Entries in September 2012
Posted by Belinda's, 26/09/2012, 05:03 PM
As a child I used to dream of being a twin. Having a best friend by my side constantly to have fun with, laugh and play with all the time and (as one of mine just said reading over my shoulder - you always have someone else to count on). There weren't many multiples around when I was young and I was never friends with any. There weren't any sets of twins, triplets etc. in any of my schools and mostly I just saw articles on them every now and again and occasionally on TV.
When I was pregnant I started thinking about how great it would be to have twins myself and how exciting it could be. I told my family and friends that I would love to have twins and talked about it often - the further along I became.
On the day of my 12 week ultrasound I was in a mix of emotions. Elated to see my baby on the screen, although I sensed a feeling of disappointment that I was to find out there would be only one baby (when I wished from deep in my heart for two). Of course being able to fall pregnant and carry a healthy baby was most important of all.
After an agonisingly long wait in the obstetricians waiting room, watching all the belly's of other pregnant women further along in their pregnancies than mine - we finally had our name called. After a quick discussion, I hopped up onto the table for my scan. He pressed firmly into my belly and we saw a flicker of movement appear in black and white on the screen. As he moved around we could see limbs floating and what appeared to be a heartbeat. He's say 'there's an arm, there's a leg' and of course the head is easily recognisable. My husband was smiling back at me. Suddenly he flips the screen around and says 'brace yourselves'. With confused looks on our faces he positions the image so that there is one baby lying on top of the other and says 'you're having twins'! OMG!
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Engrossed in the images in front of us we were now trying to take it all in. He showed us two heartbeats, 4 arms and 4 legs and of course two heads! They were in separate sacs, joined together by a thin membrane. They each had their own placentas and looked to be around the same size. They were both healthy he informed us and said CONGRATULATIONS!
We were so delighted and amazed - and my wish had come true. We had further discussions relating to a twin pregnancy and other things we now had to consider. We then walked out to the front desk and he followed us - telling all the staff and other anxious waiting parents-to-be that we just found out we were having twins. Everyone clapped and said congratulations (it kind of felt like a movie and a bit surreal all at the same time). As we paid they arranged more than the standard routine examinations and I was to have my next ultrasound at 18 weeks. We closed the door behind us, hugged and breathed out. We were having TWINS! 
Posted by Belinda's, 26/09/2012, 05:01 PM
When my pregnancy was confirmed I was almost 5 weeks. I didn't record anything much for two weeks - just getting used to the idea and sharing it with all my family and friends.
At 7 weeks I thought it would be interesting to record my weight, as I had heard people putting on 20-30 kgs with one baby and I found this difficult to comprehend. I weighed 68 kgs and morning sickness had begun. I was throwing up around morning tea time and thought it was a bit early to feel this ill.
At 8 weeks I weighed 67 1/2 kgs - surprised that I'd lost wait given I was supposed to be gaining weight each week but then it was only 1/2 a kilo and I didn't feel up to my usual appetite.
At 9 weeks I was back to 68kgs and recorded mainly that I was throwing up.
At 10 weeks I was feeling the same and I had routine blood & urine tests. The results returned a few days later saying everything was okay. I'd stayed home from work with the flu for two days and was feeling miserable together with the increasing morning sickness. By the middle of 10 weeks I was throwing up many times at 2-3 different times of the day and I wasn't eating a great deal that would stay down.
At 11 weeks I weighed 67kgs and we moved house (in between my morning sickness I managed to help carry a few light boxes and arrange things in our new home). I felt nausea at most times of the day - and like many people I renamed it 'all day sickness'. There was one day that I didn't throw up in this week - what a relief!
At 12 weeks I was back to 68kgs and recorded that I slept really well for the first time in weeks and felt heaps better. I was due to have my first ultrasound in a few days and we were counting down the days. I was nearing the end of my first trimester and had read (in all my pre-pregnancy research) that morning sickness should be subsiding by now. Apparently women often felt better in the second trimester also. We'll see! 
Posted by Belinda's, 22/09/2012, 09:31 AM
Fortunately we didn't have long to wait for the line on the home pregnancy test. Only 3 months of recording my cycle, when I experienced ovulation pains and how I was feeling in myself. We weren't very patient so we did a few pregnancy tests which were negative. It was overwhelming how all of a sudden it seemed as though my thoughts were consumed with the longing to be pregnant and planning for the day I would hold my baby in my arms.
After the 2nd cycle of not falling pregnant and being disappointed (I realise now that it was too early to be feeling this way after four years of being on the pill and only 2 months of trying), that it was time to relax and try to think about something other than baby making. We decided to go away for the weekend, enjoy some quality time away from work, family and daily stresses. We stayed in a small coastal town, relaxed in spas, ate out and rejuvenated our mind and bodies. This really helped.
My cycles are around 24-26 days and on day 30 which happened to be my Mum's birthday, we had a big family lunch in which I ate brushetta. I felt really sick afterwards and thought maybe it was too oily or that I had a bug (later on my Mum said I looked different that day and my sister said my boobs were bigger!!!) 3 days later I did a pregnancy test, at night as I couldn't wait until morning. I was suddenly very excited and for the past few days I had been flat out finishing at one workplace and busily getting ready to go on holidays. I'd meant to do a test each of the mornings except that I'd go to the loo first thing then remembered the tests results were stronger with the first wee of the day so I'd wait until the next day.
As I waited and watched the stick holding my breath (around 10pm at night) - I noticed a faint line appearing and wondered whether it was my eyesight going funny or if it actually was 'the line'. My husband and I were so excited but trying not to get our hopes up. For all of you gorgeous women out there - a line even a faint line - can be positive... Just sometimes a bit early so it can be faint like mine was. The next morning I did another test first thing which showed a strong line. We found a doctor in our holiday destination who confirmed our greatest moment with the response 'you are very pregnant'. 3rd cycle of trying and day 34. Our baby journey had begun. Woo hoo!
From my experiences with my family and friends since this day - I fully appreciate the time it takes some couples to fall pregnant and the heartache that is accompanied with the overwhelming desire. For that I know we are fortunate and very thankful.
Posted by Belinda's, 22/09/2012, 08:54 AM
For the last 10 years (almost to the day), butterflies were racing inside my belly and my face couldn't hide the excitement as my Husband and I decided to have a baby...
We raced to see the doctor and ask loads of questions, bought the best books on babies we could find - and starting thinking about all that was ahead of us. What a day!
I bought a diary to begin making journal entries and I started recording everything from how I was feeling, any pains I was experiencing (I suffered ovulation pains so this was helpful for fertility), foods I was eating in preparation for conception, tests and vaccinations (such as chicken pox as blood tests discovered I didn't have immunity).
It was hard to wipe the smile and excitement off our faces. We were so much in love and adored newborn babies we spotted out shopping. It was the right time for us.
I needed to have 2 chicken pox vaccinations 3 months apart, and I wasn't able to go off the pill to start conceiving for 6 months. We waited it out, read as much as we could and in hindsight, it was a really great time to reflect on what was to come and decide definitely that having a baby was what we'd wanted and hopefully conception wouldn't take too long...
http://lovebeingamumxxoo.blogspot.com.au
http://laughloveinspirebelieve.blogspot.com.au/
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