First BUMP picture...

Here's me in my new maternity leggings and lovely new look maternity top. Lets call this '15 weeks' and I'll do a weekly one on Sundays from now on :-)

...15 weeks

14+6

Not much to report this week really! My clothes are getting rather tight but instead of looking like a nice pregnant bump, I just kind of feel I look thick middled and clothes are giving me a yukky muffin top - even leggings! Fed up with this, I went out and bought some lovely maternity and smock tops and also some maternity trousers and leggings that have a high and stretchy waistline which definitely helps the current look turn from 'lumpy' to 'bumpy'. I don't think I can say I have a bump yet though...I haven't 'popped' but I don't think it will be long though.

Been swimming this weekend twice and have had a bit more energy...whoop! Have quite spotty skin so hoping that will improve soon. Think I need to eat more fruit and my reusable smoothie cup with straw has arrived so looking forward to using that. Read in my book yesterday that babies can now hear so that's exciting :-)

13+6

Just checked my junk mail and have received a very interesting and comprehensive email from South Gloucestershire Council about the nappies and it's making me reconsider disposables (if I buy the cheap Asda ones!)...

Dear Mrs Cater,

Thank you for your e-mail in which you asked why South Gloucestershire Council was no longer running a voucher scheme which contributes towards the cost of purchasing cloth nappies.

The Council did run such a scheme between 2002 and 2008 and it was discontinued in 2009.  A cost/benefit appraisal of the scheme at the time showed us that the cost of operating it was prohibitively high for the low number of residents who took it up and far outweighed the financial savings that were made. There is also some debate about the environmental benefits of cloth nappies above disposable nappies.  Disposables consume more raw materials and produce more solid waste but cloth nappy production and use consume more water and energy and produce more atmospheric emissions and waste water effluent.  A report by the Environment Agency in 2005 reported that disposable nappies have the same environmental impact as reusable ones when the effect of laundering cloth diapers is taken into account.

However, that compared using cloth nappies with land filling disposable nappies and since 2009, developments in the way that residual household waste is processed in South Gloucestershire have made the previous scheme even less beneficial environmentally.  Consequently, there are no plans to reintroduce the voucher scheme in South Gloucestershire.

You may be interested to know that the vast majority of the Council’s black bin waste, including disposable nappies, is now being sent to a mechanical, biological treatment plant at Avonmouth instead of being sent to a landfill site.  The waste, including disposable nappies is then fed into an advanced conversion technology facility in Avonmouth which has begun exporting energy to the National Grid. 

This is the UK’s ‘first commercial thermal energy plant of its kind.  The 13-megawatt plant uses pyrolysis and gasification technologies to produce electricity from this refuse-derived fuel (RDF). Pyrolysis is used to heat the RDF to a high temperature in the absence of oxygen to produce gas and carbon char, with the latter material being processed through gasification to produce gas and some ash residue. The gas produced, known as ‘syngas’, is then burnt for electricity.  

 Thank you for your enquiry and your concern for the environment.  Wishing you and your growing family well.

 Yours sincerely,

 Bruce Kent (Principal Officer – Waste Collection Authority)

Maybe we aren't destined for a WALLE world after all!

13+5

Also forgot to say that we got our NT combined scan and test results back in the post and the babies have a low risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as down's syndrome, so very good news! The results came back at much less chance than the average for my age etc which was 1:941. Fetus 1's risk is 1:13583 and Fetus 2's risk is 1:14200. Happy days.

13+5

So a fairly uneventful week really apart from usual work stresses and such like. I'm fairly sure I'm at that awkward stage where I don't have a 'bump' yet but just look like I'm putting on weight (which actually I haven't because they weighed me at my scan and I'm the same as before still). Thankfully I have quite a few loose clothes!

So I had an email back from the 'real nappies project' at resourcefutures, which gave me loads of really useful information but unfortunately they said that South Gloucestershire council are no longer running the incentive scheme for reusable nappy vouchers...boo! If I lived in Gloucestershire however, I would get £60 towards buying new nappies! What a pain :-(

Now I know I said before that I'm no eco nut, (and anyone reading this might think I'm a bit sad) but I felt the need to email South Glos about the issue. Here is what I wrote...

Hi,

As a South Gloucestershire resident and expectant mother of twins, I was investigating cost effective ways to reduce future waste and save money and found information on the internet about a 'real nappies incentive scheme' that it seems you used to run. I spoke someone at the 'Real nappies project' who told me that South Gloucestershire residents no longer qualify for this incentive £30 voucher but Gloucestershire residents still do.

I was disappointed to hear this as, with twins on the way, £60 towards the cost of nappies would be a huge help and I can't understand why more isn't being done to encourage the use of reusables, considering the massive amount of nappies it says on your website are sent to landfill in South Glos every year? Also, why are Gloucestershire residents continuing to receive this benefit but we aren't?

I appreciate that councils manage their own budgets but would be interested to know why South Gloucestershire have felt this isn't an important enough issue to continue to promote and incentivise reduction in disposable nappy waste?

I would appreciate knowing if there may be a change in this in the near future, so I may know if I could possibly benefit from any foreseeable schemes when my twins arrive in December.

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to my enquiries,
Mrs Katie Cater
I got an email back yesterday but it just says they have forwarded it to waste management team for a response. I will probably just get a boring response like 'we no longer run this scheme sorry' and that will be it. We shall see.

12+6 3rd Scan day!

We had our follow up scan today. The babies had grown so much and were even clearer on the screen this time; it was fantastic! They were moving around more, flipping and turning and wriggling! It took a while but she got the measurements this time and everything is looking great. They gave us lots of photos...I said these are already the most photographed babies ever! Spot the alien looking one with the baby facing the camera haha! Some of them are so clear you can even kind of see what their faces are going to look like I think!

After the scan, I went in to have my blood taken and the nurse was rather dippy. Firstly, I am having to get used to this problem but it clearly says on my notes that my name is KATIE CATER. She called me in as KATE CARTER. It's not hard to read a name is it so how can you get both names wrong!? I'm too polite to correct people so I just went on in. She started talking to me about twins running in her family and then as she very painfully stabbed me with the needle (think her technique needs work) she proceeded to tell me about a cousin or something who had twins but one of them died at birth. Great thing to tell someone who is pregnant with twins! I thought again, 'she's a dippy one'. Then she went on to tell me about her daughter who had vanishing twin syndrome (where twins are picked up on an early scan but one of them dies and isn't there at the next scan). Again, brilliant thing to talk about. I already knew about that and am past the worry of VTS but still, someone else might take this information and worry about it! She continued to tell me they were happy about this as the pregnancy was unplanned etc. Anyway, apart from all her witterings and painful blood taking, it was another lovely visit to Bath RUH and we even had the same sonographer so that was nice too. Our babies are such cuties! Can't wait till they're here! New due date is 23rd December 2013.

12+2

Here's a nice little picture of this week and some information...

By 12 weeks, my twins will have each grown to 5.4cm (2.1in) long and will be fully formed.

My babies' faces are beginning to look more human, with their eyes, which started out on the sides of their heads, now closer together. Their ears are almost in their final position on the side of their heads.

My babies' livers are making enzymes, and their kidneys are producing wee. Their wee ends up in the amniotic sac after it passes through their bladders. My babies' wee makes up most of the amniotic fluid during the second half of pregnancy. Amniotic fluid is essential for the development of my twins' internal organs, such as their lungs, and their limbs.

My twins will squirm if I prod my tummy, though I can't yet feel movement Their nerve cells have been multiplying rapidly and neurological connections in their brain (synapses) are forming. My twins will gradually develop more reflexes, and are now capable of closing their palms, curling their toes and clenching their eyelids.

Next scan is booked for Sunday afternoon so looking forward to that!

12+1

Ran the length of the school field in PE today (we were doing a relay race and I was making up the numbers). Got told off by some work colleagues but I didn't push myself too hard and it was only a quick jog really! Felt fine, I think it's pretty safe to do some moderate exercise like that (not that I would call a 30 second run exercise) but then I felt a bit guilty. I did check the toilet paper making sure no blood or cramping all day after but everything seems fine! Won't do it again though just to be on the safe side - stick to swimming...must get on with actually going to the pool now I'm feeling like I've got the energy to do it!

11+6

Last day of the first trimester! Feeling much more relaxed now I've had my scan and approaching the second trimester where the risk of miscarriage goes down to 1%. I've been feeling more normal now too. Not really showing yet but kind of hoping I do soon; it will be nice to actually look pregnant not just a bit podgy! Robin said I'll regret saying that when I'm massive and uncomfortable! Been suffering terribly with indigestion today...ouch!

Spent some time on the weekend reading about new types of reusable nappies after reading an article about a couple who had twins and how they did it. When I worked out that 7 nappies a day x 2= 14 then x that by 14 days between bin collections that's 196 nappies in my bin every collection! How will I fit any other rubbish in?! Not to mention the cost... at an estimate of 18p each, that's £70 a month on disposables so over 2.5 years until they are potty trained that's £2100 on nappies and 14,112 nappies sent to landfill! Just for 2 babies! WOW. I can't believe this is actually allowed to go on. I actually thought my sums were wrong but checked information on http://www.pollutionissues.co.uk/landfill-nappies.html and it is actually true! The world is going to be like it is in WALLE if people carry on like that!

I'm no eco nut but that does make me feel quite sick so I'm pretty set on going down the cloth nappy route. Infact I was really interested in how far they've come on since original terry cloths our parents used to use on us.



They even come in birth to potty sizes like this so you don't have to keep buying different size ones if you don't want to. Also you can get cheaper versions on ebay and even second hand ones that are good enough condition. Initial outlay for the nappies is going to be a few hundred pounds but for the environmental and long term cost savings it's got to be worth it!

Apparently, you can wash them before bed and they'll dry overnight in the house ready for the next day. They even say that babies suffer with less nappy rash with these than disposables and new designs make leakage less common too. There are lots of different options.
Alot of fellow bloggers have posted their thoughts on it...this is quite an interesting read and I'm sure will be handy to check out more tips!
http://www.miss-thrifty.co.uk/2012/07/04/thrifty-baby-reusable-nappies/

11+4

Well, what a busy week we've had! Back to school on Monday and got to tell everyone at work the news which was lovely. Everyone was really pleased for us. On Tuesday we celebrated our first anniversary, went out for a delicious meal at the Clifton Sausage and instead of buying each other a 'paper' present, we planted a tree...

Anniversary plum tree!
On Wednesday we went to see star trek and last night we had our scan!

So we got to Bath RUH with plenty of time to spare (nice and quick, only 15 minutes in the car). Despite going for a wee twice before we left, I was absolutelty desperate by the time we got there and had to go again! A nurse came out and said to Robin, "She's not going to the loo is she?" He just shook his head, sighed and replied, "Yes." Oh well. (You are supposed to have a full bladder for the scan but we were half an hour early so I figured I had time to drink another pint of water before we went in!) Half an hour of anxious waiting outside the examination rooms and then it was our turn. The sonographer spent ages talking to us about what she was going to do but I just wanted her to get on with it because I couldn't wait to see they were OK and also I was really desperate for the loo again!

They had a big screen on the wall again which was lovely and they dimmed the lights to see it all nice and clearly. I held Robin's hand and then the picture came up and we could see the babies straight away in their bunk bed positions again. She confirmed the top one's heart beat and then went to the bottom one and confirmed that one. RELIEF! She looked to see which one would be easiest to measure first. She said they call the lower twin TWIN 1 and the upper twin TWIN 2. She started on the upper twin as the lower one was curled up comfy on a curve and the upper one seemed to have more room to stretch out. It was so so so amazing seeing them move around, kicking and turning over!

The sonographer said the CRL (Crown Rump Length) needed to be 45mm+ to do an accurate NT (Nuchal Translucency) measurement and give more accurate dates and that measurement is between 11weeks 3 days and 14 weeks so we were right on the edge. She tried lots of times to get the measurement but every time baby moved it seemed to change and was very borderline on the 45mm measurement. She measured the translucency a few times and it was around 1.3, which she said looked well within normal range. Twin 1 was in a little dip so that one was hard to measure aswell. She suggested emptying half my bladder to see if that would drop them down a bit. How you're supposed to judge what half your bladder is, I don't know!? When I came back and she had another look, she said it was still quite full so to do that again and a little bit more! Off I went to pee some more (which was a relief as I was still desperate haha!). She had another go when we got back but still no joy and said we might have to come back next week to have another go. We said that was fine...another opportunity to see them again :-) Once she had checked with another sonographer that that would be OK, she said we could go and they would arrange another appointment for next week but that there didn't look like there would be anything to worry about, the lab just needed to get these measurements accurate to process the results properly.

So we get another chance next week to see our babies!!! :-) We are so lucky :-) Also they gave us the pictures for free this time and said to pay for the ones next week. The lady said, "You have these ones for free, you're going to have enough to pay for now!!" Feel so much better now I've seen them again and the first trimester is nearly finished! Mum said she thought twin 1, being the lazy one is a boy and the little mover and shaker on the top is a girl. We shall see indeed! Anyway, here's some more pics of our babies. It really is amazing to think they're there inside my tummy!... :-)

10+4

Cough is almost completely gone now so feeling lots better. Tiredness is epic still though! Naps are my new best friend...I slept most of the day on and off yesterday and have had a nap this morning too! I'm hoping for a surge of energy to get me through work next term!

We had a celebratory meal last night with the future grandparents :-) It was really lovely. 6 sleeps until our next scan and seriously cannot wait for a number of reasons...
1) Firstly and most importantly to check both babies are OK obviously. It is still really hard to believe there are two actual real life human beings growing inside me. It's so hard to believe still because I can't see or feel them. I find myself looking at my scan pictures every day to remind myself it really is real!
2) I can't wait to tell all our friends...we are so excited and want to share with everyone now!
3) I'll be that much closer to the second trimester and I'm hoping that I can relax then and stop worrying about every little twinge (maybe!?). People say no point worrying about things now, you'll be doing enough of that for the rest of your life once they arrive!

People always ask, "WOW, twins! How did that happen? Do twins run in your family?" There doesn't seem to be an easy answer to that. Reading up on the technicalities of it all, there are two main types of twins...

Identical twins

Identical (monozygotic) twins happen when a single egg (zygote) is fertilised (Not by two sperms as some people seem to think!) The egg then divides into two, creating identical twins who share the same genes as one another. Identical twins are always the same sex, so if your twins are identical you'll have two girls or two boys, and they'll look very alike.

Non-identical twins

Non-identical (dizygotic) twins happen when two separate eggs are fertilised and then implant into the woman’s womb (uterus). These non-identical twins are no more alike than any other two siblings. Non-identical twins are more common. The babies may be of the same sex or different sexes. One-third of all twins will be identical and two-thirds non-identical.


They think ours are diamniotic dichorionic (top right) at the moment, which is the kind with least risk of complications so that gives me some reassurance but they will confirm that next Friday hopefully.

Some research suggests that a certain enzyme in a male's sperm is responsible for the egg splitting for identical twins but others suggest it is just a fluke. Non-identical twins are said to sometimes run in families because there is a genetic predisposition to hyper-ovulation (releasing more than one egg each cycle) although most of this research says it can only be passed down the maternal line.

As there doesn't appear to be any twins on my mother's side, and the twins on my father's side are identical or distantly related, and no twins on Robin's side either, perhaps the answer to the question is,  "No twins don't run in my family." I (and some other speculators) personally think it has more to do with a 'hormone balancing herb' I was taking called Vitex Chasteberry, bought from Holland & Barratt. I was concerned about ovulating late in my 32-34 day cycle (about day 23 according to the fertility monitor) and had read this helped sort this kind of problem out naturally.  You know me, no patience to just go with the flow and like to be in control (that's going to have to change haha!) The label said to take 2 tablets in the morning and 2 at night, which is quite alot but I thought give it a go, see what happens!

Here's some more information about it... http://natural-fertility-info.com/vitex The only thing I know for sure about the effects of these pills, having took it for only 18 days, is that it brought my ovulation forward by 6 days, which may have been the key to me getting pregnant, but perhaps I always pop out 2 eggs (have to bear that in mind if we want a third one day!) or maybe it made that happen too. I guess we will never know for sure.

However it happened doesn't really matter...we don't care, we're just happy it did! :-)