Double Trouble

[DianeC]

Kholtan

I think I saw a program on TV about identical twins and their need NOT to be seperated. Some actually thought that marrying a set of twins was the answer to staying together. I have also read about a set of male twins marrying sisters and then living next door to each other!

Seriously, this is not just about genes or a predispositon for needing to be close to significant others - it is also the enviroment that plays a part in this obsession as well. All factors may work together which may influence twins to not want to be apart. I am very mindful of the identity factor and the need for our twins to achieve their own individual identity. It is interesting stuff to mull over hey!

The 3D scans are fabulous! We had a private viewing the other night - very dark room and just the DVD playing to the most beautiful soothing music - maybe Enya. We were speechless - such a beautiful thing to watch - very emotional. If you can get it you won't be disappointed.

Cheers Di

[buckeyegal]

Laura Lou--Love the nursery! My cribs are side by side just like yours! Your boys will love it. Take it easy...good thing you got things done early!

Diane--I will definitely check out renting the Medella from the hospital. Good idea.

I did have an U/S today. Things are looking good! Both babies had strong heartbeats--145 and 153. Baby B's head is pressed right up below my right boob. OUch! Baby A is weighing 1 pound 8 oz. and B is 1 pound 10 oz. So, right on track! When did your babies start "slowing down"...cause right now mine are growing at the same rate as a singleton. Where will they fit?

Take care girls and have a good night!

[DianeC]

Hey Buckeyegal those babies are really good sizes!

Our babies were 11 oz at 19 weeks 4 days. Apparently the twins weight is expected to be half that again by 24 weeks! This would put us similar to your babies weight. The period between 20 and 24 weeks is a growth spurt from what I have read.

We have a scan to check my cervix on the 26th March and the placenta as I was diagnosed with placenta previa at 15 weeks (had bleeding). Apparently this is not uncommon in twin IVF pg. No more spotting for the last few weeks so that is a good sign. If you are diagnosed with placenta previa at an early stage say 15 or 16 weeks, quite often it resovles itself by 28 weeks as the babies growth moves everything up and away from the cervix. Hopefully the scan will show us that

Best wishes to everyone else.

Di

[Xrayem]

Hi Girls,

Laura - wow, your nursery looks lovely! I am so sorry to hear about the bed rest. It must have been a scary time for you. I'm now 24 weeks and I'm starting to get worried that something might happen earlier than later. I have had two friends with twins give birth at 26 weeks and thats only 2 weeks away for me. I still don't know what sort of birth I'm having!! Being the complete control freak that I am, I need to get a plan together soon. (i know I probably won't stick to it, but it helps to have something, doesn't it). Its so great to hear from you. Did you read that Carolyn's 3rd cycle failed? I don't know what to say to her...I feel gulity to have had sucess on my first go.

Kim - I love my dog also. We hav this great heap called Darcy-dog who is a Rottwieller/Great Dane cross. He looks just like an enormous long legged black labrador and has the best nature! We got him when we first started this whole assisted reproduction cycle and boy have I cried my eyes out to him! My DH was playing with him the other night and he said "I can't wait to introduce you to your new brothers or sisters" It melted my heart! By the way, I had a look at my bubs last week and they were also measuring day for day with singeltons. Appartently they slow down in growth at 26 weeks which is why I'll be having 2 weekly grwoth scans.

Di - We bought the Babylove Doulight twin jogger. I got it in a sale at Target for $280, reduced from $440. We would have loved to have gotten the Mountain Buggy - as its the best on the market, but finances are tight and every cent I spend now is less time with the bubs when they come.
Check out the Australian Multiple Birth Assoc (AMBA) website. They have sub-branches all over the country and do loads of stuff like weekly playgroups and the newsletters have lots of support info. It cost us $35 to join for a year.
We had our 3d scans done at 3 weeks but twin 1 wouldn't stay still long enough to get a proper picture and Twin 2 wouldn't turn over so we could see their face. It sounds like yours were very well behaved to get such detailed scans.

Kholtan - sounds like your twins are like mine...I have a wriggler and a peaceful one!

Well. I'm officailly bored. This is my first day off as I have gone down to a three day week and I'm at a loss with what to do with myself. I have a doctors appointment this afternoon so I might head over early and do some window shopping in the city.

Have a good one,
Em

[LauraLou]

Em,

It's so good to hear from you!!! Yes, I saw Carolyn had another BFN. I also don't know what to say to her. I feel so bad for her. It's so terribly unfair.

I am going to have a c-section. I told my doctor that's what I wanted at my first visit, when I was 8 weeks pregnant! With my luck, I'd end up having one baby vaginally and one via c-section and have a 3rd degree perineal laceration and a c-section scar!

Have you had your cervix measured lately? Hopefully it's nice and long and you have lots of time to plan your delivery. I'm back to the dr's tomorrow for another cervix scan because of the contractions I've been having the last few days. Hopefully it's still looking good.

Thank you everyone for the kind words about my nursery. When I start to climb the walls from boredom, I go in there and play with all the baby stuff!

Laura

[buckeyegal]

Xrayem--That's funny about your dog. We got Murphy after our failed IUI's. We thought we were going to go through the year long adoption process until we decided to give IVF a go. I honestly feel that having Murphy around helped me have a healthier stress level and positivity, which I think helped IVF be successful! I owe him big time! So your doc has you on a restricted work schedule? My doctor warned me that I would probably have to cut back my hours in another month or so. I'm a first grade teacher, so I am ALWAYS on the go...but I seem to be doing well so far! I'll keep my fingers crossed. [Although, if I was forced to stay home I'd probably catch up on photo albums and such before the babies come....well, at least that would be my goal. ha ha!]

Diane: My babes were about the same size as yours around 19-20 weeks. So, you're right, they're probably about the same. That's nice to hear. Good luck with your next scan. I hope your placenta is cooperating...

Laura--I don't really have a "plan" about the birth because I have a feeling that the decision won't really be mine to make. C-section is probably the most likely. Of course, if I could be assured that both babies could be delivered vaginally, I'd go for it. However, the thought of having a baby both ways is NOT the way I want to go! Yikes!

Good night gals. I really should get to bed...

[LauraLou]

I had a sono this morning and they took a good picture of one of the babies.



He has really chubby cheeks for only 27 wks!

[DianeC]

LauraLou - That is a precious shot! It is great when you can clearly see the babies - amazing really.

Em - thanks for that info - I will check it out. I am sure that they will have an AMBA branch up here so I can take the babies to playgroup. If not, I am sure that there will be somewhere else. I can here what you are saying with regards to the money side. We have budgeted on most things but not the pram (as we get out and about very often) and the cots. Otherwise everything else on a budget. I will not be working for the next 2 years at least - will finish my thesis in those two years - I am supposed to start it next year Should be fun and games with two littles ones around.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Cheers Di

[kholtan]

WOW!! You gals have been busy today!

Glad to hear everyone is doing so great. I have a quick question for you all. . . I chose to switch OB/GYN's because my previous one only sees her patients every other visit and is overloaded with patients. My first appointment is Friday and I am not scheduled to do an u/s but was wondering if I should request one anyway. I'm over 10.5 weeks and I am not showing at all and have no symptoms other than being a more tired. Maybe I'm freaking out over nothing but it really concerns me when I can't see any difference????? My next u/s technically shouldn't be until my anatomy u/s at 18-20 weeks. What would you women do?

Speaking of dogs. . .Our precious Lucy had to get 3 staples yesterday!!! She must have tried to cross a barb wire fence at our mountain property and she really cut herself bad. She cried all afternoon when DH picked her up from the Vet and she whimpered all night. We let her sleep in our bed with us. . .by the way she is 62 lbs. . .and we are still so sad for her!!! If it breaks my heart this bad to see her hurt imagine how I will be with children!!!! EEEKS!!

Lauralou~ LOVE your 3d scan!!! AFter seeing Diane's and yours I would really love to do it. Congrats on such a sweet photo!!!

Talk to you soon~ Kimberly

[Xrayem]

Hi,

Laura - your scan is great! I will have a proper scan in 2 weeks time when I will know more about my cervix. The last time we looked, twin 1's placenta was 4cm away from my cervix though so that was good. My obs had a quick look yesterday and we saw that they were spooning each other, but jeez there didn't seem to be much room in there. The doc said my uterus is measuring about the same as a 30 week singelton pregnancy...which has got me concerned (and excited) that I may only have 10 weeks to go!

Kimberly - Do you guys have Nuchal Translucency scans? They are to test for the likelyhood of Down's Syndrome and are done at 11-13 weeks. Its just a normal US but they measure the thickness of the skin fold at the back of the babies' necks. Perhaps you could request one of those. Also my Obs has his own tiny US machine in his rooms and he does a quick check to see their hearts at each visit or will put the fetal heart monitor on to hear them. Perhaps your new doc has this aswell. But I know what you mean...I'm spoilt having access to US every day, without it I would be a wreck!
PS: I am so sorry to hear about your puppy! Darcy has ear infections at the moment and it breaks my heart to see him sick so I know what you mean!

Love Em

[buckeyegal]

Kimberly--I would definitely ask for the Nuchal fold test like Em said. You do have to have it before 13 weeks, so you'll need to get that scheduled. That ob's office sounds nutz! I would definitely switch to an office where you could be seen each visit by a doc. As for your size not changing, be patient--it will! Probably more than you'll want it to! I'm 24 weeks and I look as big as some full term moms with Singletons. no joke!

Lauralou--Great pic! YOur baby is a natural!

We had a great baby care class last night at the hospital! My DH is in shock about how much the kids will eat and poop. Poor guy is clueless! I told him he better start studying...he's my assistant!

I had a little scare today. I had one little spot of blood when I wiped today...nothing else...I've not had any spotting since week 14 or so....I haven't had anything else today, but it just concerns me. I called the doc's office, and they told me to keep an eye on it and if it gets worse--to go straight to the hospital. Yikes, scare me, why don't you!? Any advice gals?

Have a good night. I'm hoping to stay spot free...

[DianeC]

Hi Kim

Is the spotting related to the position of your placenta? Do you have a low lying placenta that you are aware of?

We have been taking it really easy since our spotting at 15 weeks - restricted duties probably up until 28 weeks. I stopped work at am at home most of the time, luckily I have my studies to keep me going otherwise I would go completely nutty

Take care and rest up.

Hello to everyone else.

Di

[buckeyegal]

Hi Di,

I haven't been told I have a low lying placenta. I just had an U/S on Monday and things looked good. It's just strange how I had just one spot.

Thanks for your response, though. I'll check with my doc.

[kholtan]

Hey Kim~ The spot thing. . . same thing happened to me when we had 30 friends here from out of town. We were all shopping in the resort and I went ot the ladies room and when I looked down there was a dime sized bright red blood clot and the same color on the tp. Sorry if it's TMI!!! I immediately call the RE's office and they said that is very common in twin Pg's and that it is from the uteris and plancenta starting to change rolls. . .they described this so much better. . .and that I should take it easy, abstain from sex for 24-48 hours (fine by me ) and call them if it could fill a pad in 2 hours. Luckily, like you that was it. Nothing else ever and I just took it real easy and went straight to the cabin. VERY SCAREY!!!! They were very reassuring that it was common and nothing to worry about unless it continued. Hopefully, all is well and it's nothing!

Thanks ladies on the suggestion about the test. I had never heard of that before and will ask about it on Friday. There is part of me that says I should be happy to be so small but I would feel better to be showing and feel like they are normal and everything is fine. Before I started IVF my biggest worry was I'd go through all this and then the "What if" they aren't healthy and they have to live with that forever?? It's probably stupid to think about that but we just want healthy babies. I'll feel better Friday when I see the OB/GYN. Thanks for the suggestions and thoughts. I appreciate it very much!!!

Lauralou~ Showed DH your baby photo and he was so amazed at a little face staring back at him!!! He even loved it!!!

Babysat an 8 month old, 2 year old, and 5 year old tonight! WHEW!!!!! My friends has great children but man am I tired! They were so sweet and DH was very busy giving the older boys rides on the mini motorcycle. Needless to say they were sad to have to leave Bodie in the end and the two year old practically cried. Made me smile to see him lovin' on them and playing with them and the dog for hours.

Turned cold here today so I'm going to retire to a warm cozy bed, soft jammies, and my book for the whole 15 minutes I'll be able to stay awake! Goodnight everyone!

[buckeyegal]

Kimberly--Thanks for the advice...I haven't had anything since that one spot, and a friend told me the same thing happened to her...her doc said it might have been a broken blood vessel or something, but nothing to worry about. I'll mention it at my next appt.

Is anyone else exhausted? I have a pretty active job, and I'm just beat!

Have a good night.