You wait ages for a bus and then two come along at once
The first twelve weeks of pregnancy are a bit nervous for most people as the risk of miscarriage is much higher in the early weeks.
My partner and I probably felt it particularly acutely as we have both experienced miscarriage (with previous partners). So we decided to tell as few people as possible in the early stages.
I did have one scare at eleven weeks, which, although it turned out fine, brought back a lot of really very unpleasant memories.
So I was most relieved to reach the crucial twelve weeks and tell a few of my closest friends.
However, the antenatal services are apparently particularly stretched at the moment as it seems that everyone has chosen this year to fall pregnant and an entire squadron of storks is, as I type, lining up somewhere round about the Netherlands preparing a bombing raid of newborns for the latter half of this year. As it is so busy, I didn’t get my first scan until quite late so I couldn’t fully relax until I’d been for that.
The morning of the scan arrived and my partner, who is really quite superstitious, opened the door to find a magpie sitting there waiting for him. Not the main door on the street but the flat door at the top of the stairwell, so this was obviously an determined magpie.
When we went for the scan and after the usual agonising wait of while you try to get the balance just right between having the full bladder necessary for a clear image and wetting yourself in the waiting room, we were taken into the ultrasound room. The ultrasound operator was taking really some time scanning back and forth before turning to us and saying “I don’t know if this is good news or not, but it’s twins”.
To be honest, I’d had my suspicions. The prolonged sickness for one thing and that this kind of thing is just typical of me for another.
A multiple pregnancy does bring its own complications: I’ll be more tired and more likely to be anaemic and I’m likely to have trouble getting through the turnstiles at the football but I will be getting a lot more antenatal care than I would have otherwise to make sure everything goes ok. No doubt, it will be a lot of work when they are born but there are definite advantages: it is, as one of my friends keeps telling me, “a twofer”. Gets it all over with in one go and they will always have a friend their own age to play with.
My mother described it as “very efficient of you, dear”.
As several of my friends have quipped, “You wait ages for a bus and then two come along at once”
Fortnight commencing 25/06/07
Medication: None
Exercise: 6 hours
Alcohol: 1
Anxiety: Moderate- it has been quite stressful trying to get everything done at work and being busy at home trying to DIY.
Anxiety Level (0-10): 1
Number of Panic Attacks:0
Severity of Panic Attack (0-5):NA
Depression: Some blue moments- mostly due to being knackered and or feeling sick and anxiety about how things are going to pan out.
Depression Level (0-5): 1.5
Mania: A bit of swings and roundabouts as I’m finding it quite hard to relax with so much to do so I’m varying between frantically busy and ‘overclocked’ to totally exhausted.
Mania Level (0-5): 1
Summary
Generally doing OK although I’m starting to feel the pressure a bit. I feel I could maybe do with a bit more support. Plus I do still have hormones to contend with and they can make me bawl a bit.
