When she took the test, and it was positive, she didn’t stop crying. She was only just eight weeks pregnant, and she was not prepared for such a big surprise. She already had one baby, and the first thing she said was, “But she already has a baby!”The ultrasound technician looked at the screen and told her that there were two babies in her belly. She had no idea what to make of it. Her husband was away on military duty, so she was alone at the appointment. She wanted him to be there to support her. She kept asking herself how she was going to take care of three children under three years old. How are they going to manage everything? Her brain was full of worries and thoughts.
Though she was scared, she could not help but be excited as well. Two babies, two new lives. She could not bring herself to believe it. When she shared the news with her family, they were as surprised as she was. No one had expected twins because the family didn’t have a history of twinning. Her parents kept looking at the ultrasound photos over and over until they believed it. Pretty soon, everyone was happy and excited. Their joy helped calm her fear a little. Her body did not stay the same for long. Her belly went from small to very big very fast. People could not keep their eyes off her when she walked down the street.
Some of them smiled, some looked puzzled, but there were also those who made insulting remarks. Her body was very different from what it used to be. She had long, skinny marks, loose skin, and some new curves. She was fit and confident once, but now she is feeling nervous and shy. However, she kept reminding herself that her body was accomplishing something wonderful; it was nurturing two healthy babies. Therefore, she tried to look at her body with love rather than tears because of the changes. At 38 weeks, her body was extremely heavy, and she was very tired. Carrying twins is not easy. She could hardly walk because her belly was protruding so much. She was very big. The doctors made a call that it was time for labor induction.
Since she delivered the first baby naturally, she wanted a natural birth this time as well. But the doctors found that both babies were in distress and that their heads were not down. After almost 24 hours of labor with no progress, they decided on a C-section. She was exhausted, scared, and tearful, but all she wanted was her babies to be safe. Her twin boys were born healthy at the end. The very moment she heard their cries, she felt that all the pain and struggle were worth it. They drove them home, and life was completely different now. They were the parents of three children under three years old. It was loud, chaotic, and tiring, but also full of love.
Some days were very difficult. She hardly slept on some nights. There were instances when she cried because of the pressure. However, there were also times when all three kids smiled at her, and she felt like the luckiest mother on earth. After giving birth, her body looked even more different. Her stomach had loose skin that hung down. She was insecure at first, but then she came to a realization: her body had carried three children. It had done so much work. It was worthy of love, not shame. She started posting unfiltered pictures of her postpartum body on the internet. She wanted other mothers to know the reality that real bodies are not flawless.
Lots of mothers were grateful to her for being truthful. Some people behaved badly, but she got used to them and stopped listening. The thing that mattered was to make other women feel that they were not the only ones going through that. At present, she is celebrating her experience. The fact that she had twins was terrifying, startling, and very challenging, but it also made her more resilient. She figured out that mothering is not about being flawless. It is instead about love, patience, and bravery. It is perfectly fine to be tired and feel like you cannot cope. Your body is incredible, and you have more strength than you think. You are not on your own. Every mother has her own story, and each story is important.
