31 weeks 5 days

Yippeee we’ve crossed the 30 week mark! I’ve always envied mommies who are in their week 30 something as it just means they are soooo much closer to seeing their baby!

The first 12 weeks of the pregnancy seemed to drag on forever, the second trimester went by pretty quickly (maybe because we had the UK trip and heaps of other life changing events going on at the same time)….now that we’re in our 30 week something time seems to have slowed down again. Maybe it’s because I walk a lot slower??

UPDATE ON THE TWINS

·      They are moving a lot these days and perhaps with the lack of space to swim around they are kicking and elbowing me a lot more. We often see random body parts sticking out of my tummy! I’ve gotten used to it and quite like stroking them like that but hubby still finds it gross

·      We’ve kinda decided on their names but the chinese part is undergoing “approval” by my family members as my immediate family can’t read or write in Chinese

·      They seem to have a pattern of being asleep and awake now and when they are active I have grown to love “playing” with them. I think they know as when I prod my belly they kick back! Very cute!!

·      We’ve got most of their stuff ready. Almost everything they have is in white with the exception of a really cute T-shirt & dungaree set for the boy and a very cute cotton pink dress hubby picked up last weekend at the flea market. Looks like we already know what they will be dressed up in during Chinese New Year! Haha

HOW I’M FEELING

·      HUGE! I’m not kidding when I say this. People are starting to stare. Strangers are starting to come up to me to rub my belly. I can barely turn myself in bed as I am so heavy in the middle. It takes a lot of effort to hoist myself up from the toilet seat. I can’t fit into most of hubby’s huge T-Shirts anymore. Even Pivo the dog stares at my belly when I’m lying on the sofa

·      I’m now consistently going for a pee around 8 – 12 times a night. NOT KIDDING! Sometimes when I feel someone kicking my bladder I get an immediate urge to pee. This obviously disturbs my sleep at night. Funnily at around 7.30am I can suddenly sleep 3-4 hours straight so I have now adjusted my sleeping time. Luckily hubby is super  understanding and he lets me sleep in J

·      About a week ago I started developing very bad rashes on my feet (which are already super swollen!) It got so bad it woke me up at night crying. Hubby has applied calamine lotion, aloe vera gel, ice packs….it just would not stop itching. I have never seen my feet look so horrible. It itched so badly I bled when I scratched. Had to go see the doctor who gave me some mild anti histamines and cream. It’s much better now thankfully but my feet are still ugly from the rash scars

·      My feet AND calves are super swelled up now. It doesn’t even just happen at night. It is perpetually swollen. Doesn’t help that I’m so short and I have a massive belly. I look like a teletubby now. Hubby tells me he still thinks I’m the most beautiful woman to him but I know he can’t keep lying to me!

·      The Braxton Hicks contractions are getting more frequent (yikes!) and it gets so tight around my tummy that it wakes me up at night

·      I have also been having diarrhea on and off the last week and I have been given a few explanations – it could be the changing hormones or it could be my body “cleansing” before the actual labour starts

So at nearly 32 weeks with my size I am quite keen to have them out but I know it is much better for them to stay in for another 4-5 weeks. I talk to the twins everyday, telling them mummy, daddy and Jack are very excited about their arrival but that they should try stay inside for a bit longer.

So….4 to 5 more weeks until I see my precious daughter and son!

27 weeks 5 days

I haven’t been able to update for weeks as a lot is going on! Anyway that’s for another day.

HOW I’M FEELING

I am 27 weeks and 5 days pregnant today and I can’t begin to explain how HUGE I have become. According to some baby websites I am officially in my 7^th month and in my third and final trimester. Things started to change when I hit 24 weeks...

·    My belly looks like it’s growing by the hour (I am so not joking about this, as I already look    like I’m overdue now!)

·    My feet and ankles started swelling at 24 weeks. It gets worse in the evening and initially it used to subside in the mornings but these days it just stays swollen. I officially have Princess Fiona’s feet. Luckily they are not green.

·    It’s getting more and more difficult getting out of the car, getting up from a chair, getting up from the toilet seat etc etc. I just feel so heavy!

·     At times when I get up too fast I feel a sudden pressure “down there” like the babies will just come right through. After a few times I’ve learnt to really take my time getting up

·     I forget how much my belly protrudes these days so I often accidentally bump my belly on doors/walls and when I brush my teeth I forget to stand further so my T shirt gets wet

·     My lower back is perpetually aching. These days it seems like it still aches no matter how I sit or lie down

·    My hair is super oily! I have tried using different shampoo but it still ends up getting oily really fast. Why ah??

·    I sweat a lot. I overheat very quickly

·    I am waddling. And it ain’t sexy!!

On a brighter note, I am feeling the twinnies move around ALL THE TIME. They are getting stronger nowadays so some of their kicks and punches really hurt but it’s so nice to sit or lie down with my hands on my belly and feeling them squirm and swim around. As if my huge belly is not enough to remind me, feeling my babies move always remind me that I’m going to be mommy soon *sniff* *sniff*.

NURSERY PREPARATIONS

Hubby says I have nesting tendencies these days and I have to agree! On days that I feel a little better, I have been busy washing and drying all the baby clothings – their little onesies, mittens, booties, socks, blankets! We have been really lucky as friends and family have been buying stuff for the twinnies so we now have a really good supply of tiny baby clothes till about 6 months! We are so blessed we have family and friends to help out.

Hubby has fixed up the 2 cotbeds and I have arranged and re-arranged their little clothings. I have even packed all their mittens and booties into individual zip lock bags so it’s easy for storage. If that is not some kind of crazy nesting instinct they write about in baby books, I don’t know what that is.

Mum & dad have also gone grandchildren shopping crazy and have contributed quite a lot – they bought 2 bouncers (in pink and blue), nappies, mobile cot toys, towels, bath tubs, clothes and lots of bits and pieces here and there. I’ve never seen my dad so excited about shopping!

Seriously anyone suffering from depression or anxiety should just spend some time looking at baby stuff as no matter how tiring or difficult my day is, I ALWAYS feel better after spending some time hanging out in the nursery arranging and rearranging all the little stuff.

I have about 9 weeks plus to go and I cannot wait to cuddle my babies!

photos of twinnies at 19 weeks 6 days

our baby girl

our baby boy



* mummy loves * :-)

our twinnies at 22 weeks 6 days

So we did our week 23 scan today. Doctor reconfirmed that we are expecting a baby girl and baby boy! I know I said I would up date after the week 20 scan but I wanted to be super sure! :-)

Baby girl is weighing 583gms and baby boy is weighing 527gms. Doctor is happy with their growth rate. I was initially kinda worried that I haven’t put on much (at 22 weeks 6 days I have put on a total of less than 5 kgs). He said he’s not so concerned how much weight I put on and that he’s more concerned about the growth of the twins. Anyway I’m determined to keep this blog only for positive updates so here goes…

How we’re doing so far:

1)   Tummy is getting bigger and I am starting to waddle

2)   On certain days I get a lot of pressure “down there” that when I stand up I feel like the babies would  drop out! Luckily doctor said this sensation is normal. *phew*

3)   My feet swell when I sit or stand for too long. Drinking lots of water and protein and putting my feet up seems to help

4)   Went up 2 cup sizes *woot!!*

5)   They are both really KICKING! We often see my tummy moving nowadays even without rubbing or tapping it. They seem to be most active in the evenings when I’m sitting down chilling out or right before I go to bed. I love the sensation!

6)   Appetite still the same

7)   No particular cravings except occasionally for oranges, pomelos and soya bean milk

8)   Went through a few days of really bad acne breakout but it seems to have cleared up and I’m now back to having the pregnancy glow

I am falling in love over and over again with my son and daughter. Can’t wait to start preparing the nursery!

Next scan is in 3 weeks and doctor is recommending a steroid jab to mature their lungs just in case they decide to come by early. I haven’t done much reading about this so I hope it is safe for the twins….

our twinnies at 19 weeks 4 days

We’ve just returned from our trip to the UK and happy to report that we had a problem free 3 weeks! I love my twinnies!! No nausea, no tiredness, no cramps – only a tiny inconvenience of having dull lower backaches from the long flight, many different beds and probably from walking a bit too much.

Half of the clothes I packed did not fit me by the end of the trip!! Hubby was commenting everyday how my tummy seems to have grown each morning! Haha! Kinda weird seeing my tummy swell up like that but I love my baby bump J

Anyway at 19 weeks 4 days I have started to feel more consistent kicks and punches on both my left and right side. Everyone keeps telling me when it gets harder I will start wishing they would stop kicking and punching but for now this is all very new to me and I find it very reassuring to feel them every now and then. Can’t describe the feeling but suffice to say it’s the most amazing sensation I’ve ever felt – to know that in my tummy I’m carry two little babies who are wriggling around and that in a few more months we can actually hold, cuddle and kiss them!

According to babycentre.com, they are now able to hear and tiny teeth are starting to form in their gums. Hence I’ve spent the last few days talking and singing to them! I don’t know if it’s all in my head but we got into this routine of me placing both my hands on the belly, rubbing my belly, me talking to the twinnies and then when I tap and say “Baby Kick!”, 3 out of 5 times I get a response! I could spend hours doing that but I don’t want them to get bored of my little game too quickly hehe! I made hubby try that this morning and he too felt the kick. Sooooo amazing!! We have a scan in 2 days and I hope to be able to tell both their sexes. More importantly I can’t wait to see them again!

The changes in me so far:

1)      Bigger, fuller boobs (this I’m not complaining about!!)

2)      Bigger, rounder, tighter tummy, very visible baby bump

3)      I’ve put on around 4 – 4.5kgs in total so far

4)      I need maternity jeans now

5)      More energy now compared to first trimester

6)      Not able to stand for too long as I will get slight water retention on my feet

7)      Appetite remains the same as pre-pregnancy but I occasionally have to get up at 4am for a very small snack

I actually feel great now and I LOVE being pregnant. I guess I’m going through what they call the “honeymoon” stage now and I really hope things stay the same until I’m ready to pop!!

Anyway I will write more after our 20 week scan in 2 days J I can’t wait!!

I love you my darling twinnies!!

our twinnies at 15 weeks

Our twinnies at 15 weeks

Happy 15 weeks my wonderful darlings!!

We had a scan a few days back and we have confirmed a boy (who was awake and moving around) but the other fella was fast asleep and wouldn’t move so the sex remains a mystery!! All we could see was the little fella lying down with the heart beating. I am still hoping this sleepy twin is a girl!!

The scans are getting so much more fun as we can see them move around. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!! I am sooooo in love with my babies!!!!!

Below are some of my 2nd trimester developments....will do one for my 1st trimester soon which will be a VERY long list!! 

My 2^nd trimester so far:

• The evening sickness has somewhat subsided. YAY!
• I still eat 3 meals a day, and the same portions. I really wonder why I don’t have an appetite like some of my pregger friends?
• I seem to get a headache VERY easily these days. I almost overheat just by looking at sunlight!! Sometimes these headaches last for nearly 2 days. NOT nice.
• I am still constantly thirsty – downing water and juice the whole day
• I am now able to sleep through most of the night, waking up maybe only once or twice to use the loo (my record was over 10 times a night in my first trimester)
• I am feeling lots of pulls and stretches on my lower tummy/abdomen area
• I have a very visible baby bump now – I have been asked if I am 4-5 months! Omg how la when I reach my 3^rd trimester? I am also depressed that I am shopping for size L now to accommodate my tummy
• My feet swells up a little when I walk or stand for too long. Water retention maybe?
• I can’t sleep on my back for too long, most comfy position is to face the left
• My linea nigra is now visible and I was told my Kristy that it stays for nearly a year after delivery. YIKES!!!
• I felt the twinnies the first time around week 13 and nowadays if I sit or lie down still I could feel them move (but I have to be VERY patient). It feels like goldfish moving in my tummy

our twinnies at 12 weeks

I’ve not blogged much about my first trimester because I was constantly reminded that “anything” may happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

When we had our first scan and found out we were expecting twins my OBG warned me not to be too prematurely happy and excited as he explained the vanishing twin syndrome.  Close friends and family kept reminding us to “take extra care” the first 12 weeks as “anything” may happen.  So hubby and I were cautiously excited. And being cautiously excited I started a blog but did not tell anyone about it and did not post much.

At the 10 week scan I asked my OBG when we the chances of vanishing twin syndrome would go down and we were so happy to when he said ZERO and that we actually have a viable twin pregnancy but again, he warned us to still be cautious until we are at 12 weeks.

All I can say is the last few weeks has been the LONGEST weeks of my life!!! I was jealous of anyone who was more than 12 week pregnant and couldn’t wait to get there!

WE FINALLY DID J

Today we’re 12 weeks 1 day pregnant and at our 11 week 6 days scan BOTH babies were doing very well! The sonographer took over 45 minutes to complete the detailed scan and neither hubby nor I were complaining. We had 45 minutes of pure joy seeing our two babies swimming, kicking, waving, squirming and responding to being gently prodded! We saw little hands and feet, their perfectly formed brains, blood flows, nose bridge, eye sockets, stomach etc!! Both babies had nice and strong heartbeats of 169bpm and 171 bpm!! Their nuchal measurements were are 0.9mm and 1.1mm respectively (which is a good measurement as anything below 3.5mm is considered low risk for Down Syndrome) Our sonographer kept saying “wow, very good!” and “wow, perfect measurement!” and “oh so cute!”…. mummy and daddy couldn’t be more proud!

Hubby isn’t the most patient man in the world but even he said later that night that he could have sat there the whole day watching them. I couldn’t agree more! Suffice to say the scan was perfect! We’re now hoping the blood test comes back normal as that would rule out the possibility of Down Syndrome for the twinnies.  *fingers crossed*

We were only given a few souvenir photos that day:

Twin 1 - 11wk 6d

Twin 2 - 11w 6d

Twin 2 with his/her arm up in the air! 11w 6d

Taken at 9w 6d showing the upstairs/downstairs twins!

I am sure hubby feels the same but can I just say that I am still emotional and in awe each time I see my twins and as we see them grow I feel myself falling in love with them over and over again. I have really NEVER felt so happy and blessed and complete before.