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Posted by Mary Hurst on August 30, 2010
It’s difficult to keep strangers from commenting on your pregnancy, even when only expecting one baby. When two are on the way, I’ve found that the tongues wag quite a bit more.
“Two for the price of one”
“Buy one get one free”
“Two the easy way”
Those are the comments that drive me batty. When you are expecting twins, you’ll hear all of these and much more. I’m not truly enormous yet, so I’m sure as things progress the pithy comments will take on a more sinister tone. For now, I grin and bear it and wish the well-meaning strangers had a clue.
If only it were true…
Oh, if only I’d really get 2 for the price of 1! That would mean I’d have a delightfully easy, blissful, healthy and sane pregnancy resulting in a delivery of epic happiness when 2 babies slipped into the world instead of just one. In short, it’s not even close.
Twin pregnancies aren’t exactly grueling Everest climbs, but they are no stroll down smiley singleton lane either. Perhaps it’s that my first pregnancy was a pretty mellow affair and my body just couldn’t live up to that ideal more than once. I had a 9+ month respite from the migraines that have plagued me since puberty, I was well-rested and healthfully nourished, never hungover or addled from lack of sleep (until the last 4 weeks).
This time around I’m back in headache hell with no available meds. My veins are bursting all over my body, so surely they are doing the same in my cranium. Of course the pain and throbbing lead to sleep loss and general malaise, short-temper and decided lack of libido.
Dude, where’s my libido?
Oh how I miss the second trimester libido surge from pregnancy #1! My husband and I were apart for the first 6 months of my last pregnancy with the exception of a 2-week romp in Hawaii. It was the babymoon of my dreams. He had a conference to attend, my job was to get a tan and get some sweet lovin’. Needless to say, the first few weeks of this trimester haven’t been anywhere near so frisky. I think my husband is probably more disappointed than I am this time around, but we were both looking forward to some good pregnancy sex.
I’m not even sure if it’s only the hormones. Has anyone ever told you that you someday won’t recognize your own parts? Didn’t happen to me until the very end last time. Now I’m living with a stranger down below and I’m not happy about it — I’m swollen, smelly, strangely juicy and just not attractive. What with weight gain, acne and the uncharted topography of my nether regions, it’s not easy to feel sexy.
Exhaustion certainly plays a big part as well – our 18 month old takes up all the “spare” energy I have. And there’s something to be said for being “touched-out”. I never gave it much credence before but when I spend all day hugging and loving my daughter, I don’t really feel the drive for physical affection with my husband. It’s terrible and I need to do something about it, for both our sakes!
Measuring weeks ahead
As of this writing I’m 17 weeks pregnant with the twins. My stomach is measuring a whopping 40″, about 11 inches more than pre-pregnancy. I’ve gained 14 lbs and look to be 6 months along. Check out the comparison shots. The one where I’m wearing the brown shirt is 22 weeks with singleton, the black shirt is 17 weeks with twins. Yep, I look about 6 months now, don’t I?
It’s typical for moms of multiples to measure anywhere from 4 to 10 weeks ahead of schedule. I read that, I understood that, I was prepared for that. Until it happened. It’s almost shocking to see myself in the mirror. Last time, I didn’t really need maternity clothes until about 20 weeks. Now the zippered-fly is a thing of the past, I’ve been in elastic waist heaven for months now.
What to wear?
Since I’m not planning on being pregnant again after this (famous last words, right?), I don’t want to buy any new maternity wear. But dang, I was big so much earlier than the last time that I had to incorporate a whole new season of clothes. Thank goodness I’m living in America this time around and there are “Mommy and Me”-type consignment stores. Nobody wants maternity clothes after a while! I just hope I can make it to the end without having to raid my husband’s closet. He’s a foot taller than I am, so it would be comical. I guess leggings and muumuus will be my signature look.
Two for the price of what, exactly?
No one can tell you what exactly to expect from your pregnancy. There are volumes printed on what could happen, but each pregnancy is different. My twins will be loved regardless of all the crap I could complain about. Truth is, I’ll be gushing like every other new mom in no time.
They are starting to move a lot more and that alone is such a thrill. There’s something so magical about feeling your baby move in your belly. I just loved feeling my daughter move and would poke her to get her going if she seemed to slow down. I knew I’d miss it after she was born. Now I have two little monkeys vying for space and figuring each other out. I’m pretty sure there will be double pleasure in this pregnancy after all.
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Congratulations for having twins. Wish on my next pregnancy I could have twins.
Early Pregnancy Symptoms
Comment by Anne — September 3, 2010 @ 10:23 pm