Twin Pregnancy Update Weeks 26-27

How Many Weeks: This update covers 26 weeks pregnant with twins and 27 weeks pregnant with twins.

Babies Update: At my specialist ultrasound last week the babies were looking great! Both are head down and only 1 oz apart in weight (which is great!). At 26 weeks, Baby A was weighing about 2 pounds and Baby B is weighing 1 pound 15 oz. Today at my 27 week doctor appointment my doctor said my belly is measuring about 32 weeks – I figured it was bigger! My doctor also said that it’s a good sign that they’re both head down now, although it can change at any point up until delivery.

Frequency of Doctor Appointments: Every 4 weeks with the specialist and every 4 weeks with the doctor. I also had my glucose screening this week and while I passed (yay!), it also turns out I’m slightly anemic so I will have to start taking daily iron supplements. I’m also going to try to eat more iron rich foods. I’m hoping that getting my iron levels up will help with my constant sleepiness!

Weight Gain: 30 pounds! The recommendations seem to vary, but many say that gaining 30-46 pounds by 28 weeks with twins is on track so by that standard I’d actually be on the low end which seems crazy to me! Twin weight gain seems to slow down in the third trimester so packing it on now is a good thing.

Movement: Yes, I feel both of them and it happens most often in the evening after I’ve had my nightly dessert.

Symptoms: Sleepiness, easily out of breath (the stairs get me every time!). Thankful to be feeling pretty good!

Labor Signs: No contractions or braxton hicks yet.

Cravings/Food Aversions: Turkey sandwiches! I didn’t eat deli meat for about 5 years (ever sine we went to a mostly plant based diet in 2012) and even though I eat a lot more meat now than I did then, I never went back to deli meat. However, ever since Thanksgiving when I was on my turkey sandwich kick with the leftover meat from a whole turkey I’ve been craving them. Now I’m buying deli meat (nitrate free) and making turkey sandwiches most days for lunch. Yes, I know it’s commonly believed that it is not recommended to eat deli meat while pregnant but I’ve decided that the listeria risk is extremely low and I’m not concerned with it (read why the American Pregnancy Association says deli meat during pregnancy is probably OK).

I found the best ice cream on the planet in my opinion and have been having a small bowl nearly nightly. I pretty much eat whatever I want, which because I’ve established good eating habits at home is still about 70% healthy and 30% treats/lower quality foods (mostly dessert or when I eat out).

Purchasing/Borrowing: Nothing lately but I did finish organizing all of the twin’s clothes (which are 100% hand me downs). It’s truly amazing how many clothes they have (particularly 0-3 months) thanks to a friend who gave us all her hand-me downs from her two daughters plus Siena’s old clothes.

Maternity Clothes: Day to day clothes are 99% maternity and workout clothes are about 50/50.

 

Exercise: I’ve been feeling pretty good. I’m down to just running about 2 days a week, 3-4 miles with a friend. I don’t really run on my own and those runs are more of a run/walk. I usually run with either Asia or Kelley (who is also pregnant) in the early or mid-morning – I’ve found the later in the day I run the worse I feel and 6 a.m. is actually ideal. However, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be running, maybe 1-2 more weeks. Still no pain while running but it’s just become increasingly uncomfortable. We’ll see!

I also have been continuing to strength train using my favorite Beachbody programs (21 Day fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, A Little Obsessed) about 3-4 days a week. This past week I tried the prenatal workout on Beachbody on Demand and liked it! I’m also doing a 30 day squat challenge with my Happy & Health Pregnancy Support Group (join us!) and we’re up to 165 squats per day (there are rest days every 4th day). I definitely see myself doing more prenatal workouts and prenatal yoga soon as I’m having to modify more and more in the regular workouts. I also want to start going to live prenatal workout classes at the wellness center at my OB’s office.

Interesting Moments: I talked to my doctor more about my desire to potentially have a natural/unmedicated birth again and my concerns that there won’t be another doctor on call who will deliver Twin B breech if that’s the case (not all doctors will). My doctor eased my fears and also said that he has never missed a twin birth so I’m optimistic that he’ll be there!

Another interesting moment was babysitting our niece Molly – it was a good test run for having an infant and a toddler! Molly is 7 months and pretty laid back, but it was still a different dynamic having two humans to watch after! Siena really is great with her, although her attention span when helping out or playing with her isn’t very long. I also forgot that infants tend to take shorter naps than toddlers – I am very used to Siena’s 3 hour naps!!!

Best Moments: Meeting my good friend Shahara’s son on the day he was born (last week). They’re so tiny when they’re born! It was also a good feeling to finish organizing the twin’s closet and I definitely shed a tear going through some of Siena’s old clothes (I found the little hat she wore in the hospital) – I can’t believe how quickly they grow!!!

Missing: My energy!

Fellow moms, what is/was your favorite pregnancy treat? 

See my Twin Pregnancy page for previous updates!

Are you pregnant or recently had a baby? I’d love to connect with you in my Healthy and Happy Pregnancy and Postpartum Support group. Join us!