1/4" bigger. I don't know if that's a lot.

I was wondering if anyone FEELS the growth and the hard, uncomfortable pulling of the skin. I feel it especially at the top of my belly.

I've been downing 3-egg broccoli & cheese omelets through this, and made some chicken yellow curry tonight.

Heartburn (not related to diet, I don't think) is bugging me, and I had a bad day (woke up feeling the old nausea and then ended up puking) on Friday. Again, woke up feeling sick & gagging & retching this morning. Ugh. What IS this? I am not sick with anything....it's just the same-old, but I wasn't expecting two episodes so close together after they'd been getting further and further apart.

And I confirmed today that I do have a hemorrhoid. I think it's the one I got from pushing out my daughter, last time. I never was constipated in that pregnancy and I haven't struggled with it in this one, especially since I've been eating again and keeping things down and taking in lots of fiber....brown rice, veggies... But there's a tremendous amount of pressure on the pelvic floor and I think it makes me vulnerable.

Did a sitz bath with warm water & witch hazel tonight and am feeling some relief.

I am 22 weeks, 2 days, and am feeling the back pain, heartburn/reflux, aching hips (when I've been lying down), vaginal ache, pelvic pressure, pelvic pain, hemorrhoid, skin stretching pain....all much more frequently than before.

Whew.

[AmyC]

movement update: I had a large bowl of ice cream before bed last night and both twins got very, very active. It was the most outward action I'd seen, with huge rippling movements across the skin. Someone (not sure whether it was A or B) was kicking directly under my belly button and it was doing some strange wavelike motions under the assault. I was pretty certain that "both countries were heard from" at that point. And if I had to guess, I'd say both twins were vertex. Though perhaps it's still a bit too early to tell for sure just based on how it feels (my daughter was breech late in the pregnancy and I definitely felt the head up there, and the discomfort was extreme--especially when she stretched. But we're only 22 weeks here, and those skulls themselves still are pretty small. Even with Linus measuring over 1 lb at 20 weeks, I'm sure there's plenty of room for relatively comfortable flipping. He had gone from vertex to breech during the ultrasound, for that matter.)

Anyway, good strong activity from both boys. Very reassuring.

P.S. I also tipped the scale very close to 170 last night at bedtime. On the one hand (basically, when typing it out in public!), it feels so bizarre to be celebrating that kind of number, but I feel fearless about the numbers climbing and I would be THRILLED to gain more than 50 pounds over the course of the pregnancy. Every little gain is a triumph, especially in what seems to be a 20-24 week growth spurt. It feels like this is the time to give them the means to bulk up, before their growth slows down later...

[MollyKenzie]

Amy - I just wanted to say that I definitely felt that growth spurt around the same time. I am now 25 weeks and I started to get really really uncomfortable around 21 or so. My back hurt more, my belly just seemed to jump out in size and I even had a day or two, like you, where there wasnt much movement but then it all started up again. I have been having major constipation problems...not really constipation, just pooping really hurts! I know TMI! But I started some cal/mag this weekend and it really helped, but I too think I have a hemeroid from it and it can hurt sometimes.

Well, after reading about Kourtney I just am soo sooo greatful that these babies are in there and still cooking. Stay babies stay.

[4Marmalade]

Well, I thought I would have more of an update today but my midwife called to reschedule our appointment. Oh well. I think she said maybe she could see me on Saturday. At least she got a hold of me before I had both dc's in the car ready to go.

Not feeling great lately. I've had a few episodes of breathlessness and feeling very lightheaded and nauseous. I lie down and it goes away fairly quickly. I'm not sure if it's just related to my size or possibly becoming anemic. I stopped the iron supplements a few days ago but am still taking the floravit and chewable vitamins. I was hoping the midwife could take some blood today so I could see if my hemoglobin level was the cause.

I've been feeling so big and uncomfortable lately I've been trying to get some more stuff ready. It still seems so early but I went through the baby clothes, blankets, etc..., washed them and put them away. I just know that over the next few weeks the thought of doing anything above and beyond normal household care and care of the dc's will be beyond me. Ds and dd loved playing with all the baby toys. Although, I'm not sure how much more I can take of a 5 year old and 3 year old crawling around pretending to be babies .

Anyone else suffering from insomnia? Last night I went to bed at 8:30pm but didn't actually fall asleep until about 1am :yawning:.

AmyC - I seemed to have reached a plateau period on weight gain as well. I'm used to seeing 1-2lbs/week but it feels like I haven't gained this past week at all. Like you I am very happy with any weight gain. It doesn't phase me at all to think about gaining 45-60lbs. I think I'm at about 31-32lbs now. I'm glad you are feeling more movement. I have been too. Really strong on the right side (enough to freak dh out ) and some funny feeling movement really, really low in the centre. Once in a while I get movement all over the place and it feels like my whole belly is moving at once.

MollyKenzie - Don't you just the love the intestinal issues that come along with pregnancy?: I've been dealing with cramping before I need to go to the bathroom and it hasn't been much fun. I guess I should be happy there's no constipation but still......

[4Marmalade]

I had my rescheduled midwife appointment today. We talked about a lot of stuff (I had my list ready ). First off, I am going to stop taking the iron pills and double my dose of floravit for my "possible" iron issues. The iron pills are causing too much nausea. She is coming to my house on Tuesday to do a quick blood draw so we can see where I'm at as she couldn't do it in her office on a Saturday with the lab being closed and then I will go for another blood draw and the glucose test in another 1-2 weeks. Hopefully, if my hemoglobin is low we will see an improvement in that time so that I won't have my OB telling me to get back on the iron pills.

Other than that, blood pressure is still very low (98/50). Total weight gain is only about 30lbs but my fundal height.....woah.......I went from 25 to 32 in 3-1/2 weeks. I guess dh's comments about how big my belly is getting are true . Babies heart rates were 150's for one and 130's for the other. She had a hard time feeling the babies and thinks that they are both up and down but couldn't confirm head down or up. She thought she felt one head up high but couldn't tell the other one for sure. I'm sure they still have lots of room to move. They definitely woke up after all that poking and they jumped all around for the entire ride home.

After getting the bloodwork and glucose test done I will be having my 28 week appointment with the OB which will include an ultrasound. I am looking forward to seeing the babies again and checking on their growth as well as the status of the one low placenta. I think dh and the dc's will come with me to this appointment. Ds has been asking to see the babies via ultrasound and we promised to take him out of school one day to do just that.

That's my update! Hope you are all doing well and feeling great!

[4Marmalade]

How's everyone doing?

My latest thing?? Not being able to quench this insatiable appetite. I still feel nauseous but not as bad since I stopped the iron supplements (still waiting on blood test results). And it's not too bad during the day but after dinner, it's crazy. I can't stop eating. I eat a huge dinner and 10 minutes later I need to eat again, and then 15 minutes later again, on and on until bedtime. It's such an uncomfortable hunger feeling. You know when you're stomach feels like it's in a knot just before it growls?? Well, it's like that all the time. It finally left at 8:30pm last night after eating two hardboiled eggs (plus a whole bunch of stuff before that). Maybe my body is making up for the lack of weight gain over the last 3 weeks.

Anyone else?

[AmyC]

Strrrreeeeetttching skin. It feels like this pulling sensation, complete with sunburn-type pain (the pulling skin) and backache.

I need to measure my girth each time I feel this. I swear, I was an inch bigger only 4 days after measuring the last time.

I have been struggling to eat in the mornings.....and then scrambling to make up for it later in the day. It's not nausea or lack of appetite, more like poor planning or getting distracted. And mostly on days that I get online in the morning. It's awful. I feel so guilty and just really terrible about it once I realize how I'm procrastinating about eating at those times. It seems like I'm burning calories during that time and so that might be why I've been gaining more slowly, which probably is terrible.

Yes, I'm hungry from dinner until bedtime. Last night I had dinner (which wasn't too light....a sauteed pork chop & half of another one, mashed potatoes, and a mix of broccoli/cauliflower/water chestnuts) and then I made myself two quesadillas with half an avocado stuffed inside along with cheese. Then had cheddar slices with sliced apple. Then a bowl of ice cream with a sliced banana.

I don't even bother to offer to get food to my husband when I trek off to the kitchen, at this point!

Tonight, I had about 10 ounces of steak and a huge potato plus 15 asparagus spears at dinner, so not so hungry (yet) but I'm about to go foraging. Just on principle!

Also, I often am slow on the water intake during the first part of the day (but eating grapefruit & sometimes apples & usually a bowl of miso soup might account for feeling less thirsty in the mornings?) and then really pack in the water later in the day. It's easier to drink in the afternoon and evening? I don't get it!

It's been 3 weeks or more since my first meeting with the OB and I really want to post about it (mostly some of the birth stuff we talked about, protocol, etc.) but I haven't gotten to it yet.

We do go for an ultrasound on the 8th. This will be the first one really comparing the growth/fluid levels to the "scores" at our last scan. And I guess I'm 24 weeks this Friday.

I've been a little frantic with the online time. Not a lot of posting or anything, just researching stuff like prices on certain gear I've been looking at. Trying to compare prices on the extra cloth diapers & covers I'll be needing (I didn't have enough newborn/small covers the last time, and that was with a singleton!) Finally doing some learning about the newer soft-structured carriers that are out, looking at twin mom recommendations, and shopping around for prices and patterns. Finally biting the bullet and ordering the Hypnobabies home set (why didn't I do this earlier, once I decided to go with that particular program?!)

I feel like I get sucked in so easily, and suddenly a couple of hours have passed and I've only eaten a grapefruit, or maybe a grapefruit and some miso, but no noodles or leftovers yet.

Anyway, so goes it here.

[AmyC]

For those of you taking supplemental iron, or prenatals with iron: what is the iron amount?

I started taking vitamins again a little over a week ago, I think. (Yet another anxiety-producing and guilt-inducing fact, having gone so long without vitamin supplements. But I really could not tolerate swallowing anything earlier in the pregnancy--it was the same with my first child, but I got over that more quickly and got onto my vitamins sooner.) I tried some liquid prenatal stuff from the health food store, but the aftertaste was pervasive and bothersome. I found that my regular vitamins (pills) actually were tolerable, so I started up with them.

I'm not really taking a "prenatal" formula, just my regular vitamins (which is what I did last time) with some extra calcium and zinc (I've always heard that boys need more zinc, prenatally.) But these worked great for me last time. I never was anemic, and my iron levels & energy levels always were stellar. I like the fact that they are food-based and the iron seems to be quite bioavailable.

I just was wondering about iron amounts, though, and wondered what you all have been taking. I suppose I should look in "the books" for recommended levels during a twin pregnancy.

I see the OB in about two weeks, and I'm assuming she'll want to do a blood draw to check up on this issue. I guess I wanted to get an idea ahead of time if it would be wise to adjust things on my end, in terms of amounts.

[4Marmalade]

Originally Posted by AmyC

For those of you taking supplemental iron, or prenatals with iron: what is the iron amount?

I just was wondering about iron amounts, though, and wondered what you all have been taking. I suppose I should look in "the books" for recommended levels during a twin pregnancy.

I see the OB in about two weeks, and I'm assuming she'll want to do a blood draw to check up on this issue. I guess I wanted to get an idea ahead of time if it would be wise to adjust things on my end, in terms of amounts.

Hi Amy,

My prenatal contains 30mg of iron. I'm not currently taking it though. I know sometimes you see it mentioned that you would take 2 prenatals in a twin pregnancy so I guess that would be about 60mg.

My OB automatically recommended 600mg/day without having any blood work done.

I am currently taking 87mg of liquid iron 4 x/day which would total 348mg/day.

I'm still waiting to get the results of my bloodwork to see where I stand and what amounts I should be taking.