Read about life with twins...

Karen's Story.

"Our path to pregnancy has been different than anything I ever imagined. Six weeks after getting married, my husband was diagnosed with Stage III Testicular Cancer and had to go through four rounds of chemo. While he is completely healthy, it meant that our only option of getting pregnant was to go through IVF. On our second try of IVF we found success with TWO embryos! I truly feel like our little girls are miracle babies".

What was your reaction to having twins?

"Even though it was going to be a challenge for us to conceive, I still had a feeling that we were having twins, so I wasn't completely shocked. However, it still took a while to sink in for both of us. I was nervous about one and now we were having two"!

How have you prepared for twins?

"Is anyone ever prepared for twins? I joined the Bluegrass Multiples Club and talked to other Mothers of Twins. I also researched the web and read books before I went out and bought two of everything. My husband and I also enjoyed taking classes at St. Joseph East. While it wasn't focused on twins, it made us feel more confident about parenting in general".

What are some struggles you have had with your pregnancy?

"I love being pregnant and never felt better in my life. Other than an increased appetite, I never had any symptoms of pregnancy. I feel incredibly blessed and now realize that my body was made for twins. I didn't have any struggles with pregnancy until I reached the 33 week mark (which is a triumph for twins). I then started having pre-labor contractions and was hospitalized. I am now 36 weeks and am starting to feel the pressure of carrying around over 12 pounds of baby!"

Do you have any advice to women about pregnancy?

"Some advice for women in early pregnancy is A) Find a good doctor asap - if you don't know one, then ask your friends or co-workers for referrals B) Start taking prenatal vitamins - it is a good idea to take these while you are trying to get pregnant C) Prenatal yoga is great to start early and continue throughout as your body changes D) Personally - I would keep the 1st trimester private so you can concentrate on taking care of you!"

Who is your healthcare provider?

"St. Joseph East - Dr. Berry Campbell"

Do you have any suggestions for resources that you found helpful?

"The 'Baby in the Bluegrass' book will help you find your way around locally. I had no idea of what Lexington had to offer pregnant women. This is how I found my Doctor (whom I love!), exercise class schedules, and baby education classes."

BabyCenter.com - "I enjoyed signing up for weekly pregnancy updates. It was so exciting to get an email every week telling me what was going on with my babies for the week."

http://www.twinsmagazine.com/pregnancy.html

"The Multiples Manual, Twins!"

"On Becoming BabyWise - but we will see if it really works!"

Any plans for Maternity Leave?

"16 weeks with lots of help!"

Stay tuned for updates on Karen and her much-anticipated twins!

UPDATE! AFTER THE BABIES WERE BORN:

At what moment did you realize you were actually a mom?

"I'm still waiting to feel that way! Seriously, I guess my first real feeling was when they latched on to breastfeed. That was a very surreal experience."

How was your overall childbirth experience?

"My experience was not exactly what I expected. I always thought I would have a 'normal' delivery but that all changed when I found out I was having twins. My scheduled C-section was fine, but the epidural was not exactly pleasant."

How did you cope with the first few weeks at home with the twins?

"I couldn't have managed without the help from family. In the first few weeks, it really took three people to manage basic care. We spent most of the time trying to keep the girls on the same schedule. Your have to be organized with two. Don't ever turn down the offer of help from others!"

What has been the best surprise so far?

"I was amazed at how they knew my voice immediately. It really has a calming effect on them and I would never have imagined that before. I highly recommend talking to your baby as much as possible while they are in the womb, because it does make a difference. Another big surprise has been the feelings that I immediately developed. I never thought I could have the kind of adoration and love that I have for these girls. It may sound cliche, but it's true."

How much did the babies weigh?

"One was 6 lbs and the other 5lbs, 12 oz."

Any funny or interesting stories with the hospital staff?

"I loved the hospital staff and would recommend them to anyone. When I had a hard time with the epidural, the anestigiologist was amazing. We had 14 people in the delivery room and they were wonderful to me even though I was nervous. I had 2 tough days in the hospital and the nurses really went above and beyond for me. They has to show some tough love one day my making me get out of bed when I didn't feel like it. It was the best and really paid off for me. I can't say enough good things about the staff at Saint Joseph East. In fact, I didn't want to leave the hospital without them!"

Coming home from the hospital, did you feel prepared after all the research and/or books you collected while being pregnant?

"I don't believe there is anything that can prepare you to bring home two infants! However, I do believe that it helps to find out as much as possible beforehand. Even if I didn't have real world experience, I felt a little more confident reading about what I could expect."

Things you love: "The swings, zip-up night gowns, a good monitor, the rocking chair, gripe water, and date nights with my husband! You have to find time for yourself, so don't be afraid to hire a babysitter."

Things you would NOT recommend: "Don't spend a lot of money on a comforter set for the crib, because you will never use it. They are purely for decoration. For the first few months, the girls are only wearing easy to handle clothes. So, I wouldn't spend a lot of money on cute clothes for the first few months. We don't go out that much anyway!"

Any advice or anything else you would like to share?

"First of all, don't compare yourself to other mothers because everyone is different. If you are having problems breastfeeding or if your baby is not sleeping through the night, don't feel like you are a bad mother!"

 

Thank You to Lexington Aesthetics for sponsoring free gifts for our Mom of the Month!