So far, I've gained 35 pounds, most of it in my belly. I have some swelling from my waist down, but it's not enough to comprise much of the weight gain. As of January 7, the specialist estimated baby A to weigh 5 pounds 14 ounces and baby B to weight 5 pounds, 7 ounces. That is about a pound more than they were estimated to weigh two weeks prior.
My belly really began visible and rapid growth around week 28. The other day, I put on a maternity shirt after washing it and first thought it shrunk in the wash. But it's happening with other maternity shirts, as well as with the suddenly too-tight elastic bands on maternity pants.
My belly feels very tight and stretched most of the time. The skin on the top half of my belly is very tender to the touch. Sometimes I don't even want a shirt rubbing on it. It's not itchy from stretching, but actually sore. Poor Katy has received a few too warnings about touching mommy's belly, which makes me sad because she just wants to love and be loved.
Speaking of stretch marks, my first one appeared this week in what used to be the small space between the two holes where I formally had a belly button piercing. I wonder if it will grow, if it has friends in waiting, and what it will look like when I have a belly button again.
Baby A has consistently presented vertex. Baby B is usually breech but sometimes transverse, sitting above baby A. Baby B constantly pushes into my ribs, while baby A is so low that I can feel some movements externally in my...ahem....nether parts. It's a very strange feeling and it makes me think a hand may just pop right out if I'm not careful. I suspect Baby A is actually just hitting some nerve endings due to his or her very low position.
Staying hydrated has been a huge focus this pregnancy, especially after I started having contractions at an one of Chris' work related functions and had to leave early to go to the hospital. It was a quite dramatic exit because we carpooled with some of Chris' coworkers, so it was impossible to slip out unnoticed. It turns out I was dehydrated, and probably that I had also been a bit too active that day. So, now I'm drinking about 150 ounces of water a day and somehow I still wake-up thirsty. As you can imagine, I go to the bathroom a lot.
Heartburn has been a problem, as it was with Katy's pregnancy. It has been a bit more manageable thanks to a prescription medicine my doctor prescribed after I was unable to lay on my back for 20 minutes for one of my weekly fetal non-stress tests. But, I still wake up at night sometimes with semi-digested food shooting up my throat, only to spend the next ten minutes coughing and trying to get rid of the taste of vomit in my mouth.
Back pain and round ligament pain, however, is by far the biggest discomfort right now. Driving is very uncomfortable and exacerbates my back pain. There's something about how I have to sit to reach both the pedals and the steering wheel at the same time that just hurts, plus I can't really turn my body when I need to look over my shoulder when crossing oncoming traffic. Worse than driving, however, is sleeping. I dread nighttime because every position I sleep-in causes either back pain, rib pain, or shooting round ligament pain. Sometimes I have to wake Chris to help me move because the pain is so immobilizing. I wake-up several times a night in pain, struggle to adjust my position and move all my support pillows, and long for morning as I fall back to sleep. Some nights, I get so tired of the discomfort and constant waking that I just get up and read for a couple hours.
I'm also winded easily and get tired if I'm on feet too much. Luckily these have been manageable symptoms because I have someone coming to the house daily to help me with cooking, cleaning, and watching Katy when I need to take a (uncomfortable) nap. Also helpful are the electric carts at HEB and Target.
Having help at home as well as general pain and discomfort from over-exertion means I have a lot of free time to catch up on half-finished craft projects, reading, settling into the new house, and the always growing too-do list before babies arrive.
Week 34 turned out to be a very big week. First, our new church threw us a surprise baby shower. We were leaving Soceidad Jovenes when we were invited into the fellowship hall. Chris and our friends visiting from McAllen all agreed to go without hesitation, even though I said, "We don't even know what we are agreeing to attend." When we entered, everyone yelled surprise and I looked around trying to figure out who the surprise was for. I was very, very confused and my face showed it. And then I realized everyone was looking at me, I turned bright red, and I almost started crying. It was a very kind thing from a church in which we are very new.
Also during week 34, I pushed my specialist to do a transvaginal ultrasound to check my marginal placenta previa, something not usually done because the placenta usually does not move that late in pregnancy. I must be the exception, though, because the placenta had finally moved enough to no longer be placenta previa. The specialist congratulated me on having graduated from his care, and my OB subsequently cancelled my c-section scheduled for January 22. Now I can go as long as 38 weeks (the first week of February). I know this is a good thing for the babies but for my personal comfort level...oh gosh.
People still find great interest in the fact that I'm carrying two babies. It really is something special to carry twins, but it is also a great burden on a woman's body. Luckily, we are nearing the end and soon we will know if we have two girls, two boys, or one of each.
 |
| 30 weeks |
 |
| 32 weeks |
 |
| 35 weeks |
No comments:
Post a Comment