10 Weeks 3 Days

This week, the babies are about an inch and 1/2 each or about the size of a kumquat.

Their hands and feet are no longer webbed. Bones and cartilage are forming and small indentations on the legs are developing into knees and ankles.  Their arms can flex at the elbow already :). 

Today I woke up with a really bad headache, stuffy nose and upset tummy.  It's hard to tell if its a cold or pregnancy related.  Lately, I haven't been feeling as nauseated but I have been feeling extra tired.  So incredibly thankful to have this week off from work because I've needed a 30-45 min nap every day just to make it until 9-10 pm before crashing.

Nate and I have been slowly working on the house and boxing up stuff we will either sell in a yard sale this spring or donate to Goodwill.  He actually got rid of several more books!

We ordered this monkey jungle themed wall decal for the nursery.

It's fairly gender neutral so I think it will work.  We can always add a bow to one of the monkey's heads if we have a girl.

I've started researching strollers, cribs, etc. Buying a stroller is like buying a car! So many variables and features.  I know I want a jogger, but it has to have enough storage space for the essentials. Baby's R Us and other baby stores don't carry twin things in stock, so I may have to look on Craigslist and go play with a few to see which ones I like. I wish there were such a thing as a baby starter kit ha :) or a twin outlet mall somewhere.

9 Weeks 3 Days

My pants are all too tight. HA. I bought my first pair of maternity jeans.  I ordered them online based on a recommendation from one of the other ladies on the IVF twin mommies Facebook group.  I sure hope they work because yoga pants are not quite work appropriate. :)

This week the babies are about the size of a grape and approximately 1 inch long each.

The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks.  They have tiny earlobes, and their mouths, nose and nostrils are more distinct.  The placentas are developed enough now to take over most the critical jobs of producing hormones. This should hopefully reduce the nausea I've been feeling from time to time.

Some more good news is since we've made it this far with no complications, the risk of miscarriage has dropped to about 2%.

I'm mostly feeling pretty good.  I get tired very easily and have to continue to watch the clock and force myself to eat in regular intervals.

Today is the last day of work then we're off until 1/5.  Lots of work to do around the house to get the back room ready and with both of us off work it's the perfect time to tackle it!

8 Weeks 3 Days - So far so good!

The babies are the size of raspberries. :)

They are growing about a millimeter a day. I can't feel it yet, but they're moving their arms and legs like crazy :) Fingers and toes are still slightly webbed and their tails are all gone.  Yay, no reptiles!

I'm feeling pretty well.  Saturday was a rough "morning" sickness day, but I rested a lot. Sunday I felt good so we got a lot done around the house and I worked on the room that will become the nursery a bit.  We are still deciding what to do about day care vs. in home care and move now or later but we'll probably stay put for a few years and let the equity in our home continue to vest.

Having to consider schools is new to us and of course it drives the home prices way up. We'll figure it out.

I am experiencing some lower abdomen pains but I think things are stretching. I'm going to need to go shopping soon. My pants are too tight! :)

All is well and I got to hear heartbeats!

So relieved. No more spotting and the babies are measuring perfectly on scale for 7/25/15 delivery.  I love my OB! This was my first appointment with her since I changed doctors after not liking the first one before we went to IVF.   She so personable and friendly and I felt like she really knew what she was talking about despite being probably at least 5 years younger than me.  Sigh. :)

She did another ultrasound and I wasn't expecting to be able to HEAR the heartbeats so soon! I feel bad because Nate wasn't there to experience it.  It was amazing.  Two little humans growing inside me.

Only disappointing news is we have to wait to know the sexes of the babies until body parts :) can be seen visually through ultrasound.  The new blood test that can determine gender around 11 weeks only works on singletons.   Oh well.  We can wait and as long as they are healthy, I'm happy.

Heart rates for babies at this stage are normal anywhere from 120-180bpm.


Baby A - Heart rate 164bpm

Baby B HR 153bpm

Next step is a glucose test for gestational diabetes.  Family history influences this somewhat, but mostly its the twins. With double the hormone levels about 40% of women who have twins end up with gestational diabetes.  It can usually be managed by diet but medications are available if necessary.

I have to go in for a bunch of blood work after January 3rd and can do the glucose test then.  The blood work is optional testing for chromosomal disorders, downs syndrome risks etc. It wont be as accurate as amnio but we didn't want to do those, so these tests will at least give us a better idea of the chances they'll have developmental issues so we can prepare.

Then, I go back for another check up in a month!

7weeks 5 days and Spotting...

Just noticed pretty bright red spotting when I went to the restroom. I'm still on the progesterone suppositories 3x a day so I'm hoping that's it, but it scared me.  I have my first OB appointment tomorrow morning, but if this gets worse we may have to brave the storm and go to the ER.

Please babies hang in there.... feeling scared. 

7 Weeks 3 Days

At 7 weeks the babies are about a 1/4 inch in length and about the size of a blueberry.  I'm telling you it feels like there are a whole bunch of blueberries in there!

Arms and legs are starting to form and grow out longer and dividing into hands and feet.  The brain is getting most of the attention though.

I'm feeling mostly ok. Exhaustion is the biggest symptom so far. Some waves of nausea but mostly when I don't eat every 2-3 hours.  By 3 or 4 pm I could nap for a couple hours a day.  I may have to start giving in to that.

http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week-7.aspx

TWINS! Pictures and Video

It's ONLY twins! Haha.  So relieved it's not more, but still in shock that it's twins.

Baby A is measuring at 6w6d which is perfect:

Baby B is measuring at 6w4d which is still fine for this stage:

Group photo:

I have a couple of cysts on my ovaries, which explains the soreness on my right side. The nurse assured us they'll go away on their own.

We graduated from the IVF clinic today and I have my first prenatal appointment with my gynecologist next Friday.  I can still hardly believe it.

Video of the ultrasound below if you want to watch :)

6 Weeks, 3 Days...

Yesterday was a good day. No nausea all day and I went into the office and was fine!  Today, another wave of yuckiness this afternoon. I'm trying to find a pattern, but so far there isn't one. I ate enough.  Who knows. So far I haven't actually gotten sick but it would almost be better if it would just happen. Maybe I would feel better? 

Gin Gins are helpful and crackers.  

Friday is almost here! Can't wait to see how many are in there.  Little uterine parasites making me sick!!