Ultrasounds and Maternity photos

My last entry I mentioned my ultrasound but there were some details I didn't get to share that I want to make sure I remember.  Happy thoughts to help me get through these next few weeks. I may repeat myself.

Baby Girl weighed about 4.5 pounds and has a head full of hair. Baby Boy weighed about 4.2 pounds with some peach fuzz.  Both babies are head down, Baby Boy has head tucked up under his sisters chin, like she is comforting him.  At the time, Baby Boy had a full tummy and had his hand between his legs. Baby Girl was practicing her breathing and was playing with her umbilical cord.  They are both so big we couldn't get any decent shots of the Twinjas.

I had some maternity photos taken at 27 weeks by my dear friend Nicole. I think they turned out great and I really appreciate her taking the time out of her busy schedule to take and edit the pictures.  I am going to share a few of them today.

28 weeks

Hello 3rd trimester! I am so happy to have made it this far. 28 weeks is is an important milestone. Survival rates increase to 90% at 28 weeks. According to babycenter.com the babies should weigh about  2 1/4 lbs. At my doctor's appointment on Tuesday, 27 weeks and 4 days they were both about 2 1/2 pounds so they are both still gaining weight at a good rate. Everything looks really good with the babies.  Their eyesight is still developing and their still adding more body fat to prepare for the outside world.

There was an issue discovered during ultrasound that was discovered some funneling and shortening of the cervix, so I was put on immediate modified bed rest, so no more work for me. I am also on 10 mg of Procardia 4 times a day to help prevent preterm labor.  I will be visiting the doctor every two weeks now.

The first 5 days of bed rest haven't been too bad, trying to keep myself on a schedule. I am sure the longer it goes the harder it will be. But anything to have healthy babies. My final goal is still 37 weeks and and no NICU time. But my next short term goal is 30 weeks.

Me at 28 weeks.

Baby Boy 27 weeks and 4 days

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Baby Girl 27 weeks and 4 days

28 Weeks
Total weight gain: I didn't get a scale on this week, feeling rather mooish.
Maternity Clothes? Yes! I also love Michael's t-shirts they are so comfy and perfect for the house.
Stretch Marks? I started to notice some faint ones on my hips. I'm not always focused with moisturizing there.
Sleep? Between my bladder and having to wake up to take meds, sleep is a challenge.
Best Moment this week? Seeing my babies during the ultrasound.
Miss Anything? Sweet Tea
Food Craving? Oreo and cookie dough blizzards
Gender prediction? One of each.I was right!
Labor Signs? Shortening and funneling of the cervix
Symptoms? Shortness of breath, itchy stomach (not scratching though), heart palpitations, fatigue and strangely the hair on my legs stopped growing.
Belly Button in or out? Flat
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy, nervous
Looking forward to?Starting my Hynobabies trading.

I'll be back tomorrow to share the details of my baby shower. Leave me some love so I know you were here.

23 Weeks

23 Weeks, about 14 more weeks to go! WooHoo!  According to BabyCenter.com the twinjas are 11 inches long and weight a little over a pound, but at my amazing ultrasound yesterday I found out they weigh 1 1/2 pounds. They are about the size of a grapefruit. Babies are doing great and everything looks great. I'm doing well too!  It was so nice being able to see the babies, even though I had been able to feel them the past week.  I could have spent all afternoon watching them kick each other. Baby Girl wasn't so shy this week and we actually got some pretty good profile shots of her.  Baby Boy was a ham a usual.  He turned his face towards us and crossed his arms in an X.

The babies sense of movement is developed now so if I want to dance around to Prince, they can feel me move. Their blood vessels in the lungs are developing to prepare for breathing and they are hearing more noises outside of the womb. They can also dream during their time asleep.

23 Weeks
Total weight gain: 23 pounds (doing good with gaining a pound a week, scary but anything for my babies)
Maternity Clothes? Yes! They are cute and comfy.
Stretch Marks? No, moisturizing three times a day
Sleep?It's difficult but I get my best sleep the nights Michael rubs my feet.
Best Moment this week? Seeing the babies on the ultrasound and watching them kick each other.
Miss Anything? Chicken
Food Craving? Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nothing this week!
Gender prediction? One of each.I was right!
Labor Signs? No and hopefully not for a very long time.
Symptoms? Shortness of breath, itchy stomach (not scratching though), heart palpitations
Belly Button in or out? Kind of flat
Wedding rings on or off? On but it keeps slipping off.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy
Looking forward to? Mother's Day!

15 weeks

15 weeks! We're 1/3 of the way through.  It has been a great week.  I had a doctor's appointment and ultrasound on Wednesday.  The babies are right on target with growth, all of heir internal organs that we can see so far look great. The tech could even tell what sex the babies are.  Sadly that information is sealed in an envelope until our gender reveal party in April.  A very long time to wait. My co-worker Sam is holding onto the info for me. I can't wait for April!

This week the babies are the size of oranges and are about 4 inches long and weigh 2 1/2 ounces. Their legs are longer than their arms and they can move all their joints and limbs. They can even sense light.

I am starting to feel better. My all day, every day sickness has subsided a bit. It is down to once a day, sometimes twice a day.

Here are some pictures from my ultrasound. The babies are 14 weeks and 5 days. Baby 1 was more interested in stretching out and hanging out upside down.  Baby 2 did give us a perfect profile shot and even waved!

Here is me a 15 weeks and 1 day. There is a bit of a bump, but I think I just look like I have been indulging too much in chocolate cake.

How far along? 15 Weeks
Total weight gain: 5
Maternity Clothes? Mainly wearing maternity tops now. I think it will be time to upgrade my bra soon, my boobs are finally starting to grow!
Stretch Marks? Nothing yet, but I moisturize religiously.
Sleep? Still going to bed early, wishing for naps around 3 in the afternoon.
Best Moment this week? Seeing the babies. I almost cried tears of joys.
Miss Anything? Cocktails
Food Craving? Pizza with pineapple
Anything making you queasy or sick?Nothing this week
Gender prediction? One of each or two girls.
Labor Signs? No and hopefully not for a very long time.
Symptoms? Headaches, fatigue and still a little nausea.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On but it keeps slipping off.
Happy or Moody most of the time?Not as moody this week.
Looking forward to? Finding out the sexes of the babies

9 week ultrasound

Last week we went in for our first ultrasound at my new ob/gyn, Dr. G's office. I always get nervous the night  before an appointment. I worry that something will be wrong.  My worries were unfounded though.  The babies were doing great.  They were measuring perfectly at 9 1/2 weeks. Baby 1's heartbeat was 168 and Baby 2's heartbeat was 177.  Baby 2 even wiggled a little bit on the ultrasound.  Everything looked great.

It is so amazing seeing my little miracles.  They look like little gummy bears.  It will be so hard having to wait until the next ultrasound.

I did have a bit of a scare on Thursday night. I noticed a little bit of spotting as I was leaving work. The first thing I did was call the Dr. G's answering service.  The on call nurse called me back in less than 5 minutes and she knew right away that I was pregnant with twins through IVF. I was very impressed.  She didn't think it was anything to worry about but told me to go home and rest for the rest of the night and the next day. and to drink two bottles of water. I followed her instructions exactly and haven't had any other problems.  I was very impressed when they called the next day to check on me.

Still praying for sticky babies and a healthy full term pregnancy.

8 Weeks and ultrasound

“For this child I have prayed, and the Lord has granted my request.” ~ 1 Samuel 1:27

My prayers have been answered and it is a double blessing, we are having twins!  On Friday I had my ultrasound with Dr. B. After waiting 50 minutes and a bout of my all day sickness I was ready for the news.  I was a little nervous and Michael went straight to the chair to sit down.  Dr. B and the nurse on duty started taking bets on how many there would be. Dr. B thought one and the nurse thought 2. As soon as Dr. B had the wand situated he announced it was 2. Michael thought he was kidding and and was pretty much in shock the rest of the appointment.  It was such a joy to see my miracles, even if they just look like inkblots to me.  I was able to see  and hear the flutter of their heartbeats.  It was the happiest moment of my life.  Surprisingly enough I didn't cry, but I did tear up. I feel so blessed and happy. My dreams are starting to come true.

Michael is slowly coming out of his shock and is even making name suggestions, Luke & Leia if it is a girl and a boy. I love him.  Caleb is still handling things well, making sure I am eating and taking care of myself.

About four more weeks until the first trimester is over, but with twins the risks of miscarriage is greater and will drop dramatically until week 20 or so. So I am continually praying for sticky babies.

Side by side

Heartbeat for baby B

Heartbeat for Baby A