OMG! We're Expecting Twins!
June 13, 2013 is a day I will never forget.
Everything started out normal. I got up, checked email, woke up the boys and we started about our day. My husband came home early from work so I could go to a routine ultrasound - or so I thought. For both my prior pregnancies, I have opted for the first trimester pre-screening test which determines the level of probability your unborn child has down syndrome, trisomy 18 and trisomy 21. It involves some blood work and an ultrasound. Easy enough. I'm all for non-invasive procedures to diagnose baby's health.
I typically really enjoy this ultrasound because the baby is small enough to move around quite a bit, yet you still can't feel a thing. So, the whole experience is pretty surreal. Unfortunately, I don't remember 90% of what happened during the appointment.
The 10% I do remember went something like this....
Sonographer: "Oh, twins!"
Me: (Laughing) "Yeah right."
Sonographer: "No seriously."
Me: "You're joking, right?"
Sonographer: "You didn't know?"
Me: "This really isn't a joke? You're serious?"
Sonographer: "See for yourself".
This back and forth nonsense literally continued for about 90 seconds. She kept saying I was pregnant with twins, and I was looking for the cameras that must be hidden in the room, since this was obviously some sort of practical joke. When I finally saw the two little bodies on the screen jumping up and down in my uterus, I finally figured it out. I MUST BE DREAMING.
Wait, was I? I retraced my steps. I knew exactly how I got into this room. I remember getting into the car, getting lost on the way to the appointment, and filling out TONS of paperwork in the office before the sonographer finally called me into the exam room.
OMG! WE'RE HAVING TWINS!
The rest of the appointment is pretty hazy. I barely paid attention to the monitor and what the sonographer was doing. I had a million questions. After all, my whole life had changed within the last couple minutes. I was now a mother of twins.
I did manage to ask two important questions.
Question: Are the babies ok?
Answer: Yes, they're perfect.
Question: What kind of twins are they?
Answer: Identical.
Holy cow. This was literally a dream come true. I started crying - hysterically. In that moment, this sonographer suddenly became my personal therapist as I laid there pouring my heart out on her exam table. You see, I have literally wanted twins my entire life. Some people may think I'm crazy, but I'm fascinated by them. When I was a little girl, I told my mom (and anyone else who would listen) that I wanted twin babies. Originally, I wanted boy and girl twins - just one pregnancy. Then, I changed my mind because I wanted more children, so I decided I wanted two sets of twins, one boy set and one girl set. And while it was highly impractical, I do give myself props for trying to be as efficient as possible. More kids. Fewer pregnancies. Less fuss. Smart girl.
But how in the world could I possibly be pregnant with twins? This was a childhood fantasy. Neither of our families have a history of twins. That's where the "identical" part comes into play. Identical twin pregnancies occur when a single fertilized egg splits into two parts, within days after conception. Why it happens is an absolutely mystery. It is not hereditary. It appears to be completely random - and completely awesome.
After the exam, the sonographer left to compare her results with my previous blood work.
I just sat on the table, completely dumbfounded. Should I call my husband? No, definitely not. This is something you need to say in person. Plus, I need to see the look on his face. And so, I just stared at my ultrasound pictures. One image showed their little heads - side by side. The sonographer labeled them "Baby A" and "Baby B". How did I not know you were both in there? I thought to myself.
I later learned my tests came back negative for any major medical abnormalities. The babies are completely healthy. And it's my job during the next five months to keep them that way. I feel blessed