Please realize I write this "tongue-in-cheek" but at the same time sarcasm usually helps me vent!
Well I am now officially carrying 12 pounds and 8 ounces of babies. Easton is 6 lbs, 5 oz. and Elle is 6 lbs, 3 oz. I am 36 weeks and measuring 43. I am very tired, aching, and irritable. My hair is dry, my teeth hurt, and I would pay someone good money to put me to sleep for 12 hours straight. I am supposed to take Benadryl to sleep, yet it gives me restless leg syndrome. Water gives me heartburn. I can hardly breath through my nose, which ironically wakes me up 4 out of the 22 times I wake up from midnight until five (the hours I "sleep"). I pee over 3 liters of liquid a day, and it hurts. Sitting on the couch hurts my back, the recliner is worse, I can't sleep on my right side/left side/back or obviously my stomach. For the first time in my life, I hate my dogs, have hardly anything to wear, and do not like anyone, I mean anyone. I have diagnosed myself with being extremely pregnant.
I am also disappointed in myself. For some reason, my blood pressure has spiked. I have had to do the 24 hour urine analysis twice now. I have not been diagnosed with preeclampsia. I am not swelling, have no headaches, seeing no spots, and have no pain in the upper right quadrant of my stomach. But I am dizzy and having "transient" episodes of high blood pressure. My issue is being called pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), something that I have had before...The first time I was diagnosed was in 2009, I had gained 42 lbs! What's the deal? Does pregnancy hate me? This time around I have gained 0 pounds... I am three years older, but I thought being 31 was the upper limits of an ideal age to carry babies. What makes me so disappointed is I have eaten very well, exercised (up until recently), monitored my weight, consulted with a health coach, and done my research. Why is my blood pressure high? Is is possible, I am having anxiety about these babies? I am trying to control my anxiety, but evidently not doing a good enough job. It gets me down...
My questions right now are:
1) Since it is not preeclampsia, does that mean I have to "relax" the next three weeks until nature takes its course, or can I resume usual activities?
2) Does this change how I will deliver the babies? It seems so unfair to think I would have to have a c-section when both babies are vertex and my pregnancy has been so uneventful until just a month or so ago. Plus, I have been so good!
3)Do I need to change my diet? Watch my sodium, eat more magnesium... etc? Do I go on medication? (Agh!)
On a positive note, once the babies are out the problem is gone, but what do you do in the meantime?
Here's the addendum - I went to the doctor and was told (this is restated, not word for word) "See those bones and veins in your arm, if you can't see them call me. The protein in your urine is on the low side of normal. You don't have preeclampsia. You do have PIH, and that is not preeclampsia. You can continue to work, do not need bedrest, and do not need any therapeutic intervention (I assume he meant medicine). We wouldn't have put you through this if your were not carrying twins." So here I am 7,000 weeks pregnant and diagnosed with PIH. Damn.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Goats
Well, I finally got back out on my trail today... it has been 1.5 weeks since I have exercised, gasp! I'm not proud of myself, but I am carrying twins (9 lbs and 2 oz+ and 33 weeks along) so I can cut myself a a little slack. Plus, I will be running again in a matter of weeks, 13 at the most, so I have started a countdown. The trail was beautiful, just as I left it, and remembered it. I know my trail remembers me as well. On the trail is the local college's agricultural project. Being an avid runner for a number of years, I have watched them develop this project. First it was a field now it is a farm. They purchased two goats, added some sheep shortly thereafter, then chickens. I feel connected to the goats - I don't know why. When the goats first came to live at the "farm" they talked to me, which made my runs even more rewarding. Overtime they quit. I guess, they got used to seeing people or are trying to avoid me. I felt out of sync with the goats, but continued to greet them on runs and walks... Now, I am proud to announce that again we share something in common, the female goat is a M.o.M, mother of multiples. She had four kids, hehe!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
The darndest things she says...
Ava-isms. I read this word on another friend's blog or Facebook status, one of those places. I am citing Elizabeth for the term, but I honestly think we both coined it. Elizabeth is a mother to an Ava. Being a mother to an Ava is something extraordinary... and Avas are wild... they have Ava-isms... all the time! Not a day goes by that I don't laugh until I cry at something my sweetie has said. Some people say "You can tell she's a speech pathologist's child..." must be true because my friend Elizabeth is also a speech pathologist.
I will add more and more, but here are a few that will start the list:
1) Never say be quiet to Ava or you will hear her plead "Let me talk!"
2) She recently yelled at my Mom who was downstairs while Ava was up, "Mimi, throw me up a flashlight and a piece of candy!"
3) Ask Ava her name and you'll get "AvaElizabethBumgarnerliveinMorganton."
4) Ask Ava what she wants to be when she grows up... "A unicorn."
5) Never answer a "Why" question... or you will answer 70 more. For example, "Ava did you know Barack Obama was the president?" "Why is Barack Obama the president?" "He was voted in." "Why was he voted in?" "He won an election." "Why did he win an election?" "Because he was the best candidate for the job." "Why was he the best candidate for the job?" ETC.
6) During nightly prayers she prays for her family. She also prays for my OB, the doctor who delivered her (not my OB), a local restaurant, the man at Burke Bedding (her words), Margie (the dog's groomer), and kiwi fruit. Prayers take 25 minutes with Ava.
7) Don't raise your voice at Ava or you will hear "Talk happy. Don't talk like that."
8) She has one bad word. It's bad. She told my mother-in-law "Grammy tell me another bad word," to which Grammy said "No, you don't need to know any more." "Yes, I do Grammy. Because I don't want to say it." (Her reasoning, if she knows all the bad words, then she won't ever say them).
9) She knows all of her body parts, all of them. Seriously, all of them...
10) She likes animals from "Neon Tetras" to "Yorkie Dogs" and everything in between. "Aardvarks, rhinos, hippos, porcupines, moose, etc."
11) She told my dad she could get paper to draw on from "The paper machine." (AKA, the computer printer)
12) "Some little bit," as in "Can I play outside, some little bit?"
13) Not a word but a gesture, ask for thumbs up, and you get an index finger in the air.
14) She sings Flo-rida's "Get Low," to our dog. She claims she learned it "Up in K-Mart." (Actually, I sing it to Yoshi, but I like "Up in K-Mart" better).
15) "Do they have owls in K-Mart?" "No." "Yes they do Daddy, K-Mart is a big store."
16) "Why do you ask why so much Ava?" "I think why and I want to know."
I will add more and more, but here are a few that will start the list:
1) Never say be quiet to Ava or you will hear her plead "Let me talk!"
2) She recently yelled at my Mom who was downstairs while Ava was up, "Mimi, throw me up a flashlight and a piece of candy!"
3) Ask Ava her name and you'll get "AvaElizabethBumgarnerliveinMorganton."
4) Ask Ava what she wants to be when she grows up... "A unicorn."
5) Never answer a "Why" question... or you will answer 70 more. For example, "Ava did you know Barack Obama was the president?" "Why is Barack Obama the president?" "He was voted in." "Why was he voted in?" "He won an election." "Why did he win an election?" "Because he was the best candidate for the job." "Why was he the best candidate for the job?" ETC.
6) During nightly prayers she prays for her family. She also prays for my OB, the doctor who delivered her (not my OB), a local restaurant, the man at Burke Bedding (her words), Margie (the dog's groomer), and kiwi fruit. Prayers take 25 minutes with Ava.
7) Don't raise your voice at Ava or you will hear "Talk happy. Don't talk like that."
8) She has one bad word. It's bad. She told my mother-in-law "Grammy tell me another bad word," to which Grammy said "No, you don't need to know any more." "Yes, I do Grammy. Because I don't want to say it." (Her reasoning, if she knows all the bad words, then she won't ever say them).
9) She knows all of her body parts, all of them. Seriously, all of them...
10) She likes animals from "Neon Tetras" to "Yorkie Dogs" and everything in between. "Aardvarks, rhinos, hippos, porcupines, moose, etc."
11) She told my dad she could get paper to draw on from "The paper machine." (AKA, the computer printer)
12) "Some little bit," as in "Can I play outside, some little bit?"
13) Not a word but a gesture, ask for thumbs up, and you get an index finger in the air.
14) She sings Flo-rida's "Get Low," to our dog. She claims she learned it "Up in K-Mart." (Actually, I sing it to Yoshi, but I like "Up in K-Mart" better).
15) "Do they have owls in K-Mart?" "No." "Yes they do Daddy, K-Mart is a big store."
16) "Why do you ask why so much Ava?" "I think why and I want to know."
Monday, April 2, 2012
Twin Mommy Spokesperson?
This is fairly disjointed, slightly convoluted, but a work in progress...
I have been asked by several people to be a spokesperson for twin mommies. I always laugh it off, smile, and thank them for the wonderful compliment. I also tell them that pregnancy is not a time to slack off, I learned that the hard way. I had a "fun" pregnancy. I gained 40 pounds. I ate ice cream, chips, heavy meals with cream, drank soda, and calorie-laden drinks. I exercised, which probably kept me from gaining more, but I suffered in the end. I was diagnosed with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) around 35 weeks but appeared preeclamptic. I'm pretty sure, had the doctors done a 24 hour urine test, protein would have been discovered in my urine. I was a swollen mess, with high blood pressure. I couldn't wear rings, many clothes, and felt miserably. This was my fault. PIH isn't always the fault of the mother, but I do think in my case I could have made healthier decisions and bypassed the 37 week biophysical profile test in the hospital and had much less stress from my OB over the last 5 weeks or so of pregnancy.
When I became pregnant with twins, I started research. I was terrified that I would gain 80 pounds and be on bed rest the entire duration, I was convinced I would never sit in a booth or fit through a door ever again. I thought I would be a miserable whale.... Since I was so anxious, I took time to get my ducks in a row. I refused to have a bad or negative pregnancy.
The first 12 weeks of pregnancy were horrible. I was sick, and that gave me plenty of time, in bed, to read about nutrition and caring for myself and my unborn babies.
Pregnancy, in my opinion, is a 40 week commitment to grow the most precious thing inside your body, a baby. Why would you taint that? I think it is fairly obvious that smoking, drinking, and recreational drugs are bad for the unborn baby. So my plans are to "not even go there!" What I do plan on discussing is nutrition. Exercise, will also not be discussed, because many mommies of multiples cannot exercise... carrying two or more babies is constant exercise! Try walking up a flight of stairs at 32 weeks with twins - this is coming from a woman who runs 13.1 miles for fun!
Nutrition where do I start, my best advice for the first 12 weeks is eat what you can and drink even more. Staying hydrated has to be the best advice I can give during the first trimester. Also remember, you will gain an appetite back, stop vomiting, and lose the constant feelings of nausea/sea sickness sooner or later. Ginger is a good friend at this time. Health food stores have crystallized ginger to munch on or organic ginger ales. I cannot speak from experience of "preggie-pops" nor do I know how much sugar is in them, but I have friends who swear by them. The key ingredient is ginger. Eating smaller meals frequently and never allowing yourself to go hungry are ways to reduce the first trimester woes.
Trimester two, the honeymoon phase, so they say. With multiples, there never is a honeymoon phase, haha! But eating becomes easier. Some women claim they have an insatiable appetite, I didn't. I could barely eat, not because of nausea but because one of my dear twins was situated on my belly (I guess). I tried to make sure I got enough vitamins, particularly magnesium, potassium, and calcium. I also increased my protein intake and limited carbohydrates and sugar while increasing complex carbohydrates. Food tasted good again, in small increments, and I really started to feel fairly good. I exercised, was still running, drank tons of water, and somehow managed to not gain weight. The babies sure did! Many women put weight on during this point, and nutritionists encourage increasing caloric intake by 300 calories per baby. That means for twin pregnancy, women should eat 2,400 - 2,600 calories a day. I have read, mother of twins, need to consume up to 3,500 calories per day. I think that is a bit much, but many of the big wigs in the field of multiples swear by it. I never ate 3,500 and struggled to get to 2,000 daily... but what I ate was nutritious.
Some nerdy facts which are reasons I think nutrition plays such an important role in a twin pregnancy... Mommies of singletons have a 5% chance of developing preeclampsia. The twin mommy has a 33% chance. The mommy of singleton has a 2%-10% chance of developing gestational diabetes. These numbers are slightly higher in twin pregnancy and more prevalent in fraternal twinning. Do I think you can avoid either of these conditions, probably not but evidence does suggest blood pressure can be significantly lowered by consuming a diet rich in magnesium, potassium, and calcium. What is ordered for gestational diabetes? Consuming protein, reducing simple sugars/carbohydrates and adding complex carbohydrates. Is a light bulb going off? It should. Eating a good diet is essential for your babies' health!
According to Annie Murphy Paul, babies form their taste buds in utero. What the mother eats forms experiences for the unborn baby. One study showed, unborn babies exposed to carrot juice on a daily basis from their mother showed a preference for carrot juice in their cereal (after 6 months), over babies who did not experience carrot juice in utero. Interestingly, the babies who had never had exposure to carrot juice displayed a myriad of facial expressions indicative of displeasure. So, if you eat cheeseburgers, fries, and sweets does that mean your child will prefer junk in the future? I'm a strong believer in, yes it does. My two year-old daughter loves avocados, sweet fruits, and chocolate milk. Funny thing is, I craved those foods with her, and consumed a great deal of them. She also likes candy, junk food, and ice cream - also my doing. Remember, she was my "fun" pregnancy. My twins will hopefully like milk, salmon, green veggies, and sweet potatoes. The foods I consume a great deal of at this point in my pregnancy. I feel like I have predisposed my twins to healthy eating habits, the same habits my 2 year old daughter sees everyday.
Once the third trimester roles around, twin mommies are jolly! Actually we are quite beautiful and sporting a baby bump that looks 6-8 weeks ahead of schedule, so that makes us fairly popular as we walk through Wal-Mart. The babies are busy moving and responding to touch, sound, and light. It is an amazing time. But, third trimester also brings on a whole new slew of symptoms that are misery for anyone, particularly the pregnant woman. Heartburn, to name one. What's the remedy for heartburn, never eat, never lay down, and pray! Actually to be truthful there are very few remedies for heartburn. I find that limiting processed foods and increasing raw foods (veggies and fruits) have helped me tremendously. I also eat fairly bland meals (which, at the same time, monitors my sodium), drink water, and try to keep my meals small but frequent.
Now, what about constipation? Well that is another problem of pregnancy, not limited to the third trimester, but to me seems worse. One of the secrets to staying regular, is obviously fiber, but the best food is dried apricots! Apricots seem to keep the system going while providing a tremendous amount of potassium. The doctor pumps you up about iron intake, but fails to mention that it causes constipation. That's why I like dried apricots so much.
Ever had a Charley horse? I hadn't until I was 31 weeks pregnant, I thought I was going to be paralyzed and was having a deep vein thrombosis! My husband explained to me that I was having calf-spasms, leg cramps, or a Charley horse. Well I had two over the course of two days. Not in the same leg, but ouch either way! What reduces these pains, surprisingly, magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
Additionally, there is importance in omega-3 fatty acids. They provide Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA which is essential to central nervous system development. They play an important role in increasing IQ of the unborn baby as well as reduce postpartum depression in Mom. Suck it up, and eat your salmon!
I could go on, and will as this pregnancy progresses. I will finish up my thoughts as a reflection after my twins arrive. But I had to start somewhere. Am I a twin mommy role model? Nah, but I am a twin mommy and I think I am already a damn good one.
I have been asked by several people to be a spokesperson for twin mommies. I always laugh it off, smile, and thank them for the wonderful compliment. I also tell them that pregnancy is not a time to slack off, I learned that the hard way. I had a "fun" pregnancy. I gained 40 pounds. I ate ice cream, chips, heavy meals with cream, drank soda, and calorie-laden drinks. I exercised, which probably kept me from gaining more, but I suffered in the end. I was diagnosed with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) around 35 weeks but appeared preeclamptic. I'm pretty sure, had the doctors done a 24 hour urine test, protein would have been discovered in my urine. I was a swollen mess, with high blood pressure. I couldn't wear rings, many clothes, and felt miserably. This was my fault. PIH isn't always the fault of the mother, but I do think in my case I could have made healthier decisions and bypassed the 37 week biophysical profile test in the hospital and had much less stress from my OB over the last 5 weeks or so of pregnancy.
When I became pregnant with twins, I started research. I was terrified that I would gain 80 pounds and be on bed rest the entire duration, I was convinced I would never sit in a booth or fit through a door ever again. I thought I would be a miserable whale.... Since I was so anxious, I took time to get my ducks in a row. I refused to have a bad or negative pregnancy.
The first 12 weeks of pregnancy were horrible. I was sick, and that gave me plenty of time, in bed, to read about nutrition and caring for myself and my unborn babies.
Pregnancy, in my opinion, is a 40 week commitment to grow the most precious thing inside your body, a baby. Why would you taint that? I think it is fairly obvious that smoking, drinking, and recreational drugs are bad for the unborn baby. So my plans are to "not even go there!" What I do plan on discussing is nutrition. Exercise, will also not be discussed, because many mommies of multiples cannot exercise... carrying two or more babies is constant exercise! Try walking up a flight of stairs at 32 weeks with twins - this is coming from a woman who runs 13.1 miles for fun!
Nutrition where do I start, my best advice for the first 12 weeks is eat what you can and drink even more. Staying hydrated has to be the best advice I can give during the first trimester. Also remember, you will gain an appetite back, stop vomiting, and lose the constant feelings of nausea/sea sickness sooner or later. Ginger is a good friend at this time. Health food stores have crystallized ginger to munch on or organic ginger ales. I cannot speak from experience of "preggie-pops" nor do I know how much sugar is in them, but I have friends who swear by them. The key ingredient is ginger. Eating smaller meals frequently and never allowing yourself to go hungry are ways to reduce the first trimester woes.
Trimester two, the honeymoon phase, so they say. With multiples, there never is a honeymoon phase, haha! But eating becomes easier. Some women claim they have an insatiable appetite, I didn't. I could barely eat, not because of nausea but because one of my dear twins was situated on my belly (I guess). I tried to make sure I got enough vitamins, particularly magnesium, potassium, and calcium. I also increased my protein intake and limited carbohydrates and sugar while increasing complex carbohydrates. Food tasted good again, in small increments, and I really started to feel fairly good. I exercised, was still running, drank tons of water, and somehow managed to not gain weight. The babies sure did! Many women put weight on during this point, and nutritionists encourage increasing caloric intake by 300 calories per baby. That means for twin pregnancy, women should eat 2,400 - 2,600 calories a day. I have read, mother of twins, need to consume up to 3,500 calories per day. I think that is a bit much, but many of the big wigs in the field of multiples swear by it. I never ate 3,500 and struggled to get to 2,000 daily... but what I ate was nutritious.
Some nerdy facts which are reasons I think nutrition plays such an important role in a twin pregnancy... Mommies of singletons have a 5% chance of developing preeclampsia. The twin mommy has a 33% chance. The mommy of singleton has a 2%-10% chance of developing gestational diabetes. These numbers are slightly higher in twin pregnancy and more prevalent in fraternal twinning. Do I think you can avoid either of these conditions, probably not but evidence does suggest blood pressure can be significantly lowered by consuming a diet rich in magnesium, potassium, and calcium. What is ordered for gestational diabetes? Consuming protein, reducing simple sugars/carbohydrates and adding complex carbohydrates. Is a light bulb going off? It should. Eating a good diet is essential for your babies' health!
According to Annie Murphy Paul, babies form their taste buds in utero. What the mother eats forms experiences for the unborn baby. One study showed, unborn babies exposed to carrot juice on a daily basis from their mother showed a preference for carrot juice in their cereal (after 6 months), over babies who did not experience carrot juice in utero. Interestingly, the babies who had never had exposure to carrot juice displayed a myriad of facial expressions indicative of displeasure. So, if you eat cheeseburgers, fries, and sweets does that mean your child will prefer junk in the future? I'm a strong believer in, yes it does. My two year-old daughter loves avocados, sweet fruits, and chocolate milk. Funny thing is, I craved those foods with her, and consumed a great deal of them. She also likes candy, junk food, and ice cream - also my doing. Remember, she was my "fun" pregnancy. My twins will hopefully like milk, salmon, green veggies, and sweet potatoes. The foods I consume a great deal of at this point in my pregnancy. I feel like I have predisposed my twins to healthy eating habits, the same habits my 2 year old daughter sees everyday.
Once the third trimester roles around, twin mommies are jolly! Actually we are quite beautiful and sporting a baby bump that looks 6-8 weeks ahead of schedule, so that makes us fairly popular as we walk through Wal-Mart. The babies are busy moving and responding to touch, sound, and light. It is an amazing time. But, third trimester also brings on a whole new slew of symptoms that are misery for anyone, particularly the pregnant woman. Heartburn, to name one. What's the remedy for heartburn, never eat, never lay down, and pray! Actually to be truthful there are very few remedies for heartburn. I find that limiting processed foods and increasing raw foods (veggies and fruits) have helped me tremendously. I also eat fairly bland meals (which, at the same time, monitors my sodium), drink water, and try to keep my meals small but frequent.
Now, what about constipation? Well that is another problem of pregnancy, not limited to the third trimester, but to me seems worse. One of the secrets to staying regular, is obviously fiber, but the best food is dried apricots! Apricots seem to keep the system going while providing a tremendous amount of potassium. The doctor pumps you up about iron intake, but fails to mention that it causes constipation. That's why I like dried apricots so much.
Ever had a Charley horse? I hadn't until I was 31 weeks pregnant, I thought I was going to be paralyzed and was having a deep vein thrombosis! My husband explained to me that I was having calf-spasms, leg cramps, or a Charley horse. Well I had two over the course of two days. Not in the same leg, but ouch either way! What reduces these pains, surprisingly, magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
Additionally, there is importance in omega-3 fatty acids. They provide Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA which is essential to central nervous system development. They play an important role in increasing IQ of the unborn baby as well as reduce postpartum depression in Mom. Suck it up, and eat your salmon!
I could go on, and will as this pregnancy progresses. I will finish up my thoughts as a reflection after my twins arrive. But I had to start somewhere. Am I a twin mommy role model? Nah, but I am a twin mommy and I think I am already a damn good one.
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