There are times when I am asked what it was like to be pregnant with twins and how my pregnancies differed from each other. Here are some answers to common questions that I am asked regarding my twin pregnancies.
What was your reaction when you found out you were expecting twins for the first time?
Our first twin pregnancy was in the midst of the pandemic. During that time, patients were not allowed to bring anyone with them to appointments, partners included. No more than thirty seconds into the ultrasound, the technician looked at the screen, looked at me and then back to the screen. She looked at me again and said "I see two in there. Do you see two?" I did not know what I was looking at on the screen to know what one baby looked like let alone two. I think the news was so much of a shock that I did not know how to process the information. It took a very long time for the information to process and sink in.
With our second set of twins, we had known that since we had twins once, that there is a higher likelihood of having twins again. While we weren't expecting the news, we had anticipated the possibility of it. I took the entire day off from work, knowing I might hear that we were having twins and would need time to process the information. We were more focused on trying to figure out the logistics of having two sets of twins and four kids under twenty-two months.
How did you prepare for the arrival of twins during your pregnancies?
During the first trimester, I did not prepare...at all. I was wrapping my brain around the idea that I was growing two tiny humans and dealing with all the lovely symptoms of early pregnancy. Once I hit the second trimester, I felt ready to do some of my own research around what I needed for newborn twins. I did not know many people who had twins and could not find many local resources that were twin specific. I turned my search online to see what resources were out there about having twins. Twiniversity.com was an extremely helpful resource for me. Natalia Diaz's blog and resources covered all things twins that helped me process what it would be like to have twins. I also read her book, What to do When You're Having Two. Her website and book helped me figure out things like what to register for, what to anticipate for delivery and what it might be like having newborn twins. Nothing truly prepares you until they arrive but helped to provide me with some insight.
What were some of the biggest differences you noticed between twin pregnancies?
In both pregnancies, I had constant nausea and intense migraines during the first trimester. That's about it for similarities. During my first pregnancy, the boys were positioned on top of each other so I had babies kicking me from my pelvis to my ribs. With the second pregnancy, the babies were side by side so I did not experience as much discomfort. I had gestational diabetes during the first pregnancy but not with the second. This was something that surprised even my OB. With the second set I also had extremely painful varicose veins. My OB said this was probably due to it being my second pregnancy. In general, my pregnancies seemed more different than they were alike.
How did you manage the physical and emotional demands of carrying twins?
I worked full time during both pregnancies. I had to take a few sick days during the first trimester due to intense migraines and not being able to take any migraine medication. I found that throughout my pregnancy, it was important for me to not do any one thing for too long, whether that be sitting at my desk or being on my feet. At times in my life, I have struggled to adjust to change so I knew it was important for me to maintain my normal routine as much as possible. Once I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes with the first set of twins, I committed to walking around my neighborhood every day after work. The fresh air and light exercise were huge for my physical and emotional well-being. I learned that I needed to be patient and listen to my body while navigated twin pregnancy. I was also thirsty constantly so I drank what felt like gallons upon gallons of water.
Did you receive any special medical care or monitoring during your twin pregnancy?
During both pregnancies, I had more ultrasounds than a singleton pregnancy. This is something that is typical for most twin pregnancies. Towards the end of my pregnancies, I also had non-stress tests once a week. I had gestational diabetes with my first pregnancy and had to manage this with diet and exercise while checking my blood sugar levels four times a day. I did eventually need to go on insulin towards the end of my pregnancy. Due to having twins and gestational diabetes, my OB referred me to a maternal fetal medicine clinic to monitor my gestational diabetes more closely.
What advice do you have for other moms expecting twins in terms of prenatal care and preparation?
Most importantly, find an OB and clinic that you connect and feel comfortable with. I had been seeing my OB prior to being pregnant so already had an established relationship with her. This was helpful but not necessary. What I loved about my OB was that she took the time to understand me and my husband. She knew I was a planner and over-analyzer. She used that knowledge to shoot me straight on what to expect but not in a way that was scary or overwhelming. I cannot stress enough that if you do not feel one hundred percent comfortable with your OB or clinic, find someone you do feel comfortable with. It makes a huge difference.
The time between appointments can sometimes feel like an eternity. My body was changing daily and did not know what to expect or what was normal. Being the worry wart I sometimes am, I would wonder if everything was ok or if I should be concerned. I learned early on that if there is something I was unsure of, I would call my doctor's office. Even if it was after hours and needed to talk to the on call nurse or doctor. At times this resulted in me at Labor and Delivery in the middle of the night doing a non-stress test to make sure everything was ok. While this was inconvenient, it provided me with peace of mind that my babies were healthy and everything was fine. My doctors and nurses always reassured me that if something felt off that it was best to call or go in. They never made me feel silly about any concerns I had.
What was your experience like delivering two sets of twins? Did you have any specific birth plans or preferences for each delivery?
I had no birth plan or expectations other than knowing I would deliver via c-section. This was something my OB and I discussed frequently and decided it was the best fit for my situation. However, I intentionally did not want to set any other expectations on my birth experience. Recovering from a c-section while instantaneously becoming a mom to two babies was overwhelming with the first set of twins. I felt equal parts joy and panic. Our nurses were incredible in helping and coaching us on how to take care of our babies. The second time around, I knew more about what to expect which made the process less daunting. However, the day after delivery, I tested positive for influenza which made the recovery process a bit more difficult in the hospital. It also resulted in us needing to quarantine from our babies until it was time to go home. I'll share more of this story in a future post.
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