#MeyerTwins: First trimester

To my beautiful children,
Well… what an interesting ride we have had together so far! After our IVF embryo transfer, I was skeptical that we would be successful (to protect my heart, of course) but your father was simply positive that not only would our second round work, but that it would be twins!
The golden rule with IVF is not doing a home pregnancy test for fear that the results are inaccurate, causing unnecessary heartbreak, hope, or confusion. But after the shock of a failed round, we decided to rather prepare ourselves either way. 8 Days post the transfer, we did our first home pregnancy test… AND IT WAS POSITIVE! I remember setting it on the bathroom counter waiting for it to load (they are advanced digital tests these days) and just being truly overwhelmed with anxiety. As your dad and I waited for what felt like an eternity (but was probably only 2 minutes), I paced back to the bathroom, not expecting what I saw. My mouth dropped open and I asked him to double check I was reading it correctly. Your dad’s face was a picture I’ll never forget — all the feelings rushed through us on a level of excitement, terror, relief, fear, panic, disbelief, and the peak of pure happiness. We hugged and screached and jumped up and down. Two days later we even did another test to see if anything had potentially changed. It hadn’t. You still existed and we hadn’t just dreamed this up. And the rest is history, as they say.
The 12 day mark post the transfer is the official results day at the clinic, with blood tests to confirm the pregnancy. We sat in the nurses’ office, hoping desperately that it would reflect the home tests we had done… and it did. Being me, I still cried more, knowing that we could officially accept this incredible fate and actually start planning for the family we had dreamed of together.
At 4 weeks (soon after finding out), we told your ouma and oupa that we were expecting, and at 6 weeks, we flew to Cape Town to tell your granny and grandpa, and aunt and uncle. This was a huge surpise for them as we had kept the second transfer a secret, hoping it would lead to this. While eating french toast and bacon, we told them I was pregnant and the shock was overwhelming for them! It was so wonderful and special to me to have been able to see their faces while sharing the best news of our lives.
By week 7, we were back to have our very first scan — a moment we will never forget. The doctor and nurse who had helped us through the IVF process stood on the room and as soon as the scan showed up, they laughed and cleared the screen. Your dad and I — both confused — asked what was funny. And that is when it suddenly hit us… We were having TWINS! Two little human people! We cried with happiness as we finally got to see the first signs of life in the form of small white dots inside individual sacs. What an amazing memory that had come full circle from first seeing the two, small embyro cells on the screen minutes before our IVF transfer. We also got to hear your very fast heartbeats for the first time that day. A sound I will cherish forever.
The hardest part after that was keeping it a secret from everyone else. I was eating like a horse, and even my work colleauges were starting to notice my odd eating habits. By week 11, we decided it was safe to share the news with the world — especially considering how fast my belly was growing!
At week 12, we visited a chromosonal specialist to make sure that all your growing parts were just right. Although nerve-racking, everything turned out fine. Your dad and I were both so fascinated with the detail of the scan — showing your brain hemispheres, spinal chords, nasal bones, fingers, and even your bladders. You were so very real now, and each time we got to have a scan, we were just so excited to see you again. The weeks in between made us miss you both so much.
I have been a lucky mom so far — no morning sickness at all, and really minor symptoms. A few headaches have made me tired, but otherwise, I have to say, trimester one has been a truly joyful time for us. Just seeing my belly grow so quickly and knowing that you’re a step closer to joining us in the outside world, is providing all the excitement and energy we need to push through to trimester 2 — where I’m sure things are going to get a lot more interesting!
Keep developing, growing, and keeping me good company xx
All of my heart,
Mom
