Today we had our 20 week ultrasound, but before I go too far let's start this story a few weeks earlier.
Lindsay had been getting sick. Not just feeling sick, but she would almost instantly vomit at certain triggers, mostly smells. She was getting sick every single day for a solid 10 weeks, and off and on since then. Last week she had a few episodes of high blood pressure and a few other small issues. So, the doctor had Lindsay get a few blood tests and a urine sample. The only results from these are minor, except her Iron levels were pretty low.
Ok, back to today's ultrasound.
Lindsay and I were hesitant about today's exam because so many of our friends, family, and co workers had been asking the typical question "Are you going to find out what [gender] you are going to have?" So we went into the exam room with an open mind that we would ask the technologist to NOT tell us the gender, but also to not avoid it. So basically if we could see for ourselves, then we will see. If we miss it, we will find out at delivery.
Getting start with the ultrasound was what we expected, exposed belly, cold Ultrasound jelly...lights...camera...action!!!
Now, with both Lindsay and I in the Medical Imaging field, we have a better-than-a-beginners-idea of what an ultrasound looks like. KAPOWY!!! As soon as the first images pop up I see something is just different. I swear I saw two baby heads on the screen!!!!! Wouldn't you know the tech stops to ask us a few questions. She asked if we had prior ultrasounds and when our due date was. Two questions that she could clearly get out of our chart. But the thing that raised my eyebrows, was that she seemed confused when she asked these questions. So after she flips to the chart, back to some old images, back to the chart again and finally back to the images she says..."Well I guess I've got a surprise for you guys!" and Lindsay shrieks "There are twins in there!!!!"
This is a photo showing two heads! This changes EVERYTHING!!! Now we want to know the sex of the babies IF we can find out both! NO MORE SURPRISES! The ultrasound continues as normal, with the exception that the tech has to measure everything twice! Both are girls!!!
The Neonatologist was unable to tell us if they are going to be identical for sure. She said it has be determined earlier in the pregnancy and she herself was very shocked that no one found we had twins until this late in pregnancy. She did say that them being identical has to do with thickness of the membranes of the fetal sac and some other technical factors. And... they are fairly confident that the placenta shows signs of them being identical!!
After leaving the ultrasound and neonatologist we had an appointment with our OB doctor. She doesn't know about our ultrasound yet so we shock her with the news. She says this completely explains Lindsay's prior symptoms!!! Twins will deprive the mother of Iron much faster than just one baby would. She did the 8 week ultrasound so she too is shocked that there are two babies in Lindsay! Both prior scans (6 and 8 weeks) did not show more than one heart beat!! One is a little shy!! Both the OB and the neonatologist said its very rare to not know this late (20 weeks) in the pregnancy!!!
So that is all. WE'RE HAVING TWINS!!!! *cue the dance music*
