Twintuition
by Anna Stacia
(Indy)
I was 30 years old when I found out I was pregnant with what was thought to be my 3rd. child. It sort of came as a shock to me as I was sitting at my mothers computer one night and got up to pee (what seemed to be like) 15 times within an hour. After a little thought on the pregnancy possibility that evening, I decided to run down to the Dollar Store and pick up a pregnancy test. Positive!
Not long after I found out, (3 weeks) I could no longer fit into my jeans. I figured since this wasn’t my first pregnancy, I was just showing sooner.
Right around that same time, I went for a job interview at a local restaurant. The manager offered me something to eat while I went through my orientation. I opted on a really large Chef Salad and consumed the entire thing right there in my orientation! lol.
The tiredness was overwhelming so early on too. I could sleep for hours and feel exhausted. I started looking on the internet for signs of a multiple pregnancy, because something just told me that I was carrying more than one. So, on the day of my U/S I told my mom that I’d be back to tell her I was going to have twins and at 9 weeks and 1 day, I indeed did find out that I was having twins!
I almost passed out on the ultrasound table when she told me!
Having the babies naturally was my first choice, but I kept in mind that there are a lot of complications involved in doing so. And after 36 weeks and four miserable, swollen, acid reflux ridden,( did I mention swollen?) days, I delivered 5 lb. 6 ounce and 6 lb 8 oz Boy Girl Twins!
The first night I decided to keep them in my room at the hospital was a disaster. I don’t think the three of us got any sleep until the babies returned to the nursery the next morning.
But from then on and until they were learning to crawl, life was surprisingly easy. As a single mother, I thought and was told by many, that it was going to be a nightmare. I found that to be far from true. Despite the minor setbacks that their milestones bear, we are all so happy. I will say that 2.5 yr old twins will have you pulling your (now gray) hair out by the roots. I say that because it is true in every sense of the expression. But I wake up every morning and can’t wait to greet my little sweeties and find out the new things, stages and obstacles the day will bring.
My babies are developing at their own pace, and meeting most of their twin development milestones, but I’m not too concerned as they are healthy and bubbly little gifts.
If you are expecting twins and have heard the horror stories about how you will need help from everyone to care for them, while it may be true at some point, it is not an impossible task. The only thing I might start worrying about is when its time for potty training for the twins LOL. Set your expectation level to non-existent, find faith in something if you don’t already have it, tune out the negative people in your life and prepare for the most wonderful experience you’ve ever endured. I say this with all my heart. Bless you