It's finally here! You might be thinking that I'm excited to be safely into the second trimester stage...which is definitely true, but I'm also excited for one other milestone...
No more PIO shots or Estrogen pills! Its only been 3 months but holy moly does it seem like having to be home by 9:20 has been a part of my life for so much longer!🤣⏰
No more shots! My bum can finally start to smooth those lovely knots out🥰❤️.
We had our second OB appointment on Wednesday...and my oh my has it changed since I last came with my own pregnancies. It's like a 3 hour ordeal now!
My appointment was at 10AM and was supposed to consist of lab work, an ultrasound, and an exam, which it did...but each was treated like it's own appointment because they send you back to the waiting room in between!
I first had to go and leave a urine sample, so fun. Then I was called back for my ultrasound. (Definitely the highlight)
I was told this particular ultrasound was to check the thickness of the tissue of both babies necks to check for Down Syndrome. I of course gave the shrug and obligatory nod like ok, whatever you need to do. He then says, "Now you're using donor eggs, right?"
Probably a perfectly normal question...but it seemed so odd to hear it that way! I paused for a second...trying to process what he asked..and then he broke the silence and said, "Or was it just the sperm donated?"
Haha I had to giggle and say, "The whole kit and kaboodle are donated. The eggs were my sister's and fertilized by her husband...implanted via IVF. So...I guess you can say they were donated to me until they are born...then I'm giving them back!"
Haha I think as I said it, he remembered either me from the last appointment where we had both my sister and my husband there (probably odd to have so many people at a first ultrasound) or it noted in my chart🤣. In either case he totally laughed and said that's right...gestational carrier.
Now with the pleasantries out of the way, he got to scanning. He was super easy to talk to, since the proverbial ice had been broken, so I asked a bunch of questions as he was looking at things.
First, he labeled the baby on the screen "baby A". So I had to ask...is Baby A always just the first you happen to see? He said no, it's the baby closest to your cervix, or lowest in the uterus. Ahh...so we finally have a rhyme and a reason to the A and B thing. Okay this was good to know!
He let me know that baby A was on the lower left side and seemed to have their hand over their face 🥰. They were perfect for all scans. He was able to get a beautiful measurement of that neck tissue he was going for along with lots of great silhouette pictures.
 |
| Baby A side view |
Baby A was measuring right on track for 11 weeks 5 days. Heartbeat was cruising at a 171 beats per minute. They were active, I could see them kicking and moving the entire time🥰.
On to Baby B! Baby B is above and to the right, and happened to be facing my back. So I was asked to cough so baby would turn around for us. I honestly was a little skeptical...but it worked! Baby B moved right on around. He was able to catch the scans he needed and recorded a heartbeat of 165.
Baby B was measuring 2 days ahead at exactly 12 weeks. Everything on both looked great! As he was going back and forth between babies it appeared as though one baby was literally kicking the other! So I asked how close they were and if they could feel that?! (Literally, I think A kicked B in the head mid scan😲. Sibling rivalry is already starting!)
He said they are right next to each other. Only separated by the amniotic sac membranes, which he said are about as thin as a rubber band. So yes they can feel each other! So crazy and amazing to watch them fidget and kick around together. I hope they enjoy the room while it lasts! 😕😬
So twins are getting too big to be on the same scan, so he did a split screen so he could capture one then the other but put them both on the screen. As he was capturing babies he caught a cute little frog legged pose from baby A. (Pictured below 👇🏼)
 |
| Baby A frog leg pose |
Then he went over to baby B and tried to capture the same thing. He then asks, "Do you already know the sex of the babies?" I said yes, one boy and one girl. He said well I am seeing some anatomy on Baby B that would suggest he's the boy! (Pictured 👇🏼 below ... would you agree🤭?)
 |
| Anatomy between the legs of Baby B |
So I'm excited to know the difference between baby A and B now! B for boy ...super easy to remember too!
After the ultrasound and an additional trip to the waiting room, I was called back for my exam. It went pretty seamlessly. I gained 1 pound, my blood pressure was great, and I was told the twins look very healthy and happy! So I should keep doing whatever I'm doing 👏🏼😁
I was scheduled to come back in 4 weeks, December 6th (which would make me 16 weeks by then) and was scheduled for another ultrasound during the same appointment...so they can check fetal growth.
I waited for a third time in the waiting room and was called back for my blood work shortly after. The cute lady who maybe only seemed about 10 years older than me, whispers to me..."So twins?!"
Haha I reply yes, that's right! Twins. She said wow you're handling this so well. I was a little confused but simply responded with an uncomfortable, "haha I guess so far, so good!".
She then starts reading her notes and says, "Oh, these are donor eggs?! So you aren't too worried about down syndrome then, I bet?"
Oh my goodness, what is up with this office support staff and not reading their notes?🤣 I just said well ...I'm a gestational carrier for my sister. These babies are on loan with me for a little while, then I'm giving them back! Her entire demeanor changed and she got so happy and said how wonderful it was that I was willing to do that for her. (It always makes me feel awkward when people tell me how wonderful I am...I feel like I'm doing something that most people would do, if it were possible. Maybe I'm different, maybe I'm special...but I don't feel that I am. 🤷🏼♀️)
Anyway, after the 9 vials of blood they took and the funniest stories from this conversation starved phlebotomist, who probably missed her calling as a hair dresser, I was finally on my way! I arrived at 9:54 and left at 12:55! Crazy.
All in all babies are doing well! I'm still experiencing sickness...some mornings and evenings are just worse than others, but definitely manageable. I can still fit into my stretchy jeans but that waistband is definitely starting to dig in 😕. Instead of wearing my self proclaimed "cute and trendy" clothes to work, I've opted for "cute and comfy"🤣. Leggings and sweaters are where it's at for me right now. I'm always cold and I'm always ready for a nap. Comfy clothes make both of those things manageable 😘😃!
