The weekend flies. We are stressing. How will we manage two babies and my oldest son in this economy? Monday arrives. I go to the hospital for my scan. The ultrasound department is very organized and friendly. I pack food and wait in the queue. When it’s my turn, I go and lay down. My heart is running a mile.
The nurse confirms yes there are two babies in my tummy. At some point one twins legs are kicking the other twins head. We go through each baby thoroughly, each babies limbs, the size of the head, the hands, heart rate, feed to the placenta.
This is Twin A, this is Twin B. Both babies are boys. Both babies are growing well but are a bit on the smaller side. If you have met me, you will know I am a very tiny person and my husband isn’t so huge either.
My twins are called Mono or DiDi twins. Meaning they shared the same placenta but developed in different sacks. It was therefore one egg that split into two as early pregnancy. My first doctor whom I paid R1000 to, should have picked up at 14 weeks that there were twins in my belly. He did not zoom in enough.
We took a while in the ultrasound room as each baby had to be checked and information for each baby written down. I should no longer go to the clinic for my visits (Prenatal visits) as the clinic do not check on twin pregnancies.
I am now high risk because of the twin pregnancy. Each checkup had to have an ultrasound first then a normal checkup with the specialist Doctor. Because each baby needs to be examined closely. Not every nurse at the hospital can check up on me.
The next few months were a whirlwind. Trying to get everything in order, we must now buy two of everything. I’m so lost, but I joined FB Groups for twin pregnancy. I research a lot and ask the Doctor questions at every visit. From what I read, twin pregnancies usually last up to 34 weeks.
My firstborn was csection as I was in labor for 24 hours, my water broke but I was not dilating, stuck on 1cm. Therefore, the twins’ pregnancy had to be csection as well. The Doctor said if I went into delivery before 34 weeks, they would try normal delivery.
The family steps in and buys all the things for the babies. I’m receiving double blessings everywhere I go. A smile brightens people’s faces when they hear I’m carrying twins. I was blessed with gifts and freebies, even free Uber rides because they wanted to tap into that double blessing.
My husband is over the moon, he tells everyone he meets that his wife is pregnant with twins.
At 28 weeks, I was given steroid shots, this was to escalate the babies’ growth and to help them breathe on their own when born. This was also to help the babies stay longer or as long as possible in my womb. I was admitted for the steroid shots and was given two injections, one at 6pm and the other at 6am. My last weeks of pregnancy were tough, I had hospital visits 1 or twice every week. I was tired and drained out.
Up next: Twin pregnancy Symptoms
Shalom and Thank you Jesus.
Following His Ways,
Natasha Chetty.
