The 411 on Identical Twins

As you may know or may not know I'm expecting monochorionic twins which means I'm having identical twins.
I don't have twins in my family however, the father already has a set of fraternal twins so I assumed it was genetic and he is the one that gave me twins. However, after my first visit with a multiple birth specialist which I was referred to by my doctor I found out a lot of information.
I was recommended to see Dr. Russell Miller at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York and Dr. Miller gave me a lot of information that I did not know about when conceiving carrying and delivering identical twins.
Fraternal twins are the only twins that are conceived through genetics identical twins however are not and like Dr. Miller said "it's the luck of the draw." Identical twins happen spontaneously it was just a coincidence my partner already had a set of fraternal twins.
According to scientists identical twins occur when the blastocyst AKA fertilized cell mysteriously splits into two.
Monochronic Twin occur in 0.3% of all pregnancies and mostly occur in older women due to hormonal changes, so I guess I'm considered older lol. 
Identical twins are rare and occur randomly and that's what makes it a true blessing.
There are also a lot of complications when carrying these kind of twins because they share one placenta.
As of right now Dr. Miller told me to be aware that maybe one twin is getting more blood and nutrients from the placenta than the other one and this is often a common problem when carrying identical twins and is called unequal placenta sharing.
Another issue can be TTS which is twin to Twin transfusion syndrome meaning one baby is getting more blood supply than the other one, which can be very dangerous, even causing death to one of the babies which in turn will affect the other baby as well since they are connected through one placenta.
Also when delivering there is a high chance of a lot of loosing alot of bleeding which may result in needing a blood transfusion which some people like myself don't believe in and could possibly end in death.
Although the Doctor was not trying to scare me there are a lot of concerns that I am now aware of. I'm glad I'm aware but the same time it makes me me more cautionary on how to take care of myself while I'm pregnant and hopefully I will have a healthy delivery with two healthy babies who I cannot wait to meet.

Moms Morning Smoothie Recipe: Avocado Banana

• Avocado's have great health benefits, they contain Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E.
• Then it contains small amounts of Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Zinc, Phosphorous, Vitamin A, B1, B2 and B3n and do not have any saturated fat.

Avocado Banana Smoothie

Ingredients: 

1 half of a Avocado

1 half of a Banana

1/2 cup of fat free Vanilla Yogurt

1 Cup of 2% Milk or milk of your choice.

1 tsp of honey or agave (optional)  

Directions:

Add Avocado and Banana into blender along with yogurt and milk. Blend for 2-3 minutes.

Add Honey or Agave if desirable.

Add handful of Ice as well if you want smoothie chilled. 

Get Your Winter Boost Of Vitamins.

Winter can be a drag, all you hear is sneezing instead of the sound of a nice warm breeze.

So in order to quiet those sneezes, there are some Winter Fruits that can boost you and your kids vitamin C. 

Pomegranate

Pomegranate are in season between September- February.

Pomegranate is rich in disease fighting nutrients, anthocyanins, contained in out of season berries and they're highly packed with fiber.

When buying pomegranate you can always tell which is the best pick by its weight. The heavier they are the better. They can last up to three weeks when refrigerated.

Kiwi 

Kiwi is available all year round.

Kiwi is fun looking for kids, plus their body can absorb the antioxidants more easily than Strawberries. Eating kiwi before bedtime may also improve sleep quality and duration.

When picking your Kiwi look for the plump ones with some softness.

Mango

Mango's are available all year round.

Mango is a tropical fruit highly packed with vitamins A&C and rich in folate a nutrient that helps cell division and produces red blood cells.

When picking Mango look for the ones you can lightly press into.

Kumquat

Kumquat is available from November- July.

This fruit is very nutritious with sweet edible skin. Kumquat contain Vitamin A&C, antioxidants such as cancer-fighting lutein and zeaxanthin. The skin is packed with fiber and oils such as anti-flammatory limonene.

When buying Kumquat make sure it is bright orange with smooth skin.

Asian Pear

Asian Pear is available from September- February.

Asian pears contain extra-heart healthy fiber and potassium.

When purchasing Asian Pear look for firm unbruised fruit. This fruit most likely won't soften.

Grapefruit 

Grapefruit is available all year round. 

Grapefruit are packed with antioxidants that help stabilize blood-glucose levels. They also lower the risk of diabetes. However, grapefruit doesn't mix well with some meds so refer to your doctor if you are taking and medications or antihistamines.

When picking your grapefruit make sure it's round and heavy without blemishes.

Oranges

Oranges are available year round.

When choosing your oranges the most recommended are red blood orange and pinkish Cara Caras.

These oranges contain healthy plant compounds that aren't present in other variety of oranges.

Cara Caras have lycopene which is also in watermelon and helps fight cancer.

Blood oranges have anthocyanins which is a heart healthy antioxidant.

When picking your oranges look for firm, shiny heavy oranges.