This appetite is voracious. Though it is kind of handy having a belly to hold my bowl of food while I eat and type at the same time. Seriously though, there is hunger, and then there is I'm-already-in-bed-but-I-can't-fall-asleep-because-I-need-food. I think part of the problem is that I can't eat as much at once because my stomach is running out of room. Also, our babies ARE growing fabulously. In fact, the doctor said they are still about the same size and are even slightly ahead of their gestational age size (about two pounds each). I think it's around this point that twins often start losing ground in-utero compared to singletons. But maybe we have some rebels on our hands (or in my belly).
So far I've still been getting A's at the doctor's office and I'm still feeling really good with my choice of OB. The specialist checked all the fluid pockets once more last week for Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) and we are good to go. Also, the fact that they are still the same size is another indicator that the placenta sharing isn't causing issues. They won't be checking for TTTS specifically anymore because they don't really see any problems after 26 weeks. WOOHOO!
So far I've still been getting A's at the doctor's office and I'm still feeling really good with my choice of OB. The specialist checked all the fluid pockets once more last week for Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) and we are good to go. Also, the fact that they are still the same size is another indicator that the placenta sharing isn't causing issues. They won't be checking for TTTS specifically anymore because they don't really see any problems after 26 weeks. WOOHOO!
Happy news: Baby A has flipped and is no longer breach! Hopefully she stays there now. This is the first ever picture we have of Baby B's face (from 6 ultrasounds). Her face is squished up against Baby A's lower back.
I had some lab work and my iron is great (glad I'm not following my mom's footsteps here), but I failed the one hour glucose screen. I took the three hour glucose tolerance test on Friday, but I don't know the results yet. This test is the diagnostic tool for gestational diabetes (GD). Having twins does increase chances of having GD. I'm pretty bummed out that I might have it, especially because having GD increases your risk of getting Type II Diabetes later down the road.
What's the issue with diabetes and pregnancy? My specialist explained that there is actually a hormone secreted from the placenta that attacks insulin. Insulin helps move sugar in the blood into the body cells, so with less insulin more sugar stays in the blood. This creates insulin resistance, the precursor to Type II Diabetes (which is why GD increases your risk for Type II later in life). With twins, there is apparently more insulin-attacking hormone going around. No one knows why this even happens, but my guess is it's a safety mechanism against having too low blood sugar which could really hurt the baby.
Diabetes or not, that three hour test is the PITS. Fast for 15 hours with a sugar water drink for breakfast and four separate blood draws. It's basically a recipe to make a pregnant lady throw up and pass out. I survived, but just barely. :)
The baby girls are doing great and I'm not even having anything I'd call a contraction yet. My struggles lately have been pretty severe back and pelvis pain. I looked up my symptoms and I'm assuming I have Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction. I have a support belt that helps a bit, especially when I walk. Laying down helps, and baths feel great. The MOST helpful thing I've tried is actually doing pelvic lifts (30 seconds x 3 reps) and this interesting exercise.
Speaking of exercise, I love this prenatal yoga routine by Lara Dutta. It's gentle and easy enough, but it also leaves my body feeling good - like everything is in the right place.
And on that note, here is a motivational list for exercising. The farther I get, the less I want to move, but I'm at least still waddling a "walk" every day. Even though it's getting much much harder, I feel like all the exercise I have done so far in this pregnancy has helped 100%.
What's the issue with diabetes and pregnancy? My specialist explained that there is actually a hormone secreted from the placenta that attacks insulin. Insulin helps move sugar in the blood into the body cells, so with less insulin more sugar stays in the blood. This creates insulin resistance, the precursor to Type II Diabetes (which is why GD increases your risk for Type II later in life). With twins, there is apparently more insulin-attacking hormone going around. No one knows why this even happens, but my guess is it's a safety mechanism against having too low blood sugar which could really hurt the baby.
Diabetes or not, that three hour test is the PITS. Fast for 15 hours with a sugar water drink for breakfast and four separate blood draws. It's basically a recipe to make a pregnant lady throw up and pass out. I survived, but just barely. :)
The baby girls are doing great and I'm not even having anything I'd call a contraction yet. My struggles lately have been pretty severe back and pelvis pain. I looked up my symptoms and I'm assuming I have Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction. I have a support belt that helps a bit, especially when I walk. Laying down helps, and baths feel great. The MOST helpful thing I've tried is actually doing pelvic lifts (30 seconds x 3 reps) and this interesting exercise.
Speaking of exercise, I love this prenatal yoga routine by Lara Dutta. It's gentle and easy enough, but it also leaves my body feeling good - like everything is in the right place.
And on that note, here is a motivational list for exercising. The farther I get, the less I want to move, but I'm at least still waddling a "walk" every day. Even though it's getting much much harder, I feel like all the exercise I have done so far in this pregnancy has helped 100%.
The Belly Update: This week has been an I'M FEELING GIGANTIC kind of week. I am carrying an extra 30 pounds already, which explains part of all this crazy fatigue.
Annndddd....are we done growing yet? Haha.
Love,
Lauresa
Love,
Lauresa