Weeks 13 and 14

I've started taking a weekly photo to show my growing belly, which now seems to be getting bigger by the day.

I'll post the pics here so you can play along...

Week 13

Week 14

Why Australians Go Overseas for Donor Eggs

This story was written by Jordan Baker and was in the Sunday Telegraph on September 30th 2012.

It certainly rings true with me as this is the reason I ended up getting my donor eggs from a clinic in Athens. There is neither an egg nor sperm donor program in Australia like there are in a lot of other countries throughout the world.

Please read the article so you get a better understanding of just how difficult it is for Australian women and couples needing an egg donor.

All Stitched Up

This week I went into hospital for a day surgery procedure to have a cervical stitch put in...to stop the twins deciding they want to come out early. This is also done for pregnant women who have gone into premature labor in the past. It's usually taken out at week 37... that way labor can happen naturally and at a healthy time for the baby. For me, it will stay in until after my caesarian because the OB does NOT want me to go into labor!

It was a lot easier than I'd imagined.

I had to be at the hospital at 6:30am for an 8:00am procedure. Perfect...first patient for my Doctor that day, which meant he'd be on time. Which he was. WIN

Calling it a "stitch" is a bit of an huge understatement! It's actually more like a piece of tape that's about 15cm in length and has a metal hook at either end. I was a bit lot surprised when my OB showed it me what it looked like, when I was in his office the week before.

I was more surprised when I woke up from surgery an hour later and felt nothing...as in no pain, not nothing like I was numb! After forcing down a white bread sandwich and a cup of tea, I was allowed to go home. A girl friend picked me up and I was back in my apartment by 11:00am.

The rest of the day was spent lying on the couch and generally taking it easy, but apart from some bleeding, which I was told may happen for at least a week, I'm fine. No pain. After next week when I go for my check up, I can start back at yoga. Something I've been really missing.

I'm now in my 2nd Trimester and still in shock when I tell people I'm pregnant!!! I feel SO blessed that I am finally living something I've dreamed about for.so.long.

12 Week Scan

Every time I have a scan I get a shock when I first look at the screen and there are TWO babies!

I made it to 12 weeks and had my Nuchal Translucency (NT) scan on Friday. This is done instead of and before an amniocentesis as it's non invasive. The babies are measured and checked that everything is growing as it should and everything's good in ma belleh!

Until I know the sex of the babies, I'm calling them B1 and B2. Now B1 was very cooperative during the scan. He/she lay very still so it was easy to take all the measurements and pics. B2 was another story...he/she was curled up and would NOT move! I had to wiggle around. That's meant to help. It did, a bit, but B2 kept moving.
It took twice as long to measure B2 than B1, but both are gorgeous and perfect.

B1

B2

I don't need an amnio...it all depends on the age of the eggs and my donor is 20 years old. I'm on the lower side of the lowest scale.
Thank goodness
Having two needles stuck in me was not anything I was looking forward to. Also the chance of a miscarriage with an amnio is quite high and higher with twins.

Next...cervical stitch. I'll find out when I'm having that when I see my OB later today.

N x