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!