Belly Explosion

My belly didn't just grow, it exploded. I know it's going to get much larger before Thumper and Little Rascal finish growing.


These pictures were taken today at 17w6d. The whitish lines are stretch marks (most from weight gain/loss over the years), the darker ones just creases from where my pants were. There is a side and a front view. My hands are visible on the front view and while they arent big hands, the belly is so much bigger. No doubts anymore when anyone looks, I'm pregnant. although those who dont know its twins, assume I'm around 6 months or more.

My appointment with my family doctor (general practitioner) is next Monday. Wednesday is the anatomy scan. I'm not likely to post an update about either until my Doctor calls me about the scan. The earliest that would be is Thursday the 5th.

And they really must think I'm a low risk, dispite carrying twins from DE at 42 since I finally got booked into the OB - March 20th. I'll be 25w3d then.

I've registered for the local twin group. The next get together is this weekend. I may or may not go. I'll check with them to see if this is a good event for the still pregnant-with-twins group or more directed at those with kids running around (the Xmas one was a Santa and kids event)

For those who ask, I'm starting to do more research and putting together lists of what I'll need/want. I'm open to almost everything second hand. The exceptions are car seats (I have one) and the crib mattress(es). I think I'll also end up with a new jogging stroller. The good ones, that will last and I'll be able to use on long walks, and eventually jogging, last for years, so the ones for sale now are 3-5 years old and they still want almost 75-80% of the cost of a new one. Anyway, I'll put together a wish list and probably a registry at one point next month, although some of the things I'll want cant be 'registered' for (like the jogging stroller). And of course, I check craigslist daily and am hitting all the flea markets. Next up will be consignment stores.

Thanks to everyone for the great words of encouragement. I read all the comments and take them to heart. And to those who's blogs I read, thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

16w3d - I guess that's 4 months

And true to the norm for twins, I measure/look 6-8 weeks ahead of this. I really don't mind. I like looking more pregnant and less fat.

My Dr appointment didn't really tell me anything different, that I didn't already know.

My weight went up 1 pound in the 4 weeks for a total gain of 5 pounds. Since I still have lots of fluff and the babes are growing well, I'm not worried about the slow gain. I'm not dieting and not really doing anything called exercise (although I'm thinking of going swimming tonite).

We listened to the heartbeats, which is always nice, but since I have the rental doppler, I do that fairly regularly myself.

She's trying to get through to the OB to book a first appointment. I'm going to have to prod the office to find out what's taking so long.

My detailed anatomy scan will be on Feb 4th. To answer the oft asked question, yes I want to know gender. I'm not certain they will tell me. Its very clear on their form that they wont tell gender until 24 weeks and I'll be just over 19. Why 24 weeks you ask? Well in Canada, you can get an abortion until 23 weeks and there are people (too many) who will abort a female fetus (grrrr!). I'm hoping they will let it slip or it will be too obvious to not notice. If not, I'll book a 3-D scan and find out (I want a 3-D anyway).

I can sometimes feel minor movement from the babe lower down. It's a bit of a thumping, drumming feeling. I call this one Thumper. The upper babe sits behind a placenta and its harder to find the heartbeat and I cant really feel the movements yet. I call this one Little Rascal, shy with a playful nature. So collectively they are the babes or bump and individually Thumper and Little Rascal. I like these names (not once their born!) as they represent their known personalities so far.

On to names. I have a few picked out, but nothing definite. Anytime I see a name I like, I write it down to add to the list. A few things I want are a name that wont be constantly mispronounced, a name that is not in the top 50 names (not in the top 100 if I can swing it), a name that flows and does not produce initials that spell anything. I also don't want to use a name of anyone around my life. I don't want to seem to be playing favorites, nor do I want someone to mistakenly think the baby was named after him/her. I don't really want to share names with people in advance since I'm prepared to change my mind at any point until the papers are signed. I'm hoping to have several name options in my head and name the babies after they are born and I can meet them in person.

I still have no distinct pregnancy symptoms, which is okay now that I can hear the heartbeat occasionally and see the growth. I have had a horribly sore/tight neck that has caused headaches for the last week or so. I saw a register massage therapist yesterday. Apparently some of the knots were so bad she was surprised I was able to sit or stand as fluid to the brain was blocked. She obviously doesn't know my high tolerance for pain. It certainly has helped, but it will need more than one I think as my neck/back muscles seem to like being knotted. But that will have to wait until the tenderness goes down a bit. For now, I'll survive.

That's about it for how things with me, Thumper and Little Rascal are going. I'll try for another belly shot soon.

14w5d

Sorry there hasnt been an update in a bit. I'll post some with words about the holidays, thoughts on the new year and bump update tomorrow. I have my monthly maternity appointment tomorrow so I'll have a weight update and anything else she tells me about.

In the meantime, here is the bump as of today. Its definately a bump from the front and side.