Progress (12 weeks, just under 22 weeks, midway through 28 weeks - this past weekend):
Another recent frustration was failing my glucose challenge test and being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. It's not uncommon in twin pregnancies (two placentas both generating insulin-blocking hormones is a nasty business), but the resulting diet restrictions and blood sugar monitoring (which includes group meetings... just my cup of tea) have been stressful. At the same time I was also diagnosed with an iron deficiency (again, twins overtaxing my system), requiring an iron supplement, a drug to manage digestive side effects of taking said iron supplement, and yet more diet modification.
I'm trying really hard to keep things in perspective, all things considered the pregnancy has gone well so far, but I'm definitely having a difficult time. Poor Steve got out of bed on Saturday to find me crying on the couch with the sheer frustration of it all.
It's not much of an exaggeration to say that I've disliked nearly every moment of pregnancy. It's getting to the point that I barely remember what it was like to feel normal... free of nausea, heartburn, sore muscles and joints, swollen extremities, skin irritation, diet restrictions and constant monitoring, endless doctors' appointments, mood swings, restricted breathing, and perpetual physical exhaustion from hauling my bulk around. I'm also profoundly... uncomfortable in my pregnant body. Intellectually, I understand that it's normal/natural/whatever, but I've definitely been withdrawn socially because of my emotional discomfort with how I feel and look. People have been kind and I've gotten many comments that I look great ("especially for having twins!" often gets tacked onto that) but comments like that just make me flinch. I definitely don't feel great.
One bright spot has been that the boys are now sitting a bit lower in my abdomen, which has greatly increased my ability to breathe from what it has been. So that's been one nice change.
All that being said, I'm grateful that these boys are hanging in there and we're fortunate they appear to be doing so well. As of the last ultrasound, they were estimated to weigh 2 1/2 lb and 2 lb 11 oz. I've found the 3-D ultrasounds kinda creepy-looking in the past (well, still kinda do), but it is pretty cool that we can see their faces now. I swear that Baby A (how they're labeled medically for now) looks like Steve, but you can judge for yourself (Baby A is on the left, Baby B on the right):
Baby B may take after me... he looks a little worried.
Hopefully as soon as it's healthy for them to do so, they'll get the heck out so that, while we'll still be exhausted and things will still be difficult for me physically for awhile, at least we can dress them in adorable tiny clothes and make faces at them for our amusement.
I'm trying really hard to keep things in perspective, all things considered the pregnancy has gone well so far, but I'm definitely having a difficult time. Poor Steve got out of bed on Saturday to find me crying on the couch with the sheer frustration of it all.
It's not much of an exaggeration to say that I've disliked nearly every moment of pregnancy. It's getting to the point that I barely remember what it was like to feel normal... free of nausea, heartburn, sore muscles and joints, swollen extremities, skin irritation, diet restrictions and constant monitoring, endless doctors' appointments, mood swings, restricted breathing, and perpetual physical exhaustion from hauling my bulk around. I'm also profoundly... uncomfortable in my pregnant body. Intellectually, I understand that it's normal/natural/whatever, but I've definitely been withdrawn socially because of my emotional discomfort with how I feel and look. People have been kind and I've gotten many comments that I look great ("especially for having twins!" often gets tacked onto that) but comments like that just make me flinch. I definitely don't feel great.
One bright spot has been that the boys are now sitting a bit lower in my abdomen, which has greatly increased my ability to breathe from what it has been. So that's been one nice change.
All that being said, I'm grateful that these boys are hanging in there and we're fortunate they appear to be doing so well. As of the last ultrasound, they were estimated to weigh 2 1/2 lb and 2 lb 11 oz. I've found the 3-D ultrasounds kinda creepy-looking in the past (well, still kinda do), but it is pretty cool that we can see their faces now. I swear that Baby A (how they're labeled medically for now) looks like Steve, but you can judge for yourself (Baby A is on the left, Baby B on the right):
Hopefully as soon as it's healthy for them to do so, they'll get the heck out so that, while we'll still be exhausted and things will still be difficult for me physically for awhile, at least we can dress them in adorable tiny clothes and make faces at them for our amusement.
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