It was surreal, exciting, and downright terrifying. We were so excited to be pregnant and looking forward to seeing the baby! But when she introduced us to baby number two, my jaw dropped. I started thinking about the additional costs; how to fit furniture for two in the nursery; the logistics of feeding, burping, and changing two babies with only two arms; and more.  I felt scared, unsure, and inadequate. Then I looked at my husband and noticed that he had the biggest smile across his face. My fears slowly melted away and I became thrilled that we were going to have two babies! I knew that we wouldn’t be given anything that we couldn’t handle.

When people find out that I am having twins, undoubtedly, the first question they ask is if twins run in my family. It is not a question that bothers me, as I enjoy telling them that both my paternal grandmother and my aunt were pregnant with twins. My grandmother suffered complications during her pregnancy with the twins and they did not live long after birth. My aunt, on the other hand, successfully gave birth to two sets of fraternal twins!

I know that this is a harmless question that people ask out of genuine curiosity, but it makes me wonder how those couples who used fertility drugs to conceive feel when asked. I’m sure not everyone is comfortable talking about their methods of conception.

Before I knew we were having twins, we had planned on having a water birth at a local birth center. We had been through orientation and fell in love with both the midwives and the center. We knew this was where we wanted to bring our baby into the world.

That all changed when we found out we were receiving a double blessing! The first thing that I was told is that because of the twins, I am considered a high-risk pregnancy and won’t be able to deliver outside of a hospital. So, there went our idea of giving birth in a birth center.

My doctor has informed me of possibilities that could occur with twins, but has not told us that we could “expect” anything. She told me that the following are possibilities with a multiples pregnancy: pre-term labor, low birth weight, third trimester bed rest, and birth by cesarean section. I am not going to expect that any of these possibilities will occur, but I try to consider that they might.

I always knew that my husband was pretty awesome, but he has really stepped up during this pregnancy. During my first trimester, I had just enough energy to make it to my couch after a day of work. I didn’t cook, I didn’t clean. I could barely lift the remote to change the TV channel. My husband has picked up my slack (which I don’t feel guilty about one bit!) and cooked meals, folded laundry, washed dishes, and taken on whatever else is needed to maintain the house. He’s even run to the store at 10 p.m. to pick up some fudgesicles.

The support that we have been receiving from our family and friends has been overwhelming. Everyone is really excited for us and passing along their old pregnancy books, maternity clothes, and Bella Bands (my favorite!). They are offering up unused baby furniture and clothes. And, of course — some great advice!

I have felt great so far! Besides the complete exhaustion in the first trimester, I never felt any morning sickness or any other major discomfort. I try to pay attention to my body’s needs. When it tells me it’s hungry, I eat. When it tells me it’s tired, I rest.  When I don’t follow my body’s requests, I get light-headed, dizzy or feel worn out.

My eating habits have changed tremendously! I have always been somewhat of a healthy eater — avoiding fast food and trying to add fresh fruits and vegetables to my plate — but I was not a big eater before I was pregnant. I would eat a small breakfast of yogurt or oatmeal around 9:30 or 10 a.m., but I would be okay if I had to skip it. Lunch would be my main meal and then my dinner was usually something small, like a salad or a sandwich. 

Since I’ve been pregnant, I have doubled the amount of food I eat each day. I still eat small portions and I still avoid fast food, and I try to incorporate fruits and vegetables in each meal, but am eating at least every two hours. I have to eat something as soon as I wake up and then again every two hours until about 9 p.m. Then there is the occasional fudgesicle before I go to bed…

Unfortunately, I really haven’t been able to keep up with physical activity. As I mentioned before, I didn’t have very much energy in my first trimester and only made it to the gym a few times during those three months. I have just recently begun to get my energy back and have started adding 30 minutes of yoga back into my day — which my back totally appreciates!  As I continue to gain energy, I will continue to increase my physical activity.

We haven’t developed a specific birth plan at this time. It’s tough to predict what will happen with the twins. We have to closely monitor their development. But if there are no complications throughout the pregnancy, I would like to have a natural, vaginal birth with no interventions.

I personally think that breastfeeding is one of the best things that I can do for my babies. My goal is to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months and then if I am able to maintain milk levels, I’d like to continue to breastfeed the twins until they are around two years old.

I am looking forward to experiencing each new moment of being pregnant. I can’t wait to feel the babies move for the first time. I can’t wait to see them again on the next ultrasound. I can’t wait to find out their gender. I can’t wait to get a really big belly! I can’t wait until my husband feels the babies move for the first time. But the one thing I am looking forward to the most is giving birth to the twins, as funny as that may sound. I think it is going to be one amazing, absolutely rewarding experience that will strengthen our family bond.