24th July 2008 - week 30

Goodday all!

Had my 30-week scan with gynae yesterday. All is good with the girls and gynae is very happy with their weight-gain and growth measurements. Unfortunately no photos this time as they were moving about too much and not lying in very photogenic positions ;)

Been suffering from a headcold thanks to Brad, and sleep sporadically due to being unable to breathe on top of the heartburn and indigestion. Usually have a morning nap just to keep topped up....and then afternoons on the couch watching the Tour De France, so taking it really easy.

Did my 3rd last Pilates class yesterday....and Ath is still working me really hard but carefully, and my body and the babies thrive in that hour. My body is strong and ready for the big event, and will hopefully recover quickly, as I'll have a lot on my plate to deal with!

Babies are moving about a lot still, either jabbing me or just gently poking around. One is lying head down in birth position and the other one is lying transverse again....and giving my ribs a hard time today...so a lot of side stretches in order to alleviate the pain.

Am loving every moment of these two little munchkins moving about....and Brad is all mush when he rubs Bio-Oil or Tummy Butter onto my tummy. The babies love his voice and the interaction and move about like crazy, which must be so awesome for him ;) and makes me melt with love for them all.

Just so you know what's happening this week.......

about your body

The average weight gain around this time is about 9.1kg. The top of the uterus is now well above your belly button and your belly may seem to be pulling your back forward, causing you to "poke" out your chin. Watch that posture and do exercises that will alleviate backache which may begin to plague you at this time.

to do list

Another routine checkup. Remember your baby's weight gain is very rapid from now until birth because of all the insulating fat that is being laid down.

your growing baby

Your baby has put on another 200g. The fine hair (lanugo) that covers your baby throughout pregnancy now starts to disappear and is shed in the amniotic fluid.

tips for dad

Make sure your partner doesn't carry anything heavy and help her with any chores that require lifting and moving. She is already carrying around the equivalent of a 10kg bag of dog food on her frame. Try and imagine what that feels like.

Pregnancy Calendar - Week30

You and your growing baby now only have a few weeks to go before the birth. The baby’s lanugo hair begins to fall off this week, although it might not have all disappeared before birth, so don’t be too put off if this is the case. Your baby might now weigh about just under 4 pounds and be nearly 16 inches long.

Your symptoms of fatigue and nausea are worse this week. Take time out to have regular rests and to put your feet up. You might not be sleeping properly because of the back pain and discomfort, you might consider buying a pregnancy pillow to help you. Your likely to be very moody at this stage, this is due to the hormones and increased adrenaline in your system. You should have you and your baby’s blood type checked.

Mon 14th July 2008 - week 29

Morning all!

Brad has a headcold so we spent a quiet weekend on the couch watching all the awesome sport and snoozing. However with another perfect winter's day yesterday, we went for a nice walk on the beach to get some sun and happy serotonin :) Today I have a bung'd up head, so will continue to take it easy, wrapped up nice and warm with lots of tissues handy! Lovely.

My Mom asked me this morning, what I'm wearing now...well...99% of Brad's clothes...all his nice warm and cuddly Cape Storm stuff and his tracksuit pants, without which I'd surely freeze to death...haaa haaa! Thanks my darling!
I bought 4 pairs of jeans and 2 tops, and can't fit into 1 pair any longer, as they are way too tight over my tummy, causing the babies and I great discomfort ;) Preggie jeans aren't necessarily made to fit twin tummies. The tops are pretty but don't offer any warmth. My feeling....I'd rather be warm and look like a tank/whale ;)
Don't know what I'd do if I was still working....designer hessian sacks! But luckily only the neighbours and tellers at PnP and WW get to see my ensemble for the day. If I get any larger, I think I'll just wear the duvet and order in...haaaa haaaa!

The babies woke me up this morning kicking like crazy and are very active. It's an amazing feeling and I really wish I could see what is going on inside - how they are interacting with each other, and moving about.

Also to let you know that you can click on any photo on the blog and it will enlarge....you then just use your arrow to go back one page and it'll take you back to the blog.

Just a quick update on what's happening this week.

I am now 29 weeks pregnant:

about your body

You're now two thirds of the way through your pregnancy. The next few months are a great time to start getting your body, mind and home ready for the arrival of your baby. Your blood volume is at its highest now. This means your blood is also more diluted and so you're most susceptible to anaemia (a shortage of oxygen in the blood). Anaemia can pose a risk during birth and make you susceptible to infection so make sure you see your doctor. S/he will prescribe an iron supplement. You can prevent it by resting a lot and eating a well balanced diet.

your growing baby

Many babies start to adopt an upside down position at this time with their heads pushing into the pelvis, although this may only happen in labour. Wow! Nerve circuits in your baby's cerebral cortex (for conscious thought and remembering) are already as advanced as those of a newborn. Strangely the fingernails are fully grown but the toenails are not.

tips for dad

We're assuming that you've been taking photographs throughout the pregnancy, but if not, now is definitely the time to start. Before you know it, this nine months will be over ? and your new family will be a reality.

10th July - week 28

We had a lovely weekend away in Knysna this past weekend. We drove up on Friday lunchtime and left the bad weather in Cape Town. The weather in Knysna was perfect. It only rained on Saturday afternoon and night, and then we caught it again in Calitzdorp on our way home on Sunday.
Here is Brad getting ready for the race.

Brad did the 80km mountain bike race on Saturday...and took a bit of strain, as he's been working harder than he's been riding. I'm now in trouble as I entered him and encouraged him to do it ;)
Our roadside picnic stop on the way home.








The visit to the gynae went A-OK yesterday (Wednesday) morning. Babies weigh 1150g and 1180g so are doing 100%. Both are head-down, so maybe that's why the sore pelvic region....the extra weight bearing down. Gynae mentioned that the babies are in ALOT of fluid and have loads of space still, so will still move around quite a bit before things gets too tight to move.

Here are the pics of the little darlings (side-profile)....who is who at this stage I have no idea, but those little noses just make me all mushy inside ;)

Brad was a pleased a punch when he saw the pics last night....you'd swear he made them...haaa haaa haaaaaaa ;))))))

Cath also went to her gynae appointment yesterday - she's now 30 weeks, and her boys weigh 1700 -odd grams and the other 1600-odd grams.

The thing for us is that the babies weigh as much as possible at birth, ie. as close to singleton weight as is humanly possible, because if they are prem's and under-weight they'll stay in hospital longer.

I haven't put on any extra weight, so gynae happy about that too. Obviously not baking cookies and having self-saucing choc puddings for dessert is helping keep the kg's in check ;) Am eating a lot more fruit and veg and nourishing soups and snack on those too...instead of going for the cookie tin ;) But I have to say in my defence though that this miserable weather just shouts for something yummy to nosh on ;)

Here's the famous side-view of Mom-to-be: week 24 / week 28:

Pretty hey?

Here's a fab joke from my friend Andrew Bell: A woman standing nude in front of a mirror, says to her husband, "I look horrible, I feel fat & ugly, pay me a compliment."

He replies, "Your eyesight is perfect."

All our fondest love
B&L+2
xxxx

7th July 2008 - week 28

Hello there!

Well well....it's getting scary for me now....the birth is literally just around the corner, and of course the questions and thoughts spinning around in my head are getting quite noisy...will we cope/do we need a night nurse/do I need the maid to come round twice a week instead of just once/disposable nappies or eco-nappies and so on and so on!

Gynae has booked the 8th September as D-Day for the caesarean...OR maybe even the week before depending on how uncomfortable I am...because I'm still going to get ALOT bigger...37-weeks is considered full-term for twins.

Since the start of the pregnancy I've put on 9kg's which she deems is too much....I should only have put on about 6kg's. However my clothes still fit perfectly and I'm feeling 100% and I think that's all that counts really. I'll lose the weight quickly so am not perturbed in the least. I'm not going to starve myself to the detriment of our babies health, just so I can still fit into my size 8 jeans! It's that simple in my books.

The sciatic nerve on my right side bites now and again...and my pelvis aches if I sit for too long...which I think is thanks to the fracture in 2003 ;) These aches are due to the weight of the babies bearing down as they should be moving into the head-down position at this stage. However sadly, this is the only time I'll ever be pregnant, so am thriving and loving each and every moment, aches and kicks and all ;))))))

Gynae appointment on Wednesday, so will update with outcome and photos then!

Pregnancy Calendar - Week28

Its now the seventh month, and you may be feeling the size of the house, just cheer your self up by thinking that you are over the hump and on the final stretch.

Your baby continues to pile on the pounds. The baby’s eyes are blinking as they respond to light and dark. The bone marrow is developing red blood cells and their adrenal glands are now stimulating your hormones which means you begin to produce breast milk.

You may also be feeling a little like a punch bag, as your baby is getting stronger at kicking you. Speak to your midwife or doctor if you notice a sudden drop off in the number of kicks, just so they can give you the once over and make sure that there is nothing wrong.

about your body

Welcome to the last week of your second trimester. If you're carrying multiples you will be about as large as a woman at full term carrying one baby. You will start seeing your caregiver every two weeks until 36 weeks, your visits become weekly. Your breasts may be sensitive and tender, so be sure to look after them and wear a well supporting bra. Your feet may ache, so put them up as much as possible.

to do list

It's time to visit your doctor or midwife for another routine check-up. S/he will check foetal movement and the height of the top of your tummy will be measured to give an indication of the size of your baby.

your growing baby

Your baby now weighs a whopping 1100g. More fat is being laid down, smoothing out and filling out his wrinkly skin. Your baby's eyes develop the ability to focus at this early time, although she only really starts to use her eyes once she's born and in fact can only focus on objects within 20cm. If you expose your pregnant belly to the sun, light filtering through the abdominal wall may be seen by baby as a reddish haze.

tips for dad

Make sure that you're there when the scans are done. She'll be overjoyed to see her baby and have your support at the same time.

Have a great week!

All our fondest love xxxx

30th June - week 27

Hiya!

Well on the 30th June it was our 1st Wedding Anniversary....already! Where has time gone? Had a quiet day and an early dinner at WangThai.

The rest of the week sped past something silly....but here is what happened with the babies development that week:

Pregnancy Calendar - Week27

Your baby continues to rotate into the head out position. You might only notice this from a slight increase in pressure on your cervix. Your baby’s lungs are now capable of breathing air, while their nervous system is able to control their body temperature. If born now their chance of survival with the help of intensive care is good.

You might now start to feel really tired and nauseous again. Your fatigue is caused by the increase in weight, the difficulty with getting comfortable when sleeping, and the shortness of breath, as your lungs become more cramped for space. You might however be enjoying buying things for the nursery, car seats, prams, etc.

You might also find that your breasts are much more tender and bigger, your pregnant belly has become a lot larger, which puts more pressure on your bladder causing you to go to the toilet frequently. The other joy of pregnancy in the third trimester is that you could start sweating like a road labourer. This is caused by the increase in temperature of your baby combined with your body temperature.