Last week Paul and I went for our doctors appointment at the Maternal Fetal Medicine IMC Hospital. This was our appointment with a high risk OB who specialises in multiples. Before I saw the OB we were taken into the ultrasound room and were given an ultrasound with a really nice technition. She was so thorough and did a great job of explaining what everything was and how it was positioned with twins etc. She officially labelled our twins as "Baby A" and "Baby B". Baby A is the one closest to the birthing canal and will be the first one out into the world. From now on that is how they refer to the babies.
It was such an awesome experience seeing each little baby. They were both so different from each other. Baby A was super active. It was spinning, kicking, wiggling and moving about all the time. The doctor said "oh this little active one is jumping all over your bladder." So that explains the ridiculous number of trips to the bathroom! Baby B is our mellow one. It was laying on it's back with it's hand on it's head (like it had a headache courtesy of Baby A). Both babies are measuring accurately and had healthy heart beats.
The Technician confirmed that each baby has their own sac and their own placenta. She let us look at the babies for a little longer and then left and sent in the specialist. This was a great appointment because he was so thorough in explaining exactly what the extra risks are when having twins and what I can expect throughout the pregnancy and delivery. Paul and I bombarded him with questions and he did a great job answering and explaining them all to us. He even told me that the reason I have started getting headaches is because I have two placentas. He said that means that twice as much iron and nutrients are being sucked out of me causing me to feel extra tired, extra emotional and extra ill. In a few weeks I will be able to take a prescribed iron supplement that will help ease those symptoms. I am glad he said that - I was beginning to feel like a bit of a hypochondriac!
He said there are a few things working in my favour that will help me get the babies all the way to 36 weeks with a much lesser chance of going into labour any earlier then that.
1 - My Age. The risk of pre term labour increases greatly after 30.
2 - I have already had two full term vaginal births. The risk is greatly increased when delivering twins as your first pregnancy.
3 - I am fit and healthy (I know - I had to chuckle at this too). If you are over weight or have existing medical conditions it also increases your chances of pre term labour.
So I must say - I feel a lot better about having twins after this appointment. Sure - it is going to be hard. It already is. But I feel better knowing that he thinks he can get me to 36/37 weeks and deliver me two happy, healthy babies. He also gave me the ok to go on rides at Disneyland next week which was an added bonus! Woohoo! It is all starting to sink in and become very real! I am going back for a midwife appointment in two weeks and then have another scan (I get to have ultrasounds every 4 weeks) at the beginning of January. The doctor and the technician are pretty confident they can tell us the sex of the babies at the next scan so I am super excited! Be sure to stay tuned for the next instalment of "I'm Sorry... what?" : )
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