TWINS!

[sweetpea]

I know a lot of people have seen this on facebook, but wanted to announce it here too.

We went for an ultrasound today to make sure the pregnancy was viable - and we saw TWO heartbeats! We can't believe it's twins!
I did have some suspicions b/c my hcg levels were pretty high early on, and the HG has been worse than the first two. So while I wasn't completely surprised, it's still hard to believe!!!

I also got my 1st liter of fluids today b/c I was spilling ketones - tested as 4+ even after I had the liter. OB is already discussing a PICC w/ me. Last time I didn't get it until 10 or 11 weeks, but I imagine I'll get this time by 7 or 8 wks.

[*Mel*]

Congrats

[teddi]

Wow. Exciting! Congratulations and Congratulations.

[Cin]

WOW!!!!

Isn't Fern having twins too? Bumper crop around here lately.

Congratulations!

[sweetpea]

Fern is having twins!

[AnneCan]

WOW, congrats on twins! That's exciting! See, you get your house full of children after all. HUGS. Hope you get that PICC line in soon so you can keep from getting too dehydrated!

[jesspinky1]

Awesome news! Believe me when I say twins are so much fun!

[SLO+MLO.Mommy]

CONGRATS AGAIN Porch Family!

[DivineLotus]

OMG YAY! I love it. Twins. Can't get any better. Congrats.

[gremlinsmummy]

Woohoo! Congrats! I'm with jesspinky1 - twins are so much fun! Best of luck over the next few months. I still remember finding out we were having twins like it was yesterday, and mine are 5 now!

Did they tell you if they're sharing a placenta or have their own? My girls shared one, so they are identical.

[sweetpea]

I know they each have their own sac, but I don't know about the placenta. Identical twins can have their own sacs, so we won't know for a while. We're very excited, but still in a bit of shock. So glad that this pg is a twofer. Also, my worst Hg is usually 34-40 wks, so I'm super excited that twins come a little early. I imagine we'll also take permanent birth control measures after this pg, which is really sad that I have to make that decision at 28, but we think it will be our best option.

[AnneCan]

That's really cool that you're having twins! I always wished that my pregnancies were twin pregnancies so I could have the "two for one" deal (even though carrying twins is definiately harder). I hope everything goes smoothly and you avoid your worst weeks near the end..

[krsweetpea]

Yay! Exciting news...prayers for good care so you and babies can be as healthy as possible!

[gremlinsmummy]

Yep, mine were in separate sacs but single placenta which is called monochorionic-diamniotic. I've actually had far worse HG in my singleton pregnancies so hopefully yours won't be worse on account of the twins. Feel free to holler if you have any questions, in addition to having mine I've also written several articles on the types of twins, twin pregnancies, newborn twins etc. so can send you some links if you like...

[sweetpea]

Oh, I would love some links. Twin don't run in our family at all so I'm trying to read up info about them.

At the ultrasound both babies measure 6 wk 2 d.

Also, how early were your twins?

[gremlinsmummy]

Mine were 36+5. All along the OB was telling me I'd be lucky to make 30 weeks and in the end, I had to beg him to induce me coz I was so over being sick. He wanted me to try and hold out til 38 weeks but I was literally at the stage where one more day with them inside me seemed impossible to cope with. I spent the last month on bedrest as I was pretty much too huge to move and the circulation in my legs was suffering from having giant babies pressing on my arteries etc. We were lucky, my girls were both head down and I was able to deliver them both vaginally with no intervention other than the pitocin to kick things off. And they were 6lb8oz and 7lb1oz so epic weights for their gestation, and didn't need any time in special care/NICU.

This is a weekly guide I wrote with help from our consultant OB so might give you some ideas what to expect. I'm sure all the testing etc. is on a slightly different schedule in the States, but the babies still grow the same lol! http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/pregnancy/twins ... kly-guide/

And this is some info on zygosity and chorionicity, it can be a bit confusing initially but basically zygocity determines identical vs frat, and chorionicity is the number of placentas.
http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/pregnancy/twins ... /zygosity/
http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/pregnancy/twins ... rionicity/

And just for fun, some stuff on the quirkier aspects of twins... http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/baby/twins/its-a-twin-thing/

Hope that helps! We also joined our local Multiple Birth Club while I was still pregnant and they were a great source of support. Lots of other HG mummies there too with it being more prevalent in twin pregnancies.

[gremlinsmummy]

Oh and just coz I can, this is Sienna (in the pink hat) and Mercedes (in the green hat) the day after they were born...


And on their first day of school this year (Mercedes smiling, Sienna sulking lol)...

[sweetpea]

Both of your twins were bigger than my last singleton - 6lb 7 oz and induced at 38 wks b/c of HG!

Thanks for the info!

[gremlinsmummy]

Lol yep, HG doesn't seem to stop me growing giant babies - #1 was 9lb1oz at 38+2. #4 was the smallest for gestation, 7lb12oz at 38+6 but she's still tiny for her age even now. I think she takes after DH who is only 5'6. The other three take after my side, both my brothers are well over 6'. We'll find out how this wee one is tracking on Wed at my next ultrasound, I'm a bit nervous as I've been much sicker this pregnancy so hoping she's growing OK, but when the OB had a quick look the other day she said bub has a big head so hopefully that's a good sign.