Pregnant with Multiples Check-In - Sept. 19

[requiressnacks]

Week/Team/Fruit:

Appointments this week:

Symptoms:

Rants/Raves/Questions:

GTKY: Let's talk about pets. Do you have any pets? Are you concerned about how your pets will be once babies arrive? Any STMs have any tips to get pets acclimated?

dke2010 - Twin girls due October
piccyami - B/G twins due October
Becca - B/G twins due December
requiressnacks - B/G twins due December
dream2be3 - Twin boys due December
@wineandcupcakes - Twins due February
nomnom - Twins due February
@jacks605 - B/G Twins due February
callmeKD - Twins due March
dukegirlsc - Twins due March
nic1231 - Twins due April
mustloveerica - Twins due April
LydiaDeetz - Twins due April

[mustloveerica]

Good morning, ladies!

Week/Team/Fruit: 10w6d, tbd, lego men

Appointment this week: NT scan with MFM on Thursday

Symptoms: none!

RRQ: had my first midwife appointment last week. Everything looks good and we're pretty sure she found both heartbeats. She found one right in the middle but lost it right away. Then found a second much louder off to my right that I was able to record on my phone. Since she didn't track the rate we can't say for certain that it was two separate heart beats but I think it was since it was two different places. NT scan will hopefully show two healthy babies.

GTKY: oh gosh. We have two huge dogs (a Great Dane and an Akita mix), 3 cats, a chinchilla and a bearded dragon. We need to get the Dane fixed before babies come (he just turned 1). The girl dog will be fine. She is the sweetest ever. But I am concerned about the Dane. We plan on hiring an in home trainer for a few sessions to help us work on some behavior modifications and help show us how to prepare pets for babies.

The cats are already obsessed with our new bouncer...so I think we're going to struggle with keeping cats out of cribs and stuff.

[dukegirlsc]

Week/Team/Fruit: 12w1d/B/G twins/plum,macaron

Appointments this week: MFM NT scan tomorrow and OB on Thursday

Symptoms: Sporadic nausea, aversions, crazy dreams. Fatigue is finally passing!

Rants/Raves/Questions: Dear heavens at the baby registry! I'm so so glad I started early, there is so much stuff!!! Ugh

GTKY: Let's talk about pets. Do you have any pets? Are you concerned about how your pets will be once babies arrive? Any STMs have any tips to get pets acclimated? We have 2 big labradors, but they are older ladies and so easy going, I only worry about keeping them off the babies because I'm pretty sure they will just adopt them!

[nomnom]

Week/Team/Fruit: 17w3d, pomegranate, finding out

Appointments this week: None for me (one-year checkup for the outside munchkins)

Symptoms: Headache again today, but that's probably from hauling kids around this morning. I figured out over the weekend that I cannot wear pants. Any pressure from a waist band makes me sick. I guess I may have to flash some people chasing my kids.

Rants/Raves/Questions: Has anyone else had this sensitive of a belly?

GTKY: Let's talk about pets. Do you have any pets? Are you concerned about how your pets will be once babies arrive? Any STMs have any tips to get pets acclimated? We have four cats. We just make sure they have an exit route. Recently we've been working on gentle touches, but the cats generally aren't interested in being near the kids.

[requiressnacks]

Week/Team/Fruit: 29 weeks/ B/G Twins/ Gallons of Milk

Appointments this week: Tomorrow! Finally! it's been a long time since I've seen my bebes. (Well, for a twin mom. I can't believe some singleton moms only get 2 ultrasounds their entire pregnancy)

Symptoms: Pelvic/Hip pain, heartburn

Rants/Raves/Questions: I had my first shower yesterday. We got a lot of the big stuff, but I'm starting to feel overwhelmed by all the other necessities we still need to get! EEEEK.

GTKY: Let's talk about pets. Do you have any pets? Are you concerned about how your pets will be once babies arrive? Any STMs have any tips to get pets acclimated?

I have a lab who isn't well behaved - mainly, she barks a lot at any and everything who passes by our house. And she goes BSC when the mail comes - EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Reluctantly, we've been starting to use a bark collar when we're home, which seems to be helping a lot. It beeps the first two times she barks and then shocks her on the third time. I think she only go to the 3rd time once. I hope she can get it together before the babies arrive, because I will go ape shit on maternity leave with her barking constantly.

[mustloveerica]

nomnom last week I noticed my pants are getting so tight that it makes me feel sick. I bought some belly bands but I roll them down so they're below my belly and really only hold my unbuttoned pants up. That helped a lot.

[requiressnacks]

mustloveerica, you have quite the zoo over there! haha. Love that pic though.
dukegirlsc, I apparently didn't get the easy goes lab. LOL
I struggle with pants too, nomnom. I spend my weekends in maxi dresses.

[mustloveerica]

requiressnacks ha yeah we have a zoo. For the most part they're all well behaved but Dexter still doesn't realize his size. He's about 180 lbs and knocks me over often. And he's afraid of his own shadow so sometimes getting him to do something he doesn't want to do or go somewhere he doesn't want to go (like anywhere near or past the broom....yes broom) is impossible. It's like trying to move a brick wall. So we really just need to work on his boundaries and learning to be more gentle.

[dream2be3]

Thanks for the check-in requiressnacks!

Week/Team/Fruit:25w4d/blue/baseball glove

Appointments this week: GD check-up

Symptoms: None but bending over is getting hard.

Rants/Raves/Questions: Not today

GTKY: Let's talk about pets. Do you have any pets? Are you concerned about how your pets will be once babies arrive? Any STMs have any tips to get pets acclimated? We have 3 cats. I am a bit worried. The mama cat does not like change and will pee on the floor and once peed in the cat bed. The oldest of the siblings is scared of people except DH and I so I think she'll be fine once she gets used to the babies being there. The youngest is very mischievous so I think he'll be ok other then snatching pacifiers. He will be the most likely to try cuddle with the twinkies. We put a screen door on the nursery to keep the cats out but keep airflow going. We left the regular door on so we can keep noise out when they're sleeping.

[nomnom]

mustloveerica I tried wearing maternity pants that are falling down on me and even that little pressure is too much. It's ridiculous. The only type of waist I can wear is a loose fold-over like leggings or yoga pants.

requiressnacks Glad I'm not the only one! I thought I'd have to increase my does of ranitidine or possibly move to something stronger. I had to use more of that and zof.ran last week to not puke.

[dke2010]

Week/Team/Fruit: 34+5, mono-di girls, cabbage

Appointments this week: Growth U/S on Wednesday. I can't wait to see how much they've grown in the past month.

Symptoms: Tons of BHs, pelvic pain, sensitive skin, lots of discomfort

Rants/Raves/Questions: I'm so ready to not be pregnant anymore. Just crossing my fingers that whichever OB is on call when I go into labor will be okay with delivering vaginally, since B is still breech.

GTKY: Let's talk about pets. Do you have any pets? Are you concerned about how your pets will be once babies arrive? Any STMs have any tips to get pets acclimated? We have a rescue pup that's 6 years old. We think she's part yellow lab/dachshund. When DD was born, our dog was 2 years old and did great with her. We introduced them when we came home from the hospital and there were no issues. Now they run around and cuddle on the floor together.

[Squishy622]

requiressnacks can I just say how fantastic it is that you're keeping track of/tagging everyone? Thank you for being awesome!!

[requiressnacks]

Sept 19, 2016 13:05:27 GMT -5 Squishy622 said:

requiressnacks can I just say how fantastic it is that you're keeping track of/tagging everyone? Thank you for being awesome!!

My pleasure! I was so excited when we got a bunch of new MoMs to join the check -in!

[requiressnacks]

dke2010, I may have missed this in prior check-ins, but what is the protocol with a breech baby B? My OB made it sound like I was ridiculous for even wanting a vaginal birth. Then she basically said if one of them were breech it was an automatic C-section. How did your conversations/decision making go? (I'd prefer vaginal, if possible)

[piccyami]

I can't believe this is my last check-in!

Week/Team/Fruit: 36+1/purple/papayas

Appointments this week: final OB appointment tomorrow and final MFM appointment on Friday. Things are getting close.

Symptoms: I can't breathe anymore. I'm also having all the contractions now. One week left.

Rants/Raves/Questions: I am so ready to meet these babies. They're also about to kill me. The pushing and shoving is getting very uncomfortable and someone's new favorite position is with a butt poking out of my belly.

GTKY: We have a 14 month old mini Aussie and 2 5-year-old Maine coon cats. The puppy is currently going through a teenage phase, so we're working on the tantrum barking, which is obviously not going to go away in a week. She's also becoming extremely protective of me (which also includes tons of barking), so things are going to be interesting when the babies come home. Our cats are pretty chill and don't really care about much that doesn't interfere with their food or litter box. I'm not too worried about them until these guys are bigger. The male likes little girls but hates little boys and most men. We're working on it.

[piccyami]

Sept 19, 2016 13:11:55 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

dke2010, I may have missed this in prior check-ins, but what is the protocol with a breech baby B? My OB made it sound like I was ridiculous for even wanting a vaginal birth. Then she basically said if one of them were breech it was an automatic C-section. How did your conversations/decision making go? (I'd prefer vaginal, if possible)

My OB was absolutely against a vaginal delivery if B was anything other than head down. I'm still having a c-section even though everyone is head down because B is 1 1/2 pounds bigger than A. I have heard that some OBs in this practice are a little more willing to try vaginal deliveries for breech or transverse B as long as the babies are approximately the same size.

[Squishy622]

Sept 19, 2016 13:11:55 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

dke2010, I may have missed this in prior check-ins, but what is the protocol with a breech baby B? My OB made it sound like I was ridiculous for even wanting a vaginal birth. Then she basically said if one of them were breech it was an automatic C-section. How did your conversations/decision making go? (I'd prefer vaginal, if possible)

Since I'm already in here, I can share my experience! I pushed A out (head down) and then had a breech extraction for B. The doc reaches in and pulls the baby out by their feet. It's somewhat of an old school and/or controversial procedure and only some OBs are trained in it. It's not without risks but I was a good candidate. I actually got talked out of an elective c-section by my docs in favor of attempting a breech extraction. I delivered at an academic hospital and they had a breech extraction swat team. If the on call doc wasn't trained in it (which it turned out she was), they have backups on call who will come in to do it. My hospital would only do this for twins since the first one sort of paves the way.

It was a pretty terrifying 3 minutes between the 2 births but it wound up being completely uneventful.

ETA I was a good candidate because I'd had a prior uneventful vaginal delivery and my babies were super concordant in size, with A always measuring an ounce or 2 bigger. They won't do it if B is bigger.

[requiressnacks]

piccyami, you are so close!

[requiressnacks]

Follow up question for Squishy622 or anyone - when did your babies get into position? Mine are both head down, but I'm only 29 weeks. I was operating under the assumption that this can change at any time leading up to delivery.

[Squishy622]

requiressnacks I had one us at 31 weeks I think where they were both head down but B went back to breech every week after that (I had many ultrasounds!). I was kind of shocked that she still had room to flip around in there at that point, but then again she is my daredevil now 😍

[Becca]

Week/Team/Fruit: 28w6d/Purple/Coconut

Appointments this week: Nothing this week

Symptoms: Tired, swollen everywhere

Rants/Raves/Questions: I would give almost anything to get a good nights sleep. My OB told me last week I could take some benadryl to help sleep if needed, I may have to go buy some soon.

GTKY: No pets here. We have spent the past three years traveling every moment we got, figuring once kids arrive we wouldn't be able to as much. We didn't think it would be fair to get a pet and than not be home to take care of it. We will likely get something once the twins are older though.

[dukegirlsc]

HeyMrsPotter, I use compression socks when working in the OR and have friends that used them during pregnancy. I recommend the Mojo brand, you can get them on Amazon!

[requiressnacks]

HeyMrsPotter, unfortunately, I've had serious cankles most of this pregnancy. Doctor was never concerned because I don't have high BP or anything. He suggested compression socks too. I bought them and I use them occasionally, but I found them VERY difficult to actually get on and they were really ugly so I couldn't wear them with skirts/capris most of the summer. I am finally getting to the point where I might wear them under jeans, if they don't look too ridiculous. But I will definitely need MH to assist me in getting them on.

[nic1231]

Week/Team/Fruit: 11+5/not yet known/poker chip

Appointments this week: weds is my 12wk appt

Symptoms: nausea and fatigue

Rants/Raves/Questions:
Nursery is 75% finished and I got a couple cute onesies for the babies

GTKY: Let's talk about pets. Do you have any pets? Are you concerned about how your pets will be once babies arrive? Any STMs have any tips to get pets acclimated?
We have a big ol black lab. He will be jealous as he is my shadow but we will give him the attention still

[LydiaDeetz]

12 + 1 / team green / apricots

Appointment is in one week. Hoping to see 2 healthy squishes and smaller/no SCHs. 

Even though it's still early, I look obviously pregnant. Would dull, lingering RLP be pretty much par for the course?

GTKY: I have two 3 year old German Shepherd females. They're trained and very well behaved. #humblebrag #blessed They were protective over me before DD, and she is now part of the pack. I would just suggest introducing babies when your animals are calm. Dogs are usually excited to see you, especially if you'll be gone for a few days. Wait till they've calmed down before adding the babies. We just set DD on the floor in her car seat and let them come and sniff. It was NBD. You can also start gently tugging ears and tails to get them familiar with those gestures too.

[piccyami]

requiressnacks, a was in the right position pretty much from the beginning. B finally got and stayed head down about 32 or 33 weeks.

[dke2010]

requiressnacks For some reason I'm not getting notifications on Tapatalk anymore. Sorry for the delay in answering your question.
I go to an OB practice of 6 doctors. At least two of them are completely comfortable delivering baby B breech. They've all been clinically trained to deliver a breech baby, but some of the doctors just aren't as comfortable with doing it. I'm hoping The OB on call will do it since I'm a good candidate (especially since I've already had one uneventful vaginally delivery).
As for flipping, last week one of the doctors was telling me that they induced a twin mom and he watched one of the babies flip from breech to vertex on the ultrasound right before birth. So I guess it can happen anytime, but I feel like my baby B has been trying to move and just hasn't been able to.

[Deleted]

Sept 19, 2016 13:11:55 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

dke2010, I may have missed this in prior check-ins, but what is the protocol with a breech baby B? My OB made it sound like I was ridiculous for even wanting a vaginal birth. Then she basically said if one of them were breech it was an automatic C-section. How did your conversations/decision making go? (I'd prefer vaginal, if possible)

FWIW- I asked my OB and she said vaginal for me is all dependent on Baby A. If she's in the right position I can go vsginally.

[Deleted]

Week/Team/Fruit: 19w, 3days. Team Purple. ??

Appointments this week: off week for appts. May try to see my chiro.

Symptoms: shooting hip pain going up and down stairs. Feel like I'm 90.

Rants/Raves/Questions: at last weeks U/S the tech said both babies are in the 46%. Is that based of a twin comparison or a singleton average? Also that seems HUGE! LO1 was only 18% at birth.
.

GTKY: Let's talk about pets. Do you have any pets? Are you concerned about how your pets will be once babies arrive? Any STMs have any tips to get pets acclimated?
No pets. Likely will stay pet free- DH has allergies and is a baby about them. [br

Edit- thought of a question.😜

[callmeKD]

Sept 19, 2016 21:30:50 GMT -5 @jacks605 said:

Sept 19, 2016 13:11:55 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

dke2010, I may have missed this in prior check-ins, but what is the protocol with a breech baby B? My OB made it sound like I was ridiculous for even wanting a vaginal birth. Then she basically said if one of them were breech it was an automatic C-section. How did your conversations/decision making go? (I'd prefer vaginal, if possible)

FWIW- I asked my OB and she said vaginal for me is all dependent on Baby A. If she's in the right position I can go vsginally.

This is what my OB said too. She also said that if its one of her colleagues there when I deliver they may push for a C-section because they aren't as trained as she is with multiples.