Each pregnancy is unique, and all mothers have their own pregnancy story to share. We recently talked to Regina Abad, who graciously shared with us her twin pregnancy experience.
Can you tell us more about yourself?
I am Regina P. Fregillana-Abad. I have been married for 20 years, and I work as a full-time employee at a school. My husband and I have four children. The eldest is a 19-year-old boy, then 17-year-old twin girls, and my youngest is a 10-year-old girl.
When did you find out that you were going to have twins? Does it run in the family?
I found out that I was pregnant with twins during my first ultrasound to verify that I was pregnant. At first, the resident doctor confirmed that I was pregnant with one fetus. However, when the head sonologist examined me again for final assessment, she confirmed that there were two heartbeats detected, which means that I was carrying twins.
My twins are identical, which happens when one fertilized egg (ovum) splits and develops into two babies with exactly the same genetic information.
I was pregnant with my twins at the age of 33. It runs in the family on both sides – on my father’s side and my mother-in-law’s side.
Did you have any concerns or worries when you found out?
Yes, definitely. When I learned that I was carrying twins, the first thing that came to my mind was, could they be conjoined? I also had mixed emotions as I know that I had some health concerns like hypertension and spinal problems. I thought to myself, will I be able to safely carry my twins through to the end.
Did your doctor give you any special advice or precautions since you were having twins?
Due to my having hypertension, I was recommended to do complete bed rest. I also had to take some medications to prevent me from having a miscarriage. I also needed to eat healthy food and drink vitamins.
How did it feel to carry two babies during your pregnancy?
I felt blessed to have the opportunity to be pregnant with twins, especially as it occurred through normal conception and not through using any drug intervention (fertility pills).
Though, I also felt anxious about my movements as I had two babies in my tummy. I also prayed every day that the three of us would be safe and healthy. Expecting two babies is truly double the happiness, and, of course double, the expenses in everything. Haha. However, it is worth it.
Did you experience any difficulty when you gave birth?
Yes, every time I went into labor, it took about 40 hours. I was expected to give birth the normal way (vaginal delivery). However, one of the twins was not cooperating. Plus, my blood pressure was already unstable, so I was recommended to have a cesarean delivery after a long wait.
When it comes to caring for twin babies, what are the biggest hurdles?
My twins – Felise Gabrielle and Charlotte Ingrid – have G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency, which affects the red blood cells. Simply put, with this condition, their red blood cells break down faster than they are made if triggered by exposure to certain drugs, foods or even infections. . This deficiency was detected as part of the newborn screening.
The G6PD deficiency is genetic, and they inherited it from their father. When I learned about their deficiency, I decided to leave my work to look after them. My husband and I attended sessions on how our twins can cope. These sessions taught us more about the dos and don’ts of raising your children who are G6Pd deficient.
Another is when they get sick and need to be hospitalized. They don’t get sick at the same time. However, maybe because they are twins, they share a common bond and care for one another. Usually, if one gets sick, the other will begin to show symptoms of the same illness a few days after.
Although they are twins and considered identical, they have their own personalities. It’s normal for them to experience a little sibling rivalry. That’s why always need to balance my attention to avoid jealousy.
How did you care for your twins after birth?
I must say that I was a hands-on mother to my twins when they were younger. I always found time to be present in their activities and check on their needs. Sad to say though that I was not able to breastfeed them when they were infants because of the maintenance medicines that I was taking for my hypertension.
Do you have any advice for other moms who are also expecting twins?
Do not feel scared if you learn that you are conceiving twins. Be thankful and feel blessed for this gift. You may be nervous and anxious about the expenses that will entail raising two babies at the same time. However, it is rewarding when you see them grow happy, healthy, and safe.
I believe that conceiving whether single, double, or triple babies, mothers should be extra careful with their health and mental health in order to deliver a healthy baby/babies.
I am thankful to my husband for giving me wonderful and loving children to make my life more meaningful.
Read up on other pregnancy stories on My Story here.
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