Double/Triple+ Trouble 2009

[Jennagirl]

Hi Girls!
It's time for me to join all of you! This has certainly been a long rollercoaster of a ride, as it has been for all of you! My man and I found out we are expecting twins last week, and we are so ecstatic..
I'm about 7weeks 2days, and Im feeling massive morning sickness (no throwing up thank goodness), Ive almost found it hard to get up out of bed for the past couple of days... Have any of you had this feeling? Like I have a 24-7 hangover!
Also, I read everyones posts about getting strollers and doing a bit of shopping sounds so fun! I am so nervous about begininng the process of shopping for our little bundles, but I feel super cautious... when do you guys think is a good time to start?
I hope everyone is feeling good and taking it easy
JJ

[stefanie]

Hi jenna -

I'm right behind you at 6wks 6 days today.

Yes - queasy as Heck. Had brunch w/ a friend today who is not in the know and was so grossed out by the food. I have weird tastes, and what I LOVE one day, sickens me the next. (anyone want half a lasagna?)

also really badly constipated (still!) and having a lot of heartburn.

I'm with you on not buying stuff yet. after brunch my friend and I went to the Le Sport Sac sample sale and there was a gorgeous Stella McCartney 'Mum bag' translation: diaper bag. from $350 to $100. my colors. I walked away.

One, Like you, it felt too early. I think I will have so much fun picking things out, but not yet. I've seen those heartbeats and all I want is healthy babies that make it through this first trimester (and out to meet us in May)

And two, after everything we have been through in the last two years, an over-priced designer diaper bag felt so besides the point. I'll be happy w/ the skip hop or whatever people get.

The journey through IVF has tought me a lot - about money and what I do and don't need, about priorities, friends. It's been a real shake up in my world.

That said, I too look forward to picking things out, and hearing from our sisters who are further along about what is useful and not for a little pack.

stef

[Jennagirl]

Stefanie-
I feel everything you are saying... I have started eating things that would make a normal human run out of the room (orange slices with garlic salt) LOL
Its so funny how our bodies naturally crave what the babies need... I used to be a massive candy fiend. I dont touch it anymore... I havent drank milk since i was an infant Now I crave drinking it ice cold. I love how my body feels and is reacting to this blessing!
I spoke to my hubby about beginning the shopping process and we both agreed that second trimester is the best bet...for us. I just dont really know what to expect carrying twins. Will we have a few months of feeling fab (no morning sickness) and still be small enough in circumference to be able to walk the isles of babies r us?
Im so thankful I have all of you to talk to... it seems every thought in my head is about my unborn babies... Im sure Tito (my hubby) is a bit bored of it even though he listens intently..heheehehe
BTW.... I will take the lasagna
JJ

[stephjim]

stefie and jen,

I agree with you on waiting for the 2nd trimester. I don't know if what your plans are on finding out the sex of the babies, but I waited until I knew that before registering, etc. I did buy a couple unisex onsie outfits at the consignment shop, but other than that did not buy anything. However, my doc did my anatomy scan at 16 weeks so, it is up to you if want to wait depending on when yours is, you know? Some docs don't do it until 20 weeks. I also had my shower at 23 weeks because I was not sure if/when I would be put on bed rest. I was taken out of work at 25 weeks and 2 days, but I am a nurse and work three 12 hour shifts a week. So I am glad I did the shower before hand. It has been a pretty good pregnancy, and I love to feel them in me now that I am feeling them all the time. But it was rough. The first trimester was like you Jenna. I was nauseas all the time but never threw up, which makes me wonder what would have been better, you know? You felt like you needed to throw up but it never happened. I did make sure I continued to eat though. I ate a lot of starchy stuff, stuff that would some how settle my stomach. I have heard that is a good thing to gain some weight in the beginning because it helps ensure the babies are gonna get a lot of that nutrition. So far, I have just had the swelling and bp that was relatively high for me, which why she took me out of work. I also had one episode hwere I went to L&D because I was at work and was having braxton hicks contrations, regularly, but as soon as i layed down they stopped. So, it has been the best experience, but crazy, fun, irritating (lack of sleep the last few weeks) emotional, and just everything you can imagine about it. I am almost 28 weeks now. Hopefully I will have another 10 weeks before they come. In case you were wondering, and this all depends on your body type, but I started wearing maternity clothes and showing at around 12 weeks, started feeling the flutters around 14-15 weeks (they feel like tickling) you will also feel the stretching (itching feeling). I started feeling the occasional kick at around 23 weeks and now they do it all the time and I am able to see it more visibly from the outside opposed to feeling it with my hand. I hope this all helps. I wish that someone would have told me stuff like this so I could understand the timeline of stuff. Let me know if you have any questions. I will do what I can to help you out.

[stefanie]

Hi ladies.

I'm 7wlks. 1 day

do any of you remember twinges? Little sharp gurgles. Sharp but not too painful, and not a cramp, that lingers. A sharp twinge that comes and goes?

I feel them sometimes after I eat - gas? Or I was wondering if because we are carrying multiples, things are growning more?

I have no spotting and it goes away in a minute so I thought I'd wait to ask the doc till my ultrasound on Thursday.

thanks

stefanie

[carisa]

Hi ladies, I hope everyone is doing well! My surrogate had her 17 week Level II Ultrasound today. The Level II is where they measure all of the organs on the baby including the four chambers of the heart, the lungs, the brain, etc. We found out we are having a BOY & GIRL!! I am so happy!! I was a little nervous about today to say the least.

Literatriz-That diaper idea is a good one considering the price and the waste.

Jennagirl-Congratulations! I bet you are so excited about the news? Has it sunk in yet? It took us awhile, I'm not sure it has yet. I still have to pinch myself! I was really nervous to start buying stuff for the babies. We are only at 17 weeks and we started buying things about two weeks ago. I still feel nervous about it.

Stefanie-I feel that IVF has taught me so much too about life in general. What is really important in life. I believe IVF really makes you more mature. With all of the ups and downs I believe we all grow stronger. And friends, yes, you do learn who is a real friend. Sad, but true. My surrogate felt lots of gurgles and "bubbles" as she called it around 6-12 weeks she said. I think that is totally normal and healthy too. It means your uteus is growing and stretching and doing all of the things it is intended to do.

Stephjim-Wow, you are so far along. I can't wait until we are in the third trimester. I bet that feels like such a relief for you! Congratulations to you for that! Hey, do you remember what your cervix was measuring around 17 weeks? My surrogate's cervix is measuring 5.5 cm, or 55 mm. Is this a good/normal thing? I could call the Peri myself and ask him anything, but I try and save the calls for more important questions so I'm not bothering him. My surrogate is across the country, so unfortunately Im not there to ask these questions. Thanks.

[SilverAngel679]

I'm feeling lots of little pushes and pulls and twitches and pokes. I'm sure it's not the babies yet, just my uterous getting bigger, but sometimes I like to pretend it's them

[crogers]

Carisa- I have my level II this Wed and I can't wait. I just want to know everything that you found out. I can't wait to see them moving all around. I am feeling a lot of butterflies and I know they are active but I just want to see it. I just can't quit thinking about them! Congrats on a boy and a girl! That will be fun getting to dress a little girl. I am so excited about 2 boys though. I just want healthy babies!

I don't know about you guys but I have grown so much the last couple of weeks. My stomach is so tight and so tender. I can't believe our tummies are going to be able to stretch so much. I feel like I can't get any bigger but I know this is just the beginning!!

[SilverAngel679]

Hey everyone. PM me your due dates and the babies sexes if you know them. I'm gonna put a list together for us!!!

[carisa]

silverangel679-Great idea! I just pmd you! Hey, you never know what exactly you are feeling. I think my GC started feeling "butterfly flutters" around 13 or 14 weeks. They say with twins you feel it much sooner. She called me right away, it was so exciting!!

crogers-I'm so excited for you that you are having your level II tomorrow! Make sure you update us about it tomorrow. If you are anything like me you are a mix of extreme excitement and nerves. It will be so fun to dress a girl. Although my husband and I went out lastnight to "look" at clothes and found so many cute boy clothes. Gymboree and the Baby Gap have such cute SALE boy stuff right now. They were adorable. I'm going to go back today to actually buy some. The Gap had a couple of rounders in the back with the cutest stuff for so cheap-like 3.99-8.99. It was great! I'm excited to go back!! My GCs stomach is VERY tight and tender. She was telling me about it last week. It's just stretching away.

[stephjim]

Carissa,

My cervix has been measuring anywhere from 3.5 to 5. The doctor does not get concerned unless it hits 2.5. My last one was 4.something and I was 25 weeks then. So 5.5 is excellent. I am getting a cervix and us check every 4 weeks due to previous procedures on my cervix. I have had two LEEP procedures where they remove part of it due to precancerous cells and so far it is holding up beautifully. Honestly that was my biggest concern. Just tell her the weirdest thing when they she gets to the stage where they are kicking is that they do kick the cervix too. So tell her to be prepared for that sensation. But from what I have learned they don't have the ability to kick themselves out of there, like it feels like. Hope that answers your question. I am sure it has to be difficult being across country from her. I commend you for doing the surrogacy thing.

[carisa]

Stephjim-thanks! It was a difficult decision deciding to go the surrogacy route. Especially because I am so young, for doing surrogacy at least, and people look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them, but it has been so worth it. So your cervix has been measuring between 3.5-5? That's really good, especially being that you are 28 weeks. My gc will be getting hers checked too every 4 weeks at the Perinatologists office. That is my biggest conern of all!!! I'm SO worried she is going to lose the babies because her cervix will shorten and they won't catch it. I almost have nightmares about it. She works on her feet, and unfortunately when we were first agreeing to go with her as our GC, her job wasn't quite so demanding in that way. So now I'm stuck here worrying constantly. Can I ask you another question? Is it too early for me to be feeling slightly safe because her cervix is so long? She's 17 weeks. I guess I just have to trust the doctors that they will put her on bedrest if need be. I will have to warn her about those sensations in her cervix. I know that would freak her out (and me).

Crogers-How was your Level II Ultrasound? I hope it went well for you.

[stephjim]

I would feel much safer that her cervix is that long and closed at 17 weeks. I am a nurse and my cervix has been holding up beautifully. They took me out of work due to my bp being relatively high for me and swelling. I worked three 12 hour shifts a week in an ICU. So it was not easy nursing. I would just instruct her to call the OB for anything she thinks she is worried about. My ob is great about that. So at this point she has made past the 12 week mark so that is good that is when the miscarriage percentages go way down. Now her next milestone will be 24 weeks. That is when the babies are viable. I was so happy when I reached that. My doctor said that from thebeginning our goal is to get you to 24 weeks and then 28, then 32, etc. So if she has any pain, cramping at all, I would instruct her to call the OB most have an after hour nurse if the office is closed and they will instruct her what to do. She is lucky so far. I had three episodes of bleeding in the beginning because of all the blood circulating with twins. So if she has made it this far, I would breathe a sigh of relief but I would not say ok nothing could happen now. Realistically, she is probably not going to have any issues but she has to be sure to be in tune with her body and make the decision to call the doc if she feels anything is wrong. The newest thing for me is that now the babies are squishing my intestines and whoah buddy the pain is unbelievable (feels like excruciating gas pain) So that is something to look forward to.

[Gennessa]

Hi ladies -

It seems from the last posts that everyone is doing great. I am so happy for you all. I am doing well. I am 18wks now and to be honest I am pretty big. I would say HUGE! Is anyone else showing a lot? ITs fun though. I took the 1st pictures of my tummy last night just for fun. I am not really into that kind of stuff but well the camera was there and I just did it. I think I might ask DH to take some this weekend so I can send them to my sister. I never thought I would be so into being pg. I mean at first I was kinda stand offish about it as I was weird non stop but now that I am relaxed a little its kinda fun to do strange things like take picutres of your tummy.

Well I am at work gota go.

[carisa]

Stefhjim-I saw that you were a nurse. I can't imagine how tired you were by the end of your shifts!! Woah. Thanks so much for talking to me about your experience with your cervix, etc. To be honest, she is not the one worried, it's strictly my husband and I. We get worried because she teaches, and is on her feet alot. Although lately she has been sitting on a stool alot. We just would be so upset if something were to happen, obviously.....Yes, I was ecstatic when she got past the 12 weeks mark. That was a great week for my husband and I. I have heard of the 24, 28, and 32 week marks. I can't wait to get there. You must be thrilled that you have made it so far!! I'm happy for you. Yes, she is lucky, there have been no episodes of bleeding, thank God. Wow, the squishing of the intestines doesn't feel pleasant! I'm so sorry! You poor thing. I'm sure there will be new strange things as each new week passes. LOL.

Genessa-Congrats! You are 18 weeks. I'm not surprised that you are looking so big. My gc is really big too right now, she has been sending me pictures through texts and it's pretty amazing!!