Large baby

We got new scans! And both our babes are doing fine! Better than fine actually. At the moment were at 24.5 wks, but both of them are ahead of their growth curve, here some details:

REAL TIME USG OF THE GRAVID UTERUS REVEALS:

A twin, live intrauterine pregnancy with one foetus in cephalic presentation and one in left transverse presentation is noted. Foetal cardiac activity and limb movements are observed. FHR1: 135 B/M. FHR2: 140 B/M

Two placentae are seen. One is along the anterior wall and one along the posterior wall.

They show grade 2 maturity. There is no evidence of placenta previa.

Liquour is adequate. A membrane is seen separating the two foetuses.

The lower uterine segment is normal. There is no evidence of incompetent os.

The cervical length is 3.7 cm.

Various foetal parameters are as follow:

(FOETUS 1 RIGHT - CEPHALIC) (FOETUS 2 LEFT TRANSVERSE)

BPD 1	6.8 cm.	27.4 Weeks.	BPD 2	6.4 cm.	26.1 Weeks.
HC 1	24.8 cm.	27.0 Weeks.	HC 2	23.3 cm.	26.0 Weeks.
AC 1	22.9 cm.	27.2 Weeks.	AC 2	21.4 cm.	25.6 Weeks.
FL 1	4.9 cm.	26.3 Weeks.	FL 2	4.6 cm.	25.3 Weeks.
FL/AC1	21 % NO IUGR.	EBW1: 1012 gm.	FL/AC2	22 % NO IUGR.	EBW2: 850 gm.

Following foetal organs (both the foetuses) are well visualized and do not show any obvious abnormality.

* Spine * Brain *4C Heart *Kidneys * Stomach * Bladder *3 Vessel cord

* Eyes * Nose * Upper limbs * Lower limbs.

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As it looks now we will be staying at the Vits, somewhere this week it should be confirmed. And furthermore everything is going according to plan. The last weeks of a turbulent year have started and we look forward to a new beginning. Everyone who has emailed us the last weeks to help us choose hotels, concierge & nurses tips and giving us a direct contact at the High Commission office; THANK YOU BIG TIME. It is great that there are experienced IP's who share their knowledge via their blogs and via direct email.

Next week we're of to the UK for some baby shopping with my parents, as we're planning to spend spend spend we're going by boat and car... my mum really hates it and my dad loves taking the boat. Christmas will be spend in Spain, the whole family will fly out which is great but we have mixed feelings. Since our due date is getting closer I feel a bit apprehensive of leaving home, I'd rather be very close to an airport where there is a direct flight connection to Mumbai... just anxiety lol. But it will be nice to get away for just a few days and as it will be our last Christmas without Hubba and Bubba it will be extra special... although the whole family is looking forward to next Christmas WITH Hubba and Bubba.

We still haven't found a changing table which we like... and we have looked and looked and looked. Too picky? Yes I think so, but it'll be our goal to get that last piece of furniture before the end of next week.

The visas are an ordeal on itself at the moment, the rules have changed and we can only get a visa for a maximum stay of three months now, so we have to go to Belgium or any other country to obtain a visa for at least 6 months. We want to have a visa for at least six months the reason for this is that if our babes are born early they probably have to be in hospital for a longer stay, the birth certificate can take up to 21 days I believe, then there is the needed exit visas which can take some time too. In all we want to be on the safe side time wise, our goal is of course to be back home as soon as possible.

Back to Large Baby, in the document sent to us it stated that both babes are ahead but one was called Large Baby! Knock on wood for uneventful pregnancies! Good thoughts for all of you out there.

no glamour

We... as in A is really busy lately because I had a little accident and am currently married with our sofa and my crutches.

All is going well with the babes and we are almost prepared for take off! Yes, suddenly it seems to go very quickly. The suitcase for the babes is getting full and our list of necessities is getting shorter:)

The nursery is not finished but will be in the next coming weeks hopefully so that leaves prep work for the paperwork which is extreme! I will post pics of the nursery... even though I am not sure why previous pics of the babes are now just a little question mark.

So I would like to call out to Susan: could you email us directly? We would like to ask you some questions but I am not able to find your address!

We have also asked several (apartment) hotels for quotes but just one has responded so far; really the most expensive one too.

Then there is the concierge we need, I found a website called concierge4india.com, but haven't heard of anyone using that specific site. If you're already back and had an amazing concierge do not hesitate to email us! We understand that they can make a difference in staying 1.5 month or 3 months.

Both granny's will probably join us after a few weeks in India 'cause obviously waiting to meet their grandchildren is not in their book lol. And when we think of flying back with our babes, we can imagine that every helping hand is welcome:)

Our list of names isn't set yet. We seem to be able to add names, but hardly any name sticks or we simply change our mind. I mean, hip? ancient? roman? latin? etc.. Difficult decision.

And to finish my post; I fell of a step at the petrol station... no, no glamour at all!

Real babes

Hubba

Bubba

Some more scans, they are really looking more and more like proper babes. From today on we are only 14 weeks away before getting on a plane to India!

The cribs are in the nursery and it looks great, we are slowly changing our house into a child friendly-zone. The next coming months are going to be busy! Thank god they can't walk immediately 'cause then we would be in trouble from the start lol.

We're also discussing names... over and over again, we're okay for one boy and one girl at the moment but we really do need an extra set of names we both agree on.

After all the scans we received lately I think we're going to have two boys, A doesn't want to gamble so he doesn't join me in guessing-gender-games.... fortunately loads of friends and my mum like to guess too! Of course it doesn't matter what gender they are, but as I mentioned in earlier posts; I'm a curious bloke.

I got my list for 'things to take with us', it's a long list. I also explored different hotel-appartments but haven't decided yet, today I also looked into short-lease furnished apartments in the Powai area, didn't find many furnished apartments but the ones I did find were considerable cheaper and bigger compared to the apartment hotels. But the thing is, it also means we would have to cook:( everyday, and the amenities of the hotels with all their service would be very much missed!

Hotel apartments seem to be more expensive now compared to when we were there earlier this year so in the end it will be a budget thing.

Anyways, we still have some time to decide and the most important thing is that our babes are doing fine!

Thumbs up for uneventful pregnancies

dvd impossible and an impossible list

I have been trying to edit the dvd we received of our babes, but I just don't get it right. The name of our wonderful surrogate keeps its place on the dvd, and we do not want to expose her name. Its a shame 'cause it would be great to share these images of our babes!!!

Yesterday we received another update of the babes with a few more scans, they are both still doing fine and growing... faster than I thought twins would grow. They are both ahead the grow- curves and the expected delivery date is now 10 days earlier. We asked our doc when we should be in Mumbai to be in time for the delivery and it still is Valentines day 2010, I don't think they will arrive exactly that date but near to that date anyways, twins do tend to come a bit early. Tomorrow we'll be picking up one of the cribs we bought and next week the other one, V-day is getting closer and we really should start to get the nursery ready. So far we have been anxious to start but at the same time a little hesitant, we just didn't want to jinx it. But as we are halfway there, we should start now.

Last week my mum stayed over for a few days and she went to the babydump store with A, and also some other baby stores as well. She can't resist buying something when she is in a baby store and she bought one big kangaroo and a big furry dog and some smaller items. We also have been looking into things we need to bring to Mumbai and many months ago I read a list of someone else with advice what to take. Stupid me but I didn't copy-paste it into my to-do list.. So experienced IP's: your list is more than welcome! I mean, I read about people who brought their own diapers but had to buy new ones locally as the nurses didn't approve of the diapers which were brought over. Formula is another big issue, which one is best? Is it best to bring your own so the babes don't have to change back to a different formula once you get home? How many bottles should you take with you? (I can multiply if you only know it for a singleton:)) How many onesies to take? My mum says that 7 each should be alright. Which bottle sterilizer is the most handy one to take along? What meds should we have with us all the time for the babes (if any)? Breath in and out I know, but there is so much to think about and becoming first time parents you just don't want to forget anything.

The hotel or apartment will be sort out this week, haven't really decided yet but the Vits seems to be popular these days (if you know how far it is from Hiranandini(?) pls share this info). And what about car seats? Do you take a maxi-cosi for the car rides in Mumbai or can you just hold them? (here in Holland you can be put in jail if you don't put your baby in a proper car seat). Also I would like to get some advice on a gift for our surrogate, we haven't met our surrogate and I doubt we will actually, but we do like to give her something. For her it must be an emotional ride as well and I am sure she will think of our babes in the future too hoping that they are loved, cared for and become great individuals when they grow up. It is a promise that we will do everything in our power to provide them with love, be caring parents and the best in all they need. But how do you express this to someone who is giving us the greatest gift?

Anyways, any word of advice, link to your post on the subject, is greatly appreciated.

Fingers crossed for uneventful pregnancies!

dvd

Today we received a dvd with the last scan! It's incredible to have a sneak preview of hubba and bubba. They are having a blast in there, it even seems as if they are playing together or is that wishful thinking?

I do have to say that as they are both still developing, the 4d part of the scan was at first a bit scary, I mean you suddenly see them in sephia and you can clearly see a big head and a rather small body still. Their faces are beautiful visible, one of them really likes to suck his thumb, the other one is still trying to find its mouth lol. But it is amazing that they already look as developed as they are, you can clearly see their bones, heart, brain and a little foot. A is in the UK right now, but this morning I couldn't wait and drove before work to the DHL office to get our package... I also took my laptop so I could immediately watch it. I talked A through the whole dvd and he'll see it tomorrow. So glad A didn't mind me not waiting.

Tomorrow afternoon we'll drive to my parents so mum can watched it too (she can not wait any longer).

And with regard to their gender, yes I expected it would be easier to detect anything with a film of the scan, but as a matter of fact, there is no way even a pro would be able to identify their gender. They are both just way to active to hold still, mmm ADHD already? haha.

I am trying to find a way to edit the film so the name isn't visible of our surrogate, and then we'll post it (if you know a easy way to edit pls let me know!)

What a week it has been, time seems to pass by so quickly and we still have SO much to do.

We haven't made much progress on the nursery, I mean the room is almost empty but we still have to decide on the colour and furthermore we haven't actually bought that many items.

The biggest issue is the changing table, they are all the same and just to small. The beds are decided on so that's easy but we also need a new closet for them; yes another big item to match with the other items in their room. Then I've been reading this book of Gina Ford The Contended Little Baby and she has a lot of opinions on just about anything so I have to work her ideas into our room supposedly... A told me not to use this book as my own personal bible.

I am blabbering again, but I'll post it anyways because I saw our babes on DVD!!!!

Fingers crossed for uneventful pregnancies and also good thoughts for those awaiting news!

updates

Another week went by and we received more scans over the weekend, this time the scans were more about measurements and therefor it didn't really show the form of their body. One scan stood out from the rest because it was just one pic of a foot! How tiny and how perfect a little foot can be.

Our surrogate is taking really good care of our babes.

Last week we've asked if it was possible to receive a picture of our surrogate and if possible her belly, we also asked for a video scan and today the doc emailed us that they were going to send it to us!

Jippie! We really enjoy the (almost) weekly updates, its like a drug to us. Every time we receive a scan I start wondering what gender they are, so far there aren't any scans were you can tell their sex. And I am getting so curious! At first we thought that as we arranged everything so far, it would be nice to have a last big surprise at when they are born and A still feels this way... but I am so curious! Its a good thing the docs don't tell you because I would not be able to keep that to myself LOL.

As to why we would like a picture of our surrogate, we try to look into the future and we think that if our babes want to see the belly they grew in until their birth, it can be helpful. Our book of the start of this journey 'till were we are today is getting thicker and we hope these books become a treasure to both of them when they're older (we're making two exact books for the both of them; might as well get used to do everything double)... and if not they can always use it as a book-end.

Good thoughts too all and fingers crossed for uneventful pregnancies!

Busy,Triple marker test, payments, time, dreams

We have been awfully busy lately. We went to the UK for a weekend to spend time with family and it was great. I also got to meet family which I hadn't met so far and they made me feel so welcome! It was at the house of a cousin of A's mum, he is 87 yrs old and even though it didn't seem he fully understood the whole surrogacy process, he was truly very enthusiastic about us having twins. A and I had a day trip to the lake district and visited a place called Windermere, Beatrice Potter the writer of Peter Rabbit lived there.. yes the book collection for babes has started.

Last weekend there was a reunion from A's school and as many people flew in for the weekend I now feel as if I am a binge drinker, british people are known for their drinking capability but I am quite confident I blended in without a hitch.

The last test results came in for the triple marker test, I am not sure how many times they do these test because after the first twelve weeks there was a test done and now again: but its always good to hear things are fine with our babes! (knock on wood).

These last couple of weeks have been horrific on the payment side, we didn't seem able to wire the payment, it came back several times and because of the exchange rate changing a couple of times (and we weren't lucky here) it has cost an extra rib for us... bummer. It did go well the last time, not sure what 'caused the hick up but it's done now.

Time: we are short of time. There is so much to do at home, work, studying, getting in contact with a person from the high commission office UK in Mumbai (pls email us if you know someone), arranging time of from from work, learn about babies, socializing (now we still can lol) and emotionally preparing ourself for the biggest change ever!

Last week A woke up early in the morning, I was already preparing for work and the first thing he said was: I had a dream about hubba and bubba (the babes), we were visiting family with them and we had all these bottles with their formula but no suck-thing for on top (no idea how that thing on top is called) so we couldn't feed them and they started crying and we couldn't console them: horror! And then A said: o, btw we're having two sons according to my dream. Yep, the sleep came back and he dozed of again.

I just do not have a clue what gender they will be but there are more people who think it will be two boys but there is also a big crowd who really feels strong that it's going to be a boy and a girl, two girls would be in fact a big surprise, mostly because nobody seems to think that.

As we are getting closer we get more anxious to know what gender they are. It will be the last surprise, but having ten fingers and ten toes, each, is much much much more important than knowing what gender they are.

We can (NOT) wait to meet hubba and bubba and since the last scans where they are looking like really tiny human beings the bonding has really really really started big time. We love them both already to pieces and we hope they stay safe and sound where they are now. Good thoughts to all and fingers crossed for uneventful pregnancies!