1. Prepare to not recognize yourself. Not only in the mirror, but in temperament. The smallest tasks will seem overwhelming and for no apparent reason you will dissolve into a fit of tears, determined that you will absolutely never make it to the pregnancy finish line.
2. Even after the intense morning sickness and sensitivity to smell has passed, brace yourself to find yourself gagging over the thought of certain foods. And while the need for caloric intake has never been greater, it has also never been more difficult. Being confronted with a plate of yummy food only to find yourself full after just a few bites is ridiculously frustrating.
3. Every pregnant woman takes a look at her belly in the mirror hoping to find the reflection glowing with the miracle of new life. With twins, the adorably rounded abdomen of the mother carrying one baby is exchanged for one that is slightly malformed. Depending on the positioning of the babies at any given time, you may be oblong or oval, but almost never round. And do not be alarmed to find that much of the time your growing stomach sports two round mounds with an expanse of flatland between them. Just assume that your babies needed some time apart and so have moved as far in opposite directions of each other as possible.
4. And of course, when you assess the bump of babies in the reflection, you will be hard pressed to not notice the rest of you which has seemed to swell along with the belly. At this point, hyperventilation is not uncommon. Focus on breathing slowly and steadily all the while avoiding any more eye contact with the stranger in the mirror. You will be confronted soon enough with the reality of what you saw staring back at you when you move into the bedroom to attempt to squeeze into yet another pair of maternity pants that you have outgrown.
5. Encourage your husband to seek counseling. He will need it as he tries to navigate the bumpy waters of your shifting moods. One minute he will be proud of the awesome help and support he is providing you as he huffs and puffs and perspires through the house trying to tackle all the chores you once handled. The very next he will be sitting stunned on his backside as he realizes his biggest challenge is figuring out why you are sitting in the midst of a perfectly clean house with a wonderful meal prepared...and you're crying. Again. He will attempt to calm you all the while wondering WHO on earth you are and HOW on earth he got himself signed up for this!
6. Bedrest is very common in a twin pregnancy. Yet you will not be prepared when the doctor utters those words in the form of a gentle command to you in the second trimester. Prevention is half the battle, they say, but never-the-less you will declare that YOU are certainly not in need of this drastic an approach. And while you have cried (tears are a common theme here!) many times that there is so much to do and your body is not capable of meeting the even half the demand no matter how determined you are, you will now insist that there is absolutely no way you can lay down all the time.
7. Breathing is apparently optional as a twin pregnancy advances. There is no other explanation since it becomes almost physically impossible to take a full breath of air into your squished lungs. Try not to gasp repeatedly for air as that only results in added soreness in your chest. Instead, busy your mind thinking of something else to keep from panicking...like perhaps the fact that your precious babies are pressing on nerves in your legs causing painful sensations to shoot downward. You know, happy thoughts like that!
8. Disregard all fat-girl jokes. Enough said!
9. Resist the urge to grab and hug your unsuspecting female doctor (who also just happens to have five kids with a set of twins!) when she sits with you for an hour easing your concerns and anxieties. Never mind. Go ahead and wrap her in a bear hug...she'll understand!
10. And finally, express gratitude to the many, many people who help you through this process. Pride makes it hard to accept help, but if the Lord impresses somebody to reach out to you, don't foolishly turn it away. Even if it is an encouraging phone call or card or just a smile, receive it with a thankful heart!
Pin It
