A Millennial's Pregnancy Journey : Two our Twincredible Surprise...

May 6th was my first scan, taken at 8 weeks from LMP (Last Menstrual Period). It was also my first doctor's visit after getting pregnant.

The excitement levels of seeing the baby and knowing more about my pregnancy was contested only by my excitement to get out of the house after more than a month!

Since I had a lot of time to prepare, I had googled up some basics about the scan, and we had also compiled a huge list of questions to ask the doctor. 

It was collectively decided that my Mom should also join me and Kartik to the hospital. Being a mom, she packed my monstrously hungry tummy some podi dosai and moru (Spoiler Alert: these podi dosais will feature greatly in my pregnancy cuz they were AHMAZING)

What we didn't know was that due to Corona, Apollo First Med had very strict rules and only one attendant was even allowed inside the building. So unfortunately, she ended up having to wait in the car. 

Once inside after the fever check and the sanitizing, I went to get the scan done.

Unlike what they show in movies, the first scan is usually transvaginal and ever since I found that out, I was super nervous about it. (It turned out to be less "ugh" than I expected!)

I thought I saw the scan doctor raise her eyebrows, but I didn't know for sure. She didn't show me the monitor either and I was too shy to ask. So I just came out and waited for the results.

We opened the envelope, read through the results and looked at each other with similar dumbfounded expressions. Our brains could understand the English, but we had a tough time comprehending it's implications. 

So we convinced ourselves that we actually just didn't understand the report. 

It was hard to pretend so. Two separately named gestational sacs, two fetal cardiac activity readings and the word and the word "twin" made it all quite obvious.

I immediately remembered something that a close relative told me about her report where there had been a chance of twins, but then it turned out to be only one baby. Kartik immediately did a quick Google search about the "Vanishing twin" syndrome. 

I think neither of us dared to consider that this could be real!

When we finally met our doctor, her first word was "Twins?!"

No, we didn't undergo any treatment. No we didn't have history and no, we have no idea how this could have happened!!

We immediately expounded our theories. She, being the amazing human being that she is, listened without reminding us that she was the doctor and she obviously knew better.

She told us our babies (!!!) were dichorionic - diamniotic twins, and the chance of vanishing was close to zero (the youtube video below explains it wonderfully!). She even showed us what appeared to be two tiny peas in two different bags in our ultrasound. Looking at our faces, she suggested we could reconfirm the twins thing in our 12th week scan.

TWO?!!

We then bombarded her with questions, from the stupid to the stupider!

I was advised to continue all the physical activities of my everyday life, but to not over-exert or lift extremely heavy things. I could eat anything, but I was told to watch my weight. I was heavier than what is advised for me and that meant that as the pregnancy progressed, I would find it difficult to walk if I put on too much weight. 

She also, very matter-of-factly, told me that the puking would continue! 

SCIENCE: The reason behind nausea in pregnancy is the HCG produced by our body, and in a twin pregnancy, HCG levels are higher! 

After a few more questions, me whining, and getting the dates for our next scan, we went out to meet my waiting mother.

When Kartik started to tell her about the twin thing, she just shut him down! Mom was so used to Kartik joking about things and fooling her that she thought this was just more of that! It was only after looking at my face that she realized he was telling the truth!

Then it was a whirlwind of exclamations, recounting the story to the family, them celebrating, but then telling each other to not celebrate too soon and an overall hullabaloo. 

The only person who was a little silent was my mom. She was excited, but she was worried for her child. Worried about how it would take a toll on my body, worried about the difficulty of managing two kids. 

I guess that is what motherhood is all about!