Teen Mom's Mackenzie Douthit and Fiancé Khesanio Hall Share How They Decided to 'Go All Out' for Twins' Sex Reveal (Exclusive)

Mackenzie Douthit is enjoying the "home stretch" of her pregnancy!

As she settles into her third trimester, Mackenzie tells PEOPLE the journey through this pregnancy has been "rough."

Expecting twins has presented Mackenzie with new pregnancy experiences. She notes that she's in "different circumstances" than her pregnancies with her three older kids — Broncs, 7, Jaxie, 10, and Gannon, 13.

"I was living with my mom for the other [pregnancies], and she was the support that I had," she begins. (Mackenzie has been open about the emotional journey this pregnancy presents, her first since her mother Angie Douthit died of cancer in 2019.)

The medical side of pregnancy has also been different. Mackenzie turned to IVF after having a tubal ligation following Broncs' birth. As a Type 1 diabetic, the resources available to her have also changed.

"I did not have an insulin pump or a CGM. So technology with diabetes has come a long ways, and that has made a world of difference and it took that load of stress off of me. So as far as diabetes goes, it's been a breeze this time," she says.

The world of IVF has fascinated the couple, with Mackenzie sharing a renewed appreciation for "what IVF moms go through just to get to the part where you're pregnant."

Mackenzie acknowledges that while her IVF journey was "hard," it made her realize what some have no choice but to go through in order to start or build their families.

"I gained a whole new respect for women who struggle with infertility. I don't struggle with infertility, I had my tubes tied. I did have three kids naturally, and this is because I chose to tie my tubes, so I'm sensitive to those moms and this topic," she adds.

Mackenzie has never done a sex reveal before, but with two babies on the way — fiancé Khesanio Hall's first two — and the excitement from all of her loved ones, she decided to give the idea a go.

"I hadn't done a gender reveal with the others. I think I just went in and found out," Mackenzie says.

"I kind of wanted it to be small, do something with maybe just the kids, and my friends are like, 'No, let's throw you something big. We want to go all out.' It's such a big moment, but for this, it was a big moment and then a second big moment," the soon-to-be mom of five says.

"So it was like he kicks a ball and then we find out the first baby and then you get excited and then you have to regather yourself, process, 'Okay that's A.' And then he did the second one. So a twin gender reveal is so amazing. I've never been to one, but we got to have one and it was so cool."

This pregnancy comes at what's already been an exciting time for Mackenzie. Not only has her cheer gym and time on reality TV kept her in a great place professionally, but the couple's engagement and her kids' love for their family as it is today has given the soon-to-be mom of five everything to be happy about.

"I think just having two partners excited about the babies makes a world of difference," Mackenzie shares.

"These are the only babies I've planned. The whole time, instead of stressing about what I'm going ot do, we're talking about how excited we are for these babies to come."

Preparing to grow the family also allowed Mackenzie to have conversations with each of her kids about how they felt about this new chapter of their family.

"They are very excited. We talked to them before we even started IVF. They saw the whole year of preparing my body and the IVF process. By the time I was pregnant, they were just so into the idea that I was going to have another baby," Mackenzie shares.

Another big difference for Mackenzie is the external support she's gotten during this pregnancy, with Teen Mom viewers happy to see her thriving in a relationship that's a true partnership.

"I took a two year break [from the show] and then when I came back, I was with Khesanio. Since 16 & Pregnant, I was so used to people hating my relationship. I kind of thought it was because they didn't like me, but I realize now it's that they actually cared and didn't want to see that happen for me," Mackenzie says.

"That's a part of sharing your story. I was always having women reach out to me and saying, 'Please leave,' or 'You need to leave, you deserve better.' They kind of got tired of watching me put up with that. So now, it's very different to read comments and see how many people support my relationship. It feels good."

Laughing, she adds, "I think they like Khesanio more than me now though. He stole the show."

Khesanio has also grown to appreciate the support that comes the couple's way.

"I wouldn't say it's the most important thing, but it makes you feel good when you hear people recognizing, talking about the good stuff that you've been doing," he says.

As far as fans commending him for being a good partner and dad, he continues, "It's always a good feeling when that happens. But to be honest, I'm just me. I just do what I would do, what comes naturally for me. So for me to be here for Mackenzie and the kids and the two babies that are coming, it just makes me happy that I'm able to be here for them. But it is also extra special to have the support of the community as well."

The pair are currently busy with getting ready for the twins' arrival. Mackenzie jokes, "Oddly, Khesanio has been the one to nest and not me. He's hitting this father mode of nesting and he just did loads and loads of laundry because he wanted to wash all their stuff in baby laundry detergent."

With the help of the kids, "He got the nursery ready, so everything is good to go. We have our hospital bag packed for the most part, and we're kind of just prepared for if they come tomorrow or next month or whenever."

The couple even got a minivan in preparation of becoming a family of seven. It's uncharted territory for the family, but they're prepared to go at it together.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing what a piece of me looks like in real life," Khesanio says. "I'm excited for that part of it and just continuing to be a dad."

"It seems like just yesterday, I was sharing my story of getting pregnant at 16 when I was trying not to and it happened so easy," Mackenzie adds. "And now I'm sharing my story of really wanting to get pregnant and having to go through all that I had to go through just to get pregnant. It's an exciting time."