Twins Update

I got the ultrasound results today. Plenty of 'interesting' things to share.

Firstly, the twins are mono-chorionic and di-amniotic. That means they share an outer sac, but have their own amniotic sacs. The first part is new news. It also means they could yet be identical.
As you already know by now, they are both girls.
And we knew from the first ultrasound that they have a fused placenta.
We also knew the placenta is anterior (in the front).

Baby A, on my right, who also sits lowest (they are both head down) is slightly smaller in weight at 270g. Her sister is 348g. Baby A also only has one umbilical artery rather than 2. But they tested for flow through it and such and all looked good. Everything else is "normal".
Well, except for my right ovary which apparently has a couple of cysts. *sigh* Must be to go along with the cyst in my liver (also on the right).

I'll need to talk with the OB next month to know more and ask more questions from a specialist. (Today I met with my midwife.) Yes, I'm sticking with my current OB for now. In fact, even if I stay I'll stick with her because she is good at what she does and she's easy to talk to - which is why my midwife recommended her. As for the delivery, if I stay here, I'm as likely to have another OB on call when I deliver as her. I've also been informed (by the OB via my midwife) that I could consider driving out to McMaster Hospital in Hamilton for more options (available because of the level of the hospital and the fact that it is a teaching hospital with a lot more staff on site - particularly anesthesiologists). But I don't think I'll be considering an hour-long highway drive when I'm in labour, even if I catch myself early.

Anyhow, we'll be keeping an eye on the twins as they develop. One important thing to watch for is that they continue to have similar growth rates.

So, will they be identical? - We don't know. I'm rather hoping not. Robin and I are rather hoping it will be easy to tell them apart. There's not really any way to know for certain without expensive DNA testing. They could be fraternal and still look very much alike. So, time will tell.

*UPDATE* Later in the evening I had a chance to actually look into what monochorionic 'means'. It means they ARE most likely identical. And are more likely to have complications because they share so much. And with one having only a single umbilical artery... I really need to call my OB so I stop freaking out....

Abi and I popped in to Michaels today because I knew they had a sale on scrapbooking stuff and some stickers etc on clearance prices. I think we did well. I got two scrapbooks, plus extra inserts, plus about 40 loose sheets (in pairs), plus stickers for $35. Anyone who scrapbooks or who has looked at scrapbooking supplies knows that this was an incredible savings! It helped that I found a small selection of scrapbooks on for just over $3. Otherwise the two scrapbooks, even at 40% off, would have cost about the same as my final total. I picked up two coordinating floral design scrapbooks. They're not "baby" colours, but I wasn't planning to buy pastels or such or anything designed for "baby girls". I did have a lavender and a purple pair of books in the cart before I found these. They were all the same brand of book.
Now I'm ready to start prepping baby books. I already have a collection of pages I put together years ago designing an earthy-birthy baby book. The twins' books will be slightly different since I'll actually have to include more medical stuff than I'd imagined needing/wanting for my next pregnancy.
The first pages will have pictures from the pregnancy and the growth rainbows I'm tracing every week. They'll also each have a copy of the ultrasound photos. Then there will be pages from any blessingway / shower events before their birth. I'm also going to prepare some pages with blanks I want to fill in. You know, things like "first laugh" and "first crawling" and so forth. All those little firsts that we like to record. And, of course, spaces for pictures, hand and foot prints, locks of hair, remembering gifts and guests and visitors, and so forth.