Every woman worries about the changes to her body during pregnancy, and this is especially true when you’re pregnant with twins. I spent a lot of time online trying to figure out what to expect – how big was I going to get? When would I be too big to fly? To drive? To walk? So, here I have for you a photo timeline of my twin pregnancy. I wasn’t together enough to always wear the same shirt, or have the cute little blackboard with the weeks and baby vegetable size, or take a photo in the same spot on the same day every week. I missed weeks. I’m guessing on the timing of a few of these. But they should provide you with a bit of insight on what to expect when you’re expecting twins.
5.5 weeks
8.5 weeks
10 weeks
This was when I started wearing maternity clothes. Jeans were too uncomfortable and I was never a big fan of the Bellaband, although I know some people loved it. I did the old “hair tie through the button hole and around the button” trick for a while but frankly maternity pants are just better. I wish I could still wear them….*sigh*.
11.5 weeks
13.5 weeks
14 weeks
14.5 weeks
15 weeks
17.5 weeks
Right about now was when things started to get…uncomfortable.
22 weeks
23 weeks
24 weeks
I flew cross-country at 25 weeks. I had no problems but I was glad I picked an aisle seat because there were a lot of bathroom trips.
25.5 weeks
25.5 weeks
29.5 weeks
At this point I am measuring full term, and I am starting to have a hard time breathing as Baby B is moving up and smashing my left lung.
32 weeks
33 weeks
33 weeks 5 days
34 weeks 1 day
36 weeks
37 weeks 1 day
37.5 weeks
I gave birth just shy of 39 weeks.
Babies arrive!
3 weeks postpartum
6 weeks postpartum
7 weeks postpartum
9 weeks postpartum
I went from 122 lbs to 183 lbs during my pregnancy but by the time I got home from the hospital I was only 12 lbs above my pre-pregnancy weight. Fluid retention + 2 giant babies + 1 giant placenta = lots of extra weight! By 12 weeks postpartum I was back to pre-baby weight. I wasn’t trying for that, although I wasn’t sad about it either. I was eating a ton (mostly healthy, sometimes not) and breastfeeding but really not doing anything special. I don’t think I was able to put on a lot of weight because 1) I had nausea and then terrible heartburn that made eating painful, 2) My abdomen was filled with giant babies so I had no where to put food, and 3) The giant babies sucked me dry of all nutrients.
I also don’t have any stretch marks, although I have no idea how that’s possible as I went from a 24″ waist to a 53″ waist. Sometimes genetics just deals you a good hand I guess. I did put baby oil in my bath each night and I used Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion morning and night but who knows if that worked. I liked the way they smelled and they helped with the terrible itching caused by the rapid growth of my tummy. And I figured that it couldn’t hurt!
Do you have questions about your twin pregnancy? Ask away!
Wow Wendy! I’m not sure what else to say but wow! What a transformation! I’m extremely impressed that you went nearly to full term. One of our concerns with our treatments was the chance of multiples. Not merely the fact of having more than one kid at a time, but how more than one could/would fit in my tiny body! I’ve always heard that multiples usually come early, so I’m quite amazed and happy you were able to go so far!