25 weeks update and absolutely buggered!

Today officially marks the start of the 25th week of gestation with my babies and I am feeling rather strained, physically.

For starters, I have been told that my blood volume has increased by 30%, no wonder, my heart is working harder as usual and hence, I am breatheless for a slightly longer period of time after walking up a slight hill towards my office.

To put it simply, I am feeling buggered. My energy levels from 4 weeks ago have certainly diminished today and find myself retiring to bed when I get home from work for about an hour before I am able to get dinner together. Wow! There must be a lot of activity happenin within me that I am unable to fathom, yet! This body of mine is incredible, to state the least!

Here I am in the office, about 12 days of work left before I retire and resume my place as full-time incubator...

I look forward to having my babies in my arms and start my new chapter as mummy..however, not too soon please. I would love them to grow in me for as long as possible, preferably till end April, with the hope that when I leave the hospital, they can come home with us.

24 weeks, 1 day

Wow! Yesterday was the start of my 6th month and I continue to marvel at this miraculous development thriving within my body. There's certainly no denying that I am pregnant because I physically look it and trust me, I feel it!

I love checking out my pregnant belly whenever possible and am particularly in love with my children nestle in it. I still cannot believe I am a mother of twins! Two beautiful children that I have been dreaming, wishing and hoping for. 

Thank you God for blessing me so abundantly.

23 weeks, 4 days

Due to the unprecedented floods in Queensland last week, we were unable to go to the office from Wednesday to Friday. Coincidentally, IKEA sent us notification that the wardrobe organisers have arrived! Yipppeee...why not be productive since we are home-bound?

A fortnight earlier, we had purchased a white change table from the same place and have yet put it up. Armed with our newly acquired wardrobe organisers, we got down on our hands and knees (more so Jared) while I supervised (!!!) to assemble the flat packs.

Once they were assembled, I did what I do best - organisation! I have placed all the baby clothes that we have acquired from friends into their separate catergories (everyday, going out, winter, pjs, etc) - one 6 basket organiser for the boy and another one 6 basket organiser for the girl.

The next day, I spent a few hours at Carindale Shopping Centre checking out baby clothes and bought a few pieces for our daughter because the clothes we have been given so far are for boys. I was mindful not to go over-the-top because we know how fast they grow and we will also be receiving heaps more as times goes by.

We are well-please with what we have achieved thus far. Bit by bit, the nursery will stop resembling that of a bits-and-pieces room and one that will be comfortable and cosy for our children.

Last night while laying in bed with a book, our daughter did a most peculiar thing. She did a full on somersault because I could feel a hard limb against the upper abdomen! It's wonderful! Her first full on movement!

I love feeling the pokes from both my children and look forward to many more.

22 weeks, 4 days

Another week, another milestone.

On the weekend, we attended a very informative Multiples Birth class conducted by a Midwife who has had 2 sets of twins (talk about credibility!) at the Mater Women's Hospital. It was a full class with at least 10 couples and the 3 hour long session could certainly be stretched out to 6 hours because there was just so much information!

It was lovely being in the same room with other couples who are expecting twins. Many of whom conceived via IVF and no doubt we all have been on a similar journey to get to where we are.

I have read much about breastfeeding two babies at once and it's great to be given a demonstration with a fully clothed midwife - it is definitely possible with the aid of a great feeding pillow that not only supports the mother's back and also enables her to have both children with her at the same time! We are so getting that pillow!

In addition to the practicals and strategies on coping with twins including avoiding eye contact with strangers in public places if you want to get the shopping over and done with to putting on easy listening music in the nursery so that babies are used to noises, we were also given a tour of the nursery.

It was a lovely floor that can take up to a maximum of 90 babies at any one time. It was heartening to see how personal those spaces or 'pods' are. They are about 8 cots to each pod and each cot has 2 recliners which allows mums and dads to spend time 'kangeroo cuddling' or feeding their baby(ies). I was teary a few times when I saw more hands-on the dads were! It's wonderful that hands-on parenting from dads are now a common sight and no longer a stigma like in the past.

Today, I went to see my Gestational Diabetes Doctor and she was very assuring and encouraging about my progress. I stepped on the scales and in the 8 weeks since I first saw her, I have put on 3kg. She is very please with that because as she rightfully pointed out. I am overweight pre-pregnancy - to have lost 6kg in first trimester and only put on 3kg so far, is NEUTRAL weight gain and absolutely perfect for someone like me. The babies are growing on track with their gestational age so all is good.

I am relief and very grateful. Bring on more pokes, babies!

21 weeks, 6 days

Today is my last day of week 21 and so far it has been brilliant. I have felt pokes from both children and my daughter is certainly the more active child as oppose to my son who is quite content just laying still and conserving his energy. This was confirmed by the Obstetrician yesterday when I saw him for the routine monthly check up.

It never ceases to amaze me that I am nurturing two little beings in me and they are thriving! I feel so bless to be part of this journey and what a priviledge to be their mummy too!

My tummy is a tight little package and my weight gain has only been 2kg so far. When I voiced my concern to the Obstetrician, he teased me and said,

"How much bigger do you want to be? You are only 5 ft 1 inch.

Look at Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (who is due to give birth to twins this week), she's tall and her tummy is about your size!"

Okay, he's right, as usual. I shall stop worrying and continue to enjoy this pregnancy knowing that both my children are growing on track and that I am a healthy mummy to be.

20 Weeks 1 Day: Feeling the pokes from my daughter

About two nights ago while watching some DVD movie at home, I felt a most peculiar albeit gentle poke on my right abdomen. Just as well I was sitting still or else, I would have missed it. I was speechless for a good 3 minutes with Jared none the wiser next to me. I encouraged it to poke again by pressing it gently and there it came again. After that, nothing. Cheeky little girl!

I've been looking forward to this magical moment. Many books as well as internet resources have stated that I will be feeling movements...like 2 weeks ago! Oh well, once again, every pregnancy is different and mine sure has defined most of the stereotypical symptoms!

Last night while lying in bed at 10:30pm, I felt the poke once again. This time there were a few more pokes! I was absolutely thrilled because I can feel it on my hand when I placed it next to the spot where it first took place. It was such a thrilling feeling! It kept me awake for another hour because I want it to happen again!!!

Oh my little girl. I love you so much. I look forward to more pokes from her and also her brother when he grows a little bigger (he's the smaller of the both of them).

I feel so bless. Poke Poke Poke...

19 weeks

Officially, 19 weeks as of today. Yesterday, we underwent the 19th week Morphology Scan at Queensland Ultrasound for Women.

The Sonographer who was assigned to us had just returned from holidays and all their ultrasound machines have also been upgraded in her absence hence she struggled through the 2 hour scan for a variety of reasons. Therefore, the scans weren't brilliant this time.

We were slightly annoyed but patient and kind, as usual. We saw our developing children and they are well. All their organs are functioning well and they are active even though I have not felt the movements myself.

It was wonderful that there was nothing sinister and both babies are growing well according to their gestational ages. So far so good. Here are some 4D scans of both children for your viewing pleasure:

Our son with arms up around his face - his sleeping pose exactly like his dad!

Our daughter was very active during the scan - hence only a good shot of her beautifully developing ear which looks suspiciously like her dad's slightly crinkly ear!

Our daugher again - this time it looks like she's telling her to keep quiet!

It would appear that they have inherited some physical attributes from their dad however I am certainly they will inherit my great skin and beauty!

Our next scan will be held on my 27th week of pregnancy and it falls on Valentine's Day!