37 weeks pregnant with Twins - Home birth here we come!

Excuse the minging mirror!

37 weeks today and it really is the best feeling to have got through to this stage!

I had a presentation scan today and after some moving about from one room to another (couldn't see clearly and they wanted an experienced Twin sonographer) Both were found to be still head down, except the little madam is in OP position. So I've been on my hand and knees and hoping she moves round, which she will likely do :).......... I have every faith!

Twin two's head is literally sitting right between her chin and shoulder, the sonographer commented that it looked  like they were both fighting for lead position! It certainly looked that way! :)


(gross post)
I have honestly never seen so much gunk......... had another massive show today and 3 small amounts, I certainly feel my body is gearing up!

Sleep is interrupted hourly with toilet or cramps, I take this as pre-baby training as I'm sure this will likely continue when they are here ;-)

My feet are swelling daily now (well it doesn't really go down), it's quite mild so just more of an uncomfortable nuisance. I haven't really had a lot of problems in this pregnancy and feel lucky to have gone through it as well as I have so I can't complain!

Everything is ready in the house. The pool has been blown up and propped up against the kitchen wall, my birth box and the hospital birth box is ready too.

Oh and I nearly forgot! we have a lady coming out to collect both placentas after the birth and she's going to make me a smoothie and placenta capsules! We decided we would have someone else do it and she has let us pay monthly to help :) I'm going to have lots of pills from both of these placentas! The smoothie sounds very erm interesting and apparently you can't actually taste it due to all the berries etc that is used, the reports of how women feel after is what has swung me to try it. I will certainly be reporting back when I have had it!

I have a feeling that maybe before my next update they will be here. When I do go into labour I will update my facebook page as it's much quicker, so keep your eye out!

Natasha x

26 weeks pregnant with Twins - Heartburn Hell!

26 weeks Twin Pregnancy

Wow it's my last week in the 2nd trimester!

I've been looking forward to this part of pregnancy. Mainly down to the fact that I knew I would feel and know babies were doing well by this point in time, chance of miscarriage has gone right down and I was kinda hoping I would feel a lot more confident about giving birth at home by now too. Well I can tick that one! because I really do feel confident and everything seems to be falling into place nicely, although I'm sure when I see the consultant he wont be thinking the same thing :).......... oh well.

I met my new midwife and I'm very happy! I felt very comfortable with her. We discussed the homebirth and she said that basically they have to make sure I know the risks etc and as long as I am comfortable and it's where I feel happier giving birth then they have to support my decision. This of course was the total opposite of the consultants views, it will certainly be an interesting conversation when he see what the Midwife has wrote in my green notes about me pursuing a homebirth......... fly on the wall anyone?

I have said though that if at any point before or during labour (needed to be transferred) I have any doubt or don't 'feel' right I wouldn't hesitate to have them in hospital, it would be stupid not to! But as it stands knowing I could be giving birth to our babies in a pool in the kitchen gives me a total sense of relief and calm feelings. So while I have them, I'm hopeful of getting to term and having a homebirth.

Oh and what the heck! (much stronger language was going to be used) heartburn anyone?! God it's awful! It's been nearly every night I've had it now. The burning and acid in my throat is so horrible and I thought I had it bad in the girls pregnancies! Not an inch on it!

Suffice to say the gavi is coming straight out of a bottle in the early hours of the night!

I have ordered a maternity support belt and hopefully it should come this week. My MW let me borrow one she had and it's certainly what I need! I can see how it would support me and I'm hoping will keep me mobile towards the end.

I can't sit for too long, it would drive me insane! I will update about it when it comes :)

We are also really unsure (mainly me) on names for them, I just can't find anything I like or feel comfortable with. So I really will be waiting to decide until they are born now, I hope we can find one we want when they are here.

Oh and the "oh my god I'm having twins!" keeps hitting me, and it really does HIT you! Two babies at the same time..... mind blowing!

I feel blessed and totally crapping myself at the same time, but I guess even when they are here it's not going to sink in for awhile!

Right I will update again soon with belt news. :)

Natasha

Twin Pregnancy - 24 weeks- Home water birth here we come!

23 weeks 24 weeks

So after many weeks of illness, stress, birthdays and Christmas...... I am back and have more time now to update!

I contacted a local'ish IM (Independent Midwife) as after the consultation I knew then that searching for support was and is my only option.

I was told to get in touch with Jane Evans by another local IM as she has had Twin birth experience. I needed to know all my options and explore what I could, although affording one is questionable right now it's an avenue I needed to look at.

Well how pleased was I when I spoke to Jane! She was wonderful, very very informative, wise and you could hear the confidence in her voice. I was talking to someone with the complete opposite views of the consultant but it just felt so very right and comfortable, like I was talking to someone with complete sense!

She gave me great advice about diet and getting the babies to term and that if I am unable to get support from the NHS (will go into in a sec) then we would certainly be able to work something out. Massive weight lifted!

Now I have been told the new head of midwifery starting in Jan has facilitated a Twin homebirth under the NHS (not too long ago and of course went wonderfully :) )

I might be able to get her to help me, I am going to set up a meeting with her hopefully very soon (fingers crossed).

I have also found a new lovely midwife.... well I haven't met her yet but I have heard lovely things about her and tomorrow will be setting up an appointment with her. She asked me to book a double appointment as there's quite a bit to chat about so I am really excited!

The babies seem to be doing well, I have another scan on the 30th Dec 11, I am hoping my extra eating will have made them catch up and be closer to their gestation. I am not going to stress about it (as it wont help!) but I am really going to aim to get them matching with their current week and each other. Fingers crossed I will deliver two healthy 6lb + babies (at least!) after 37 weeks! (Lottie was 6lbs at 37 weeks so I think this is doable!)

I have been visualising the birth happening in water in my kitchen, I can see it and it's really helping me focus and not feel so worried about it all. It feels pretty daunting sometimes and I feel this will be quite an experience!

Well hopefully by next week I will have an appointment and some news from the scan.

Natasha x

20 weeks! Sorry I took so long! The twins are..............

Finally I am on here (god I'm crap!)

But we have found out we are blessed with a Boy and a Girl!

They were both head down, girly closer to the exit and both in growing well (although the little man is a little smaller, but it's likely they were conceived days apart).

I'm totally on cloud nine and very happy.

I also saw the consultant and of course homebirth was a big NO, but I have been informed by a local Independent midwife that the Head or midwifery who starts in Jan in the hospital has attended a twin homebirth. If we don't manage to get the support I will be looking at the independent midwife route. Even after a wobbly moment when seeing the consultant (started doubting myself) my strong urge (instincts) is to birth them in water at home.

I'm hoping to make the homebirth support group next week, I'm really going to need it!

Here is some pics of my babies :)

Baby girl :)

And our baby boy :)

15 weeks 1 day - Twin Pregnancy

15 weeks

Just a small update with 15 week bump picture. Even my uterus has crept just above my tummy button in just a few days or so (feel it every morning) . Babies kicking lovely and feel them at least 2/3 times a day which is really reassuring!

We decided to use the holidays to tidy (among take the girls certain places etc) as it's just totally got on top of me... well us and we need to sort it out as it's driving me insane!

So toy sorting and cleaning the house being the main things to do........(I still haven't managed to put dusting into my routine however.......... I don't dust).

It's getting done bit by bit and just helps have a clearer head, until we have the next lot of mess, but oh well!

Natasha

Twin Pregnancy 11 weeks - And self doubt

11 weeks today and I feel awful.

After taking Olivia to school I spent the rest of the morning throwing up. I am shattered, my lower bump hurts and my pelvis aches............ and I am only 11 weeks.

I am going to make a doctors appointment this week as I'm wondering if my thyroid levels are right because I have been feeling really low.

I have been looking at baby clothes already and taking into consideration that they may be quite small (around the 5lb mark) Olivia was 6.8lb at 39 weeks and Charlotte was only 6lb at 37 weeks and only being 5'5 myself it's quite likely they will.

The clothes are tiny, although 'cute' it's quite scary to think at how small they could be!

I'm most certainly going to breastfeed them, to me there is no other way of feeding. It dawned on me that if they came earlier than 34 weeks and don't have a good sucking reflex (and I am struggling to express) I will need to source donor milk as it's quite likely the hospitals supply is going to be short. But I will be asking this when I first see the consultant. Also a standard practice is to use fortifiers in the human milk and that donor milk in hospitals is pasteurised, again I need to research my options on this (info found in link below).

I really do not want them having formula. My main reason for this is their 'virgin gut' being compromised and obviously nutritionally breast milk is far better for premature babies as well as preventing infections etc.

http://www.eatsonfeetsresources.org/?page_id=532

So my mind is boggled at the moment with this but I guess there's no point thinking about it too much until I see the consultant and their 'policy'.

I am still feeling quite overwhelmed about going through a twin pregnancy, because of my feelings on birth and feeding are not of the countries 'norm' I really feel this will be a huge test of my beliefs and realising how challenging this will be for me mentally.

Is having such strong views going to hinder my judgement during important times? I am in a state of self doubt about how I feel about things.

Having also come to the conclusion (after much research!) that I am no longer going to have my children vaccinated (these babies will be vaccine free) am I throwing myself into fire? With this on top of the decisions I am possibly going to have to face and fight with wanting a home birth, making sure the babies receive breastmilk and co sleeping, am I just creating more problems and stress?

Although I say I have self doubt, I do really believe this is right.

I guess our beliefs have to be challenged sometimes in order to gain strength and knowledge on the decisions we make.

Being the minority during times like this make me feel alone and like I am some lunatic doo lally parent.

But then I slap my face and think well hang on one darn minute! How many long hours have I spent researching, experiencing and learning? I have spent countless hours and time making sure that I am looking and reading the right things and that they felt true to my feelings on the subject and backed up, speaking to other parents and investigating as much as I can so I feel informed and educated enough to go against the grain. As much as I never felt I was doing it with that purpose (but it's what I have done) I always had/have the girls best interest at heart and following my instincts lead me on this path.

I do know that I am not really alone, there are thousands of parents and families who think the same way and live in a similar way, this gives me comfort that in fact I am not a lunatic doo lally parent, I just parent differently.

Ooo haven't I gone on there?!

As you can see I have millions of things wizzing round in my mind and I guess it helps to write it down!

Here are some bump pictures taken today

11 weeks exactly

Not much more to add to this today, but will likely update during the week if I manage to see the doctor and with any other goings on here :)

Natasha x