March 9, 2000
Took two e.p.t. pregnancy tests at Troy's urging, with positive results. Actually took a total of five tests, all positive.
April 13, 2000
TWINS! Ultrasound also showed the placenta previa, and the sub-chorionic bleed, which was why I had been bleeding and/or spotting for about a month and a half. Was told I am 12 weeks and 4 days along.
April 18, 2000
Heard a heartbeat!
May 2, 2000
AFP test. Heard both hearts beating. Measured at 18 cm.
May 21, 2000
Got married!!!
May 31, 2000
Ultrasound showed that one of the twins is a boy, and they are not identical because they are separated by a membrane.
June 13, 2000
Finally got results from AFP test-everything is fine. Measured at 26 cm, although only 21 and a half weeks along. Babies still measured under 500 grams. Haven't gained any weight, am not even back up to pre-pregnancy weight. Finally got meds (Prilosec) for esophageal reflux, since obviously the daily vomiting wasn't from morning sickness anymore. Heard both hearts beating. Still have not felt the babies move.
June 17, 2000
Felt something that could have been a baby, not really sure though.
July 3, 2000
Gained 5 lbs. Discussed with doctor continual vomiting, even with Prilosec. Suggested possibility of lazy sphincter, to which he agreed. Prescribed Prevacid. Heard both babies' heartbeats. One of the babies is in the upper right corner and the other is in the lower left. STILL have not positively felt them. Too small???
July 6, 2000
Felt the babies!
July 7, 2000
Troy felt the babies! Grocery store clerk was able to see the pregnancy. Both Troy and I can see my tummy bumping when it's kicked.
July 11, 2000
Ultrasound showed that twin B is breech. Still unable to tell what gender Twin A is. Heard both heartbeats with Doppler. Babies are about 700 grams (about 1 lb and a few ounces) each. Prevacid has been working, but doesn't last the whole day like it is supposed to, so the doctor verified that I can take more than one a day, also picked up the Gaviscon. The babies were on opposite sides, so the ultrasound pictures are just their bodies. Not that I can tell what's what anyway. Just starting the 25th week.
July 18, 2000
Ultrasound to measure my cervix. Did not get results yet.
July 21, 2000
Lost 2 lbs. Heard both heartbeats. Was given a glucola test. Began feeling extremely faint. Was unable to follow doctor's conversation, or to find the appointment desk on my own, due to extremely blurry eyes and lack of proper brain functioning. Nearly fell, and threw up as they were preparing a cot for me to lie down on for a bit. Felt better after vomiting, but was still a bit faint so made use of the cot. Picked up more Prevacid. Later in the evening, was able to drink milk for the first time in months!
July 27, 2000
Did not feel the babies that much today. Not sure if they're mad at Troy for taking his sister to Phoenix to see Britney Spears :) or if they were just unused to hearing all the strange voices, since I had a temporary assignment as a receptionist. They kick when I poke my belly, though, so I know they're still there. :)
August 4, 2000
Ultrasound showed that the other twin (Twin A) is probably a girl. :) Could definitely see the you-know-what on the boy, and couldn't see anything like that on the other one, which would kinda indicate "girlness".
August 8, 2000
Got results from the glucola, and the cervical exam. Doctor never did explain why I had such a reaction to the glucose. Am a little bit anemic, but was told that is normal at this stage, especially with twins. Was not given any extra iron to take. My blood sugar level is good. Gained half a pound since the last visit. Have gained a total of 18 lbs. Did a weight gain calculator on Babycenter which said I should gain about 35-45 lbs total. The babies are growing at the same rate. My uterus measures 35cm, and my cervix is 4.8 cm, which is long, since the average is 3.5. Discovered that as far as "twinness" genes are concerned, it's only the mother's side of the family that matters. So, thanks Mom, Gram, and Gram's Mom! :)
August 17, 2000
Doctor is strongly encouraging me to breastfeed. Told him I didn't think I wanted to but he said I should at least think about it. Discussed the pain in my chest again, and apparently he thinks it has to do with the GERD. Asked for some iron tablets, which he prescribed, along with more Prevacid, Maalox Plus, and Allegra because apparently I've been suffering from allergies, not a sinus infection. Doctor also suggested Mom coming early to mid October, since they either will be born or will be about to be born. After coming home from the doctor visit, received, from Mom and Dad, The Art of Parenting Twins by Patricia Maxwell Malstrom, a mother of twin girls, and Janet Poland. Got to page 159, where it talks about the Physical Growth and Development. Earlier on in the book the author says, "Women may inherit the tendency to produce more than one egg during a cycle from either their mother or their father." So, maybe what I read about only the mother's side contributing to "twinness" isn't fully accurate.
August 18, 2000
WIC appointment today. Got certified immediately. Nutritionist scolded me, saying that the amount of food I've been eating is normally what she sees in women in their first trimester, suffering from morning sickness. She said that the babies will be really small, since I've only gained 13lbs, unless I get my weight up. She gave me a check for, among other things, evaporated milk and split peas or pinto beans. Yay. She did give me 1lb cheese, 2 gallons of milk, and some other stuff, including checks for fresh fruit. Yay, for reals this time.
August 21, 2000
Had a can of soup that's mixed with a can of milk, and threw it all up. Wonder if I'm lactose intolerant. Actually, the WIC nutritionist asked me that also.
August 24, 2000
Another ultrasound today proved Troy to have been correct. No more pink jammies. "Abby" is no longer Abby, but is now [Insert male name here]. Yep, both boys. Cade is still in the right position, but Twin A is breech. Somehow he wiggled and squirmed around enough so he's now feet first, and still presenting. I am told, however, that there is plenty of time for him to turn around. We'll see what the doctor has to say next Friday. Also found out why I've been feeling faint whenever I lie on my back to do an ultrasound. It's because, like most pregnant women, when I lie on my back the babies put pressure on the major blood vessels such as the aorta, which hinders the flow of blood to the head, causing me to lose oxygen.
September 1, 2000
Brought up a few issues with Dr. Petrakis today; namely, the health and size of the babies, my circulation, and my ears. As far as the babies, they are small, but he assured me that that's exactly what we'd expect. He said their size is appropriate for twins at this stage. My uterus measured 39cm, which we know is what women at 39 weeks usually measure. He said we are doing very well, we're "coming right along". Regarding the babies' health, although not much can really be seen from just an ultrasound, everything is good except for the issue with their kidneys, which he said is not something to be concerned about, he and Dr. Gilson are just keeping an eye on it. Baby A (Dominic?) is, as we know, breech, so we'll be keeping an eye on that too. When I asked if it is normal to feel one baby moving significantly more than the other, he said yes, as long as I am feeling them about the same as I usually feel them, they should be fine. It may depend on their position. I also asked the doctor about my legs, how whenever I put them up they start feeling "crawly", and he said I probably have "restless legs syndrome", which is an actual condition for which medicine is usually prescribed, but which would not be safe for the babies. He recommended hot fluids. As for me freaking out in the car, he said "you're huge", so maybe my lungs have a hard time working or something. He was very sympathetic, understanding that "being pregnant is miserable", and that all the little things that occur would normally not be a problem, since I could just take medicine for it, but now they just pile up and seem overwhelming. Heard both heartbeats, gained 2lbs, blood pressure was good. As for my ears, he checked 'em and they seemed okay. Said the feeling that something is in there is probably connected to my allergies. Dr. Petrakis was very encouraging today, reminding me that we only have 6-8 weeks left, MAX. He said "max" several times, and made copies of my records to carry around, "just in case".
September 3, 2000
Did not feel Cade at all on Saturday, and most of Sunday, so went into Urgent Care, after speaking with the doctor on call. They did a fetal heart monitoring test on both babies, and everything was fine. Had gained six pounds since being weighed on the 1st. Nurse said it was because I was extremely swollen.
September 11, 2000
Went to the childbirthing class. Took abbreviated notes as follows: the babies can hear very well, so instructor stressed talking to them, and singing if one is so inclined. It takes about six to eight weeks for the uterus to shrink back to size. A baby weighing four to nine pounds at birth is considered normal. Woman's shoe size may change during pregnancy, never to return. Kegel exercises can be helpful. It has been scientifically proven that breast-fed babies get less infections than bottle-fed babies, because the antibodies the mother (me) has built up over 21 years are passed on to the baby through the milk, which is also better digested than formula. Six to eight wet diapers per day per baby is fine. During labor the mother-to-be should not be left alone. During contractions she cannot move or talk. During the transition stage, when the cervix is dilating from 8cm to 10cm, the woman will most likely become very irritable.
September 12, 2000
Appointment with Dr. Gilson. Gained three pounds from what I weighed on the 3rd. Did another fetal heart monitor on both babies, with normal results. Had to lie on my side since I felt faint again, lying on my back. Nurse said there was protein and something that sounded like "keytones" in my urine, so they were going to send it to the lab. From what I gathered, that means there may be something up with my kidneys. Was prescribed Amoxicillin and Benadryl for my sinuses, since the Allegra wasn't doing the trick.
September 20, 2000
Went to the doctor's today, for an NST, or a non-invasive stress test. In other words, the fetal heart monitor. Only did Brendan this time, and it was really good. I was having very small contractions, too small to feel, and he was able to raise his heartbeat during them. Also had an ultrasound. The doctors are very pleased with the babies' progress. Brendan is 4lb 13oz, and Cade is 4lb 14oz. Saw Cade's little face! It was so precious. I love my babies. :) 'Scuse me Troy, our babies. Brendan is still breech, but Dr. Petrakis said that does not mean that a c-section will be performed. Ultimately it is up to Dr. Gilson. Dr. Petrakis said that with his twins, the girl was breech, but she was born second so she had room to turn after the boy came out. Brendan is still presenting though, so if he's going to turn he needs to do it before trying to come out. Got more Prevacid, some Augmentin and Deep Sea nose spray for my sinuses, as well as some Chlorpheniramine and more Allegra. We are treating for sinusitis as well as allergies, to see what works I guess. The pharmacist did no have any Sudafed, but she said that she wouldn't recommend it for me now, anyway, which is why she gave me the Chlorpheniramine. Did not gain any weight, which is to be expected since I throw up at least once a day. Yucky.
September 21, 2000
Picked up the next two WIC checks today. The WIC people are glad that I have gained weight, since I did so poorly before.
September 23, 2000
Today is exactly a month until the expected due date! Getting pretty excited, nervous too. Not about the labor exactly, but about taking care of two babies at once. Got a Pooh diaper bag, and looked at car seats and strollers. Mom is coming on the 16th of October!!! Hang in there babies. Troy said he wants them to come out so he doesn't have to keep seeing me like this. :)
September 26, 2000
Happy birthday BABIES!!!!!