Kieklak Twins {Weeks 19-22}

Total weight gain at 22 weeks: 22 lbs

I’ve definitely been getting bigger this past month. I think I’m now at the point that I couldn’t hide my bump if I wanted to. I feel giant, it’s hard to believe that this is only the beginning.

Symptoms

My reflux has gotten a little worse, which is mostly just annoying. I’ve also had a cold/allergies for what feels like a month now, and the congestion isn’t fun in conjunction with the reflux.

My worst symptom is rib pain. I’m carrying them pretty low, but I’ve been stretching so fast these last few weeks that my ribs hurt almost all the time, unless I’m laying down on my side or have a pillow at my lower back. It’s worst at the end of the day, or when I eat a lot at once.

Speaking of eating, I definitely have a bigger appetite these days. I probably eat about 6 times a day, and I frequently get up to have a snack in the night. I only sleep for a few hours at a time before I have to get up to blow my nose or go to the bathroom.

Movement

I’ve been feeling them move more and more lately. Pretty much any time I sit or lay down, and a lot of other times as well. They’re big enough that you can sometimes see the movement, and Steve has gotten to feel them move a lot, too.

Appointment

They were moving around like crazy at my ultrasound last week. We didn’t get a good picture of the two of them together because they kept kicking each other, so it was all legs. I did get to see Baby A hiccuping, which was adorable. He’s not quite big enough for me to feel them yet.

Their organs are still developing well, and they’re both right on track for a due date of May 2nd, which is a few days before my original due date. They’ve also changed position a little as they’ve grown. Before, they were both below my belly button, one stacked on top of the other. Now, Baby A is low and to my left and Baby B is up above the belly button and a little to the right. So now I’ll be able to tell who’s kicking me.

The doctor said that everything looked good, but my iron level has dropped down since the beginning of the pregnancy. Basically, she said that they’re stealing all my iron, so they’re getting everything they need and not leaving me with enough. I’ve started taking an iron supplement, which should clear that up.

I’m excited to be so close to 24 weeks. Even though there haven’t been any complications so far, I’ll feel a little more relaxed once we reach that milestone.

Check back next month for another update – go here to start with the first trimester, and here to read our whole embryo adoption story.

As always, you can check out our entire embryo adoption journey here!