20 Week ultrasound and appt!!!

Aria is weighing in at 13 oz and is 10.5 in long putting her in the 56th percentile.Alexander is weighing in at 12 oz and is 10.3 in. long putting him in the 53rd percentile. Both have a normal 3 vessel cord and 4 chamber heart. Their little bladders were nice and full so we know their kidneys are working and their tummy was full as well so they are drinking properly. Both were very active and of course they re-confirmed Aria is indeed a Girl and Alexander a Boy!!!!!!!

They have changed positions, they are now almost side to side and Aria is head down and Alexander is breech (AKA transverse positioning)

Cervix is still measuring over 4cm and shut tight the placenta previa remains and has not moved at all. No signs of funneling and despite contractions that are on and off the TAC is holding super well and no cervical changes have occurred!!!! Doctors are very happy and to ease the contractions I remain on restricted activity. I don't have lay flat in bed I just have to be off my feet and relax so my uterus can do the same......

~Not so pleasent side affects of a twin pregnancy~ GRAPHIC
Because I think all pregnant women should know what to expect with Twins I will be very open.
I have developed very bad vaginal swelling, hemorrhoids, leg cramping and numbness. This all results from them restricting my blood flow to the lower part of my body. Baths help ALOT and preparation H......There is not so much I can do but I try and keep the pressure tilted and lay on my side throughout the day.

All in all I am very happy the babies are both doing great and know that I just have to hang on a little over 16 weeks more. I want healthy babies that don't need the NICU so I will do everything to make that happen!!!!

Twins 20 Weeks

18 weeks and Doc Appt.

So I went to the docs on Wed. 2/23 and after a long conversation and a lot of contradicting himself I came home confused. The doc wanted me to call my primary OB and see what to do about the contractions I have been having and how to approach the situation. One thing very hard for non-TAC docs to understand is that you can contract and have no cervical changes (since the TAC prevents the changes).

Came home and called my primary OB and they called the high risk doc back.....I ended up with a prescription for Indocin to stop the contractions and was told to stay of my feet. I was hoping that with no funneling I would have no contractions but apparently I have 1 very irritable uterus.......

I still have placenta previa which is now becoming concerning because of the contractions and my risk of hemorrhaging. I was told if the contractions persist or get worse I am looking at a long stay in the hospital on bedrest.......Hoping this does not happen and I will advocate to stay at home since it's easier for me that way...

The biggest complication I face is how limited my activity has to become and the fact that I have a 3 year old that needs me to take care of her....I feel horrible that I can't be up and do everything for her. She is the best daughter and because she is so smart is able to do lots all by herself!!!

Hoping the next few weeks fly by and I can pass 22 weeks (time of first loss) and then move past 24, 28 and 30......35 is the big goal for me at this point and that will be on 6/22........

17 weeks!!!

We are on our way to the first goal of 24 weeks!!!! 24 weeks is the age of viability in the doctors eyes.....Not my favorite term but I can breathe easier once I pass that point...Then it's the 28 week mark followed by 32 weeks and we will be home free from there.

We went ahead and bought the stroller and car seats while they were on sale....It's early but I have much confidence in this pregnancy so I am staying positive!!!

The last couple days have been a lot of growing and pulling...Both babies are very active. Aria likes the daytime and Alexander starts bouncing around at night when I lay down to go to bed....I am hoping that schedule changes!!!

I had to venture out and buy some new maternity shirts that are longer since the others are getting to short and very fast.

I am happy to say my TAC is holding very well. I have lots of pressure but was told it's from the placenta and Baby Aria sitting right on top of the TAC. I am open to the stitch (which is expected) we just make sure I remain closed under it. Right now my cervix measures 4+ cm long and closed tight from stitch down. At this point with Addy I only had about 1.5cm of cervix left and was completely funneled.....I am not on bedrest but due to uterine irritability I am staying off my feet and keeping hydrated!!!!

I will keep everyone posted as I get new info and progress!!!

16 week twins

16w4d "I am already bigger"

Stroller

1 of 2 carseats

The Set

The arrows point to my TAC (stitch) and thats placenta and baby sitting right on top of it!!!!

Sexes Revealed 16w1d Ultrasound

First off...Baby A is a girl (Aria) and Baby B is a boy Alexander!!! Yay we are so excited and Claudia is overjoyed to be getting a boy!!!!!

Aria weighs 6 oz and is in the 79% (An average 16 week baby is 3.5 oz.) She is on the bottom and is a little squished so we didn't get many good pics. We were able to see she has a normal 3 vessel cord and 4 chamber heart. We even saw her tiny kidneys. The tail-end of Aria's placenta is still over my internal cervix opening, so I am anxious for that to MOVE!!!!!

Alexander weighs 5 oz and is in the 73%. He is on top and taking up all the room in the entire top part of my uterus. He loves to stretch completely out, he also loves kicking his sister in the head (Not nice!!!). He would not turn in the right way so we didn't get to see much. We will take a look at his heart at 20 weeks and try and see the umbilical cord. He is great at hiding important things.

The cervix: Well I couldn't be happier to announce that it measures 3.62cm and shut tight. It is shortening but that's expected, from stitch down it's sealed and that's what we want. My uterus is a little irritable but I started the 17P(progesterone) shots today and that should help. I have very active babies so they trigger it sometimes.

I am 16w1d and my uterus is measuring 24 WEEKS!!!!!! Which means I have healthy babies and I am going to be GINORMOUS!!!! Doc is happy with everything and we hope everything stays good. I am due back in 2 weeks and will update more then :-)!!!!!!

Aria

Alexander

Alexander (top) Aria(bottom)

Regular OB appt.

Well I have only gained 2 pounds in the last 4 weeks ARG!!!!! I am also spilling protein in my urine which means I am dehydrated. So more food and water. They told me to eat every hour or so even when I am not hungry bahahahaha!!!!!

We did get to hear the heartbeats and both sound great, although they were trying to avoid the doppler and it was kinda funny.

It was confirmed they are pinching my sciatic nerve and a chiropractor might be helpful. I am in lots of pain so I will be making an appt. I also measure about 6-7 months pregnant and won't even be 4 months till tomorrow. I am ginormous!!!

Hoping to find out the sexes on Thurs when I have my ultrasound and praying my cervix is long and closed.

Me today 15w6d

15 Weeks Today!!!!

So it's been a bit of a roller coaster the past week but I am now 15 weeks!!!!! That means in 1 more week we find out the sexes YAY!!!!! Things are looking up for the future and I can't wait to start buying the baby stuff...
How awesome to have a house full of babies. They truly are a blessing and I will bend over backwards to get them as close to full term as possible. I know the best blessing in life is to be a mother and I get a double blessing all at once so that means I am double blessed.

My Angel Gabriella was due this month and it's always a hard month for me to get through. I know she is in a better place and I have to trust in God to know that. Through her I was able to have Addyson and then be blessed with twins!!!! For this I am thankful for her Everyday and miss her every moment I am alive!!!!

Stay tuned for the announcement of the sexes Feb. 10th!!!! Hoping they both let us take a peek!!!

14w5d

So we are fast approaching the appt to find out the sexes!!!!!! We are so excited so we can get all the items planned and save, save, save and then buy, buy, buy!!!! We found the fabulous carseats we love and the stroller they snap into.... Can't wait to make that purchase!!!

The last week has been a bit rough. My sciatic nerve is aggravated so it hurts to move my right leg. After a 2 hour adventure at Wal-Mart I found out that my body just can't handle being up that long. So I came home put my feet up and haven't done much since. There is much more pain than I realized when it comes to growing 2 babies. I have also been suffering with some moderate depression. There are no drugs that are really safe to take while pregnant, so I will just have to manage it.

14w2d

Gotta love maternity pants!!!

Every once in awhile I feel one of the babies move, it's super early so it's not very often and I have to be laying real still. I am hoping that as they get bigger the excitement will too and we can really start preparing for them to be here.

Trip to the docs 13w5d

So after a night of excruciating pain and a morning of more pain and then increased pelvic pressure I called the docs and they fit me in.

All is well in the cervix department. I am measuring almost 5cm closed with no funneling. Both babies look good and have great heartbeats.

I on the other hand am a little worse for wear. The pain is ligament pain and lingual pain that wraps around my pelvis and shoots down my thighs, through my hip joints and up the sides of my abdomen. Let me tell you how fun that is!!!! They told me take some tylenol and take it easy........Everything is being stretched at a rapid pace and my body is trying to accommodate(translation: suck it up and deal with it). This momma wants to cry and fast-forward to the due date.

I am happy all is well and that both babies look fabulous!!!! Time to put my feet up and relax and pray it gets better.

I know I look rough

13w5d Bare Belly!!!

13 weeks YAY!!!!!!!

According to my docs I am now in the second trimester!!!!! Adios first trimester!!!! I feel good most days. Feeling a lot of pressure but that's to be expected. Some days I think they are going to rip me apart since I am in so much pain......

My p17 shots have been approved and will start in 3 weeks to help calm the uterus and prevent contractions. The shots themselves are not so pleasant as they are constituted in castor oil. They made a world of difference with Addy so I am hoping they do the same for this pregnancy.

I am pretty much just waiting to get to 16 weeks so I can find out the sexes and get the critical weeks over with.

With an incompetent cervix starting at about 16 weeks, the cervix is watched very closely since drastic changes can occur in a matter of days. As the baby(s) gain weight that puts more pressure on my cervix and therefore I rely 100% on the TAC to hold everything closed. From 16-28 weeks we kind of hold our breath and pray for the best.

The biggest difference so far between the TAC(transabdominal cerclage) and the TVC(transvaginal cerclage) for me is this: at 14weeks with Addy after my cerclage placement my cervix measured 2.7cm and funneling(opening) with bedrest since 9 weeks. At 12 weeks with TWINS (uterus measuring 20 weeks) my cervix measures 4.2cm and completely closed with no bedrest. This is a HUGE difference!!!

Here's to more weeks with no BEDREST!!!!! YIPPEEEEE (I still take it easy though)

12w1d Ultrasound(Highrisk) Appt.

The ultrasound today was Fabulous.

Baby A cooperated well and we got the needed measurements for the nuchal fold scan for down syndrome and Baby A tested negative for Down's and measured perfect for everything else. Heartbeat was 160 and measured 12w1d.

Baby B did not want to cooperate but after getting up and moving around we were able to get the measurements and Baby also tested negative for Down's. Heartbeat was 152 and measured 12w6d. 


Both babies were very active. A was actively kicking B's sac and We saw B reach down and gab their feet. They are so funny and you can see how one get's the other going. A is definitely the show-off and B likes looking right where the soundwaves are coming from. 

Cervix is measuring 4.2cm which is a good normal length.


Baby A's placenta is sitting on top of the internal opening of my cervix which means I need to take it easy. It should move up in the next few weeks and then I can breathe a little easier. The only problem this poses is that my placenta can start bleeding and that would be very bad. It's normal this early for it to be low so we are just keeping a close eye at this point and putting my feet up.

Weight: Well I am at -7 pounds gained and was informed today that for the babies to have the best chance at being full term I need to put on at 10-20 pounds in the next 8 weeks. Twins have a much healthier beginning if the mom can put on weight earlier in the pregnancy since the pregnancy is shorter. 


Next appt. Feb 10th. I start progesterone shots to keep contractions from starting and we will get to see the SEXES!!!!!!! We are so, so excited to see!!!! I will be finally posting the ultrasound pics later today!!!!

Baby B Side Body Profile

Baby A Side Body Profile

Baby B heartbeat

Baby A heartbeat