Welcome to The Towle Family's journey awaiting the arrival of our twins! The following blog-type entries chronicle our appointments with our doctor and other important milestones as we make our way to that very special day!

Click on the images to open a new window with the full-size pictures.

You can also click here to see my belly shots!

You can also read a little more about our pregnancy at the Towle Family Blog

Written by Rachael Towle

October 31, 2007 - We are Pregnant!

For the previous month of October, Tim and I had been officially "trying" for a year. We found out I had some thyroid problems and that is probably why we weren't having any luck. We also had a little bit of help from Femara, a pill that was to help ensure ovulation. I was very nervous on my way to the doctor's office because I had been using "very sensitive" early pregnancy tests from an online vendor. All of which were coming up negative. Since I had used some ovulation test strips from the same vendor, and those seemed to have worked, I was convinced that my "very sensitive" test strips were right and I was not pregnant.

I was very, very nervous and prepared for sad news that day. So you can imagine my surprise when the doc came in and showed me a positive pregnancy test! I was in tears! I could NOT believe what I was seeing! Finally! We were pregnant again!

November 21, 2007 - 6w5d - The First Ultrasound

We knew that because we took Femara, there was a whopping 5% chance of having multiples. I really wasn't worried about it, but having heard of my best friend's ups and downs with her 11 month old twins, I told Tim that if we were pregnant with twins, he needed to go ahead and accept the fact that I would lose my mind. If we only knew...

When we arrived at the doctor's office for my ultrasound, I was looking through one of the standard pregnancy magazines typically found at an OB-GYN office. In one picture, it showed a picture of two sisters, both were at or around full-term. One was pregnant with one - the other with twins. I saw how huge the belly of the mom with twins was and my eyes bulged out of my head. Inside I was telling myself it was nothing for me to worry about. I think my subconscious was preparing me all along. Perhaps deep-down inside I knew what was about to happen.

I got up on the table, bared my belly for the tech and the second that ultrasound probe hit my belly I knew what I was looking at. Two sacs. I was only 6w5d along in my pregnancy so I couldn't quite see the babies, but I surely saw the sacs. I had been so paranoid about an ectopic pregnancy because I had been having pains (we now know it was round ligament pains) - and when I saw those two sacs, all my fears were replaced with new fear! The tech said, "How many did you want?" My husband replied, "How many are there?" Well let's just say that the next 5 minutes (at least) were filled with me repeatedly saying "Oh my God" in a sort of panic while I went from crying to laughing to crying over and over again. I just couldn't believe it! What were the odds? 5%? PLUS my best friend had twins - surely that meant the odds were even lower for us... right?! How in the world was this happening?

It took quite a while for me to realize what was going on. Everyone would say "how exciting" or "I'm so happy" and all I could think of was "I'm glad YOU are happy," because I was truly scared out of my mind. All the while my calm, very collected husband is giddy, excited, thrilled, and very sure of our ability to handle twins. Me? Terrified!

December 19, 2007 - 10w5d

My doctor is GREAT. I LOVE her! She does what she calls "unofficial ultrasounds" with her old machine. She does this so she can SEE each baby's heart beat rather than hear one and then the other, without knowing if it was each baby or the same baby's heartbeat twice. So, I got to see the twins again today. One was moving all around while the other one seemed to be asleep a bit. We finally got the second twin to move around and it actually looked like it was punching the side of its sac! Totally cool!

I believe Baby A is on the right (with the head showing) and then Baby B on the left (which we later find out is transverse in placement). From what I am told, Baby A is the baby that is lower in the uterus.

January 16, 2008 - 14w5d

We had another unofficial ultrasound today and the babies actually looked a lot more like little humans. I didn't see them on the screen because the doctor was just trying to establish the heart rates. Baby A and Baby B were 160 and 162 bpm, respectively. The doc did mention how much they were squirming around.

Baby A is head down. We hope to keep it like that, too! Baby B is transverse, with its head on my left, feet on my right. There is still plenty of time for the baby to move head down (the most ideal position for a vaginal birth)... and we are keeping our fingers crossed for that position!

In the mean time, I feel the babies move here and there. I actually started feeling movement right around Christmas time, but usually only when I was on my back. Now I feel them when I am sitting. Not often, and just a few flutters here and there. If this were my first pregnany, I would probably mistake it for gas or something similar.

My belly is definitely pregnant, for sure. I feel a lot more pregnant than I actually am. A twin pregnancy has uterine growth that is 6 to 8 weeks larger in size compared to a singleton pregnancy. I imagine by this time next month, I will be looking very, very pregnant. I went searching for pictures of twin bellies and what I found horrified me. I stopped looking. However, my best friend Raney's belly didn't look nearly as huge as a twin pregnancy could have gotten. So, I have faith that my height and build will help me spread more of that baby carrying belly as opposed to if I were shorter!

Our next scheduled appt. is 4 weeks away where we will have an anatomy scan ultrasound and hopefully we will see their gender! We are crossing our fingers for a boy and a girl!

February 12, 2008 - 18w4d

We had the anatomy scan today and even though the ultrasound tech was the one who predicted TJ as a girl the first go-round, she is standing by her prediction - both babies are anticipated to be GIRLS! Apparently, her prediction rate is still really high and we are apparently the only ones (still) that she predicted wrong. Luckily, we have another anatomy scan in 6 weeks and will have confirmation at that time. However, having seen what I saw in the video, I surely believe it! I am still trying to capture a photo from the DVD they recorded during the scan to share...

Baby A was no longer head down - she is now breech. Baby B is still transverse, but her feet are where her head was. Yes, both little buggars flipped! At this rate, I fully anticipate having to have a c-section. I am totally fine with this! I would have loved to have had a vaginal delivery if we were only having one child. I know I could have done it. However, I truly believe that a c-section will be our best bet for the delivery of the twins. I know that even if both babies are head down, the chances of having to have an emergency c-section for Baby B is pretty high because of the distress it goes under from the birthing of Baby A. Luckily, my OB/GYN will be more than happy to schedule a c-section for the delivery. I anticipate an scheduled date of no later than June 27.

Both babies look good. Each was estimated at weighing 9 ounces, which is right on target. I still haven't gained any weight and am anxious about this - but as I've been told a hundred times, I still have plenty of time to make up for it. These little ones are sucking everything out of me. Believe me, I eat what I can - and if I could eat like this when I wasn't pregnant, I would lose weight! I can barely eat a full cheeseburger without feeling too full. Those little peanuts have squished my stomach! I am also super thirsty all the time - which from what I've heard from other moms who've been pregnant with twins, this is very, very common. I've always been a heavy drinker (water, tea, etc). But now, I want to drink, drink, drink but I still feel so dry! It really bites!

I told Tim today that I've already started my pregnant waddle. Some days I don't feel like I look as pregnant as I am - other days, I feel much more pregnant! I get out of breath and tired very easily and carrying twins is much more exhausting than carrying a single baby. It's so different! From the extra blood volume to the extent of my tiredness..... whew!

People are asking what names we have chosen. I think we are going to go with Katherine Elizabeth and Lauren Elaina. Yes, we do "E" middle names. That just kind of happened. Tim and Becky both have E middle names, as do I. TJ is of course Tim Jr., so just to make it uniform, we've chosen two more "E" middle names. Before TJ was TJ, we were going to name him Lauren Elizabeth. We are recycling the first name (Elizabeth was always going to be on the table) but having chosen to go with a different middle name so we aren't duplicating TJ's first known name :)

I was really frightened with the idea of raising two girls. It was my worst-case-scenario. I thought two boys wouldn't be so bad, or a boy and a girl would be great. But the idea of two girls was horrifying. But a few nights before we found out that this was going to be our case, I looked at TJ.... and I kept hearing his re-enactments of Star Wars battles, including blaster sounds, speeding star ships, you name it. I told Tim "You know, after hearing this for months on end, I think the idea of having two girls is becoming more and more appealing...." I think it was just another motherly instinct telling me to be prepared for what I thought couldn't happen. Just like when I told Tim that if we had twins, I would go mad. Ahhh, it is laughable now!

I am still stunned at the fact that both Raney and I, friends since the fourth grade, will have both had a set of twins girls when this is all said and done. How wild is that!? What are the chances!? It is truly mind boggling, but every day I am thankful for having her in my life - and knowing someone so intimately that has been through what I am about to go through. Even though I've been raising a child for almost five years now, the idea of raising two at the same time is frightening no matter what. Seeing Raney go through it really helps soothe my mind!

Our next appointment is in 4 weeks. We will have a quick, unofficial ultrasound to confirm heart rate of each baby, and then a regular check up. Six weeks from now will be the next anatomy scan and the dreaded glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. I came really close to the max allowable reading with TJ and am hoping that I won't have GD this time around, either.

Until then, I will try to get some good DVD video captures to share on the website. :)

March 12, 2008 - 22w 4d

I took TJ to the appointment today since I knew we would have another ultrasound on the old machine. He was so excited to see the babies! Both babies are looking really good. Baby A has flipped again and is head down with a heartrate of 164 bpm. Baby B is transverse - same position as last month - and was at 146 bpm. Both of them have their feet in the same area - which makes since because that is where I feel all my movement. Baby B is sort of laying on top of Baby A - hard to picture!

Tim was able to feel the babies move the night of the 9th... a really, really good kick too! Mom felt movement yesterday and I believe TJ got to feel it too. At least, he said he did.

Even though the prospect of having two little sisters wasn't what TJ had in mind, he has really gotten used to the idea. He really enjoys rubbing my belly and talking to the babies. He is going to make the best big brother!

We have our full anatomy scan in a couple of weeks and hopefully they are both still girls. We'll see!

March 27, 2008 - 24w 5d

Well, it was an interesting appointment... First, I failed my glucose test. No fun. I will go early next week and do the three-hour glucose test with hopes I will pass. Passing is 140 or below, and I came up with a 171. Could have been worse, I suppose!

As for the girls, they are both very active. Just the other day Tim took a belly shot of me and two days later, my belly changed shape and I was pooching out quite a bit more. I thought perhaps they were both laying transverse... nope, they are both head-down (click on the ultrasound picture to see their heads)! This would be a very good situation to be in if we were going to have a vaginal delivery. However, after a lot of reading and consideration, we've decided to have a scheduled c-section. Twin B is usually under so much more stress during delivery and I just feel better going this route. The magic day is June 20 - of course, this will only happen if I don't go into labor before then!

Both babies are growing very well! Baby A was actually a day ahead on growth and Baby B was a little more than a week ahead. I was very happy to hear that especially since I lost a pound since my last visit. If I could just eat Burger King twice a week when I am NOT pregnant with twins, I would be skinny as a stick. I am sure this bliss will end soon, but I am going to enjoy it while it lasts! Both babies also had heart rates in the 160's, like last time.

We have another appointment in a month with another ultrasound. We didn't get any additional gender confirmation this time around. Hopefully we will next month! However, I keep telling myself (like the tech told me) she wouldn't have given the prediction unless she was sure. Then again, it HAS been 5 years since she predicted wrong for us with TJ... and the ultrasound machine is MUCH more clear than the old one. Keeping my fingers crossed! However, my instincts tell me that they really are both girls and there is no need to worry. With TJ I knew all along he was a boy and even told my mom the night before we found out that I knew I was going to see a penis on the ultrasound. My instincts have been going well for me so far and I am going to trust them with this, too!

April 24, 2008 - 28w 6d

Since my last appointment I've learned that I DO have Gestational Diabetes and am taking insulin to help regulate my blood sugar readings. It is, of course, no fun. The worst part of the diet isn't the diet itself - I can handle diets - it is the fact that I have to eat a LOT more protein than I am used to. I am really boxed into this diet and miss simple things like a bowl of cereal. Luckily, it is watermelon season and I can eat a LOT of watermelon and still stay within my diet. It helps cure my sweet tooth cravings and is very filling at the same time.

Today's appointment had an ultrasound and things look really good. Baby A is still head down as she's been for months now. Baby B has moved AGAIN (not surprised) and is transverse - again! Her head is pretty high up and is pretty close to Baby A's feet. This must be why I can no longer bend forward, and can barely bend sideways!

Baby A & B are both measuring a little ahead. I believe A was 29w4d and B was 30w2d. As Dr. C said, "You grow some big babies!" But they are still close to the same margin of growth from a month ago so it doesn't look like my GD has affected them too much. I have a hard time believing I will make it to 37 weeks (June 20). At this rate, they will probably both be at the 7 pound mark by that time and I just can't imagine 14 pounds of baby sitting on my bag of water and NOT breaking! I am staying very optimistic, but I really need to prepare myself for an earlier date and possible NICU time for the babies. BUT at least I have one thing playing well for me. When TJ was born, he was 8lbs. 15oz. I was already in active labor when I went in to be induced and they had to break my water. So, 9 pounds of babies sitting there didn't break my water that time. Perhaps this time I can hold out, too!

We are now down to seeing Dr. C every two weeks. I am happy about that! So until then, hopefully nothing too eventful happens - other than my May 10 Baby Shower!!

Oh and before I forget... the ultrasound tech did confirm that Baby B IS a girl! We knew Baby A was definitely a girl, as it was almost obscenely obvious in the first ultrasound. However, I still wasn't quite convinced on Baby B. I am 100% convinced now!

May 08, 2008 - 30w 6d

Hmmm, not too much to report this time! I got to see the girls on the ultrasound again - it was only to check heartrate. Baby A was 167 and B was 171. Good numbers. Although, I was convinced Baby A had moved into transverse position because I could feel her turning one night ... not comfortable at all. Borderline painful. She isn't transverse - she totally flipped and is now breech. So she did a total flip-flop! No wonder I was SO uncomfortable!

I've gained a total of about 24 pounds so far, which is a great number to be at. I am very pleased with it. Of course, the fact that I am on such a low-carb diabetic diet, it makes sense. The past two weeks were pure baby-weight gain... and maybe a little bit of fluid. But I am sure my body will be thankful after the girls arrive... less to lose right off the top to get back to my pre-preg weight (which was still pretty HIGH).

We will start seeing Dr. C twice a week later this month for BPPs on each baby. If I remember correctly, that stands for bio-physical profile, which includes counting of movements, breathing, heart rate, etc. These will be done via ultrasounds. It could take 5 minutes or an hour. It just depends on how active the babies are the time. This is a lot better of a choice than having an NST where I have to be hooked up for who knows how long to a monitor! Plus, I get to see the girlies twice a week! How neat is that!?

Also, I've posted some pictures below. Belly shots! Too bad I can't ever seem to take a picture with me looking unragged or showered! But oh well... I guess that's the life of a mom!

May 22, 2008 - 32w 6d

We had our second BPP this week and the girls look good. Baby A is still head up, with her feet really far down into my pelvis, facing my spine. Believe me, I can feel it, too! Baby B is transverse, with her head behind my belly button, sorta curving upwards with her feet almost in her face. They were really active before the ultrasounds but had settled down by the time we were checking their breathing, movements, etc. They are doing fine, though!

I asked Dr. C if she would do any internal exams on me anytime soon, and she told me no! Yay! Since I have a scheduled C-Section, I will NOT have any more internal exams. She said "why should I torture you?" and I agreed!

The girls' room is coming together nicely. I can't wait until it is done and we can post some pictures!

I did manage to finally upload some pictures. You can view our Baby Shower pictures at Photobucket. We got a lot of stuff, but if anyone out there is feeling generous, we still have plenty at Babies R Us that we'd like to add to our arsenal of baby stuff! A Babies R Us gift card would be great!!! Yes, I have no shame when it comes to trying to make sure I get a double stroller, a second high-chair, etc. We've had to skip the idea behind getting a rocker for our nursery since we had to get the mattress and other necessary items, so any help with those big items at Babies R Us would be highly appreciated!

We have a growth ultrasound on Tuesday and another BPP on Thursday. Then from here on out, the rest of the BPPs will occur on Mondays and Thursdays! The growth ultrasound should give us a good idea of how big the babies are. I anticipate both are upwards of 4.5 - 5 lbs!

May 27, 2008 - 33w 4d

First I thought I was going to have a growth ultrasound then the tech said she didn't have time because they didn't schedule a full hour. So we get in there and Baby A is no longer breech, is head down... really far down. So the tech decided to go ahead and do measurements because she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to if we waited another few days. I knew Baby A had turned. It was happening around 6:30 a.m. this morning when I was trying to go back to sleep. It literally felt like there was a cat fight in utero! I felt Baby A moving all around, more than just a normal movement - more like trying to turn and at one point it was as if she kicked the other baby because Baby B jumped as if frightened. These are really strange things to feel!

So, on to the actual measurements. Baby A is head down, measuring about 4lbs. and 13oz, putting her right at the 33w 4d mark (right on target!), heart rate right around 150+. Baby B is still transverse, with head tucked and camping out really high up. She is another Towle Whopper. She is measuring about 37+ weeks, (yes, a full month ahead) and is over the 6lb mark. Basically, Baby B is about where TJ was at this far along in my pregnancy - measuring a full month ahead. So, right now I am 11lbs. of baby. That's basically carrying a TJ plus another baby. Hence my back pain, tailbone pain... you name it.

I've been having quite a few contractions since Friday, along with very unfriendly digestive problems. Dr.C. decided to go ahead and check my cervix, which I was actually happy about even though it really sucks! I would have bet that I was dilated at least a little. Nope. Still high, long and closed. No chance of these babies coming out any time soon - which is a good thing! I really want them to bake in the oven as long as possible to avoid time in the NICU - which is more than just time in the NICU... it means they are breathing on their own, able to control their own body temperature... all the things you want your baby to have at birth.

We've got another BPP scheduled later on this week. At this point, we've only got 3 weeks and 3 days until June 20! WOW!