There are countless resources that one can read up regarding pregnancy and the changes that go along with it. Pregnant women can read about how they might feel, physically and emotionally, during those 9 months. But these are only in text. The best literature that can accurately portray a pregnant woman’s experiences is through a first-hand account. And in my case, it is even better since I am experiencing it twice – I am having twins!
I still find it hard to believe that I am carrying twins even though I have already seen them during my ultrasound months ago. But the changes in the body reveals it. My tummy is so large, it looks like I’m months ahead on my actual pregnancy month. It has expanded so much that I am amazed at how my body is adapting to accommodate the lives within me. Unfortunately, stretch marks are bound to appear. It is like they’ve been printed all over my tummy, looking like webs in different directions and of varying colors. Stretch mark lotions and specialized creams are no match to this natural adaptive change in my skin. The skin’s elasticity is being put to the test here as my body provides enough space for my twins to grow.
With the large size of my tummy, most people who see me and don’t know that I’m carrying twins think that I’m only counting days to my due date. They are surprised to find out that I still won’t see my twin boys for a month and a half more.
It has been both physically and emotionally challenging in the past months. I struggle everyday to give out my best for my twins. I do my best to carry out mydaily routine and deemed important pregnancy care regimen like taking daily baths, prenatal vitamin intake and ample rest even though at times I feel listless to do so. There are times when my appetite for food is terrible due to a cold or flu, but then again, I must compel myself to eat so as not to compromise my babies’ nutrition. There are times, too, when I feel so tired that I feel like I cannot carry any more weight in my belly. My muscles and joints feel weak and I couldn’t stand or move at once.
Every activity feels more difficult and exhausting now that I am entering my last month of pregnancy. I can not afford to stand still for more than 10 minutes or walk around for more than 5 minutes, or else my hips sore and my tummy feels so heavy and hard that I’m afraid I might have premature contractions. I have to limit my food intake every time I eat. I have to eat in moderation or else my full stomach can cause labored breathing afterwards. Even sitting down requires effort as I need my back inclines at a 30-degree angle to increase the surface area of my tummy. What could be worse than the above discomforts already mentioned, is the fact that there is not even a single sleeping position that can give me the best relaxing sleep all through the night. I feel restless all the time, which adds to my lack of sleep and drowsiness the following day.
Besisdes the discomforts, the babies also make me more excited with their movements. Though their kicks and punches are less pronounced. It’s hard to determine which one of them is gleefully moving inside my tummy, but I can surely tell which part of their body is moving. Honestly, there’s a different kind of joy that I feel inside when I see my tummy waves in and out, sometimes getting deformed as my babies move inside.
With all the seemingly unbearable discomforts that I have to go though for the next couple of weeks, I ponder on the little joys that I am experiencing everyday with my twins. This stage of my life is really difficult, but I feel that my twins move sensibly and more discreet so that I am inspired to look forward and persevere with joy in my heart as my pregnancy comes to a close.
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