My twin pregnancy: All of the growing updates!

mental health parenthood

Third trimester, here we are. Just like that, time has flown by once again and this twin pregnancy has been nothing short of a miracle. The excitement of growing two humans fills our hearts every day, but at the same time all of the challenging things you might expect to happen are catching up with me very quickly.

If you caught my twin announcement post you might remember how brutal the first trimester was. Insane nausea and incredible fatigue completely debilitated me, but once that subsided it was smoother sailing for a short while. My energy and appetite returned, hikes with the boys kept me sane during Covid, and we found out about our boy/girl genders! It wasn’t long after that though that everything else escalated quite quickly.

By week 22, my stomach and weight went on a rapid growth spurt. I developed spontaneous cramping from leisure walking, and then from just standing too long. This led to a trip to the hospital for a fetal fibronectin test to determine my risk of going into premature labour. Thankfully the results were reassuring, but also demonstrated I would need to reduce stress, slow down, and go off work.

Now, I have become anemic and often feel exhausted with dizzy spells. Mood swings and irritability are prominent, and so is this constant feeling that I’m going to burst- especially after dinner. I love feeling their daily movement, but there’s often so much going on in there that the kicks and jabs can be overwhelming. I desperately want the twins to reach their term 10 weeks from now, but feel defeated in discomfort already. HOW in the world is this possible for a human body?

This pregnancy has been an indescribable experience so far and nothing I could compare to carrying just one. With Hudson, I was quite active all the way through and people would often comment that I was barely showing. In contrast, I feel so frustrated that nothing seems to fit me and by how much my body is telling me that I need to slow down. I’m truly learning in baby steps how to embrace all this growth and overcome any stigma of needing a “fit pregnancy”.

It hasn’t been easy, and as a normally very active person, the truth is I am struggling. Some days I feel so full of life and gratitude and others leave me completely out of sorts. I can’t express how much things like yoga, meditation, physiotherapy and hypnobirthing have been beneficial to put into practice.

As a wellness advocate and someone who struggles with anxiety, I truly believe in the power of self-care. As of late, I have put more focus into all of this and have felt a positive shift in mindset. I know that I need to slow down and listen to my body- it is telling me what it needs. I know how important it is to normalize the challenges of pregnancy and to champion ways to improve personal care. The babies demand so much of your body and it is absolutely fascinating to just allow that process to happen. Every woman’s journey is different, and the most important thing is to honour exactly what your body is asking you to do.

At this point, I’m just trying to have fun with this pregnancy as I know it will be my last. I’m taking things one day at a time and reducing all expectations of myself because I know I have to. The female body is incredible, and no matter how big and uncomfortable I get I am devoted to embracing its remarkable capabilities for growing two lives within. After taking these photos with Julia, I also know how important it is to capture this sacred milestone in time. Maternity photos have a way of connecting you to your body with gratitude and appreciation. They allow your inner radiance to shine through and give you that extra boost of self-confidence that every momma deserves.

As always, thanks for following along and I hope you continue to enjoy my twin pregnancy updates. We are almost finished getting all of the essentials for nursery and baby gear and after much research, I cannot wait to share our new special space and what items we decided to go with.

Love, Momma Mills xx