**Multiple Pregnancy Check-in 5/18**

[Squishy622]

Tell us how you're doing!

Weeks/Fruit/Team:

Symptoms:

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments:

Questions/Comments/Concerns:

QOTW: (can't remember if we've done this one already, sorry if it's a duplicate!) What do you do for work? Do you ever dream of doing something else?

[nomnom]

Weeks/Fruit/Team: 21w2d today, carrot (not a fruit and often bigger than last week's banana... some sites suggest pomegranate), b/g twins

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments: I have an OB appointment and growth scan tomorrow and a detailed check, fetal echo, and OB appointment in two weeks (6/3). It'll be nice to see how my wiggle worms are coming along. DH has felt kicks a couple of times and last night I even saw a little bulge to the right of my belly button when one of them kicked :-D.

Questions/Comments/Concerns: I had a very long weekend in which DH and I drove his mom up to my mom's house for the weekend to visit my grandparents in their retirement home (got all that?). MH's mom finally decided she's unable to keep up a house on her own. We knew that years ago, but there's no convincing a stubborn old woman. She loved the place my grandparents are staying. It'll be a relief to move her up there, which we hope will happen before babies are born.

I also broke my rule about telling family the genders before the baby shower. I slipped a note to my grandparents (and gramma's brother) since my grampa is in hospice and we don't know if he'll live until the baby shower or if he'll be able to come if he is still alive. He may live months or weeks. No telling with pulmonary fibrosis.

QOTW: I work as a science writer in public affairs. I've tried several dreams already and this one seems to fit the best. I think I'll stick with something in science communications, at least, though the exact position may change. I'd like to broaden the types of articles I write. That might mean going freelance, which I may do after the babies are born anyhow.

[sunnyb]

34w4d/ butternut squashes/team green

Was in L&D on Friday for contractions. They were about 10 minutes apart and growing in intensity. They gave me a shot and they subsided. I've had random contractions since.

NST scheduled for Thursday.

I'm a Special Education Teacher! I initially thought I wanted to be a lawyer but I'm happy with my career.

[sunnyb]

nomnom sorry your grampa isn't doing well. He was probably so excited to know!

[Deleted]

nomnom, sorry to hear about your grandpa.

sunnyb, glad they got the contractions under control! Does your practice have any policies on inducing early with twins (like 38 weeks)? Just wondering how much longer you have to go!

[Deleted]

Weeks/Fruit/Team: 33 weeks/cauliflower

Symptoms: Heartburn, peeing a lot, overall exhaustion. Not much else.

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments: Appointment on Friday to follow up about my blood pressure and 24 hour urine catch basically was just to tell me that although my catch came back normal, they're still monitoring me closely for my BP and I now have to go in every week to have it checked, along with weekly bio-physical profiles. The doctor said if things stay the same and don't get worse they would schedule my c-section for 37 weeks, but if it starts going up or I show signs of preeclampsia it could be sooner. So basically I have no due date, I'm just trying to get as close to 37w as possible.

Questions/Comments/Concerns: Nope.

QOTW: (can't remember if we've done this one already, sorry if it's a duplicate!) What do you do for work? Do you ever dream of doing something else? I'm getting my PhD in political theory, so I'm a full-time graduate student.

[sunnyb]

May 18, 2015 15:06:46 GMT -5 @sassycassieb said:

nomnom, sorry to hear about your grandpa.

sunnyb, glad they got the contractions under control! Does your practice have any policies on inducing early with twins (like 38 weeks)? Just wondering how much longer you have to go!

They usually schedule at 38 weeks but my doctor will be away at that point and back at 38w4d which is June 15, so that's when I'm scheduled for! We will see. He did say he won't attempt to stop labor again.

[Deleted]

May 18, 2015 15:27:30 GMT -5 sunnyb said:

May 18, 2015 15:06:46 GMT -5 @sassycassieb said:

nomnom, sorry to hear about your grandpa.

sunnyb, glad they got the contractions under control! Does your practice have any policies on inducing early with twins (like 38 weeks)? Just wondering how much longer you have to go!

They usually schedule at 38 weeks but my doctor will be away at that point and back at 38w4d which is June 15, so that's when I'm scheduled for! We will see. He did say he won't attempt to stop labor again.

Hope they stay put until then! We're probably having ours around the same time, but I'll be at 36/37 weeks .

[sunnyb]

May 18, 2015 15:37:57 GMT -5 @sassycassieb said:

May 18, 2015 15:27:30 GMT -5 sunnyb said:

They usually schedule at 38 weeks but my doctor will be away at that point and back at 38w4d which is June 15, so that's when I'm scheduled for! We will see. He did say he won't attempt to stop labor again.

Hope they stay put until then! We're probably having ours around the same time, but I'll be at 36/37 weeks .

Haha I feel like two babies is twice the "we do what we want!"

[kcwalza]

Tell us how you're doing!

Weeks/Fruit/Team: 24w/ foot long subs/ di/di girls

Symptoms: menstrual like cramping on and off since last Thursday- it's not terrible but I am going to the Dr. Tomorrow morning because I don't feel comfortable waiting until my next scheduled appointment on the 28th.

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments: see above

Questions/Comments/Concerns: other than the cramping, not really. Happy to have reached week 24.

QOTW: (can't remember if we've done this one already, sorry if it's a duplicate!) What do you do for work? Do you ever dream of doing something else? I dream of doing ANYTHING else! I work in finance and don't enjoy my job.

[Squishy622]

Weeks/Fruit/Team: 19w3d, heirloom tomatoes (my fav!), mono/di girls

Symptoms: Enjoying being on cruise control for now.

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments: Fetal echo tomorrow (my clinic does this routinely for mono/di), A/S and MFM next week.

Questions/Comments/Concerns: Not that I can think of.

QOTW: (can't remember if we've done this one already, sorry if it's a duplicate!) What do you do for work? Do you ever dream of doing something else? I work in breast cancer research/clinical trials. My background is in social work and I was also a SAHM for my daughter's first 18 months...I'm all over the place. I love love love my job now though, it's a perfect fit for me and would not rather be doing anything else at the moment.

[Squishy622]

nomnom So sorry to hear about your grampa, what a wonderful gift you gave him.
sunnyb Yikes, I hope the contractions stay away! Stay put, babies! Are you out of school now for the summer?
@sassycassieb Good luck on Friday, hope things stay stable for you!
kcwalza Hope the cramping is no big deal, keep us posted!

[sunnyb]

May 18, 2015 20:15:59 GMT -5 Squishy622 said:

nomnom So sorry to hear about your grampa, what a wonderful gift you gave him.
sunnyb Yikes, I hope the contractions stay away! Stay put, babies! Are you out of school now for the summer?
@sassycassieb Good luck on Friday, hope things stay stable for you!
kcwalza Hope the cramping is no big deal, keep us posted!

The last day is Thursday, but after Friday's activities- I decided I would call it a year and not go back!

Glad you are feeling well!

[Squishy622]

sunnyb Good plan! Hope you can take it easy.

[sunnyb]

Feeling ok @feegan thanks! I have carpal tunnel too blah!

[elvenqueen]

Weeks/Fruit/Team: 27+3, Team Purple

Symptoms: Pelvic and hip pain, sleep schedule a little meddled from multiple midnight pee breaks, and a bit of pregnancy brain.

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments: The pelvic pain seems to come and go sometimes, but it's definitely at its worst these days when I'm trying to get comfortable in bed. If I switch sides, I hear an almighty crunch from somewhere in my hip joint.... A little worrying. I'm trying out some physio tomorrow, so hopefully that helps at least a little.

Questions/Comments/Concerns: Did anyone's weight gain slow down again during the third trimester? I'm only just hitting it now, but over the last 2-3 weeks I've only gained a pound. I was gaining 3-4lbs a week steadily before that so I'm not hugely concerned yet, just seemed like an odd time for it to tail off.

QOTW: What do you do for work? Do you ever dream of doing something else? I'm actually still in the middle of a career change, so I guess I'm moving to my dream but pregnant and unemployed in the process! I was a high school teacher up until last year, teaching animation. I've always planned to be an animator and scored that job while I was still studying my degree. It was great and stable so I thought I'd stick with it until we moved somewhere that actually had some industry jobs. I got called for an interview in 2013 and actually would have got a full time animating position fairly close to home out of it, but it was part way through the school year and my contract said I had to give half a term's notice, so I lost it. I knew I wouldn't be able to perfectly time moving into a new job after that happened and didn't want to miss out on another opportunity, so I made that my last teaching year and finished summer 2014. Then pregnancy loss, then this second pregnancy, then the news of holy-shit-it's-twins... so I'm kind of a freelance animator now, but won't get into it properly until much later in the year. Brownie points if anyone actually read that effing essay


sunnyb, Glad they were able to halt your contractions! Hopefully they don't reappear until you and your LOs are good and ready to meet!

nomnom, good luck with the echo tomorrow and your appointments next week!

@feegan, Hope all goes well at your growth scan and your LOs are getting nice and chubby!

kcwalza, Congrats on V Day!

@sassycassieb, Fingers crossed all stays at it is and you do make it to 37wks!

[beachy]

Weeks/Fruit/Team: 30w5d, with di-di B/G cantaloupes

Symptoms: luckily still feeling pretty great! Other than rib pain, and one clicking rub, but I'm sure that's not going away til babies come.

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments: had a growth scan last Friday at 30.1w and babies are both doing great! Baby girls kidney fluid is well within normal ranges and she measured 3lb7oz, and baby boy measured 3lb4oz. I have my regular OB appt today.

Questions/Comments/Concerns:
My RCS was scheduled yesterday for 7/7!! It's only 7 weeks from today and it made it so real to see it in my online chart. I'll be 37w5d.

QOTW: (can't remember if we've done this one already, sorry if it's a duplicate!) What do you do for work? Do you ever dream of doing something else?
I work from home for a health company in a different state. It's been a great job that has allowed me to stay home with DS (who turns 2 on Saturday, holy shit!). But I have my masters in teaching health & PE so there's a lot of days where I hate life and remember I'm way overqualified and not making what i could be. I won't be working for a while after these babies come since WAH will be hard and daycare for 3 would be more than a teaching salary if I could even find a job.

[beachy]

nomnom i bet your grandparents loved that, and if something does happen you'll be able to know he was excited for your babies! My papa passed away in January from cancer, 2 weeks after I had just been home visiting and found out it was twins. I had stopped to say goodbye on my way to the airport and he was the most with it I've seen in a long time, remembered me, remembered I was having twins, and was so excited for them! It's seriously the most amazing last memory I could have asked for with him. So I definitely hope it's not your last memory with him, but it's definitely a special moment he will cherish.

[elvenqueen]

May 19, 2015 7:05:59 GMT -5 @feegan said:

elvenqueen I originally went to college for animation! (But then I switched majors to Digital Media because I wanted a more diverse background, of which I don't really do anything with now) So cool that is what you do!!!

Oh how cool! Were you into traditional or digital? Hopefully it is what I end up doing, though I imagine it's going to take a bit longer to get there with two little ones on their way

[sunnyb]

elvenqueen my weight gain is slower in the third tri- the babies are still gaining weight but I think carrying them around is such a workout I'm not gaining a bunch! At least that's my theory lol. I've gained about 7lbs this tri so far.

[chiwifey]

Weeks/Fruit/Team: 24/cantaloupes/purple

Symptoms: feeling extra tired (as usual,ha!), heartburn and trouble getting comfy at night.

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments: Had a follow up with the MFM yesterday because we found that baby girl had a marginal cord insertion at our level 2 u/s at 20 weeks. She is still growing and keeping up with her bro but we found that things are more complicated than we previously thought. Her cord is stretched and somehow is going through the membrane that separates the two babies. This likely occurred as my uterus stretched and the cord moved/stretched but found a way to stay attached. This puts her at a much higher risk for growth restriction (or worse if she isn't getting proper blood flow/nutrients) because it is likely that her cord can get compressed since it is between the two of them. We also talked about the likelihood of a c section and possibly having them earlier than 37/38 weeks to keep from adding stress on her. We will have another growth u/s in 4 weeks and then weekly growth checks along with fluid checks and NSTs.

Just hoping and praying she stays strong and continues to be the adorable little busy body that she is and finds a way to get all the good things she needs.

Questions/Comments/Concerns:

QOTW: (can't remember if we've done this one already, sorry if it's a duplicate!) What do you do for work? Do you ever dream of doing something else?
I was an elementary school teacher before having my son and have been a SAHM with him since. Not sure what I want to do when the kiddos get older but I don't think I want to be back in the classroom again.

[Deleted]

chiwifey, FX your baby girl keeps growing and doing well!

[julie216]

Squishy622, thanks for the check-in!!!

nomnom, Sorry to hear about your Grandpa. I'm sure you brightened his day!

sunnyb, Hope those babes stay put a little longer!

kcwalza,Good luck! FX its just normal pregnancy cramps!

@feegan, I hear you! I never ever had cramps in my hands before....but jeesh..get them daily now! Not fun!

chiwifey, Praying your little girl keeps growing! If its not one thing to worry about its another. Thinking of your g/f!


Weeks/Fruit/Team: 31w 1D, acorn squash

Symptoms: short of breath and hip pain, foot and hand cramps...

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments: Had an u/s today. All looks good. Baby A is 3lbs 9 oz & Baby B 3 lbs 6 oz. Am having an NST next week.

Questions/Comments/Concerns: nope!

QOTW: (can't remember if we've done this one already, sorry if it's a duplicate!) What do you do for work? Do you ever dream of doing something else? I am an Office Manager for a finance company. Not a huge fan, but my boss is great and I can do a lot from home. I would love to be an interior designer. I LOVED decorating my house!

[Squishy622]

chiwifey thinking good thoughts for your baby girl!!

[jetta83306]

Hi ladies!

Weeks/Fruit/Team: 19w1d/large heirloom tomatoes/we find out our team Saturday!!!

Symptoms: rlp, back aches, gagging, peeing myself while gagging and coughing...

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments: Our a/s is Thursday and we will find out the genders at our reveal party on Saturday!

Questions/Comments/Concerns: Just getting anxious about the scan. Also, I finally broke down and bought some maternity bras. I'm usually a 34A so when the lady at Motherhood Maternity told me to try on 34D's I was thinking, yeah right. I actually filled them out, I was shocked. I knew I was bigger but I didn't think I went up 3 cup sizes!

QOTW: (can't remember if we've done this one already, sorry if it's a duplicate!) What do you do for work? Do you ever dream of doing something else? I am currently a stay at home wife and Independent Scentsy Consultant.

[purplegaloshes]

Weeks/Fruit/Team: 25w2d, Napa Cabbages, di/di team green

Symptoms: RLP only on the right side--so weird, crippling heartburn that hits for 72 hours at a time, back pain on waking that gets better throughout the day and (TMI WARNING) the weirdest thing of all: weird vasovagal/sympathetic overdrive when my bowel are getting ready to move. I've had this happen probably 5 times now since getting knocked up, and 3 of them in the last week or so. I'll start feeling a little weird, but not terrible, then all of a sudden I start feeling like I'm going to pass out, my hands get tingly, my whole body gets chilled, then super hot and I break out in a cold sweat. 3-5 minutes later I'll get the "PurpleGaloshes...you have TWO MINUTES" warning from my guts, go to the bathroom, and recover in minutes. Is this the weirdest/grossest thing you have ever heard of? WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME???

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments: Had a growth scan yesterday and MY CHILDREN ARE ENORMOUS. Baby A is measuring in the 82nd percentile and Baby B is in the 90th percentile--both are proportionate. I don't even know what to think about this. My worrywart brain of course jumps to GD as a foregone conclusion, but my OB seems to be very optimistic and says I likely am just growing some extra healthy babies...so, I guess I'll take it?

Questions/Comments/Concerns:I always go to sleep on my left side, but am still waking up often on my right side or even on my back. Does anyone know how big of a deal this is? If I feel okay when I wake up is everyone still doing alright in there?

Also, found out Baby A is definitely head up like a little punk. How late have any of you experienced position changes? At what point do you consider your baby's positions to be pretty much what they are going to be for delivery?

QOTW: (can't remember if we've done this one already, sorry if it's a duplicate!) What do you do for work? Do you ever dream of doing something else? I worked in the fitness industry for several years before going back to school for medicine. I'm exactly 358 days from being PurpleGaloshes M.D., but who's counting?

My dream job would definitely be to be some kind of travel journalist and get paid to traipse around the world seeing amazing places, doing fun new things and getting paid for it (like that Samantha whatshername on the travel channel).

[purplegaloshes]

@sassycassieb, and sunnyb, fingers crossed things happen just as they should and that regardless of how things veer from how you'd anticipated, they end just perfect.

elvenqueen, I think I remember from Barbara Luke's book (before I threw it across the room in a fit of rage) that it's pretty normal to have your weight gain slow in 3rd trimester due to reflux, a smaller stomach, etc. I think the inevitability of this is why she really pushes packing on the pounds earlier in pregnancy.

chiwifey,hang in there--I'm sorry for the extra stress.

@feegan, have you tried those belly/back brace getups that you wear underneath your clothes to help with the spine pain? I have a friend who is sending hers to me and I'm curious to hear if they work...

[lemon]

Weeks/Fruit/Team: 20+1, di/di girls

Symptoms: Heartburn, some pelvis/hip pain, feeling tired

AW/Ultrasounds/Upcoming Appointments: Regular check up tomorrow

Questions/Comments/Concerns: I had my anatomy scan last week and Baby B had enlarged kidneys. That's a bit concerning, although the doctor said it will most likely resolve before birth. I hope that's the case! My nephew had the same thing, but one of his kidneys was still enlarged at birth. He has not had any health issues because of it, so that's good. Anyway, everything else looked great, but I'm still worrying about the kidney issue a little bit. I get so many ultrasounds that I know it will be tracked closely!

A concern unrelated to babies... we are scheduled to go on a cruise with a bunch of friends, leaving on Friday. This will be our last vacation for a loooong time. But we're supposed to go on the ship that ran aground in Bermuda tonight! It sounds like the ship is floating again, but we still don't know if our cruise is going to happen or not. I will be very disappointed if it gets cancelled. I've mentally been on vacation for a while now.

QOTW: (can't remember if we've done this one already, sorry if it's a duplicate!) What do you do for work? Do you ever dream of doing something else?

I'm a research scientist in a semi-academic setting. I like it, but sometimes I wish I'd focused on different research areas. Or I wish that I'd picked a career that gave me more choices in terms of where to live. I'm in a very narrow area and my job options are very limited in some ways.

[beachy]

lemon my baby A had excess fluid on her kidneys at every scan. It was never too much, I think the highest they measured was 4.7mL on one when the max normal was 4.0mL. At 28w the max normal level goes to 7.0mL and they kept telling me it would likely fix itself. Each scan it was "progressing normally," and last week it was under 2mL when it could have been up to 7 and still been normal. So believe them when they say it can fix itself, especially if it progresses normally.

[nomnom]

lemon I was almost a research scientist until I decided to stay in my grad school town to be with DH and I had to write my dissertation twice because my PhD advisor wasn't paying attention.

I moved to science writing instead. The pay is lower, but it seems to be a good fit for my circumstances.