Friday, October 3, 2008

Two Grapes

Well, here we are in the 9th week. The babies are an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weigh just a fraction of an ounce. They are starting to look more and more human. Their essential body parts are accounted for (how amazing!). Other changes: the babies heart's finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do their tiny teeth. The organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Their eyes are fully formed, but eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. They have tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. This is all according to the typical development pattern and that's what I'm hoping is going. I still feel great.

I've been learning a lot this week (already read a book on twins and starting another). What is stressing me out mostly is eating enough. I've read twice that I need to eat about 3,200 calories. I think that has to be extremely high for my size and it's something I'm going to follow up with my doctor on at our next appointment (she said 2,200 calories with one baby). I will also likely put on 35-50 pounds. I'm going to be HUGE!!!! Also, something to chat about with the Doc. Also, I'm up at night thinking about logistics -- How I will nurse them? How will I manage them in a dual stroller? Should we set up one nursery or two right now? How does co-sleeping work? How will I do this when I'm all alone after David goes back to work and all the visitors are gone? I need to remember tons of people have done this and I don't need to figure it out right away.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The News Gets Even Better


After a bit of a scare this weekend (a tiny bit of bleeding and I freaked out), the doctor sent us for an early sonogram. I'm 8 weeks -- a critical period -- and we were worried about miscarriage. Since we weren't due to hear the heartbeat until our next prenatal appointment on October 17th, I was very anxious. The technician checked out my uterus, ovaries and then went for the embryo (btw, it's not a fetus until 10 weeks). After what felt like 15 minutes waiting, I questioned what the dark splotches were on the screen and if there was heartbeat. She pointed to the dark splotch and said here's the baby -- AND HERE'S ANOTHER!!!!! Yes, we're having twins. Yes, we are freaking out. This only happens 1.1% of the time naturally, so I guess we're just super lucky and fertile. They are fraternal or dizygotic, which means they have their own sacs. From what we've read, we have 50/50 odds of them being same sex or both sexes. We're excited and scared and DYING to tell everyone, but we're waiting until week 12, just to be safe. She said everything looks great -- totally normal for 8 weeks. The heartbeats were 172 and 181, for Baby A and B. My doc says to rest this week and then I can go back to the gym. I also have to take 500 extra miligrams of calcium. For those of you who are wondering, I feel great. I have not had morning sickness at all; I only feel a bit tired. I am incredibly lucky -- to be carrying twins and to feel so well. P.S. I've included the first pics of the babies. It's amazing!