17 weeks pregnant with twins

17 weeks pregnant with Twins… Hello from the Mothership!

Welcome to The Twinkle Diaries!

This is my very first post of my pregnancy diary with twins and today I am 17 weeks pregnant. Well 17 weeks and 6 days pregnant with fraternal twins — if you want to be pedantic!

Our darling Twinkles.

It’s been a long, long journey to get to this point, but little by little I’m starting to believe that this is actually happening and my boy and I are finally going to be parents.

A twin pregnancy diary:

I have been dithering for some time about whether I should start a blog, charting my pregnancy. I was too scared to, at first… it was almost like tempting fate and I was convinced that if I started to get too comfortable with the notion that I was pregnant, it would all start to unravel again and I would lose these precious babies.

We had a consultant’s appointment yesterday and the midwife let us hear the Twinkles heartbeats with a doppler… amazing to think that my body has 3 heartbeats at the moment!

I am like Dr Who (actually, I think he only had two!).

Everything is looking really positive; my belly is growing as it should and — apart from stuffy sinuses — I am feeling really well and happy. I am booked in for my 20 week scan in 10 days time. That’s the biggie and will show whether the babies are healthy and have no problems. I am keeping everything crossed that they’ll pass their tests with flying colours.

I love these Twinkles more than words can say, even though they are only currently the size of two sweet potatoes! What an impact these tiny people are having on our lives — and they’ve not even been born yet!

I’m feeling so positive about the future.  I am starting to really enjoy my twin pregnancy and look forward to writing all about it in my  ‘virtual’ diary!

Me — 17 weeks pregnant with twins!






source: http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk/17-weeks-pregnant-with-twins/

Foods to avoid while breastfeeding

What you eat and drink fuels your breastmilk production and small amounts of what you eat and drink can pass through your breastmilk to your baby. Sometimes, foods you eat can disagree with your baby.

Your diet can also affect the taste of your milk and your baby might like some tastes more than others. Your baby probably became used to most of the things you eat regularly while you were pregnant, but there still may be some foods he or she just doesn't like when they appear in your breastmilk.

All babies are different and where one baby will get terrible wind after their mum has eaten a load of lentils, another will glug away with no problems at all.

How can I tell if my baby has been affected by food I've eaten?

If you notice any of these symptoms, you might want to think about what you have been eating and whether it has been affecting your baby:

• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Windiness or bloating
• Colic symptoms (a lot of crying)
• Discomfort
• Being extra fussy or out of sorts
• Runny nose
• Eczema or rashes
• Milk rejection

Try eliminating the foods you think are causing the problems and see if he or she then settles.

Common foods that may cause problems

• Wheat
• Dairy products
• Fizzy drinks
• Cabbage, brussels sprouts and other wind-producing food
• Citrus fruits
• Foods with a laxative effect
• Too much sugar
• Large quantities of fruit

Food to avoid or limit when breastfeeding 

• Any foods that cause allergic reactions in members of your family
• Limit oily fish to two portions a week
• Stick to one portion of swordfish, tuna, marlin or shark a week because of the mercury content

What about caffeine when I'm breastfeeding?

Caffeine will pass through your breastmilk to your baby and may interfere with his sleep or make him fussy and a bit 'wired' ie wide-eyed and overactive.

Stick to a couple of cups of tea or coffee a day if your baby is sensitive to caffeine and remember that chocolate and fizzy drinks have caffeine in them, too.
Some babies will be more sensitive to caffeine than others and it is thought that younger babies (up to six months) are more affected than older ones.

If you do have to limit your intake, you can try and increase it when your baby gets a bit older. There is no evidence to support the idea that caffeine reduces your milk supply.

Can I drink alcohol when I'm breastfeeding?

There is conflicting advice about alcohol and it is difficult to find any solid guidance. Alcohol does pass to your baby through breastmilk but in low levels it is not particularly harmful.

It may make your baby more sleepy or conversely agitated and less likely to sleep. It can also interfere with the amount of milk your baby gets during a feed, and they may need to feed more often.

One unit is roughly equivalent to half a pint of normal beer, a 25ml (pub) measure of spirit, or a small (125ml) glass of wine.

It takes two to three hours after drinking for alcohol to stop being present in your breastmilk, so if you're worried about the effects of alcohol on your baby, or they seem sensitive to it, time your drinking around feeds.

One or two units occasionally are not going to have a big impact though. The general consensus is that drinking within reason and not having binges or drinking heavily is compatible with breastfeeding.

And if you do drink a bit too much...

Advice from Dr Wendy Jones, a pharmacist associated with the Breastfeeding Network says: "If you feel drunk and particularly if you have drunk enough to vomit, it is better not to breastfeed for 12 hours."

There is no need to do the 'pump and dump' (expressing milk and discarding it) as the levels of alcohol in your milk drop at the same rate as the alcohol levels in your blood.

What Mumsnetters say about food, drink and breastfeeding:

• I think all babies react differently to different foods, but I definitely found that acidic foods produced a bad reaction in my son after breastfeeding - so citrus fruits or juices, raw tomatoes, etc were better left off the menu. Also, once after I drank a cup of real coffee he refused to feed at all, so I switched to decaffeinated after that. TuttiFrutti
  
• I found my son was really bad when I ate tomatoes, onions and chocolate. He was really unsettled after I have eaten these foods. As it was on more than one occasion, I put it down to those foods and avoided them as best as possible. Jomaja
  
• A small glass of wine relaxes you and really does not harm the baby. The amount of pure alcohol that passes into the breastmilk is pretty insignificant. ReshapeWhileDamp
  
• Breastfeeding is so protective that the benefits far outweigh normal pollutants found in it. FrannyandZooey

source: http://www.mumsnet.com/babies/foods-to-avoid-while-breastfeeding

How To Get Pregnant With Twins Naturally

While some couples just love twins and wish to start their new family with them, others who have been TTC for some time just wish they can cover up the lost years by having two children at the same time, perfect, yes?

If you’re one of those couples wishing for twins, you might want to take a glance at this post as it will help increase your chances of getting pregnant with twins. And here are the natural ways to get pregnant with twins!

How are twins conceived?

The chances of conceiving twins are pretty much low for every woman. Although taking fertility medications or undergoing IVF treatment can increase your chances of conceiving twins. If you want to increase your chances of conceiving twins, there are some things you have to know about the process of how twins are formed.

5 Natural Ways To Boost Your Chances Of Conceiving Twins:

Besides the other factors that will determine your chances of conceiving twins such as age, family history, genes, fertility procedures you’ve gone through, number of previous pregnancies, body type and race, these are the other ways to boost your chances of conceiving twins;

1. Taking Folic Acid Supplements:

Research has shown that taking folic acid is one of the natural ways to get pregnant with twins. Folic acid helps get rid of neural tube defects during pregnancy and boost the healthy growth of the fetus.

Take 400-1000 micrograms supplement and increase your intake of foods rich in Vitamin B9 if you are planning to conceive twins naturally. Good sources of folic acid include lettuce, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, egg yolk, sunflower seeds, asparagus, broccoli, melon and liver.

2. Gaining extra body weight:

Women that are overweight have higher chances of conceiving twins than women that are of normal body weight. It is recommended that you take dairy products (milk, yoghurt etc) or calorie-rich food to get pregnant with twins.

Also, eat cow liver as Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)  found in cow liver are said to trigger multiple pregnancies.

3. Fertility Treatment:

Getting fertility assistance including in-vitro fertilization or taking fertility drugs can help stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs each month. Which will then result in twins pregnancy.

Your chances of having twins is increased by 20-40% if you go through IVF (in vitro fertilization), this, however, depends on the number of embryos placed in your embryo.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment also helps boost your chances of getting pregnant with twins, a process which involves using syringe to place the sperm into your uterus.

4. Spacing Conception Attempts:

Putting enough gap into when you attempt to conceive with twins will also elevate your chances. So try to put space in the conception periods, instead of rushing every year. As this reduces your chances of conceiving twins.

5. Eat Hyperovulation-stimulating Foods:

There are different foods that will increase the rate of your ovulation and stimulate your ovaries to release eggs.  Wild yam especially cassava is well known for it’s hyper-stimulating property, and it also increases your conceiving. Some other foods rich in protein that helps increase your chances of conceiving twins are soya beans, whole wheat, and whole grains.

6. Birth Control Pill

Birth control pills can actually help a lot in your bid to conceive twins naturally. When you finally stop taking the drugs, your body can find its natural rhythm. It will then increase your chances of releasing more eggs in the uterus.

Natural herbs to increase your chance of conceiving twins are;

• Evening primrose oil, it is more effective when you take it during your menstruation and when you’re ovulating.
• Licorice; regulates your menstrual cycle, thus making it easier for you to keep track of your ovulation days.
• Flaxseed oil; It boost women’s fertility, thereby increasing their chances of conceiving twins. It’s also a natural source of Omega3 fatty acid.
• Sweet Cassava; Is most effective herbal supplement for improving female fertility.  It also contains phytoestrogens which helps in regulating the female hormones.
• Red Raspberry Leaf; It helps heal uterus issues such as injury, caesarian and also strengthens the uterine.

source: http://www.mamalette.com/featured/how-to-get-pregnant-with-twins/

8 weeks pregnant with twins

Read about your pregnancy from week 7+0 to 7+6. You're now 8 weeks pregnant with twins

Your children are growing and developing rapidly. If you get a scan, when you’re 8 weeks pregnant with twins, you’ll be able to see two miniature babies inside of you with round heads and arms and legs. At the end of the week they’ll measure about 1,6 cm – the size of a pinky nail.

How are my babies developing?

Skeletal structures are developing with the formation of spines, arms and legs. In the beginning, the skeletal structures start out as flexible cartilage, but already in week 8 they begin to ossify, turning into harder bone. The paddle-formed buds, that are developing into arms, have grown. Wrists and fingers can be glimpsed.

The paddle-formed buds, that are developing into legs, will form into thighs, lower legs, feet and toes. The babies bodies are becoming more erect and their arms and legs drift apart to reach their final positions.

How might I feel?

When you’re 8 weeks pregnant with twins, you may already have experienced several pregnancy related symptoms. However, one more can present itself just around this time.

You may begin to notice pain or tenderness in your abdomen. This is called round ligament pain. Round ligaments surround your uterus in your pelvis. As your uterus grows during pregnancy, the ligaments stretch and thicken to accommodate and support it.

These changes may occasionally cause pain. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about.

What do I need to remember?

If you experience severe pain, cramping, bleeding or an increase in pressure in the pelvic area, you should call your health care provider immediately, as this has nothing to do with round ligament pain.

Be aware that you – were you not pregnant – were suppose to have your second period around this time. You may therefore experience minor spotting, without anything being wrong. Also, don’t forget to take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid.

7 weeks pregnant with twins: Read all about it

Read about your pregnancy from week 6+0 to 6+6. You're now 7 weeks pregnant with twins.

When you’re 7 weeks pregnant with twins, your babies are growing at an amazing rate. At the end of the week, your babies will measure about 1 cm from head to tail. They grow around 1 mm per day.

How are my babies developing?

Your babies heads are starting to take their shape. Their heads are almost as large as the rest of their bodies. Their faces are forming. You can see one spot on each side of their heads, which is the beginning of their eyes.

The inner eye is developing rapidly and the retinal has begun to assume a darker color. You can detect two holes in the middle of their faces, that’ll later be nostrils. They are closed at this point. Your babies already have tongues and two rows of tooth buds.

Your babies now have tiny buds that’ll later develop into arms and legs. They’re shaped like paddles.

How will my body react?

When you’re 7 weeks pregnant with twins, you might be experiencing pregnancy symptoms – but not necessarily. It differs from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy.

Some of the more common symptoms when you’re 7 weeks pregnant with twins are fatigue, nausea, sore or tense breasts and a bloated abdomen. Read more about twin pregnancy symptoms.

What do I need to remember?

Take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects. Neural tube defects are serious birth defects of the spinal cord and the brain.

It occurs naturally in the form of folate in foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, oranges and whole-grains. Even though you eat a lot of these foods, you’re best off if you also supplement with a multivitamin in order to ensure that you get the amount you need.





source: http://about-twins.com/pregnancy/7-weeks-pregnant-with-twins/

6 Weeks Pregnant With Twins: Symptoms And Recommendation

The changes begin to occur in your body, and you can notice them easily just after the start of the sixth week of your pregnancy.

Your uterus starts to grow, but people are unable to see that changes. As your uterus grows, it causes your bladder to feel pressure, and you rush to the bathroom frequently. As you know 6 weeks pregnant with twins is not less than a happy feeling for  both of you. Besides that, your kidney starts to receive more blood that also contributes in increased urination.

You can also feel changes in your breast. It begins to sore and swell; the areolas also begin to dark and large.

Hormonal changes also begin to occur in your body. The level of pregnancy hormones increases due to which you easily get tired and irritate more. It causes you emotionally more unstable and you morning sickness.  Most women will start feeling better by the second trimester.

Condition of the baby after 6 weeks pregnant with twins:

At the sixth week of your pregnancy, the length of your child is between 1/8 and 1/4 inches. At this stage, we called it as a fetus matches the size of a tadpole that has a tale which latter turns into a spinal cord. Arms, legs, and ears are coming out. At this stage, other organs also develop.

Development during 6 weeks pregnant with twins:

If you have twins you may face particular complication at the sixth week of your pregnancy. The common complications that you may face are preeclampsia. You may also face abnormal vaginal bleeding and preterm labor.

After a diagnosis of twin pregnancy, the course of your treatment gets changed; it includes regular checkups than usual. The symptoms of your body may be slightly different as compared to a single baby pregnancy. You may gain extra weight.

Your nutrients requirement is also more in comparison to a single baby pregnant like you need extra minerals, proteins, and folic acid.

Recommendation to deal with pregnancy symptoms:
                                                                                To manage such symptoms you can do the following things:-

• Take meals in a small amount many times in a day.
• Take that food which your stomach can easily handle.
• You must avoid spicy food and take light food items that you can digest quickly.
• Take some walk after eating. Avoid lying down just after taking a meal.
• It is advised to avoid perfumes and odors that cause nausea.
• To cope with vomiting increase the intake of water.
• After your doctor advice, you can take ginger capsules or ginger tea.
• By tart or sour foods and beverages, you may alleviate nausea temporarily.

6 weeks pregnant with twins is a time when you face emotional changes and are more excited but at the meanwhile managing the pregnancy symptoms is challenging.

You must keep reading to learn how you can manage them best. According to research conducted by National Collaborating Centre for Women’s and Children’s Health during the first trimester of pregnancy 80 to 85 percent of women feel nausea and 52 percent experience vomiting. Women may feel morning, evening or night sickness.






source: http://www.parentingz.com/6-weeks-pregnant-with-twins/

9 Weeks Pregnant With Twins

Pregnant With Twins? Check Out My Twin Bump Week By Week

Oh God. Just how enormous am I going to get? What the hell is my skin going to look like? Where am I going to put TWO babies? Will I have one of those long sticky-out-y ‘sausage’ bumps? (They exist!

Long long bumps that just keep on going). Just a few of the panic induced thoughts that whizzed through my head when I found out I was pregnant with twins

My advice for pregnant twin mums to be is not to google twin bumps or compare yourself to singleton bumps. Every bump and pregnancy is totally different. But I’m not one to take my own advice.

I obsessively googled twin bumps every single week. And of course took weekly photos (well, almost every week) to track my progress.

I was so scared about what I would look like. And if I’d ever recover… but my post partum body is a post for another day…

Looking back now I find it absolutely amazing that the human body can do what it can. Finding room for two nearly 6lb babies inside?

Absolutely bonkers! I didn’t start showing much until around week 18 and then I had no chance, my bump had a mind of its’ own and seemed to expand before my very eyes.

I legitimately thought that my bump wasn’t all that big for a twin bump, even near to the end (I gave birth at 37 weeks), but since giving birth I’ve had no end of people telling me

"You really were huge Ursula, just didn’t want to tell you.” Fair enough, no pregnant woman wants to hear she’s huge. Even though it was definitely, kinda true!

I put on 16kg during my pregnancy which is pretty much 3 stone. Check out my bump progression below. I’ll forever be mourning my ‘four weeks pregnant’ flat belly pic right at the start. I don’t know if that kind of tone will ever exist for me anymore!




source:  http://ursula-rose.com/twin-bump-pictures-progression-week-by-week-pregnant-with-twins-belly-bump/