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I have had a few people e-mail me to tell me thet couldn't leave a comment. I think it is set to be able to do so??? Not sure what is going on.

Cerclage

After checking the babies, the Dr used the ultrasound to check on my cervix. What they found wasn't good. My cervix had shortened and was starting to open on the inside allowing for "funneling". We then discussed what this meant (not a pleasant discussion) and were given 2 options.
Option 1 was to do nothing except go on bed rest. This option involved waiting to see what happened. The likely risk here was that my cervix could continue to open and that the babies could be born any time when that happened. If the next time they checked my cervix was fully open, there was really nothing that could be done.
At that point I asked what option 2 was...
Option 2 was a cerclage surgery. Here the surgeons would go in through my vagina and sew up the cervix. Hoping to close what had opened and to keep the rest from opening any more. As I understand it, to place a stitch around the cervix and pull it tight kind of like a draw string. If this worked successfully it could mean keeping the babies in longer, possibly even to full term of 37 weeks. The risks are that the operation wouldn't be successful, that my water could break, that I could go into labour, that I could develop an infection.
Although neither option was what we wanted (have no problem to start with), after much thought, crying and more thought we decided to go with option 2.

With this type of surgery, once you decide to do it, they start preparing right away. We didn't even leave the hospital. I had eaten lunch, so we basically had to wait for that to get out of my system, and then the surgery was scheduled. The decision was made before 5 and by 10 that night I was in the operating room.

A is a BOY!!!!

On Monday we had our 19 week ultrasound. Both babies are doing well. Baby A (on the bottom right) seemed to love the camera, picking its nose and everything. During the scan we got a great butt shot and Baby A is a BOY. Baby B (on the upper left) was much harder to get clear measurements for and is very modest. No chance of seeing any "parts". Both babies had all the parts where they are supposed to be, strong heartbeats, etc. Hopefully Baby B will allow us to see more on the next scan. Also hopefuly next scan I will remember to ask for pictures. We will be having ultrasounds every week or 2 now, so I am sure we will get a few good ones eventually.

19 weeks pregnant

Here is the weekly update that gets sent to me:
You're halfway there! The top of your uterus now reaches your belly button and will grow about a centimetre per week. The fetus measures around 6 inches/ 15 centimetres long from crown to rump and weighs about 9 ounces/ 240 grams. She has started to swallow amniotic fluid, and her kidneys continue to make urine. Hair on the scalp is sprouting. Sensory development reaches its peak this week. The nerve cells serving each of the senses -- taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch -- are now developing in their specialised areas of the brain. Nerve cell production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and make more complex connections. You no doubt feel the kicking and somersaulting of your growing baby. At times, she may be so mobile that you can't sleep. The next ten weeks or so will be your baby's busiest and most active time, until the womb gets too crowded.

I went to my SIL's baby shower yesterday. She got a ton of stuff! One really good idea that they did was to have a bunch of plain onesies and receiving blankets and fabric paints available. Everyone was encouraged to decorate something for the baby. It was a cute idea and a few of the onesies and blankets turned out really well.

First big purchase...

I had an Ob appointment today. It went really well. My blood pressure is lower than it has been in a while (being off of work is helping). We got to hear the babies on the doppler. It is the best sound ever to hear their little heartbeats beating away. This time they were slightly less active, so it was much easier to hear them. Last time she would find the heartbeat and then swish the baby would move.
We found a double stroller plus two carseats and two bases for sale on Kijiji. I was slightly hesitant to buy used car seats, but when we went to look at them I wasn't worried. Everything was bought as a system about 2 years ago. They are from a woman who had twins (boy/girl), she bought them new and only used the seats until the babies outgrew them. The twins still fit the stroller, but she wanted to sell everything as a set. Everything is beige with a micro fibre type covering contrasting with a very pale beige/green/light brown plaid. They look brand new and don't have a stain on them. This is our first purchase (except for maternity clothes) for the babies. It was exciting to take the leap and to actually buy something (I've done tons of window shopping). It makes it feel like this is really going to happen.

GD test

Yesterday I got to drink the drink. I went in for my first Gestational Diabetes test this pregnancy. I have been tested before and always had good results, so I am not too worried. The risk for GD with twins is way higher though, so they want to test once this trimester and once in the 3rd trimester. They make you drink this orange flavoured drink (kind of like extra sweet orange crush). I loved crush as a kid, so I didn't find it too bad. There was another pregnant woman doing the test at the same time and she had a hard time getting the drink down and it made her feel sick. I just pretty much downed it and I didn't notice any effects from it at all. After drinking the drink I had to wait for 1 hour before getting my blood taken. I really hope I pass this test so I don't have to go on to do the longer 3 hour test.

I also had an acupuncture appointment yesterday with Matthew. I hadn't been for 6 weeks, so he didn't know about the twins yet. He was pretty excited. The appointment went well. It was relaxing as usual. Mostly just needles in my lower legs and one in my elbow. None of them hurt this time. I will go again in another 6 weeks. I kind of miss my every 2 weeks appointments that I had when TTC. I really don't need to go that often now though.

18 weeks pregnant

This hasn't been the best week for me health wise. I have had a cold for the last week and a half, earlier this week I started feeling pains in my head, I have a mild ear infection according to the Dr. We are trying to treat it with nasal spray and hot water bottles. So far it seems to have gotten better, but is still hanging around. I also have the fun stuffy nose and coughing that goes with a cold, and can take nothing for it.
I also have had carpel tunnel flareups in my wrists. When this gets bad it makes my fingers go numb and hurts from my hands to my shoulders. I have been wearing wrists supports, which help a little. Apparently it is the hormones and the extra blood flow during pregnancy that is causing these flareups.
Add these things to gas, having to pee every hour, bloating, intestinal issues, occasional bouts of nausea and gagging, headaches, nosebleeds and general grouchiness. I feel guilty not being the blissfully happy pregnant woman I wanted to be after all our struggles to getto this point, but I am more often feeling like crap than glowing...

Here is what my weekly update says:
Your baby is twice as big as he was last month, but he still weighs only about 225 grams and is approximately 6 inches/ 14.2 centimetres long from crown to rump. Meanwhile, most of the weight you've gained is from amniotic fluid, placenta and water retention. Although things may seem calm on the surface, your little one is kicking, flexing, reaching, rolling, and even sucking his thumb now. If you haven't felt him move yet, you will in the next few weeks. His hearing is now functioning and he will be listening to your heartbeat.

Some cool twin facts:
The natural incidence of twins is one in eighty-nine births.
About two thirds of all twins are fraternal. Half of these pairs are boy/girl; one fourth are girl/girl; and one fourth are boy/boy.

So according to these facts, I have a much higher chance of having boy/girl twins... I can't wait to find out! I am counting down to the ultrasond on the 16th...9 more days.