The Ultrasound went well yesterday, Baby B had lots of amniotic fluid and they saw his/her bladder (which they were looking for). The Dr. appointment after also went well (although we waited for 2 hours!..which was went by quickly for once because everyone at the office was so jolly and good humored). They decided that there was no Twin to Twin transfusion syndrome at this point thank goodness. They did discover that Baby B only has one artery leaving his body (via the umbilical cord), I am a little unclear on this whole this except that there should be 2 (as Baby A has) but it is not all that uncommon and might very well account for his smaller size. They are going to have me in for the measurements next week and then every 2 weeks after that just to make sure Baby B is growing as he should. You can actually see the difference in size in this ultrasound. Baby B is on the top (having a drink...his mouth is open), and Baby A is on the bottom. Again the dark spot is bladder, his/her heart is just above that. As usual Baby B was being squirmy so his chest and belly is all blurry but it was cool seeing him open and close his mouth to drink! I'd actually had a dream the previous night in which Baby B was doing exactly that (so seeing him doing it was a bit of a shock), but then the Dr. news in my dream was not so positive. 'Til next time...
Went to Ultrasound number 3 today.
It was a detailed one meaning they measure the head, heart, bones and do other various checks. Usually they just measure the growth rate. There is some slight concern over possible 'twin to twin transfusion', something that can occur when babies share a placenta. The babies both have suffficent amniotic fluid (one indicator), but there was enough difference in size between the two that they would like to check again sooner. So I have another ultrasound next Wednesday and the Wednesday after that. They will check only fluid amounts at the next ultrasound as there won't be enough of a growth difference yet, and then in 2 weeks they will measure thier growth again. It is not yet a big concern but it is something to be watched.
I did not find out thier sexes. I guess at this place it is not policy to tell before 24 weeks as it is more difficult for them to be sure. At 24 weeks they are sure enough to feel confident in saying.
When I asked aproximate size they said that they were about the size of my hand at the moment. They were being difficult during the ultrasound in that they kept moving (especially twin B, the smaller one), and were lying up against each other. In one shot they almost appeared to be spooning. Unfortunately they did not co-operate and let us get a photo of that position. :( There were a few moments when they would come out very clear in profile, and be opening and closing their mouth or sucking a thumb. She gave me 6 photo's but none are as neat as it was on the screen, and baby B utterly refused to show us a profile.
We got a couple of head and chest profiles of baby A, in which he's got his fist up to his mouth, likely sucking his thumb. We got one photo of him face on and a couple of baby B face on. They look less like aliens and more like teddy bears now I think. We also got one picture of thier feet which is cute. The whole ultrasound they kept getting their feet and legs in each others space. I am hoping to scan those tomorrow and post them.
Anyway, that's it for now.
I guess I never updated this after my Dr's appointments on Tuesday. The Docter was positive. She gave me the go ahead to fly to NB at the end of May barring any unforseen complications, I'm excited about that but trying not to get my hopes up (like that ever works). My 'fundus', the top of the uterus, is now about an inch above my belly button, a fact of which I was well aware, but I found out that it is usually about an inch or so below the belly button in most pregnancies at this point, so I guess the twins are making thier presence known. Being the size I am doesn't seem that odd to me having no idea what I should look like! My Dad seems to think I will be huge and have to be on bedrest. I sure hope that is not the case! Overall the appointment went well. Then I was off to the nutritionist. Unfortunately for me I forgot to take my pills Monday night and so was feeling very sick by that time but I struggled through (and then kept a hair appointment I should've cancelled!! I sure felt sick after that!). That was also positive. (The nutritionist not the hair cut although that was also fine.) She said overall I am doing well. I guess eating cereals and fruit is not so bad. I have been eating more 'normal' food since I've been sick less as well and have been very concious of the types of foods I eat. Thankfully I've been craving fruit sugars much more than regular, although I still have to watch that. The biggest change I have to make is to get more protein, which is hard when meat kind of grosses me out. I've been eating more fish which is good, also for the iron. Today I bought some beef and salmon jerky so I didn't have to cook meat, although I also bought a bit of pork. It's the one meat I have no idea how I will react to so I will try cooking that up this weekend. I also was bad and bought a pie. A whole pie. I 'm sure it will be gone by the end of the weekend thought. It's in the oven at the moment. Mmmm.
I got a funny reaction from my self photo up now. Chris informed me that it is kind of 'creepy'. I thought that was amusing, I'm aware it's not a great picture but I didn't think it was creepy!! :) I told him when he gets home he can take a better one to replace it. I'm finding it harder to adjust with him gone this time and am finding I am having rather wild mood swings, I'm defiantely surly and grumpier with him away. He poked fun and asked how that was any different from when he is here! I guess I never realized how much support he has offered me though all these strange pregnant happenings. I will have to remember to thank him.
I am growing quite fast now and experienceing some of the stranger aspects of pregnancy such as joint loosening. My hips are loosening and the lower back pain can be quite extreme at times but I am not that new to back pain. The funny part is my clumsiness. I didn't expect that, also I didn't realize how much having a big belly would change how I move. My ribs are already digging into things, or a baby will lodge him/herself up there making it quite uncomfortable if I am slouching. I find it odd trying to put my socks (and everything else lower body for that matter) on in the morning. Gotta kinda move around the bulge. Lots of funny little changes you never think about. I'm afraid I idealized pregnacy quite a bit in the past. There's no floating through with my big belly all blissful and beautiful! It's funny really.
Well, That's long enough. There are likely countless spelling errors and such but I can't be bothered checking at the moment. Maybe later. Feel free to point them out! :)
Chris and I never did get around to taking another picture of my ever increasing girth, so I snapped a couple of shots in front of the bathroom mirror this evening. They aren't great but show the belly growth a bit. I will try to find someone to take better ones soon perhaps. Chris left today for Fort Nelson for an indeterminate amount of time so he's not an option. Tomorrow I get to visit the specialist again, hopefully for a full appointment this time, and then the nutritionist later in the day. Should be interesting.
I haven't written anything in a few days I guess. I've been doing okay for the most part, sick less, and throwing up even less (thankfully feeling nauseous no longer means I am going to have to run to the bathroom in the near future). I actually did a few real human things recently.
April 1st Denise had her first PAID show, and Chris and I went to that, along with our friends Shannon, Meridith and Bob. Lynn and another couple of Denise's friends I don't know also showed up. It was cool. She played very well and even though she lost her spot in one of her songs she didn't panic. :) Lynn brought her camera so I am hoping to get a few photo's off of her if they turned out, hopefully I can post one here.
April 2nd I'd made a date with Shannon and Meridith to have some girls only time. We went to "T", a tea shop near Shannon's, rented Howl's Moving Castle (a great flick) and ordered in from Tamarind, a yummy Indian restaurant also near Shannon's. It was nice, and we ate too much and generally enjoyed ourselves. We'd intended it to be an early night but Meridith and I still didn't end up leaving until 10:30, oh well.
April 3rd I managed to get a half day of work in. That was good...but not so good at any point following the end of the work day up until this afternoon.
Chris and I took Rusty, as usual, to Trout Lake after work but by the time we got home I felt ill and exhausted. That lasted all night unfortunately, without relief. I couldn't sleep. I'd never really understood insomnia until I got pregnant. It's incrediably frustrating to not be able to sleep when you're feeling sick. I was finally able to sleep by 3am but it was fitful and I woke often due to feeling sick and general discomfort. I can't imagine how uncomfortable I will be as time goes on as I often already have a hard time with how my body has changed and feels now. Anyway, I slept on and off, getting up every now and again for 1/2 and hour to an hour until 2pm this afternoon. I did get some sleep I think, but don't feel rested. At the same time I am not sleepy. Argh, I am determined to sleep tonight. (Fingers crossed) I want to get back on a regular schedule. I am going to try to head to bed by 10pm. Hopefully taking my morning sickness pill (which I've discovered has the same sleep ingredient as Unisom) and a glass of warm milk will help. We will see I suppose. Wish me luck!
