The Important Stuff:
Ottawa Valley Moms :: Ottawa Moms, Arnprior Moms & Renfrew Moms on Parenting, Life, Love and Staying Connected
Charting Unfamiliar Territory [Guest Blog Post by Kristyn Armolavicius]

Charting Unfamiliar Territory [Guest Blog Post by Kristyn Armolavicius]

  • Delicious

Lately I have been wishing that becoming a parent required the passing of a course, kind of like getting a license. You would take the course and at the end, some subject matter expert would either pass you or fail you. How do you know when you are officially ready?

The pregnancy ticker on my IPhone App seems to have picked up its pace. While the first two trimesters simply dragged this one is flying! I look at the pile of boxes amassed in my basement that I have fondly nicknamed “Baby Mountain”, and wonder just how much money I will need to drop on batteries? You name it, we have it, bassinettes that lull, bouncers that play Mozart, swings that sing and more. Oh, but multiply each of those items by two. Today I am 32 weeks and 5 days pregnant with twins.

When my husband and I first found out about having twins we were elated, getting our family done in one shot sounded GREAT to us! All in all it’s been a pretty great pregnancy considering I have been lugging two constant companions for the past 8 months. I think I had morning sickness for all of two days and the twins are growing right on track. What all the books say is totally true; you’ll be pooped the first trimester but by the second you will feel like a million bucks! Well, then came the third trimester and the back pain, & pregnancy “rhinitis” hit, oftentimes sending my poor hubby to the single bed in our spare room – for now I snore and clearly not very delicately either. Varicose veins have sent me to the Foot Care Specialist and I am now rocking $160 thigh high compression stockings along with my pregnancy support band (which I lovingly refer to as my “gut bra”). Looking back, I should have bought stock in Palmer’s Cocoa Butter as I use a bottle a week trying to ward off stretch marks (I recommend this product, so far no marks!).

All gross symptoms aside my latest issue has been my crippling fear of the unknown. How on earth will I be capable of keeping TWO tiny humans alive? Will they like me? Will we ever sleep again? What will my boobs and tummy look like after this? What will laboring with TWO feel like? Do I breast or bottle feed? When my husband came home from work the other day proclaiming that he had dropped and cracked his phone (I’m not going to lie) I thought, “Maybe it would better if he didn’t carry or the hold the twins if he’s so clumsy”. With each piece of mommy-know-how that I manage to glean from prenatal class or the all-knowing Google, I seem to find ten other arguments countering said info. Do I buy one crib or two? Do I line the cribs with those fashionable little bumpers or not? Do I wash all of those little onesies and sleepers in Ivory Snow before I put them away? What on EARTH is nipple confusion?

My husband tells me to take things one thing at a time because I admit, I get flustered when I have a lot on the go. So that’s what I am doing. I am slowly checking things off my to – do list while adding more things to the bottom of that same darn list! I’m doing all that I can, taking my prenatal vitamins and ten other different supplements, eating according to the Canada Food Guide and trying to stay relatively fit and active. Early in my pregnancy I joined a Due Date Buddies Forum so that I can talk to other women and trade parenting tips and ideas and a high school friend and fellow twin mommy has created a FB group that I often turn to for advice from other mom’s of multiples.

As my due date fast approaches I am working on putting the finishing touches on our boy/girl nursery, continuing my future mommy-to- be research and anxiously awaiting my constant baby related purchases via Purolator, today my diaper bag should be arriving, so should the Snoogle pillow, okay and the fifty or so irresistible little outfits for my future fashionistas!

KAACKristyn, Mom-to-be (of twins)

Kristyn is a soon to be mom of fraternal boy/girl twins!  Born and raised in Ottawa, ON, she has been married to her husband since 2011 and now lives in Pembroke, ON.  Kristyn works at AECL as an administrative assistant but her first love is writing and one day she hopes to make a career of it.  She also has a passion for interior decorating and cooking.

Kristyn Armolavicius can be found on a Facebook group: Canadian Parents of Twins, Triplets, and Higher Order Multiples - . (Group created by: Andrea Bedard)

 
Add a comment

Comments (5)

  1. PrincessDoubt Saturday - 12 / 01 / 2013 Reply
    GREAT post! I know you're probably stowing in advice, but as a first-time-mom of a 2.5 week old here's my fresh advice. If you want to breastfeed I recommend hiring a good Lactation Consultant right away (day one if possible). We did not know she had an issue until she had lost 14% of her body weight on day 4 but had seemed to be feeding well. The lactation consultant was fantastic and continues to support us as we come out the other side of what I thought would be a much easier process. I also support/recommend hiring a doula. A decision we are SO glad we made as she was indispensable pre-during-and-post and continues to check in :) That being said...it's a lot more intense than I thought it would be, being a mom, but so much more amazing than I could have imagined. :) Congratulations, good luck and enjoy! :)
  2. Brenda A. Saturday - 12 / 01 / 2013 Reply
    Oh the anticipation! TRUST in your body. That is the number one bit of unsolicited advice I can offer. Your body absolutely 100% knows exactly what it has to do when the time is right. Have the confidence in that and your fear (if you have any) will diminish. Birthing is the most incredible, euphoric and indescribable event. And you get to do it. All the very best in your unique experience. Enjoy every second and savor bringing your babies earth-side to meet you.
  3. Linda Saturday - 12 / 01 / 2013 Reply
    I have 11 month old twins and i have to say it was very difficult in the beginning especially when you are a first time mom like i was. No one can truly understand what it is like but other moms of multiples. These groups on facebook are great sources of support and tips because it is much more complicated and difficult having twins than having a singleton. What a joy it is to have them though and they grow so fast. I can't believe that almost a year has gone by already and mine are starting to walk!! Good luck with your babies, hope they stay put until 35 weeks!!
  4. Kristyn Sunday - 13 / 01 / 2013 Reply
    PrincessDoubt - Thank you so much for reading and for the advice! I am definitely going to be getting assistance re: breasfeeding should I require it. I figure I'll try it in the hospital first (to see if I'm able) and then if so, go from there. While I am prepared beoynd belief in terms of "stuff" I am taking a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants approach with everything else ;) Brenda - I can't wait for that moment when I see them for the first time! Just thinking about it makes me teary. Linda - I love meeting other twin momma's! It gives me faith that I will be able to do this =) I am going to surround myself with my "volunteers" and not be afraid to ask for help.
  5. Jessica Thursday - 17 / 01 / 2013 Reply
    No unsolicited advice (believe me, you'll soon get enough of that, if you haven't already). You will be great! You'll cry, laugh, worry, get frustrated, smile, worry some more, but you will be great and so will your babies. :)

Add a comment


Don't Miss ANYTHING! Sign up for our free newsletter featuring giveaways, advice and more...

OVM Sponsors


 

Latest Pins on Pinterest

  • Valentine's Day Nails :D