Week 22 - 26: Month Six, End of the Second Trimester
Another month filled with doctor visits, and prenatal massages in between. First, back to Columbia for the MRI. I was given juice and cookies for the twins to have a sugar rush, then crash and sleep during the appointment. The appointment was about two hours, with a 10 minute break; laying on my back in the tube for such a long period of time made me lightheaded and nauseous.
Next, ultrasound and doppler to check the twins’ blood flow and growth. Hopefully, this is my last visit to Columbia until after the twins are born.
An extra ultrasound and doppler at Cornell, the hospital I originally had my prenatal care and plan on giving birth at.
Another fetal echocardiogram to check on their hearts.
And finally, a standard pregnancy check in with my doctor.
Waiting for the result is always the hardest part..
In the meantime, I am trying to run again after only being able to walk for three weeks. I completed a slow four miles, which I thought went pretty well, until a few hours later when I had the weirdest muscle pain in my groin. Never experienced anything like it before. After some Googling I found:
A common cause of pain in prenatal runners are strained round ligaments. These are the two thick bands of ligamentous tissue that span from each side of the uterus to the groin. They provide support for the uterus. However, as the fetus grows, the round ligaments can become strained until they have time to adjust. During periods of round ligament stretching and adjustment, the impact of running can create additional strain, causing discomfort or pain with movement.
Definitely using my belly band for my next run!
And the results are in.. Both babies are within normal limits and are now above the 10th percentile with regards to growth/ weight. Woohoo! Free to continue my prenatal care at Cornell, only one or two doctor visits per week and back to enjoying pregnancy.
I did start to have anxiety over the last few days - end of the second trimester, twins are back to being healthy, I can feel them move around more, my apartment is starting to fill up with baby gifts.. I think it has become real for me. My husband and I are going to be responsible for two tiny humans. Wild.
Looking forward to an uneventful final few weeks!
cbxo
Update:
1. Running: down to 44 miles however, walked 79 miles the first three weeks
2. Weight: up to 140lbs and going up, I am holding water and look puffy, shoes still fit, rings still fit, wearing my regular pre-pregnancy clothes day to day
3. Nutrition: thirsty all the time, supplements, my food is blah lately (anything with too much flavor is making me feel sick)
4. Symptoms: so incredibly exhausted all the time,I wake up in the middle of the night for hours before falling back asleep, and I am so very forgetful it’s obnoxious
5. Books: What to Do When You’re Having Two: The Twins Survival Guide from Pregnancy Through the First Year by Natalie Diaz, The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty (my brain needed a break)
