Freeper's wife says:
I first felt my twins move 9 weeks after conception, a week after an ultrasound at our first dr.'s appointment told us we were having twins. We had ultrasounds at every appointment after that, but the one that I remember most was when I had amniocentesis at 18 weeks.
The process involves poking the woman's tummy with a big needle. To make sure the baby isn't pricked, they do a simultanous ultrasound so the doctor can find a safe place to poke.
The lower twin sat pretty still, with her butt pointing down, and the process went quickly with her. We'd been discussing names for several weeks, one of which was Gabriella. Well, my husband watched the screen and said, "that's Gabby! the quiet one."
The upper twin was not only active, but aggressive. She moved all over the place, and when the nurse found a 'safe' place and pushed her finger into my tummy as a marker for the doctor's needle, the twin moved over to it and seemed to push back. She was definitely a feisty little thing, pushing back fiercely for some minutes. Finally the nurse managed to find another spot far enough away that the doctor could finish the procedure before the twin moved in.
Their personalities are still the same. Gabby is calm, relaxed, and Teresa is feisty and prone to tremendous tandrums. She is my most spirited child.
I don't know when life begins, but I do know Teresa was who she is long before she was born, and certainly before 18 weeks after conception.
PS: the Freeper, a stay-at-home-Dad and evening karate instructor, says "raising twins is a man's job!" and I agree.
"amniocentesis"
The test I refused, and almost had to change doctor over.
I was deemed "high risk" due to my age, 35, and my history, multiple spontaneous abortions.
The test itself is a high risk procedure, one I refused to take, given my history.
The test wouldn't hurt me, but is extremely dangerous to the life of the baby.
May I ask why you thought you needed it?