Our journey to parenthood was not an easy one by any means. After a few years of trying and struggling to conceive, my partner and I finally found out we were pregnant. The joy and relief we felt were indescribable. Little did we know life had another surprise in store for us, TWINS. The Big […]
Our journey to parenthood was not an easy one by any means. After a few years of trying and struggling to conceive, my partner and I finally found out we were pregnant. The joy and relief we felt were indescribable. Little did we know life had another surprise in store for us, TWINS.
The Big Surprise
After our first child was born, we decided to try for another baby. We never really agreed on how many kids we wanted because I had always dreamed of 3, but my partner wanted 2. Given our previous struggles, we expected it might take some time, or that adoption might be in our future. But to our astonishment, we conceived relatively quickly.
I knew I was pregnant at around 2-3 weeks, but shortly after the faintest line on the test, morning sickness started to kick in. I never experienced that with my first and was surprised at how strong and early it had started. When we scheduled our first prenatal appointment, we were cautiously optimistic but still braced for any challenges that might come our way considering how long it took for a pregnancy the first time.
This all happened that same year that COVID hit us, which meant my partner was not allowed to accompany me inside for my appointment. As I sat in the waiting room, I wished so much that he could be with me. When the ultrasound technician began the scan, I tried my best to be ready for anything—or so I thought. Since I have experience in the medical field and reading ultrasounds, x-rays, etc, I could tell (to a degree) what I was looking at.
I had a full-blown conversation with myself since I had no one else to talk to. Here’s how it went (for the most part):
“Wait, wait, wait…… is that two? Does that look like two blueberries?” (yes, I used the extremely medical term “blueberries”)
“There’s no way. Could it be? I mean it is possible with Nana being an identical twin.”
“Oh Shit… what if it IS two?”
“Nah, that’s probably normal anatomy and I’m just worrying for no reason. Deep breath.”
“Nope, that is definitely two f***ing blueberries.”
Then I decided to ask the ultrasonographer. She was so polite and asked me to wait patiently while she measured my cervix. (PS. I could feel my heart beating in my throat.) After repeating my question she told me that it does look like there are two fetuses but she will have to confirm with the doctor.
I have to say I was surprised but I always knew it was a possibility. The room seemed to spin just a bit and I was trying to process this life-changing news. Two babies? How would we manage? Could we handle double the diapers, double the feedings, double everything?
Processing the News
After the initial shock wore off, we started to feel the joy slowly creep in between processing this news. We were going to be parents to twins! I immediately began researching everything I could about twin pregnancies. I learned that twins run in families, but it still felt like a miracle that we had been chosen for this incredible journey.
We learned more about the two types of twins: identical and fraternal. Identical twins come from a single fertilized egg that splits, while fraternal twins come from two separate eggs. In our case, we were having identical twins, meaning each baby would be genetically the same, just like my grandmother.
Telling Our Family and Friends
One of the most fun parts of finding out we were having twins was sharing the news with our loved ones. We decided to tell our mothers right away. I called my parents to make sure they were home. We headed over and dropped the ultrasound off at the door and tried to keep our distance. When they came out, they saw the ultrasound but had no idea there were two babies.
The reactions were priceless. There were tears, screams of excitement, and a ton of hugs; keeping our distance wasn’t possible because of the excitement. Everyone was thrilled for us and eager to help in any way possible. We felt incredibly supported and loved.
Preparing for Two
As we began to prepare for the arrival of our twins, we realized there was so much to learn. From figuring out how to set up sleeping arrangements for two to understanding the logistics of feeding and caring for two babies at once, it was a lot to take in. But with every step, our excitement (and anxiety) grew.
We tried to find resources like books and online forums for parents of twins but had some issues. We questioned our friends who had twins which led us to a few good resources but still felt like something was missing. Each piece of information we gathered made us feel more confident but there were still some things missing.
Embracing the Journey
As we looked forward to meeting our twins, we were filled with a sense of awe and gratitude. Yes, there were challenges, but we know the rewards would be twice as sweet. We couldn’t wait to hold our babies in our arms and start this incredible journey as a family of five.
For anyone out there who might be in the same boat, just remember: you’re not alone. The twin community is strong, and we need to stick together. Embrace the joy, lean on your support system, and get ready for the ride of your life!
Join Me on Our Twin Journey
Thank you for joining me as we share our twin journey. I’ll be sharing every step, from pregnancy tips, birthing, and postpartum to twin parenting hacks. Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to reach out with any questions or twin-related stories of your own!
Comments