Category: Pregnancy & Motherhood

What We Packed in Our Hospital Bags: Scheduled C-Section for Twins

Leave a comment

Everyone seems to be posting about what they packed in their hospital bags for their term vaginal deliveries, but I haven’t seen any for scheduled C-sections. Hope this gives someone some insight into what you may need if you elect to do a scheduled C-section.

Although I packed my bag for a scheduled surgery, it ended up being used early when my water broke at 35 weeks. The list below is everything that I packed, but I didn’t use everything in the bag. Things that I didn’t use are noted.

For Mom:

  1. Insurance & ID
  2. Long Phone Charger (6-10 ft)
  3. Toiletries (Hairbrush, Deodorant, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Shampoo, Conditioner)
  4. Hair Ties
  5. Lip Balm
  6. Shower Shoes— I tried to use these, but my feet were too swollen. I would recommend getting several sizes bigger than you usually wear.
  7. Massager
  8. Frida Mom C-Section Recovery Band– This was perfect! It comes with a hot/cold pack to use on both the front and the back to help with pain.
  9. Abdominal Binder ( I have heard mixed notes about whether or not the hospital provides)— I didn’t use this. The one provided by the hospital was great.
  10. Upside Down Peri Bottle
  11. Disposable High-Waist Underwear- I didn’t use these until I got home as the hospital gave me some to wear while there.
  12. Nursing/Pumping Bras
  13. Breast Pads
  14. Pajamas
  15. Nursing Gown
  16. Going Home Outfit

For Dad:

  1. Long Phone Charger (6-10 ft)
  2. Toiletries (see above for Mom)
  3. Pillow from Home
  4. Sweatshirt
  5. Comfy Clothes
  6. Pajamas
  7. Snacks for Both Parents (GF for mom) — cooler if needed, we didn’t end up bringing a cooler, but it was recommended for us to bring one.
  8. Chewing Gum

For Babies:

  1. Hospital Paperwork
  2. Car Seats (bases already installed)
  3. Announcement Plaques/Outfits
  4. Going Home Outfit
  5. 2 onesies each

As far as diapers and wipes go for the baby and pads for the mom, they are usually provided by the hospital. If you are worried about allergies or something, it is totally acceptable to bring your own.

They should have a hospital-grade breast pump available for you to use as well, but feel free to bring your own if you have a preference. I used the one provided to me, even though I had my own at home.

Also, it could be beneficial for you to bring an extra tote bag for all the miscellaneous things that you will acquire. Most of the stuff you have in your post-partum suite is available for you to take home, or they will just end up throwing it all away. They aren’t able to reuse most products for the next person due to infection risk.

If you have any questions about my experience, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Stay Golden,

Emily

Twin Baby Registry Must-Haves

Leave a comment

Hey y’all! Here’s a list of our top 10 must-haves from our registry/what we ended up buying after birth for our newborn twins. Hope it helps someone in the same position as us!

  1. Weego Twin Carrier– this carrier is meant for 1 person to carry the twins on their chest. It is able to be used with premature babies 4 lbs and up. It works really well when both babies want to be held but you haven’t mastered holding them together.
  2. Graco Ready2Grow 2.0 Double Stroller & Snugride Snugfit LX Car Seats/Bases– The Snugfit Snugride Car seats fit perfectly in this double stroller. We got 2 extra bases for our secondary car to allow for easy transfer of the car seats.
  3. Twin Z Pillow– Perfect for tandem feeding, even if you are bottle feeding instead of breastfeeding.
  4. Diaper Genie– This keeps our nursery smelling fresh and allows us to take out the diapers to the regular trash can after a few days instead of after every diaper change.
  5. Snuggle Me Lounger(s)– We purchased 2, but we were able to use just 1 for both babies during the first few weeks after birth. They loved sleeping together during their daytime naps with this lounger.
  6. FridaMom Windi– Helps to relieve any trapped gas the baby may have. One of our twins is really, really gassy, and this has helped tremendously.
  7. Gerber Flannel Receiving Blankets– We utilized these for basically everything from an actual blanket or swaddle to a headrest for their car seats to prevent their heads from bobbing around. They are so soft and our girls love them!
  8. Nanobebe Pacifiers– These were the only pacifiers that one of our girls would use, so we ended up using them for both babies. They fit really well in the contours of their face and don’t seem to affect latching at all.
  9. Egg Night Light(s)– These were recommended on TikTok. The brand doesn’t really matter, but the idea of these lights is to have a dimmable light that can be utilized as soft lighting during diaper changes or late night feeds. We have 1 in the nursery and 1 in our bedroom.
  10. Dr. Browns Narrow Bottles + Level 1 Nipples– some people have said that the level 1 nipples are too high-flow, but they work great for us! The 4 oz Narrow Dr. Browns bottles work great as breastfed babies shouldn’t take more than 5 oz of breastmilk even as they grow (because the composition of the breast milk changes to be more calorie-dense).

This list is not an all-inclusive list of everything that we are using, it’s just the top 10 products that we would recommend to any new twin parents.

If you are pregnant with twins or in the thick of the newborn trenches, good luck as you continue on your journey!

Stay Golden,

Emily

Twin Birth Story at 35 Weeks & NICU Experience

Leave a comment

Hey y’all! I hope everyone is doing well. Here is the long-awaited birth story for my baby girls and my experience with the NICU at the hospital where I delivered.

The story of the birth of my baby girls starts on May 29th, when I was exactly 35 weeks pregnant.

May 29- I felt off all day long, and I couldn’t really explain it. I was a little nauseous, I couldn’t sleep, and I was having lots of Braxton Hicks. At home BP was in the 140/90 range. I called L&D triage and was instructed to come in for monitoring. I went in around 8pm and was admitted for monitoring of protein levels in urine (concern for pre-eclampsia, but my BP was in the 130/80s the whole time, so no actual pre-eclampsia diagnosis was made).

May 30- My water broke at around midnight while being monitored for unrelated issues— they scheduled my C-section for 7:30 that AM due to the breech position of both babies and my preference of delivery method. My IV was started at 7ish, I got consent forms signed, and then, I was wheeled back. I got spinal anesthesia and a catheter and then I was prepared the rest of the way for the surgery. My husband arrived in OR shortly after the first cut was made and the babies were born at 7:45AM (~15 minutes after the surgery began). Then, it took them roughly 45 minutes to “close up” and get me to recovery. My husband went to NICU with the babies immediately after birth and met me in recovery when I arrived. Then from the recovery suite, I moved to the postpartum room after 2 hours. 

I spent 4 days in the hospital healing and going down to see babies/help with care in the NICU. Baby A was released from the NICU on the same day that I was able to go home. Baby B was released 2 days later. I was really blessed to only have a few short days of NICU stay for my baby girls. They were 3 lbs 13 oz and 4 lbs 5 oz at birth and they needed help feeding & gaining weight as well as keeping their temperature regulated. The NICU team was amazing. They were thorough in teaching us how to care for our premature babies and let us get all the practice in while in the comfort of their presence. Their discharge education was extremely critical to our success so far as parents of premies. They even helped us fill out paperwork to get free samples of the Neosure Formula that we have to feed them until they get up to a good weight.

Caesarean Section Experience: Throughout the surgery, I felt tugging but no real pain. The spinal anesthesia that I was given did the trick. I was lighthearted and happy throughout the entire procedure. We chose not to have a clear drape or cut the cord as my husband and I are both squeamish. My hospital put in the catheter after the spinal anesthesia was already on board, and I am eternally grateful for that.

I will update everyone on my recovery as I approach the 6-week follow-up with my provider, but given the circumstances, I feel like I am doing really well!

Until next time…Stay Golden,

Emily

Twin Pregnancy: 3rd Trimester Recap

Leave a comment

Wow! As I’m writing this, I still haven’t even made it to my babies’ due date, and yet they’ve been here for almost 2 weeks. It’s truly remarkable. I will eventually post an update about the birth story of my baby girls, but in the meantime, here is an update about my 3rd trimester (however short it was for weeks 28-35).

Symptoms:

  • Pelvic Pain
  • Stomach Pain/Stretching
  • Back Pain
  • Increased Anxiety
  • Cramps/Braxton Hicks
  • Insomnia & Exhaustion

Overall, the 3rd trimester was rough. I spent a lot of time in the bath trying to relieve my pain or get to sleep.

Appointments:

Due to Gestational Diabetes and having a Twin Pregnancy, I started twice-weekly BPP appointments with the Maternal/Fetal Medicine Team during the 3rd trimester. BPP stands for Biophysical Profile and involves utilizing ultrasound to monitor babies (breathing, movement, fetal tone) & amniotic fluid levels.

I also had an appointment with my OBGYN every other week. These were scheduled until 36 weeks and then it would be once weekly (I never made it that far).

Tips for Managing in 3rd Trimester

  • Exercise- Walking is a must, no matter how slowly you walk.
  • Nap- It is important to get all the sleep you can before babies come
  • Heating Pad- Helps with back pain from a growing tummy
  • Honesty- Make sure you are 100% honest with your doctor about how you are feeling. They will probably be able to help you.
  • If you feel off/unusual, trust your gut. Do not be afraid to go to Labor and Delivery Triage if you need to.

    As I mentioned earlier, my third trimester was rough and exhausting. I was on edge, waiting for the twins to arrive and knowing they would likely be premature. Although I was exhausted, I spent a lot of time getting everything in the house prepped and ready to go.

    I look forward to writing again soon to give everyone insight into what my delivery was like and how life with 2 newborns is going.

    Until Then, Stay Golden,

    Emily

    How to Manage Gestational Diabetes + Sample Meal Plan That Helped Me

    Leave a comment

    Hey y’all! Hope everyone is doing well.

    I got diagnosed with gestational diabetes in the first week of my 3rd trimester, and I have been testing my blood sugar levels 4 times a day since. I figured I would make a post about how the experience is going, how I manage keeping my levels below the recommended goal, and give you an example meal plan. That being said, please keep in mind that like pregnancy, everyone’s gestational diabetes journey is a little bit different. Some people can manage it on diet alone, and some people need insulin or an oral medication to help them out. Either way, it is NOT your fault. The placenta secretes hormones that cause your body to be more resistant to insulin. You did not do anything to cause this diagnosis.

    Let’s kick this off with some basic information about gestational diabetes.

    What is Gestational Diabetes? Per the American Diabetes Association (ADA), gestational diabetes is literally just diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, and it occurs in approximately 9% of all pregnancies.

    What Causes Gestational Diabetes? Although the official cause is unknown, the placenta makes hormones that help the baby grow, but sometimes these hormones block a mother’s insulin, leading to insulin resistance. If the mother’s body does not make extra insulin to counteract this, the sugar stays in the blood rather than being absorbed by cells in the body & causes high blood glucose, per the ADA.

    How Do You Get Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes? Initially, a pregnant patient gets a glucose screening test (usually between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation). This involves drinking a 50-gram amount of a sugary drink and getting your blood drawn at exactly 1 hour after you finish. This drink needs to be consumed in 5 minutes or less. Then, if the level is higher than the OB would like (usually >140 mg/dL but depends on the office), the patient is likely instructed to take the diagnostic test (glucose tolerance test). You are required to fast for this test because an initial fasting blood sugar will be drawn. This drink will have a much higher sugar content & the blood levels will be measured at 1, 2, and 3 hours after consuming. Usually, if 2 of the 4 numbers are elevated above what your provider would like, they will then diagnose you with Gestational Diabetes.

    How is Gestational Diabetes Treated? Treatment can be wildly different from person to person, but usually, your provider will start you out on a regimen of diet and exercise. You will be instructed to test your blood sugar by finger stick 4 times daily (when you wake up and 1 to 2 hours after breakfast, lunch, and dinner). If your levels remain high with diet and exercise, your provider may want to start you on medication to manage your levels.

    What are the Risks of Gestational Diabetes? IF UNTREATED, for mom, gestational diabetes can increase the risk of preeclampsia and high blood pressure. It can also increase risk of getting type 2 diabetes later in life. IF UNTREATED, for baby, they could be born with a higher than normal weight and low blood sugar at birth. It can also increase the baby’s risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life. These risks are lowered significantly if it is managed.

    How I am Managing my Gestational Diabetes

    For me, I am taking everything day by day. I am trying to be conscious of my food choices, and I am checking my blood sugars 4 times a day. It can be challenging as sometimes the same exact meal on 2 separate days can cause different results, so don’t get discouraged by an occasional high.

    Balanced Meals– The biggest thing that has helped me is to make sure all of my meals are balanced with the protein, fat, and carbohydrate levels. You can use the ever famous “My Plate” method to help you determine portion sizes, but generally, your 3 meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) need to have 30-45 grams of carbohydrates. Your snacks should contain 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates. It is best to eat vegetables first, then protein, then carbohydrates to limit the impact on your blood sugar spikes. Keep in mind that you don’t want to cut carbohydrates too much because you and your baby still need carbohydrates for growth and development. These are just general guidelines, your provider or a dietitian should work with you to determine your specific meal plan.

    Avoiding Skipping Meals– Believe it or not, skipping meals can actually cause your blood sugar levels to remain high. Your body notices the lows and releases more glucose from your liver into your blood. You should expect to eat 3 meals per day and at least 2-3 snacks throughout the day to keep your blood sugar levels consistent.

    Snack Before Bedtime– I usually eat some zero sugar greek yogurt and strawberries before bed and this can help levels continue to be consistent overnight. For the same reason that you don’t want to skip meals, you don’t want to go too long overnight without a snack.

    Exercise– This one is a little tricky for me since I am on modified bed rest, but I try to walk for 10 minutes after every meal if I’m feeling up to it. This helps your body take the sugar from the blood and move it to your muscles.

    Sample Meal Plan w/ my sugar levels

    Monday:

    • Fasting BG: 88 mg/dL
    • Breakfast: 3 breakfast sausages, 2 eggs with a handful of baby spinach and cheese, 1 slice of avocado toast and everything bagel seasoning, and a handful of grapes. I ate the sausage first, then the eggs, then the toast, and finally the grapes to slow the digestion of the carbohydrates. BG 1 hr after eating: 126 mg/dL
    • Lunch: Half of a Chick-fil-a Market Salad with Apple Vinegrette and Granola BG 1 hr after eating: 109 mg/dL
    • Dinner: 3 Frozen chicken tenders (BetterGoods brand), small side salad with ranch, carrots, and 1 slice multigrain bread. BG 1 hr after eating: 115 mg/dL.

    Tuesday:

    • Fasting BG: 76 mg/dL
    • Breakfast: 3 breakfast sausages, 2 eggs with a handful of baby spinach and cheese, 1 slice of cinnamon raisin toast with butter, and a spoonful of peanut butter. BG 1 hr after eating: 100 mg/dL
    • Lunch: Chipotle Bowl with half serving of rice, chicken, queso, and corn salsa BG 1 hr after eating: 106 mg/dL
    • Dinner: Chicken and rice with cheese sauce and small side salad (Ate the salad first) BG 1 hr after eating: 97 mg/dL.

    Wednesday:

    • Fasting BG: 78 mg/dL
    • Breakfast: 3 breakfast sausages, 2 eggs with a handful of baby spinach and cheese, 1 slice of toast with peanut butter, and a handful of grapes. BG 1 hr after eating: 117 mg/dL
    • Lunch: Chicken and rice with cheese sauce and a handful of carrots (Ate the carrots first) BG 1 hr after eating: 107 mg/dL.
    • Dinner: Wendy’s Baked Potato and Dave’s Double without Bun BG 1 hr after eating: 96 mg/dL

    Don’t forget that this is just an example of what I did. It is not even close to every possibility that you can eat. Also, this worked for me, but depending on your body, these exact foods and portions may not work for you. Do not get discouraged. It is a lot of trial and error, and it is highly encouraged to go see a dietitian to help you develop the best plan for yourself.

    I made a point to add in some fast food options so that you know you CAN eat fast food. However, you have to be mindful of what you are eating. For example, I went to Chick-Fil-A and got a grilled chicken club and fries and my sugar was WAY high after (154 mg/dL).

    Another thing to keep in mind is that sickness (bacterial or viral) can cause fluctuations in your blood sugars as well. Typically, when you are sick or really stressed out, your blood sugars will run higher.

    So far, so good with my journey with gestational diabetes. It can be a lot, but it is worth it to keep me and my babies safe and healthy.

    Let me know if you have any questions!

    Stay Golden,

    Emily

    Twin Pregnancy: 2nd Trimester Recap

    Leave a comment

    Hey y’all! Wow! I cannot believe that my 2nd trimester is over. I’m so grateful to be able to bring these beautiful baby girls into the world (and yes, I’m having twin girls if you didn’t know that already), but this pregnancy has been rough on me. I hope you understand when I say that, I know I’m so blessed to have been able to conceive. I do not take that for granted, but not everyone LOVES pregnancy.

    Here’s a look back on my 2nd trimester!

    First, my symptoms:

    • Exhaustion/Fatigue: Honestly, I was not too exhausted/fatigued during my 2nd trimester. I had a little more energy and was able to get a lot done in the nursery & beyond.
    • Dyspnea (Shortness of Breath): This is still an ongoing issue! I don’t see it letting up any!
    • Stretching/Growth: Wowza. Carrying twins is an interesting experience. I have definitely had an uptick in pain. Pain from growing, back pain, sciatic pain, and hip pain. You name it, I probably had it in the 2nd trimester!
    • Diastasis Recti (separation of abdominal muscles): If you read my last post, you know what this is. It also causes pain around my belly button. I’m going to start Physical Therapy in a few weeks to help with this!
    • Heartburn: Welcome to the bane of my existence. The heartburn has been intense. I have had nights that it has been so bad that I wasn’t even able to sleep when I was propped up on a ton of pillows.
    • Insomnia: Pregnancy insomnia definitely intensified for me this trimester. There were days I slept only 2-3 hours, but luckily, it didn’t happen very often.

    Overall, the 2nd trimester was better for energy, but the pain intensified as the babies grew and my body struggled to catch up!

    My Health Updates:

    The first part of the 2nd trimester was pretty uneventful healthwise, but after potential appendicitis at 22 weeks, things declined a little. (Obviously, I’m okay and didn’t end up having appendicitis).

    I was taken out of work at approximately 24 weeks due to significant pain when standing for my shifts (10 hours per day) and put on modified bed rest. I was instructed not to be on my feet for more than 5-6 hours per day, but to still try and get some movement in each day.

    Since then, I have been in significantly less pain, but it is starting to come back as I get closer to the end.

    Although technically not in the 2nd trimester, I was recently diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Be on the lookout for any new posts about my journey with that!

    Baby Health Updates:

    Babies are growing well so far and are right on par with where they should be at the end of the 2nd trimester. I have an ultrasound tomorrow, so I will find out where they are at the start of the 3rd!

    We are having monthly growth scans (ultrasounds to check the growth of the babies) as is typical with twin pregnancies, but it may increase to every 2 weeks with the gestational diabetes diagnosis.

    Babies are moving A LOT, but I still can’t really tell which one is which.

    Baby Prep Classes:

    We went to every class that was offered by our hospital this month, from Breastfeeding to Childbirth to Infant CPR. We learned a lot about how to care for newborns and infants, and how I can best heal from the birthing experience. Here’s a brief rundown of what we experienced:

    4-Week Childbirthing Class: In this class, we learned the ins and outs of childbirth (primarily for a vaginal delivery). Although I am opting for an elective C-section for my twinnies, it was still good to learn breathing techniques and things just in case I go into labor before my scheduled C-section date.

    Breastfeeding: As it sounds, this class introduced us to breastfeeding basics. We learned the importance of starting early, collecting colostrum within the first hour after birth or feeding the baby directly from the breast within that first hour to help build up the supply. I didn’t learn much about feeding 2 babies at once because I was the only twin mom in the class, but the hospital offers lactation consults during your hospital stay, so I can ask some more specific questions.

    Baby Steps: This is the class where we learned how to do all the things once babies arrive (when to feed, safe sleep, diaper changing, bathing, caring for the cord stump, etc.) I would highly recommend a similar class for anyone who is a first-time parent.

    Infant CPR: As the name implies, we learned how to manage an unresponsive infant. We also learned techniques for infant choking. We are both CPR certified, but it is always good to get a refresher. Nobody believes that it will be them or their child, but I believe it is better to be safe than sorry.

    We learned a lot during our classes and are excited to start this parenting journey in a few short weeks.

    I look forward to updating y’all with 3rd trimester updates and a birth story soon!

    T-8 weeks until babies are here!!

    Stay Golden,

    Emily

    We’re Having Twins! First Trimester Recap

    Leave a comment

    Hey y’all! It is SO good to be back. Wow, what has it been… 3 years? 4? 5?? Sounds about right. My life has had quite a few changes in the past few years, so I’m bringing the blog back to help people like me get through these life changes. If nothing else, it’ll be a great place for me to document my life for me to look back on!

    Surprise! We’re Pregnant and with TWINS…

    I’m in the thick of the 2nd trimester, so here is a post all about the ups and downs of my 1st trimester.

    First, my symptoms:

    • Nausea/Vomiting: Good grief, this was a rough one. Whoever called it morning sickness was lying. It happened ALL DAY LONG. I threw up at least 1 time per day for the first 13 weeks. This symptom finally subsided around 15-16 weeks.
    • Exhaustion/Fatigue: This was so real for me. I don’t know if it is the fact that I’m carrying twins or what, but I have been dead tired for months. It still hasn’t let up. I’m not usually a napper, but I definitely take a lot of naps now. In the first trimester, I came home from work, ate (when I could), and went right to bed.
    • Sore Breasts/Breast Enlargement: I had sore breasts almost immediately and I grew 1-2 cup sizes within the first 3 months. I think the growth has plateaued for now, but I will keep you updated.
    • Dyspnea (Shortness of Breath): Ever since the very beginning I have been having shortness of breath after doing ANY activity. I mean ANYTHING. From folding clothes to unloading the dishwasher to even just getting up off of the couch. NO FUN!
    • Stretching/Growth: By the end of the first trimester, I was definitely showing (see picture below) thanks to having twins. With this came stretching pains. I have had back pain, round ligament pain, and general pain from overworking muscles.

    • Diastasis Recti (separation of abdominal muscles): This is actually common in pregnancy, but usually happens later on. For me, this started around 12-13 weeks (at least from what I noticed). Basically, any use of my abdominal muscles creates pain & an unusual “coning” of the space between my abdominal muscles because they have spread apart. This is kind of hard to describe, so feel free to look it up!
    • Intercostal Neuralgia (nerve pain between ribs): This started later in the first trimester, but this is essentially sharp, stinging pains in my lower right ribcage that can be associated with the quick growth of my belly.
    • Constipation: This is related to the increase in progesterone and hCG hormones, but it was no joke! TMI, but, I pretty much couldn’t poop for a week at a time. It led to bloating, pain, and lots of gas.
    • Nasal Congestion & Nose Bleeds: Throughout my whole pregnancy so far, I have experienced this. The congestion has been very consistent with the nose bleeds only happening 2-3 times so far that I recall.

    Overall, the first trimester was no fun for me with the symptoms, but I am feeling hopeful that I will continue to feel better in the rest of this trimester!

    How did I guess that they were twins before we found out?

    Several things led me to the conclusion that I was having twins before we even found out, and NO, they do not run in our families. Keep in mind that none of these things alone are a dead giveaway to having twins, this is just my experience.

    • Early positive pregnancy test: I tested on week 3, day 5 and the test was immediately positive. Usually, this would be a bit early to have a positive test, but with twins and the increased hormones, it is more likely!

    • Nausea: As I said earlier, I was REALLY sick throughout the first trimester and everyone at work said they thought I could be having twins (the previous manager had twins and was the same way).
    • Growth: This being my first trimester, I was not expecting to start showing until around 18-20 weeks. However, I could easily say that I was showing around week 9-10.
    • Mother’s Intuition: All in all, I am not quite sure what made me think it was twins, I just did. I kept telling Cameron (my husband) that I felt like they were twins. I even called my mom the day before my ultrasound telling her I thought it was twins!

    Appointment Overview:

    This would have been super helpful for me when I was going into this journey, so hopefully, it helps someone else.

    As everyone will tell you, each pregnancy is unique, so use this as a general guide. You can expect to be in office every four weeks until you reach 28 weeks. You will then have appointments every two weeks until 36 weeks. After this, you will be seen every week. The first visit is usually the longest. You can expect to do a urine sample at every appointment.

    • Initial Ultrasound/Initial Prenatal Appointment: This usually happens anywhere between 7-12 weeks depending on your OBGYN. They verify baby heartbeat, due date, your medical history, and initial bloodwork at this appointment. Expect for this to be 2-4 hours long. Mine lasted approximately 2 hours, but you never know when your OBGYN will get called into a delivery/emergency. Depending on your OBGYN office, you may meet with a variety of different people on this day. It can be overwhelming, so it is a good idea to bring your partner or a friend with you to help you remember. If you’re anything like me, this was the same day that I found out I was having twins and man was that a lot to take in.

    With Twins, you can expect to have an ultrasound at (almost) every appointment, but again, that also depends on your office. High-risk pregnancies need more follow-up.

    Tips for Managing the First Trimester:

    • Early planning is critical (especially when expecting twins). Babies tend to come when they want to, so although they give you a due date, I would plan things sooner rather than later. For me, I am having my gender reveal/baby shower at 23 weeks to make sure I have everything I need if babies make their appearance early.
    • Pregnancy-safe medications are sometimes necessary and that is OK! Whether you suffer from nausea, constipation, headaches, or other symptoms, make sure you talk to your provider about medications that can help ease your discomfort. You do not have to suffer through if you don’t want to! But also don’t feel pressured to do anything you are uncomfortable with (I see you, natural/unmedicated mamas).
    • Sleep/Rest while you can. This speaks for itself, but take it easy when you can. You are growing a (or multiple) human inside of you!! This takes a lot of energy. You are not lazy. You are strong.
    • Ask for help. Whether it is in pregnancy or in your postpartum journey, don’t be afraid to ask for help. I even hired a friend to help clean my house while I was struggling to do so myself.
    • Eat snacks or meals every 1-2 hours to prevent (or try to) nausea and vomiting.
    • Keep barf bags with you! These were so helpful for me on car & plane travel days during those early months.

    All in all, I’m so blessed and grateful to be on this journey, but I do want to point out some of the harder parts of the first trimester because they aren’t always talked about.

    Thank you for coming on this journey with me!

    Stay Golden,

    Emily