20 week ultrasound: We're having...

Today marks the halfway point in my pregnancy, which calls for a celebration... with a fetal anatomy scan of course. So off we were, bright and early, to the perinatal clinic where I had literally an extremely thorough hour + ultrasound scan. We haven't seen the little babies since week 12, so we were extremely excited to be able to see how much they've developed in there. (Even though as you can clearly see, it's pretty obvious that things are developing out here).

Week 20 belly shot

So as the scan progressed, we learned that everything is going beautifully. Baby A, who is located more on my right, is measuring right at 11 ounces with a heartbeat rate of 155 bpm. Baby B, who is located more on my posterior left, is measuring at 12 ounces with a heartbeat rate of 144 bpm. Both have normal looking brains, hearts, faces, arms, legs, kidneys, stomachs, five fingers and five toes - yes they got that specific about it.

The ultrasound technician asked if we'd like to know the sex of the babies, and we were like, um, YEAH. At the first scan, the babies were a little shy (or stubborn, however you see it), but when she went back to rescan the sexes, they warmed up and decided to show it proud and loud. She identified Baby B first before figuring out Baby A, but allow me to introduce...

Baby A = Baby Boy!

Baby B = Baby Girl!

We are too overjoyed! One of each, which is truly great news to us (of course we'd have been excited with two boys or two girls as well). We were also privy to some in-utero sibling rivalry action today during the ultrasound, where Baby Boy was discovered kicking Baby Girl in the head. He is also the one that I have felt kicking me these past few days on the right. Funny enough, all day long, he has been extremely active and I could feel him wiggling and kicking away. And the best part is, DH got to finally feel him kick tonight!

Our next OB appointment is next week and in 4 weeks time, we get to see our little babies again. I am so grateful that our little family is falling right into place.

Think I felt a kick

While DH is away out of town, I decided to read to the little ones before bedtime. After I had finished reading, I placed my palm on my belly and pressed down gently. I felt an actual KICK! It's hard to describe how it feels... it was almost like the feeling of a bubble popping? Anyway, I pressed down on the same spot again, and the kick came back again. We did this for a couple more times before the twin got tired of this little game, I guess.

Still looking forward to the day when I can actively feel them move. 

19 weeks and counting...

Quick update: we're almost at the halfway mark!! OB visit this morning went well and we heard both babies' heartbeats. In fact, while the OB was scanning for the heartbeats, he said he felt the babies move. I'm still looking forward to actively feeling them move and kick... so far, I do feel little flutters in there but only when I gently press my palm against my belly. My fundal height was measured as normal as well. We also asked about my the results from my last bloodwork (that tested for spina bifida), and the OB said that the results were normal.

So all around good news and good progress, except for the fact that my weight gain is extremely slow (only 1 lb gained from our last visit). This surprises us considering how much I've been trying to pile on the pounds (and clearly, the belly is growing). The OB wasn't too worried, however, but promised that we will monitor my weight. Since I'll be reaching week 20 next week, I have to start going in for OB visits every two weeks.

One more week to our fetal anatomy scan at the perinatal clinic!