Week 24 Ultrasound: Still Girls, Now 100%

Just back from our 24 week ultrasound and we are still the proud parents of two girls, now confirmed as "100% girl" (that is actually what the tech said and typed on the photos!). We got some fantastic shots of Alice and Sophia (see the slideshow) and mom and babies are doing well. No bedrest is needed, yet, because Jess's cervix is still "nice and long." This means that the cervix is supporting the weight of the babies without any problems.

And weigh they do! Sophia (baby A) weighs 1 pound 8 oz., and Alice (baby B) weights 1 pound 10 oz. This is the average weight for 25 week old fetuses so the girls are still measuring a little big! Yeah! The tech said that the difference in their weights is nothing to be concerned with; it is completely normal at this point.

All their organs are so much bigger! Before at the ultrasounds, the tech would point to a tiny little circle and then label it "bladder." Now, all the organs, kidneys, bladder, stomach, etc. are much more noticable. We know that their little lungs are also developing now because we got to see Sophia have the hiccups! Very cute! It is amazing, but they are actually "breathing" the amniotic fluid, helping the branches of their lungs develop. This week, and this development, actually mark the point of (possible) viability. If the girls were born today, it may be possible for them to survive outside the womb with significant help and intervention. Luckily, however, they have a lot more time to grow and develop inside of their mommy Jess.

We also got to see Alice yawn. So adorable! As you can see from the pictures, they are getting some fat on them and looking more and more like cute, little babies.

23 week belly

Jess is 23 weeks pregnant, but as you can see her belly looks like she is about ready to give birth! So goes the twin pregnancy! The absolute roundness of her belly is simply amazing.

We have our 24 week ultrasound coming up on Monday. We're excited to see the girls again. I've been painting furniture in the nursery. The bookcase, end table, and changing table are all furniture we've had but are now re-purposing it for the nursery. We're painting these items grass green to go with the forest theme of their room. The walls are a nice, muted yellow--like sunshine! It is lots of fun to see it start to come together.

Bill the cat is first to witness visible movement!

This morning Jess was sitting at the table doing homework with her shirt pulled up over her very pregnant belly. Then she noticed our cat Bill staring at her belly with the "about to pounce" look in his eyes. She looked down and saw one of the girls pushing/kicking through her belly! Hilarious!