Hellobee

Beyond the fact that I’m carrying two babies this time around versus one, this pregnancy has been wildly different in many other ways. Since I had a super relaxed experience the first time around, I thought it would be interesting to compare the differences.

OBGYN Office vs. Midwife Office

Pregnancy 1: I saw a team of midwives who were lovely, laid back, and spent time during my appointments discussing how I was feeling overall – mentally, emotionally, and physically. It was a wonderful experience!

Pregnancy 2: I was seeing the same team of midwives until we found out about the twins at 16 weeks. Then I had to switch out of their practice and I chose a OBGYN practice at a larger hospital. While I like most of the doctors just fine, I don’t necessarily get any warm and fuzzy feelings from my appointments and some doctors are less attentive than others. It’s completely fine but I do miss my midwives!

Appointment Schedule

Pregnancy 1: I had a very standard schedule with Miss H – every four weeks for most of the pregnancy, then every two weeks, and finally every week for the last month of pregnancy.

Pregnancy 2: At 22 weeks I started going every 2 weeks, then at 32 weeks I started going every week. I feel like I’m always at the doctor’s office!

Ultrasounds

Pregnancy 1: I had the one standard ultrasound with Miss H. Super simple!

Pregnancy 2: I’ve had many. One done at 8 weeks by my midwife just to make sure everything was as it should be (she didn’t see twins though!). Then one at 16 weeks when they suspected twins. Then one at 20 weeks for the in-depth look at both babies. Then three more to check out growth, amniotic fluid levels, etc. So – 6 ultrasounds in total, plus the occasional peek in the doctor’s office if the doctor uses the ultrasound machine to double check on their positions. That’s a lot of baby sightings this time around!

Pregnancy 1: None! My midwife offered to do one at my 40 week appointment if I wanted, but I declined as I’d heard they were painful. Turns out that’s the day I went into labor!

Pregnancy 2: Probably at least 4 or 5 checks so far. They started doing them around 24 weeks and about every 4 weeks after that until more frequent checks at the end of the pregnancy. And, I’ve confirmed it: they’re painful (but important)!

Non-Stress Tests

Pregnancy 1: None! I had one scheduled if I went past my due date, but I delivered right around my due date so it wasn’t necessary.

Pregnancy 2: I’ve had them at every appointment since 32 weeks. It’s fun watching the different nurses try and find each baby’s heartbeat (some nurses are better than others) and always interesting on days that the babies are super active! But it’s definitely reassuring when the doctor says that they’re doing great.

Monitored Delivery

Pregnancy 1: I labored at home the entire time with Miss H, calling our doula to come over when labor started becoming more intense. Fortunately we were only 10 minutes away from the hospital because by the time I arrived I was 10 cm and ready to push! I was able to give birth according to my plan – no epidural, no IVs, low intervention.

Pregnancy 2: This time around, I will be going to the hospital much earlier in my labor. Since both babies are head down I have the option to try and deliver vaginally. I’ll be given an epidural and will labor in an operating room in case I need to have an emergency c-section. Both babies will be monitored closely throughout labor. Although I haven’t experienced it yet, I am anticipating this experience to be much different than my first time around in every way possible (including, of course, ending up with 2 babies!).

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While this pregnancy has been very different, it’s also been very interesting. The extra ultrasounds are fun because we get plenty of check-ins with the babies! Seeing what it’s like to be with a more traditional caregiver (OBGYN) vs. a midwife practice has been intriguing. And, at the end of the day, because this is my second pregnancy I feel like I’m much more go with the flow about things. Even though I’ve never carried and birthed twins before, having already given birth once has helped me to be more open to the process and just go with whatever comes our way. I already had the birth I thought I wanted – a more relaxed environment with the aid of a doula and midwife, little intervention and no pain relief – and this time around I’m very happy with whatever will get these two babies out of me safely!