Friday, August 21, 2009

Coming Out - No More Chopped-Off Heads



Here we are at 20 weeks (yesterday). I've decided to use this lovely picture my great friend and photographer Melissa took of us last night as my first picture with heads attached. I've been a bit shy about showing our faces but - in reality - there's really no reason not to. I was wearing non-sensible 6 or 7" wedges for the picture, the equivalent of standing on a box - normally I come up to J the Elder's nipples at most.....

Well, it's been a big week for us with two doctor's appointments. On Tuesday it was our regular OB and on Wednesday the peri. At the OB's we got to hear the heartbeats on the doppler, measure my tummy and ask my usual list of questions. I'm now measuring 28 to 29 weeks, so 8 or 9 weeks ahead. Quite how this growth is going to play out over the next, hopefully, four months is anyone's guess. Apparently the reason I'm in quite considerable pain almost constantly is because my ribcage is buckling out. Nice! My uterus has gone from my belly button to under my ribcage in the last four weeks. My OB started to drop some hints about not making it quite as far as I'd hoped, to 37 weeks. Hmmmm. Please let me get to at least 34 weeks. I'm a bit scared now. But the highlight of the visit was my weighing in. The nurse weighed me, went to write down the number, then turned around and told me she'd made a mistake, could I please get back on the scales. Erm, it's no mistake, I really have porked up that much. I stepped back on and her number was right - I've now gained 26lbs since before pregnancy. My OB didn't mention it and this is totally in line with the twin recommendations for weight gain. It made me chuckle, though.

The peri visit the next day went really well. It was the 20 week anatomy scan and they spent alot of time measuring or looking at the hearts, brains, bones, blood flow, placentas, amniotic fluid levels, among other things. Everything is looking good for now, much to our relief. We were told that this is no absolute guarantee of healthy babies, but that it's looking very good at this stage. My cervical length is unchanged at 4cm, which is a huge relief, given the on and off cramping I've been having. I'm having three types of cramps, the first I'm pretty sure are round ligament growth pains in my sides, a sharp pain when I move around or get up out of bed, the second type is a sort of tightening of my entire tummy, lasting longer than I think Braxton Hicks Contractions would - I think it's growth, too - and the third are very mild period-like pains. The latter worry me the most, because they can be a sign of cervical softening. However, there was no sign of that on the ultrasound. I was told to call immediately if any of these cramps increase in intensity or frequency.

Both babies were moving around alot - so amazing to see that. Our baby girl measured 20w4d (I was 19w6d) and weighed 15oz and our baby boy measured 20w2d and weighed 13oz. We were so happy and relieved after this appointment. Each peri visit is so nerve-wracking and it's a huge high to come out of it unscathed so far. Now I need to focus on getting to 24 weeks and viability, then 28 weeks and so on. Our next peri visit is in four weeks again and our OB visits are now down from every four to every three weeks. So far so good.

I want to finish by thanking strongwoman for giving me a Lovely Blog Award. Thanks for following my blog!

8 comments:

  1. You two are just too adorable. Love the maternity top. So looks like we have something in common as we're 5'1 and 6'5.

    You've gained 26 lbs??? You must have been itty bitty prior to pg. So glad to hear that everything is going so well for you and I hope to hear more good reports.

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  2. You guys are beautiful!! I am glad to hear the babies are doing well and I hope they stay put for a while!!

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  3. What a wonderful way to "come out"! You both look so vibrant, and above all, happy! Wonderful news about the babies as well. I hope your pregnancy continues to go smoothly.

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  4. Great picture! You guys are so cute! And, I can't believe you gained that much either- it must be all baby and you must be TINY regularly! I'm so glad everything is going so well!(though I am sorry about your ribs!).

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  5. Awwww...you two look so cute and you are positively radiant! That is the cutest maternity top too! That was a funny story about your weigh in with the nurse! The thing with your ribs sounds painful but hopefully your body will continue to figure everything out and make the necessary changes so that everything fits!

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  6. Adorable picture! Just stopping by! Love your blog.

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  7. So nice to SEE you, Jessica! Don't feel too bad about your weight gain; as you know, I've just got one in there, and I've gained 19 pounds.

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