Movement

“Quickening” is the term used to mean the first time a pregnant mother feels her baby move. This last week has brought that special experience to us—or me I guess would be the better term. Although it is early there is definitely movement in there. They say “Quickening” usually happens between 17-20 weeks for most but everyone differs with some sooner and some later. There are two things in my favor that increase my chances of feeling movement so early, 1: I am carrying twins, and 2: I am an experienced mother (this is not a self proclaimed title it is one given to me by “the books” meaning I have been pregnant before so apparently I know stuff already). It’s very interesting, I remember with one that at first I could feel movement only in one spot. With these two I can feel it all over. So instead of the “brush of a fish fin” that they describe in “the books” it’s more like the brush of all the legs of an octopus at once. No one else can feel them yet but I definitely can. Andrew can’t wait to feel them. The other day he came to me all sad and asked, “When will your tummy get big so I can feel the babies kick?!” Soon enough I’m sure! :)
“The books” also say that the babies are developed enough at this point to get the hiccups. I can feel the baby on the top the most, probably because of its position, and I’m sure that it had hiccups this morning. At first I couldn’t figure out the strange muscle spasm I was having and then finally, since I am an “experienced mother,” I realized what it was.

Everyone has many questions for me so I will try to answer some of the most common ones now.

Have you had Morning Sickness? Please don’t hate me, (especially Kristen, Becky, Suzie, and Charissa) but I have had none! I have never really had any morning sickness with any of my pregnancies and have been lucky enough to not have even one queasy moment with this one. Which is good since I really don’t think I could’ve handled our crazy move otherwise. The Lord truly blesses us!!

How are you feeling? I am feeling fine. I just get tired easy and am hungry all the time. But those are all normal things so I just try to eat and rest a lot. I have to eat a lot since I’m supposed to be consuming 3,500 calories a day. That’s a ton! Oh, and I am freezing all the time. I guess the babies are sapping all my energy and heat. I live in my jacket and I’m sure all the neighbors are wondering why I am dressed so warm all the time.

How big are you? Well, I am much bigger than I normally am at this point. I look at least a month, maybe two, farther along them I am. So I am looking pregnant. If you know me then no doubt I look pregnant. If you don’t know me then you wonder if I am pregnant or just pudgy. No I haven’t had to resort to the maternity clothes yet but probably soon. My wardrobe is becoming very limited. Amazingly my pants still fit even all the way done up. I think that’s because they are low-rise jeans and they were too big to begin with anyway. :)

Do twins run in my family? My sister has a set—one boy and one girl. I guess fraternal twins are the only ones that can be hereditary and they come from the mother’s side. So my other two sisters better watch out, they may be next!

Are you overwhelmed? No, not yet anyways, I’m sure it will come (like in the middle of the night when they are screaming and I haven’t slept for days). It was quite a surprise as we had no idea there were two and it took a few days for it to seem real. But overall I’m good. I can think of a ton of things to get stressed about (I am realistic) but I am trying not to focus on them since I can’t really do anything about them but worry anyway. Mostly I am just humbled by the great opportunity and blessing that my Heavenly Father has given me to not only have one child but two. I guess I didn’t mess up too bad with the first three so He thinks I can handle two at once.

Well, I have my next appointment in about two weeks and then they will schedule my big ultrasound where we will hopefully find out the gender of these munchkins. Be sure to get your vote in on the poll in the sidebar as to your guess at what the genders will be. Everyone tells me to think pink, but I guess with all my other experiences I have a hard time thinking anything but blue. :)