Well its Monday morning and I'm all ready for my scan and clinic appointment today. I dropped Katie off at school and then made my way to the hospital. The scan went really well, both babies are fine and growing well, although they couldn't tell me how long the babies are or what their rough weight will be.

Funnily enough we were in a room where all of the information about babies was about twins. On the wall was a chart showing 6 different positions that twins could be in. Well you wouldn't believe it, the way my babies were lying was not on the chart. Baby No 2 on my left hand side was head down (this one was feet first at my last appt), and Baby No 1 their head was about half way down and its body was at the bottom of my womb (this was head down at my last appt).

I didn't get to see my consultant this week, and ended up having an appointment with the registrar. He was very good and gave me lots of information about how the babies were lying. Baby No 1 is the one they are hoping to deliver first and this one is the bigger of the two, however, due to the way its lying is classed as breech, so unless the baby moves I will have to have a cesearean which I really don't want. He told us all about the risks even the very small ones and told us that they could be born any time from now. He said 40% of twins are born before the 35th week, so that did freak us both out a bit, especially as I had been having a few twinges on Saturday night.

He told us that as soon as I had any contractions or if my waters were to break, I was to go straight into hospital, they would then assess where the babies were lying and if they were still in the same position, I would have no alternative but to have a cesearean.

We did come out feeling really pleased that everything was okay with the babies, but we worried that they might come a little too early, especially as we hadn't finished the lounge and dining area as yet. So we really needed to pull our fingers out.

At my last clinic appointment, my consultant informed me that after this appointment, they would see me fortnightly, but the registrar has booked me in for 30 Oct which is another 4 weeks away so I was slightly confused as to why he had done that. I didn't ask him at the time, I don't know why I didn't but that had concered me.

Monday night we went along to the Birth Workshop and wasn't sure what to expect, Paul wasn't that keen on going and felt he knew it all. However, I wanted to go because the maternity section has been temporarily moved, so I wanted to see if they raised any issues regarding car parking etc, or even a tour of the delivery suite. The last time we went, which was over 4 years ago, there were about 5 weeks of different topics such as pain relief, breastfeeding etc. So I wanted to see how much had changed.

There were quite a few of us there, and there were only two couple including us that were on our second birth. I am glad we went, it was totally different to what it was like 4 years ago. The best thing about the night was we had a tour of the delivery suite, although I have to say the rooms were far too clinical with no windows. I know they are only temporary, but I thought they could have made them a little more homely. The nicest room was the room with the birthing pool in, so I might opt for that if I can. We were both pleased we did go along and it was only a one off 2 hour session.

This week has been extremely hard, I have really felt it this week, I've had a lot of twinges and the braxton hicks seems to have been doing overtime. Im really not sleeping well and pepole have commented on how tired I look, so I decided I wanted to finish earlier than originally planned.

I spoke to my boss and I have decided to finish at the end of next week, although she has told me that if I need to finish before then, there's no problem. I haven't got to do any site visits if I dont feel up to it and I can spend my last week in the office, so I am looking forward to that.

My heartburn is giving me lots of grief and I ran out of rennie's throughout the week and kept forgetting to get buy some, so I have been really suffering at night. Ive been aching around my neck area and it feels really tense.

The babies are still moving really well but I can really feel them bearing down on me now and walking to and from school with Katie is really tiring me out.

I decided to ring the consultant's secretary about the fortnightly visits and after talking to her she said she would arrange for an appointment to be sent to me. However, my consultant telephoned me which I was really surprised about and he made me feel a lot better.

He stated that everything was going really well with the pregnancy and the babies showed no signs that they needed to be concerned about and that is why they had put me back on the 4 week. He stated that they would see me around 37 weeks and if the babies hadn't moved they would look at booking me in the following week for a cesearean. He was happy with my pregnancy and with the babies overall. I also asked him if he knew whether the babies were identical or not and he stated that they have two separate sacs and were therefore non identical. So after his phone call I did feel much better.

I've been listening to a cd which has been really relaxing, but without my rennies, I am constantly waking up and the trips to the loo seem to have increased double and Im waking up nearly every hour, so I am really pleased I've decided to leave work earlier than planned.

I'm also reading a really good book at the minute about the right birth for you, I'm trying to read it at every spare moment which are very few and far between and am reading it in bed too. I've picked up some really good tips. My birth plan or birth wish is done, Ive typed up all the things I need for our hospital bags, and I am hoping to pack them at the end of this week.

I've finally bought my electric breast pump, its second hand from ebay, but its only a few months old (3 months) so its in very good condition. I didn't want to pay £85.00 for a brand new one and then not use it much.

We've also bought the Out N About Twin Nipper with the 360 front wheel. We've just got to buy the new born head supports and footmuffs, one more car seat and we will then have everything for our bundles of joy.

We've also been looking at wall paper this weekend, our decorator should be here on 27 Oct so fingers crossed. We are off to look at carpets next week so at the minute its all money going out.

I feel really lucky to have such good support around me, I've had one of my friends offer to pick Katie up from school every day next week so I can relax and take it easy. Another friend (who is 26 weeks pregnant ) has also offered to pick Katie up from school, and even her mum has offered too, I can't believe it. My mum has taken some ironing and has done that for me this week to help out and she has offered to catch two buses to our house to collect Katie from school each evening.

If I have a cesearean, my mum has offered to come down every morning to take Katie to school so I don't have to rush getting the twins ready and then taking Katie to school. My mum doesn't drive so she would have to catch two buses to my house and two buses home. So I feel really lucky to have such good friends around me at this time. I've even had one of the mums from gymnastics say that she would pick Katie up every Wednesday and take her to and from gymnastics each week if I too tired or have a cesearan.

My craving for ice cubes is still going strong and I can't make them quick enough. I bought two 2kg bags from Asda and ate them in a week but our freezer section isn't that big so I can't always fit them in and end up having to make my own.

I found out I was expecting at 5 weeks and was going to slimming world at the time, so I decided to weigh myself to see how much weight I had put on. I have had lots of comments from people saying I didn't look as though I had put much weight on even though my bump is very big and very low. Since finding out I was pregnant, I have put on a massive 11lb (okay so its not that massive for saying I'm having twins). I couldn't believe it and neither can anyone else when I tell them.

I can't believe how many people have stopped me in the street or in shops and have asked me when I'm due, I tell them I've got another 8 weeks to go and they can't believe it. They all think Im ready to drop until I tell them Im having twins and then I end up having a conversation about the twins with someone I've never met. I don't mind, but I can see that when they are born, Im never going to get any shopping done - it is nice really. Paul can't believe it, he's quite shy and finds it a little daunting when people stop us, but I don't mind talking about my babies.

Neither of us can still believe we are having twins and we've both said it won't become a reality until we are in our own home with both babies and our beautiful daughter. What more could anyone want!!

Take care

Anita

In the Womb - view at 25 weeks

If you are keen to follow your babies growth buy the dvd In The Womb which gives you fantastic imagery of how your baby looks at stages throughout your pregnancy.

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