I said I would be “mentally ready” (whatever that means) for the babies on March 1st and I’m definitely not there (how is it March already!?). While I’m getting there, honestly I don’t think I ever can or will be, so there’s no point in stressing about it! The twins will come when they want and we’ll be ready enough when they do. At this point we have almost everything we need for them when they arrive (still need to pick up the second car seat we’re borrowing and make sure both fit in our 4 Runner, as we still haven’t bought a mini-van). I also managed to freeze another 3 (3 quart size) freezer bags of food for eating after they come by doubling one of my favorite recipes.
How Many Weeks: 33 weeks pregnant with twins.
Babies Update: I won’t get another estimate of their size until my ultrasound next week but my app says they’re the size of coconuts (4.5ish pounds). My favorite pregnancy weekly email, Pregnant Chicken, says sounds like “the most uncomfortable thing to be carrying in your body aside from maybe a ball of barbed wire and broken glass.” Pretty much. Baby Center also told me that they may have reached their full length at this point and all they really need to do is fatten up and finish developing their lungs (which happens around 34 weeks).
Frequency of Doctor Appointments: We’ve officially moved to every two weeks with the OB and every 4 weeks with the specialist for ultrasounds.
Labor Signs: None besides Braxton Hicks and they haven’t increased in frequency.
Weight Gain: 38 pounds, 1 pound up from last week.
Movement: Lots and lots of kicks and turns from both babies, especially at night when I’m trying to go to sleep.
Symptoms: The sleepiness continues though I haven’t been able to nap as much lately. I’ve been making more social plans in anticipation of my social life disappearing for a bit which means I have less time to nap because I need to use my toddler free time to work, not nap. I’ve also have some on and off nausea over the last two weeks that I forgot to mention in my last update. I’m just finding that things tire me out (even long walks) and I need to sit more often than I’m used to which is humbling!
I’m also finding it less comfortable to sit on my bed or on the couch for long and I’ve been using my yoga bolster to sit on the ground sometimes while I watch TV (cross-legged with legs on the floor and butt on the bolster). But besides that, I’m pretty thankful to be feeling (and sleeping) pretty well overall. Even though I’ve been consistently drinking over 120 oz of water a day, I still sometimes don’t even wake up once to pee in the night (usually just once) and sleep right through 8-9 hours. I still wake up feeling like I need more sleep every day though! The 120 oz of water, however, does mean I’m going to the bathroom at least every hour during the day, often even more!
Cravings/Food Aversions: Craving chocolate, ice cream and cookies – I’m not sure these are pregnancy related or me just not reigning in my normal sweet tooth (pretty sure it’s the latter). Ha! No aversions still which has been nice!
Purchasing/Borrowing: Nothing but I have my eye on getting a delivery robe from Pink Blush – I am signed up for their emails and keep waiting for at least a 20% off discount code before I purchase. I’m pretty sure I can’t actually wear it while delivering since with twins I have to deliver in the OR (more on that later), but I want to wear it after they’re born and for some maternity photos (not professional maternity photos, just with my new iPhone X!).
Maternity Clothes: Officially growing out of some of my clothes (you can see in the bump photo that the pink favorite tank of mine is getting short!!) and officially sick of wearing jeans and try to avoid wearing them as much as possible.
Exercise: I’m still exercising most days (counting a long walk as exercise) but definitely slowing down. Last week I did two prenatal strength workouts on Beachbody on Demand, two prenatal yoga videos at home and went for three 3+ mile walk/hikes (one with Asia, one with my friend Brooke and one with Kate).I have also been doing some yoga stretching at night before bed most nights because it really seems to help me feel better.
On Wednesday I went for a 3.5ish mile walk with a friend on the coast at 6:45 AM and then came home and ate breakfast, cleaned for 30 min (seriously this is a workout in itself, especially sweeping) and then took my car in for an oil change, which is about 1/2 of a mile from the beach playground. Between walking there, around the playground, chasing Siena around the beach and walking back, I’d estimate by noon I had walked over 6 miles and I was EXHAUSTED. Unfortunately I had a training call in the afternoon with the woman who is taking over one of the roles I have in my digital marketing job (indefinitely – I will have to reduce my hours when the babies come) and didn’t get a chance to nap. By 7 PM I was literally falling nodding off, I was so tired! It’s insane to think that just 9 months ago I’d run 20 miles at once and feel less tired than this. Making and carrying two babies is hard work.
Interesting Moments: I’ve been doing a lot to prepare for birth lately and plan to do an entire blog post about my thoughts about how I’m preparing to give birth to my twins as naturally as possible. Look for that next week!
Last Tuesday (forgot to mention it in my last post), I went to my first North County Mothers of Multiples meeting with another twin mom to be, Sara! I joined NcMOMS shortly after I entered the second trimester as a recommendation from a Facebook friend (there are mother of multiple groups all over the US so definitely look for one near you if you’re a twin mom or twin mom to be). Sara and I connected on Facebook (she’s only 1-2 weeks behind me) and suggested we go together. She even picked me up and we drove together (it felt like an online date for pregnant women). It was so nice getting to know her and getting to talk to someone who is basically in the exact same situation as me. She’s even a runner as well (she’s also stopped running now) which is very cool! It’ll be really nice to have a friend to text and swap stories with in those early days. We’re also planning to go to a new members lunch together next weekend.
I also recently had a good hour long FaceTime call with new twin mom Ashley who I met on Instagram. She had a successful unmedicated vaginal twin birth (read her twin birth story on her blog) and gave me some good insights into that as well as other tips for breastfeeding.
Best Moments: I had a wonderful morning at the beach with Siena on Wednesday – we met a friend and her son at the park there and then headed down to the sand just the two of us. It was a special moment because I know the one on one time with Siena isn’t going to happen as much soon!
Last Friday my sister in law Claire treated me to a prenatal massage which was amazing! We also got to catch up and chat while dipping our feet in the indoor jacuzzi (we were going to lay by the pool but it’s been super cold in San Diego lately). It was a great morning and I’m so thankful to have such an amazing sister in law!
Missing: Being able to get out of bed and off the floor without grunting.
Looking Forward To: Making it to the 34 week milestone (lungs are fully developed and babies can come at any time….ahhhhhh).
Moms – did you EVER feel ready for your baby/babies to arrive? Was there one thing you HAD to get done before they came to make you feel “ready”?
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!
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