Twin Mama Check-In

[kjoy2]

I hope other twin mamas see this thread before it slips away onto the next page. So, where are you all? How are you doing so far? My EDD isn't until the very end of April, so I figure that some of us with early April EDDs are already into really-really-uncomfortable stage A few weeks ago we had to take the boxspring off of our bed so that I can manage to get in and out of it!!!

I had an appt with the OB today (31 weeks+) and things are still looking good as far as growth rate of babies, cervical length, etc. Baby A, the quiet one, is vertex, though Baby B, the crazy swimmer, is breech.

Anyway, I would love to hear from you all... and have a check in and chat thread since we're nearing the end...

[slk0824]

Hi! I'm still here too. I think my due date is about the same as yours (4/29). Things are looking good for me so far. No signs of pre-term labor and as long as I get lots of rest, I feel okay. I've got some major issues with heartburn and round ligament pain but other than that, I'm not too uncomfortable. I am usually up in the mornings, but then I spend the majority of the rest of the day in bed. If I try to move around too much, I'm just in a lot of pain and start getting crampy. Priority number one right now is to just keep these babies in there for as long as possible.

As for baby positions, the last time I had an u/s done, they were both vertex, but when my OB looks for the heartbeat with the doppler, it never seems like they're both head down. Since she'll only let me go vaginally if they're both vertex, I've decided I'm going with the opinion of the person doing the u/s! (I go to a perinatalogist for that...my OB doesn't have an u/s machine in her office.) So at this point, it's all looking good.

Do you know how big you're measuring? I was measuring 37 weeks at 28 weeks, but then I forgot to ask my OB when I was in there last week (at 30 weeks). I feel gigantic. Whenever I walk into a room with people I know now, they always start laughing. Sigh. And I'm only going to get bigger (I hope).

Sorry this is so long. I don't get out much these days! Glad to hear you're doing well. Would love to hear from other twin moms out there as well.

Susan

[kjoy2]

Originally Posted by slk0824

I don't get out much these days!

I hear that! You can feel free to type away!!!

It sounds like you are doing really well! That's wonderful! I know what you mean about just trying to keep the babies in and listening to your body. I got out of bed today at 10am, did a few things around the house and then went to an OB appt. By the time I got home - not even 4pm - I was zonked! I can rest, but I find that if I take naps I don't sleep well at all at night... so I'm holding out till 9.30 or so! I am so glad that I stopped working weeks ago to just focus on keeping the critters cooking.

We're going to a multiples breastfeeding class tomorrow evening, so that should be interesting. What a crazy ride this is going to be!

As far as what I have been measuring - I measured around 36 during my last 3 appts with the MW. The OB that I saw today doesn't measure, though he did measure the babies and they are supposedly weighing somewhere between 3lb 6oz and 3lb 12oz. He also looked at our very early U/S prints and confirmed that he does think they share a chorion, so ID twins (our original OB group was hopeless with determining this). Even though they are growing at about the same rate, he is recommending NSTs - weekly from now on. Are you doing NSTs? Are your twins ID or frat?

Have a good night! Hopefully we'll hear from some other mamas, too!
Kara

[Leslie in Chicago]

hey twin mamas

crashing in from March DDC! Couldn't resist when I saw the thread...

I'm 35wks, 4d, and will hopefully make it to March. I was diagnosed last week with cholestasis, so they want to induce by 37 weeks. If nature doesn't take its course this week, we'll induce next week.

Just wanted to say good for you for resting a LOT. I know that's what helped me make it this far. And keep eating! At this point I'm so big I can't get the same amount of protein and calories I did for most of the pregnancy.

Good luck!!

[slk0824]

Originally Posted by kjoy2

Are you doing NSTs? Are your twins ID or frat?

I don't start NSTs until 34 weeks. We don't know if they're id or fraternal, but I'm guessing fraternal. They both have their own placentas and are in their own sacs, but I've read that doesn't necessarily mean they're not id. We don't know the sex of the babies, either, so we don't have that to help us figure it out. So far their weights have been within a few ounces of each other and we're grateful for that.

Have you had much in the way of swelling? That just started with me last week and it's been getting progressively worse. It's mainly just in my feet at this point but it still scares me. I developed pre-e at the very end of my first pregnancy and then my water broke about 5 days later, so I'm really worried that this is a sign that my body can't take much more of this pregnancy. I'm really hoping to make it to at least 36-37 weeks. If I have to stay off my feet completely for the next month, then that's what I'll do. I really don't want these babies to spend a bunch of time in the NICU.

Leslie, how are you feeling? Are you super uncomfortable at this point? I feel so big right now and I'm so curious what it's going to be like in 4 more weeks!

[Leslie in Chicago]

hey slk0284 -- welcome to the swellin' club! My ankles started swelling around 30 weeks. Then my feet and legs joined in. By 33 weeks my doc recommended compression hose. They suck, but they do the job. Bottom line, though, the docs were not worried about the swelling because my blood pressure was fine. If your hands and face start swelling too, then it's time to worry. Otherwise this is just normal in twin-pregnancy-land!

How do I feel? I'm in a unique situation because I've also been diagnosed with cholestasis. So there's a whole 'nother level of miserable going on.

Honestly, it's hard. Sleeping is rough. I'm so grateful that I'm not working anymore, because I sleep in 2-hour stretches throughout the day and night. Eating is also a challenge -- I just can't stand up long enough to cook a decent meal. So dh has helped out a LOT and we're spending way too much money on prepared food from Whole Foods.

What makes this bearable is knowing that it is limited. It will end, soon. Just when it got to the point of "I don't think I can do this anymore," we have a plan for delivery next week. I can do this for one more week...I think.

[autumnlily]

Hello twin momma's!

My official EDD is 04/23 - but I really feel they will come in their 35th week. My twins do not share anything... but one cannot rule out identical, because not sharing anything is also an identical twin scenario. My girls consistently measure 1 oz apart from each other. I have an U/S coming up - due to the fact that my belly measurement has slowed down. I'm traditionally 6.5 weeks ahead but have slowed to 5 weeks ahead.

I'm having non-stop contractions, seriously never more than 4 minutes apart - BUT, the great news is that they are not affecting my cervix. I have twice weekly NST's and they are at least an hour long, so I do recommend bringing a snack and some reading material! My ever so cooperative Baby A just moved out of her great head down position and is now vertex...I'm hoping she shifts back soon! Baby B is NEVER in the same position and often changes by the end of the NST...drives the tech crazy - it has to do with her excess fluid, I'm slowing losing hope of delivering vaginally... she has such a high risk of cord compression/prolapse during delivery and she is just so wild in her movements. Perhaps as she gets bigger things will change.

I have a great recommendation for sleeping: A RECLINER! I can't express how much better I feel in this PG versus my singleton PG and I really believe it has to do with sleeping in the lazy boy chair. I don't have carpal tunnel or hip aches in the morning like I did when sleeping on my side and my pubis bone separation is so minor compared to last time. It is however, a little challenging to get in and out of when one has to pee several times a night - but so is a bed!

Okay, off to swimming with my 2 year old!

[autumnlily]

Just bringing us back to the first page!

Had another OB appt & NST today and things were great! I really think the swimming on Wednesday and - TMI Warning - doing the deed with DH helped my uterus relax. I only had 4 contrax the whole hour of monitoring.

My BP is up a bit and my test results are all borderline normal...I hope they stay there or get better. I am up four pounds from last week and my belly did a huge "measurement" jump. I officially have a 40week belly (at 32w2d). My growth U/S is next week.

I do feel like a lab cushion and know I could refuse a bunch of the monitoring - but I have to say, I enjoy feeling well cared for and am very relaxed about both mine and the girls' health. My OB commented today on how in-tune I am with my body and knows when I call, that I mean business and she really values what I have to say.

Best news, Baby A is fully head down again and looked nearly "engaged" in my pelvis...I'm loving that she knows where she should be heading! Next weeks U/S will help us get a better idea whether Baby B is running out of room and whether she may eventually settle into a better birthing position. Breech is okay - but she needs to stop twisting and turning so frequently, she tends to be very spastic in her movements and very unpredictable. Neither trait is appealing if I want to deliver vaginally!

Off to bed to get some very needed rest!

[kjoy2]

Originally Posted by autumnlily

Had another OB appt & NST today and things were great! I really think the swimming on Wednesday and - TMI Warning - doing the deed with DH helped my uterus relax. I only had 4 contrax the whole hour of monitoring.
Best news, Baby A is fully head down again and looked nearly "engaged" in my pelvis...I'm loving that she knows where she should be heading!

That's all great news!!!

I am really hoping that my Baby A will stay head down, too... he/she has been that way for a long time now, so knock on wood! Because Baby B's head is located near my belly button (breech), I like to push on it I joke that he/she will come out with a squished face, which may be a good way to tell them apart, anyway

I think that swimming helps me, too. Plus, it's just nice to feel buoyant at this size!

Is anybody else experiencing hip pain at night? I mean, I figure that this is a good sign of pelvis expansion, but it isn't fun to wake up moaning all the time.

ENjoy the weekend, all! Kara Joy

[krizzanne]

just saw the March ddc thread 'leap year babies' about twins born: SVD!

[kjoy2]

Originally Posted by krizzanne

just saw the March ddc thread 'leap year babies' about twins born: SVD!

Thanks

It was Lesie from Chicago (who posted above). Here is a cut-n-paste of her birth announcement... hope she doesn't mind:

"They are here!!! Gotta keep this quick...more soon (like in three years, right?).

Magdalena Cecelia, 6 lbs 1 oz, Friday morning, 10:17
Samuel Michael, 6 lbs, 3 oz, Friday morning, 10:42

Exactly 36 weeks, spontaneous labor. Beautiful vaginal birth with LOTS of help from modern medicine.

Now...about this war zone in my pants. How come nobody makes a post about that?"

happy, happy, happy...t i r e d

[paphia]

Aww, that's so sweet that they are all well.

[autumnlily]

How is everyone doing this week?

Had my growth scan yesterday and it appears I'm making the biggest twins in town! At 33 weeks - my baby A measured 5lbs 4oz and my baby B measured 6lbs 1oz! This of course is far from an exact science and the guesstimate can easily be a pound off, but for certain - these girls have been growing!

Baby B still has twice the fluid her sister has and it explains her constant ability to move. Baby A is making significant efforts to "drop" - the pressure gets unbearable at night... I can hang in there for her regardless of the pain!

[autumnlily]

Twin Mama's - how are we all doing?

I'm just battling the, "did I just pee some" or "am I leaking", bladder issues. I'm sure it's just a weak bladder - I do have a normally scheduled appt tomorrow and will have her use the nitrate strip to rule out amniotic fluid.

Hope all is well for everyone else!

kjoy2: I forgot to mention a "hip pain saver" idea for your nights... an inflatable hemmroid (too tired for spell check) cushion. Sleep with your hip in the middle of the cushion. I haven't personally tried it, as I can't sleep on my side for the life of me... but have heard other twin moms swear by it. Cheap investment too!

[hlkm2e]

I'm here! We just moved back into our home that we have been remodeling for the last 4 months. I'm 33 weeks and doing fine. I'm huge, gained 55lbs, but babies are doing great. Est. weight 4lbs and 4lbs 10oz. But obviously those could be off. But good weights for me, since my singletons weren't even 7lbs each. My legs are swelling, but my bp is fine. This twin preg. thing is feeling less and less comfortable, that is for sure!

Hope everyone else is doing well!

[kjoy2]

Hlkm2e - Congrats on moving back into your house!!! Do you feel like you have a lot to do before the babies arrive? I hope it's a smooth transition; it must be a relief to have that finished!

I'm huge in the belly, too. At my 33 week appt I was up 50 lbs! And stretch marks galore! And I'm starting to get PUPPs rash on my stomach... besides that, everything is going really well We don't get another growth scan until 35 weeks, so I'm looking forward to those weight estimates. It sounds like everyone has good healthy babies here! My Baby A is still vertex; Baby B is still doing a transverse/breech thing with its head above belly button, butt against uterine wall, and feet traveling downwards.

AutumnLily - the pillow idea is funny. We tried this with my 'snoogle' prego pillow, and it was actually more of a hassle to get OUT of the darn thing to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night! Talk about sinking a pregnant lady. I find that if I swim often enough - every other day or so, it really reduces hip pain at night.

Do you ladies have photos? I don't have any really good ones, but here is one at 33 weeks. We were being slightly goofy, and the post-it note reads, "Head-Head lives here" pointing to where Baby B's head is always putting pressure on the belly.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/f...y2/33weeks.jpg

It would be fun to see other twin mama bellies
Hope everyone is ready to enjoy the weekend.

[slk0824]

Hi Twin Mamas!

I had my babies on Thursday morning at 33 wks 2 days. My water broke around 10 am and I started having strong contractions almost right away. I was in triage getting checked in and waiting for the u/s machine to warm up so we could figure out the positions of the babies and I dilated from a 3 to a 10 in about 10 minutes. I delivered my baby girl with one push before the dr. made it into the room. Baby B, a boy, was delivered via emergency c-section right after because he was breech (although my dr. confided in me the next day that she could have easily pulled him out but hospital policy doesn't allow for breech/vaginal deliveries). Grrr... So I am still in the hospital recovering from the surgery (which is no fun, by the way). The babies are doing well but are both in the NICU. Nessa, our girl, was 4#2 oz and 17 inches long which is exactly what our PN estimated a week ago and Harrison, our boy, was 3# 11 oz and also 17 inches long (half a pound less than they estimated). We were really excited to have a boy and a girl because we didn't know what we were having. We already have 2 kids (a 7 yo boy and 5 yo girl) and they were really excited to get one of each too. So now we're just hanging in there and hoping the babies will learn to eat quickly and put on some weight so we can take them home. Luckily their lungs seem to be fully developed which is one less (and very big thing) to worry about. But, I've hardly even seen them (and I've only held my dd once-right after delivery) which has been really painful. I'm hoping to recover soon too, so I at least can stand up to scrub in so I can hold them (my goal for today). Anyway, keep those babies cooking, mamas! The longer they're in, the better. It's terrible not being able to be with your babies. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy, too. Those cute little babies will be here before you know it.

Susan

[paphia]

Congratulations on your babies!!!!

I'm so sorry you're having to recover away from your babies, I really hope you get to be with them right away. And I'm glad you guys are doing well.

[elleystar]

CONGRATS!!!!
I'm really glad to hear that everyone's doing well! I was just starting to wonder who in the DDC was going to go first...since it's mid-March it's high time we started, eh! Give us pics when things settle down and you have a chance!
Is it time to start a birth announcement thread? *yikes*

[mkmama]

Wow how exciting! i'm so glad they are healthy and pray you get to be united with them sooooooon!!!! Congratulations!!! :