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In October of 2012, my then fiancé and I got a BFP (big fat positive (pregnancy test)) after trying for 2 years. 6 weeks later, during our first ultrasound, we found out it was TWINS that were due in June of 2013. Needless to say, we were shocked, but happy and excited! Fast forward to February of 2013 and we discovered that our fraternal twins were girls! Yay! However, during that same anatomy scan, we discovered that baby B, her name was Bria, had a complete AV Canal in her heart; which basically meant she had a huge whole in her heart that would require surgery when she turned 3 months old. We were devastated! But happy that at least baby A, Bella, was perfectly fine.
Fast forward again to my 25th week of pregnancy, things only got worse. By now, it was discovered that not only was my cervix dangerously short to hold up twins, but it had began funneling as well. To top it all off, Bria(twin B with the heart defect) started having a backflow in her umbilical cord; causing her to not grow properly. At that point, I was placed on bed rest on the mother/baby unit at the hospital for 2 weeks just in case my short cervix decided to give way. Luckily it never did, I was released from the hospital, but had to have monitoring and ultrasound of both babies 4 times a week until my scheduled induction date which was June 25th, 2013.
Unfortunately, on May 23, 2013.... when I was 33 weeks pregnant. A routine ultrasound revealed that my sweet Bria (twin B) had passed away. I had to carry her along with her sister until I was induced 3.5 weeks later. It was hell knowing that I was carrying one deceased baby and one live baby; but I found small comfort in knowing that although she had passed, I was still carrying her. Fast forward to June 25th: I gave birth to my now 3.5 year old daughter Bella (twin A) and 2 minutes later, pushed and delivered her already sleeping sister, Bria. I must say, holding and saying "hello" to one baby while saying "goodbye" to the other all at once was tough.
A few months later, my fiancé and I split up and I was left as a single mother with severe PPD (postpartum depression) and anxiety as well as baby blues. I found it hard to bond with my surviving daughter the first 3 months of her life. All I kept thinking was "it's supposed to be 2 of them dammit!" As grateful as I am now that I didn't lose both and still have her (she's an amazing and smart kid BTW), I just felt like I was robbed of the experience of parenting twins. Especially for it to have happened in the third trimester. We had to take back the double stroller, uninstall a car seat, take apart one of the cribs, etc.
It got so bad where if I would see anyone with twins; babies or toddlers, I would break down into tears and an anxiety attack in public or private. The anger, sadness and jealousy would just overcome me. But now, almost 4 years later, I'm back and happier than ever!
I'm married to a wonderful man who loves and treats my daughter as his own, I've graduated with my Masters degree in social work and actively pursuing my LCSW(license in clinical social work). I have an amazing career and so does my husband, who doesn't have any children of his own. With that being said: we are on the TTC (trying to conceive) path! During my first pregnancy, I was only 23 and have a family history of twins on my mother's side( my grandma had 2 sets).
I wasn't trying for twins the first time. But now that I've had twins before and it's something I've always wanted to try for again, me and the hubby are going for it! Especially knowing that I have a 50% chance of conceiving them again based on my family history and having had a multiple pregnancy before, I'm pumped! But I'm perfectly fertile, which means my doc won't give me fertility treatments at all to increase the chances of twins. Keep in mind: I just got the birth control Nexplanon taken out a few weeks ago. Lucky for me though, I finally got my period last week on 6/13 and it went off yesterday. So during CD 2-7, I took 200mg of Soy Isoflavones concentrate.
However, after doing some research on natural ways to induce a cycle and possibly release multiple eggs like I did the first time: I took the following supplements in addition to the SI.
My protocol:
Folic Acid- 6,400mg: everyday since April
Soy Isoflavones concentrate- 200mg Cd 2-7
Royal Jelly- 1,000mg since May
Vitamin B6- 200mg since April
I've been lurking on the site now as a guest for MONTHS! Glad I get to finally introduce myself!
