Sitting on the sofa watching ‘The Lord of the Rings’ with mum and hubby, I had no indication that my waters were going to break just hours later.

I blame the film for being so long and boring that the babies felt the need for a bit of action…

I woke up at 4am on Thursday 2nd December after hearing a ‘pop’ in my pelvis. Standing up I quickly realised that my waters had broken and hadn’t just been head-butted as I first thought by one of the babies. As calmly as I could, I woke the husband. ‘Are you sure you didn’t just wee yourself or something?’ he asked in a daze.

He called the labour ward and disappeared to wake my mum who was staying in the other room. Standing alone in my bedroom the realisation of what was about to happen hit me… My babies were finally coming.

Carefully packing my remaining toiletries into my hospital bag I started to panic; I haven’t removed my nail polish like I should have! What if I forget something?! My hair is greasy, why didn’t I wash it last night just in case?! All were very reasonable worries to me at that moment in time. I grabbed my nail polish remover and as I started unscrewing the lid, hubby walked in ‘What the hell are you doing??’ ‘They told me in the leaflet for preparing for a caesarean that nails must be nail varnish free! I have to take it all off! They are going to shout at me for not being prepared!’ Hubby stared at me for a few seconds in disbelief, ‘Nat, can you please just get dressed and get in the car…’. So I did as I was told.

We got to the hospital in minutes (with it being down the road and all), and entered the maternity ward. I was the only one there so was put into a bed and my belly was strapped up in minutes to observe both babies heartbeats and my contractions. I remember looking out of the window and seeing the snow falling and thinking how beautiful it was… By this point I had had no contraction pains and was thinking ‘Ok, so labour contractions aren’t that bad really…’ They checked and confirmed that my waters HAD broken (I had to take a quick glance at my husband to make sure that he had heard correctly; I hadn’t peed myself) and told me that I was 2-3cm dilated. And at 4.40pm, my contractions started…

I got taken into a small labour ward filled with groaning women behind curtains and machines beeping. They brought me over some gas and air, which I very reluctantly took. I’m not a fan of ingesting things like that, growing up I never sucked in helium because I thought inhaling anything apart from oxygen was weird. However within half an hour I was sucking on that plastic mouthpiece like it was keeping me alive. The contractions were so intense and close together I honestly thought I was going to pass out from the pain. So when the midwife came over to check me and told me I was still 2 to 3 cm dilated and tried to convince me to give natural birth, I very nearly kicked her in the face. ‘I AM HAVING A CESEAREAN! GIVE ME THE (obscenity) SPINAL BLOCK RIGHT NOW!’ I barked in a very lady-like manner. I’m not sure what else happened in that room because the gas and air by then had me on a serious high and feeling very fuzzy. It took that top edge off the pain, but it was still very much there. Maybe I’m just a complete weakling but by this stage I was struggling to breathe because it was so excruciating.

I was then taken into pre-op and had a doctor read the caesarean risks to me and asked me to sign a form. A midwife prepared me for the surgery by putting on some sexy socks for me to help reduce the risk of blood clots. Still sucking on the gas and air like there was no tomorrow, my husband was told to scrub up, my mum started crying and I was counting each second that went by until the pain would be over.
I was wheeled to the operating theatre and rolled onto my side ready for the spinal block. Still sucking on the gas and air (no one was going to prise that baby out of my grasp) I remember starting to beg them to put the anaesthetic in. Seriously, I was begging. They kept telling me it was all being prepared and to just hold on a few moments. Ok, so I was told at my NCT classes that contractions don’t last the whole time, they come and go, and when you aren’t contracting you are fine; you can read a book, do some gardening, go for a stroll... Like bloody hell you can! I was in intense pain the entire time, from when the contractions started at 4.30am until right then at 8am, and by this point I was literally ready to vomit and then pass out. Don’t laugh at my dramatisation, it’s the truth dammit! (I’m not trying to scare anyone, honestly. My pain threshold is just embarrassingly low…)

So anyway, they helped me onto my side and brought my knees up to administer the spinal block. My next contraction started and I felt a little scratch on my back. Instantly the contractions faded into nothing… It was heaven. I suddenly changed from a grunting, moaning wreck into a wide awake, grinning wreck, finally seeing all of the 10/12 people’s faces in the theatre for the first time, thanking them all for being there and for everything that they were doing for me. I must have looked like a complete loon.

I quickly started to lose all feeling in my legs, it was so odd willing my legs to move but they just wouldn’t budge. Again, looking like a complete moron I kept exclaiming ‘Wow that’s so weird! I can’t feel my legs!’ They started wiping on that brown antiseptic liquid over my stomach (which again, I couldn’t feel them doing) and they set up the blue curtain in front of me just under my bust so we could no longer see what was going on (probably the best thing considering how squeamish my husband is. I’m not sure I could have been dealing with him being passed out cold on the floor).

At that point I just started to feel so overwhelmed with what was about to happen; after 8.5 months of waiting, I was finally going to meet 2 new little people who were going to change our lives forever. These tiny people we had created who had been kicking, elbowing, pressing down on my bladder making me pee like a racehorse and eat like a starved baboon every hour. So I did what I do best; I cried.

I asked the smiley Indian man standing next to me who was monitoring my heartbeat and blood pressure to tell me what was going on so he began explaining to me in his cute Indian accent ‘They are making the incision!’ After feeling a minute or so of pulling, tugging and heavy pressure on my stomach, he exclaimed ‘He is here!’ I couldn’t see what was going on but just had my husband next to me happily confirm that our baby boy had entered the world and they were having a look at him to see if everything was ok. They said he needed a little help with his breathing due to him having his neck slightly crooked to the side in the womb. Seconds later before I knew it, I heard crying and my husband told me that our baby girl had been born! Whilst my husband went round to the back to see them and take pictures I just couldn’t believe what had just happened. They’d finally arrived. My husband brought my daughter (my daughter!) over to me, all wrapped up with her large dark eyes and pink squidgy face staring out at me, mouth open already hungry (definitely taken after me) and the feeling was indescribable. I couldn’t believe what we had created. At the same time as being in awe of my little girl, I was so worried about my boy. Very soon after my husband bought my baby boy over to me and placed him on my chest. He was really crying (definitely taken after his dad) and I just stroked his head and introduced myself whilst they finished my stitches. Ayden Ahmed Sheikh had been born 5lb 5oz at 8.23am and Inaya Shahnaz Sheikh was 5lb 4oz, born at 8.24am.
In the recovery room I got to feed them both skin to skin and it was just the most pure and beautiful moment ever. As exhausted as I was I couldn’t wipe the huge content grin off my face.

I stayed in hospital for 2 days and after asking to go home and getting everything checked and cleared for me and the babies, we finally got home at 2.30pm on Saturday. Luckily at this point the snow had all melted so there were no ‘slipping’ issues that I’d been worried about!

That was 8 days ago, and as I sit here typing this, my little girl is lying on her daddies chest having a nap, my little boy is stirring after his long sleep in the travel cot. I haven’t slept for more than a total of 6 hours over the past 7 nights, I have turned into a giant udder producing enough milk to feed the whole street, my nails are a mess (and anyone who knows me knows that my nails have NEVER been a mess), but I truly couldn’t care less. Seeing these little angels staring up at me every day, reliant on me for feeding them, changing them, ensuring they are happy and healthy all the time is the ultimate reward. My 2 beauties make me so proud already, and I honestly can’t believe I was blessed twice in one go. Yes it’s doubly hard, and I have found myself thinking ‘One baby would be a piece of cake!’ but I wouldn’t change them for anything in the universe. They are both already such characters; he takes his time drinking his milk and loves to just sit and look around at everything. His tiny face is so serious but when he smiles it lights up all his features, and the little squeaks he makes are just hilarious. She is so dainty like a china doll and is forever sucking her fingers looking for food. When she gets her food she downs it, coughing and spluttering everywhere like someone’s going to take it away from her. I find myself getting up in the morning and running into the nursery just to stare at them. I still can’t quite believe it…

To end on a quote that describes how I feel so perfectly…

No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you.

After all, you're the only ones who know what my heart sounds like from the inside.

36 weeks, And I can't believe it.

I've actually made it to 36 whole weeks. That's 252 days. 6048 hours of niggles and aches and hunger and peeing and kicks and wriggles and attempts at sleep. I deserve a medal. Or at least a really huge piece of cake. Or maybe just the whole cake...

Things have been quite crazy in the last 10 weeks:

- We got the kitchen done (which took over a month and I was ready to kill anyone in my path...)
- We did the babies nursery. My mum and uncle came and painted the room, and whilst hubby went off to India for a wedding mum and I went and bought all the furniture and set the room up.
- I went for several NCT sessions and even a TAMBA (twins and multiples) seminar. Birth and tips on once the baby is here were all covered and it was fantastic. I also met some lovely ladies who live nearby due around the same time as me. The TAMBA seminar especially was a real eye opener, and when I left I wanted to cry! The lady giving the seminar has her own twins, and was very frank about what to expect with 2. Bloody hell it was more than scary!! But it seems that I'll just have to be extra organised and extra composed... And breathe... I can do it. I can do it. I really REALLY can do it!
- My boys growth slowed a little about 3 weeks ago and I have been having heartbeat monitoring twice a week just to make sure all is OK.
- Mummy moved in a week ago and will be here through until January. It's been so amazing spending time with her, she's just done so much I have no way to thank her. And then I'll REALLY need her when the little ones get here!

I'm now so heavy I can hardly move any more and I'm beyond sleepy all the time... But at least I now have a real countdown. The c-section will be taking place early December, so there are literally days left now!

Am I scared? Very. Am I anxious? Extremely. Am I excited? More than anything in this world... I can't even imagine that moment when I meet my sweet little babies for the first time. I know I'm going to just cry throughout for the first couple of days because I'll be completely overwhelmed. Everything is washed, prepped, organised, folded and stored ready for their arrival. Praying and hoping all goes smoothly, I just really can not wait now...

I have come to the end...

Well, I hit 27 weeks today. Yes that's right, the 2nd trimester ends and 3rd finally begins. It has been an interesting, amazing and uncomfortable time.

So, as I reach the end of my 2nd trimester I:

- Have put on 1st 6lbs since becoming pregnant (I maintain that it is all baby weight and not a result of my crisp, cheese and pasta obsession)
- Have grown to the size of a bungalow
- Am still weeing like a racehorse so have not managed to get a single full nights sleep yet
- Am crying at near enough everything; a sad song, stubbing my toe, burning the toast, seeing an old woman waiting alone at a bus stop in the cold
- Am eating anything (and anyone) that stands in front of me. No really I am. I'd advise you not to put your arm or leg directly in front of my face as you may turn around to find me gnawing on it
- Am feeling and seeing stronger kicks and movements which is the strangest and most incredible feeling in the world

So bring on 3rd tri! Let's see what it has in store for me (and here's hoping hubby doesn't finally send his overly emotional and food consuming wife to her mothers for the next 3 months). See you on the other side :-)

I've finished my book.

But now as well as being more excitable than ever for them to get here, I am also scared shitless. The book I read really hit home just how amazingly rewarding but difficult the whole twin process can be.
I ordered 'Double Trouble: Twins and How to Survive Them' from Amazon as I heard it was informative and a good read. It really was, if a tad scary. I found myself at one point staring at the ceiling, eyes wide open, wondering why on earth my body had decided to release 2 eggs and not just the one like a 'normal' person!

So let's just have a look at the twin vital statistics:
1. The chances of having twins rises as you get older, the peak age is 35 to 39 (I conceived them at 26, I don't think that would be considered 'old'!)
2. Women are more likely to have twins the more children they have (I have none others that i'm aware of.)
3. Fraternal twins are more common if there is a presence on the mothers side of the family, not the fathers (I have no twins in my family. None. Anywhere.)
4. IVF increases the chance of multiples. (No IVF used here)

So in conclusion, I am a freak of nature.

I died with laughter when I read the section about the mens involvement with conceiving twins; 'I haven't met a single father of twins who hasn't puffed up his chest when remembering his own important walk-on part in the twin drama. Of course all women know that this Woody Allen view of sperm is ridiculous, and that all sorts of complicated factors are involved in making conception possible. However there is no harm in encouraging this virile fantasy because a swaggering partner in the early days is more likely to be a helpful one later on'.

Each chapter is very useful and full of the basic but important information (and the fact that the writer wrote the book after having her own boy/girl fraternal twins was definitely a plus for me!)

The book begins stating the most beautiful facts about twins and goes into the basic scientifics of different kinds of twins, eating and exercising, shopping, and when the babies get here. And that's when the book turns itself into another genre altogether: a horror. The first 3 months of the babies lives are considered your 'fourth trimester'. I have much to look forward to here:
* Postpartum dementia (forgetting everything, including even maybe my own name)
* More difficulty getting any sort of your figure back
* The golden rule of 'sleep when your baby sleeps' kind of going out the window with twins.
* Figuring out whether feeding them together/separately/wake one/let them sleep is best... Pros such as getting it done in half the time, getting them into a routine when doing together, but impossibility to burp them at the same time, one may be a faster feeder than the other, amongst many other factors to take into account... Apparently only after those first 3 months does it become easier 'when baby can feed in a few minutes and you can wander around the house, barely noticing you have a child swinging happily from your boob'.
* Settling them when crying which is physically only possible to do one at a time and choosing which to comfort first.
* A holiday never really being a holiday - ' A truer phrase would be same work, different location'

Hmmm... You'd kind of have to be a robot to not get a little worried if you will be able to do it. Especially as I'm a perfectionist, am completely anal and an utter control freak. Of course i'm ecstatic, i'm excited, I feel SO blessed, but i'm also quite anxious about what's to come and feeling quite overwhelmed.

But as Emma Mahoney ends the book, her last sentence sticks like glue in my brain;
'Your twins are a miracle. Enjoy them while they are still yours'.
And that really is exactly what I plan on doing :-)

And counting...

Hubby surprised me by booking us a 4D scan of our babies :-)

Yesterday we went for our second 4D scan. Generally people don't go for more than one, but last Wednesday our cheeky girl stopped us getting any decent images. The stubborn little monkey had her bum over her brothers face and refused to show her own face, deciding she'd rather hide behind her arm. Our lovely sonographer told us that usually with twins they don't guarantee to get any decent shots of them, but said we can go back the following week to try again if we liked.
So we did. Once the sonographer started having a look the first thing I wanted to know was if all was looking ok; She said that all was looking great which helped me to relax a bit. Then I started wondering if we would finally get any decent shots, but once again little princess was hiding herself. Little prince was happy to pose and show himself off and the sonographer confirmed that they were 'definitely a little boy and girl'. Even though we've had the sexes confirmed on about 5 different occasions now hubby and I do still wonder if we are going to get a big surprise when they eventually get here!
The sonographer told us to go for a walk for half an hour and get a sugary drink to get the babies moving a bit and then come back. So after going to Starbucks and downing a tall caramel macchiato we went back to see if the caffeine and sugar had done anything (even thought I felt HORRIBLY guilty as I NEVER drink caffeinated drinks. I could just imagine the 2 of them in there twitching and bouncing from the walls from the high they must have been on!)
But it did seem to do the trick! We got some lovely pictures (albeit princess had her legs up by her head in some sort of yoga ball pose) and a 10 minute DVD of our bubbies, so we finally left the scan grinning from ear to ear with our bag of pictures.
Every day that passes is a day closer to finally holding our little mini-me's, and I am beyond excited for it :-)

She kicked me.

Little missy kicked me yesterday evening, HARD! It was the first one and it seriously shocked me! I've had little poke feelings and flutters for the past 4 weeks or so but nothing like this. I was walking from the study into the living room and felt this sudden sharp judder on my left side near my belly button (where princess is) causing my leg to buckle underneath me. I just stopped walking and stood there smiling, wide eyed. Hubby noticed and asked what was wrong with me and why was I being weird (or weirder than usual). I laughed saying I'd had my first real kick! He smiled and replied 'How amazing! You do know if I was carrying them they'd be far too scared to kick me for fear of being beaten when they got here'. Tut. Men...

Finally at the 20 week mark!

I can't believe i'm half way there already. Crazy stuff! So we went for our 20 week scan on the morning of my 27th birthday and it was just amazing. The sonographer informed us at the start of the scan that usually it should last half an hour, but due to there being 2 little munchkins to look at it would take about an hour. A whole hour looking at my pups!!

Before I start, I must just let you know that at 16 weeks we went for a private scan. I've been adamant since day dot that I've been carrying a boy, hubs has been 100% I've been carrying a girl. To have a boy and a girl would just be a dream, but we honestly didn't care, we just wanted the sonographer to tell us that they were healthy and growing well. Ok, so that's a teeny bit of a lie, I quite wanted there to be a boy in there so I could finally FINALLY be able to say to hub 'I told you so!!'. I don't get to do it often! Actually, that's another lie, I NEVER get to do it!
So starting with Twin 2 (because of certain positioning), the sonographer was happy that all looked perfect. She measured the leg and said, 'Looks like the baby may be tall, it has long thigh bones!' Fantastic news, we definitely want them both to take after my height ;-) And the sex? 'Well I think it's a boy but he's shy, he's not showing much'. Right, so already he wasn't taking after his father.
Over to Twin 1 and all was perfect again, and from the measurements it could be another tall baby! 'It's a girl, she's got her arm behind her head and is posing quite openly!' So it looks like she's the one that takes after her dad then! Back over to Twin 2 and he just didn't want to show us a thing! Finally, we got a quick flash of his bum and a rather special shot of his 'bits'. The sonographer flicked a switch to see the blood flow, and said that there was no colour showing there so it wasn't the umbilical cord. She said she was 80% sure on the babies sexes to which I asked, 'If I was your daughter would you be still be saying only 80% sure?' She laughed and said 'I'd say "Let's go shopping for a boy and a girl!"' So there we had it, a little prince and a little princess. I couldn't stop crying and was just beyond being over the moon. We decided at that point we would only tell parents and siblings as we wanted to confirm all at our 20 week scan.

From 17 weeks i've felt little flicks and flutters from the inside, each week they seem to be getting stronger, I am still waiting to be able to feel them from the outside.

Fast forward to my 20 week scan...

The sonographer started on my right side with Twin 1 lying vertically to my body; she needed to measure and look at the brain, heart, arms, spine, legs, eyes and liver/kidneys. Twin 1 was rolling around everywhere so the sonographer had her work cut out for her! Arms flailing, head moving, little legs kicking. It took her quite a while to get the measurements. Munchkin decided to settle in a position where they were facing straight out, looking right at us, and the sonographer said that she couldn't get the spinal measurements because of its position so would move over to Twin 2 for the time being. I told her that we wanted to know the sex and she said 'Well look there, can you see that growth?' Hubby with his no-nonsense talk exclaimed 'Is that the willy?!' So there we had it; confirmed that it was a 'definite' boy! I started to think, hmm, last time Twin 1 was the girl... Had the 16 week scan been wrong?? I couldn't help but assume at that point, 'Ok, now i'm sure there are 2 little boys in there!!'. Twin 2 was positioned horizontally and wasn't moving so much, so she managed to measure everything with ease. All was great with this little one too. 'This one's a girl by the way' said the sonographer. I turned to hubby and grabbed his hand, I just couldn't believe it. Our little family was taking shape. I couldn't help but feel emotional all over again, and be so so thankful for this amazing blessing. The little girl at that point decided to wake up and have a little roll around herself. Back to 'Prince Sheikh' and he had decided that he was not moving for anyone. 'I think you're going to have to come back for another scan for me to look at his spine, he just won't move'. I couldn't help but quietly tell him off; will you move please so the doctor can see all is ok! Up I got to have a little jump around and a prod of my belly, and it seemed to do the trick. She managed to get all the measurements and finally, after 1 hour and 20 minutes we were done. Happy happy happy HAPPY! I can't even explain the extent to my excitement and the utter relief that all was ok. We got our pictures of our angels and went off for my birthday celebrations walking on air. A beautiful day filled with wonderful presents from my amazing hubby. But nothing at all could top the gift of my beautiful little squirmy prince and princess. Yep, even my Gina shoes. And even though they aren't here and are the size of the palm of my hand right now, love is far too weak a word to explain how I feel about them. And I don't even mind both me and hubs being able to say to each other 'I told you so!' :-)

It's wedding season

And things have been rather crazy here. As well as me doing many brides hair and makeup for their big days, attending lots of weddings myself, my belly has also started growing at an alarming rate. I am now just over 4 months and by gum is my oven expanding fast. I am however feeling like a human being again and not a sleepy spotty mess, which is just grand.

Most of my outfits I've been wearing to weddings I had especially made to fit me when I went to Pakistan to get my own bridal outfits done, so it's quite funny to feel how tight everything now is around my stomach area. I can't wear any jeans and am living in leggings and maxi dresses. Funnily enough though, I have only put on 2 pounds during my pregnancy so far. Strange...

More weddings ahead throughout July, and the heat is really annoying me. I'm just feeling far too uncomfortably warm at the moment and I may be the only person in London right now reeeeally looking forward to winter coming.

I went into Windsor with mother and sister a few weeks ago and ordered my iCandy buggy, cot beds, mattresses, travel cot and changer, it was SO friggin' exciting! I've not bought anything else yet but i'm starting to get itchy fingers. I really can't wait to start on the clothes, but that won't be for a little while yet.

I've been eating relatively healthily; a lot of fresh fruit, veg, nuts, salads, pasta, grilled meats (bar the odd 1 or 7 bags of crisps here and there. But that's nothing to do with me, it's what the babies want). Apart from still eating like a horse, things are great and i'm finally starting to 'enjoy' being pregnant.

The other night I was at home watching Michael Jacksons 'This Is It' for the first time (yes, can you believe how long I waited to watch it?! I was just so worried i'd bawl my eyes out throughout the whole thing; I did a tiny bit). Whilst singing along to 'The Way You Make Me Feel' as loudly as possible (and in Imrans face), I felt my first little flutter in my stomach. It was one of the bubs making itself known and informing me that they are an MJ fan! (Either that or bub just wanted me to stop singing.)

The other day we had a doctors appointment for a routine check up (double the bubbys = double the check-ups) and the doctor let me hear the babies heartbeats. She didn't even have to try very hard to find them, I was over the moon! Hubs and I just looked each other in a dopey eyed 'Ahhhhhhh listennnnn' way. It was quite amazing :-)

So that's me in a (very large sized) nutshell right now. I know it's been far too long since i've written, I won't leave it so long next time. And I promise I'll be writing up some of my favourite food recipes very soon (and will be sure to put up a picture of 'the belly' too!) xx

I'm crossing over

Into my second trimester! I'm so excited I could scream! (I did scream a bit, not a lot, don't want to frighten the kids). Had a nuchal translucency combined scan yesterday and all looks a'ok. My blood results will be back in about a week which will confirm the results. The sonographer was having a giggle at the bubs; both were somersaulting all over the place and when she began trying to measure them one lay back cross-legged, patiently waiting. The other carried on floating around in circles. I suppose the one that doesn't listen will take after it's father, however he will definitely refute that.

For those of you not in the know, this is a nuchal scan (copied from Wikipedia):
A nuchal scan is a sonographic prenatal screening scan (ultrasound) to help identify higher risks of Down syndrome in a fetus, particularly for older women who have higher risks of such pregnancies. High thickness measurements are also associated with congenital heart defect. The scan is carried out at 11–13.6 weeks pregnancy and assesses the amount of fluid behind the neck of the fetus - also known as the nuchal fold or 'the nuchal translucency'. Fetuses at risk of Down tend to have a higher amount of fluid around the neck. The scan may also help confirm both the accuracy of the pregnancy dates and the fetal viability. Its high definition imaging may also detect other less common chromosomal abnormalities.

I am so relieved and happy, and looking forward to starting to feel like a human being again. No more shuffling along the floor in exhaustion and falling asleep at dinner for me (I hope!)

I heart eating...

There's not much in the world that makes me happier. By the time I finish breakfast I'm looking forward to lunch and whilst eating lunch I'm thinking about dinner. Ok, it's a slight obsession (or a hobby, however you want to see it.)

Since being pregnant I've been starving every 2 hours, which is excessive even for me. It's hard to always find something quick and easy to eat, that's tasty and also healthy. Protein, fresh fruit and veg (especially green leafy veg) are important for women who are 'with child'.

I thought I'd share my diet, this is especially for those pregnant who are struggling with healthy ideas on what to eat and what to buy in the supermarket:

SNACKS

- Ryvita crackers with hummous/cottage cheese

- Carrots/cucumber/celery sticks with any dips (tzatziki yoghurt is great)

- Nuts, especially almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans

- Fruit, or fresh fruit juices/smoothies (Just throw any fruit into a blender! I sieve all the pulp. My favourite smoothie is milk, banana, walnuts, ground cinnamon and honey)

- Dried fruit (with NO added sugar, check the ingredients)

- Boiled edemame with salt/garlic salt/soy sauce

- Yoghurts/Rice puddings

- Soreen loaf

- Lindt 70% cocoa chocolate (better for you than milk chocolate I suppose, but I'm not going to lie, I'm still eating a load of Fruit and Nut, Flakes, Maltesers, Crunchies etc etc!)

- Pretzels or Snack a Jacks (healthier substitutes for those crisp cravings, although again, I've been eating A LOT of normal crisps too, they are my ultimate weakness)

- Frozen grapes

- Low sugar cereal/Porridge

MEALS

- Salad (throw in interesting things like cherry tomatoes, feta cubes, beans, sweetcorn, olives, beetroot, sweet peppers etc)

- Soup (Chicken and veg is fantastic and you can keep it in the fridge for days. Throw in things like carrots, courgettes, turnips, peas, brocolli, potatoes... You could even throw in a handful of macaroni. I'll be adding some of my favourite soup recipes soon.)

- Pitta/wraps (you can even freeze the bread and take them out of the freezer as needed, just defrost them in the toaster. Fill with grilled chicken/tuna [if pregnant keep an eye on how much tuna you're eating]/steak/grilled courgettes or aubergines/salad bits.)

- Pasta, pasta, pasta! (I ADORE pasta. Quick and easy to make and I am eating a lot of it at the moment, even though I suppose I shouldn't be, boooo. I will add some of my favourite pasta recipes)

- Oriental style dishes (I have 'Chinese Food Made Easy' by Ching-He Huang which is fantastic. A lot of her dishes are low fat, very tasty and extremely easy to make. I'll write up a few of my favourite recipes from her book.)

That's all I can think of for now, but keep your eyes peeled for recipes and pictures.

I am now 12 weeks and have been feeling such tiredness during my first trimester that I haven't really been my usual Nigella-esque self in the kitchen, I really enjoy cooking and experimenting with others recipes and with my own ideas. However very soon my energy will return and i'll be sharing all my yummy, quick and easy recipes :-)

Facts, research and cute stuff!

Did you know that Fraternal twins (Dizygotic twins - hmm, possible names? Dizy and Gotic... Or maybe not) share about 50% of their genetic traits, the same as any other siblings born at different times?

And did you know that it is possible that fraternal twins can have different fathers?? Apparently the two eggs are released at different times and can be fertilized by different sperm. Amazing aye (no cheeky comments please)!

And did you also know that the reason for pregnant women being SO exhausted during the first trimester is because their bodies are increasing their blood supply, blood sugar levels and metabolism are adjusting and the body is working overtime to produce the placenta? And just so you know, i'm creating 2 placentas (a fact that I am FOREVER reminding the husband of - 'Nat, can you get me the ketchup from the fridge?' 'IMRAN, I am creating TWO PLACENTAS HERE!! I don't see you creating anything except a bloomin' mess!' Poor guy). So if you see me wandering the streets like a zombie, please just smile and nod.

So anyway, I scrapped my previous research for single buggies, cots, car seats etc, and started my spreadsheet for all things double. (To all friends and family, I do apologise for you having to buy us 2 of everything but just to help you out I am currently creating my gift list and will be sending to you all in the next few months, chaars). I know i'm completely getting ahead of myself and I should just wait, but I don't want to. So there!

Hubs found a great website (www.twins-store.co.uk) which caters for multiple births. Speaking to parents of twins, i've been told that cotbeds are a good idea as they last for many years from birth through to around 5 years. Also, sometimes twins are unable to sleep without being right next to each other, and cotbeds are also big enough to fit 2 of them for a short while (I am however adamant thet they will not get into bad habits early so won't let them sleep together for long.) One woman told me that she would creep into her babies room to check up on them and they would be sleeping whilst holding hands. HOW RIDICULOUSLY CUTE IS THAT?! Mine I suppose may not want to hold hands and I can't really force them, but I probably will.



Regarding buggies, so far the iCandy buggy Peach Blossom Twin is way out in front, it's just adorable.


My list is pages and pages long so I won't bother going into it all now. I've also already made my list for what needs to be taken to the hospital on the day of birth (can anyone say 'unbelievably anally retentive'? Well if you can, don't, because you might get a slap from a very hormonal and extremely tired woman who is currently creating two placentas.)

And so it begins...

'Imran, I feel weird, I'm telling you I feel like i'm growing a child'. My husband looked at me like I was a teeny bit mental. He knows though once I get something in my head I don't shut up about it (something i'm working on by the way). So off I skipped to the bathroom with my pregnancy test. Having been married for 3 amazing years to my darling hubby (yes, he's going to be reading this), it was the day after our wedding anniversary and I had a strong jittery feeling that my body was changing, life was beginning inside me, I was glowing, my heart a flutter and... Oh it's negative. Poo.

2 weeks later and now late for my period, I grabbed my last Clear Blue test and quietly locked the bathroom door not wanting to tell hubby because I wouldn't hear the end of 'Why must you waste another £10 test woman?!' I was quite sure it would come back negative, but I suppose I just wanted to rule it out. Instantly the little blue 'positive' line appeared, and I stared at it for about 4 minutes, knowing that i'd wee'd on the stick for 5 seconds too long and I MUST have broken it. I wandered out to the living room where hubby was sitting. 'Erm...I took a test and it says positive but I wee'd on it too long and I broke it and I need another test and you have to go and buy me one...'. He stared at me for a few seconds and said 'I didn't understand a word you said, are you ill?' So I pointed him in the direction of the bathroom and he went in to see what was going on. Then out he came holding the test, completely white (he's asian and naturally ahem, 'mocha' coloured; his words not mine, so it was rather funny to see him turn so pale). I calmly told him to please buy me another test, and he was just so in shock he (very surprisingly) said nothing and left the house in complete silence.

He brings home a shiny new Clear Blue Digital test whilst i've been at home glugging copious glasses of water and I leg it back into the toilet with my test. 'Have you finished yet?' I can hear him anxiously shouting from outside the door. 'I haven't even undone my jeans yet, hold on!!' So I take the test and it instantly says 'Positive 5-6 weeks'.

I open the door and start bawling my eyes out.

And right at that moment as I struggled to breathe, blew my snotty nose and dried my mascara cloaked eyes I knew everything was going to change... And get even better :-)

We go to the doctor, confirm the pregnancy, suss out my symptoms, buy a trolley full of organic food and Pregnacare and I begin doing my usual anal research on all things baby.

I begin to suffer extreme tiredness, breathlessness, nausea, heartburn, frequent urination, urges to eat every 1.5 hours and more tiredness. Pregnancy really is a beautiful thing(!) I am however so lucky to not vomit at all, GO ME!

In my usual worrisome demeanour I start freaking out at 9 weeks that everything is ok as my scan isn't until 12 weeks, so we decide to go for a private scan in Harley Street. Before I can take a deep breath i'm on the bed, belly full of clear gel and i'm staring at the monitor.

'OH' the sonographer says... 'Oh...??'

'TWINS!!'

'Riiiight... Well you're quite obviously doing something wrong so please check your monitor again thanks' I say as calmly as possible whilst trying to relax my eyebrows which have hit my hairline. 'No no, it's quite clear to see' she says, and she's right. I'm staring at the black and white screen, tears streaming down my face and I can clearly see 2 sacs filled with 2 baby shaped blobs. At that point I start shaking and turn to face hubs, waiting for him to laugh at me and tell me he had a joke going with the sonographer (something he would do). Once I notice his eyes are so wide open his eyeballs are about to fall out of his head and he's turned a bit pink and sweaty I realise that obviously it's no joke. We are given our pictures and are suddenly standing on the street in central London, looking around aimlessly, trying to understand what has just happened. Neither myself or hubby have twins in our families, hence being so freaked out about it! I remember when I was 16, always saying 'I don't want twins, I could never EVER handle them!' God obviously heard me; He either thinks I really can handle them and this will be my ultimate proof that I should have more faith in myself, or He just thought it would be hilarious to see my reaction when I was told it was twins. I think it's the latter.

It took me 2 days to get over the shock and now I am so excited I could burst. I feel blessed and so lucky to be carrying two little Sheikhys in my belly, not just one! At 10 weeks i'm already becoming increasingly impatient and just want them to come NOW NOW NOW!!

So here I sit, on the sofa, feeling sleepy with a touch of heartburn, belly starting to bloat, feeling breathless just walking from the living room to the kitchen to get my 15th meal of the day... Yet I feel like the happiest, most fortunate person in this world. Roll on the next 7 months! Good times :-)