35 Weeks

I'm 35 weeks and I've officially hit a brick wall. I'm beat, burnt out and ready to meet my babies. I can't believe I still have 3 weeks to go until my scheduled c-section on 7/11/11.

I'm retaining water in my lower extremities like its my job. Its far worse on my left side, which according to my OB is because I've experienced 'trauma' (ie surgery) on my left leg so my blood circulation is already compromised. Basically, my thighs down to my feet look disgusting and I'm embarrassed by them. I used to have such nice and toned legs.

I've been having a lot more contractions, which are getting more and more uncomfortable. I also have quite a bit of cramping, however at my 35 week OB appointment I'm not dilated yet, but maybe I'm getting there.

How far along: 35 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 39 lbs - most of which has got to be all this damn fluid
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: bathroom trips and contractions are keeping me up
Best moment this week: Michael feeling the babies being really active and telling me they want out - he then installed the car seats in my car
Food cravings: still watermelon
Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing: my body
What I'm looking forward to: meeting my babies!

34 Weeks

Its been an eventful week for me. On Sunday had my baby shower, hosted by Michael's 4 aunts. It was a beautiful day, beautiful decorations, delicious food and wonderful family and friends to share the day with. I couldn't believe how emotionally overwhelmed I felt throughout the day. I just couldn't believe, after all I've been through, that I was finally in the home stretch and sharing it with such amazing people. We got a lot of wonderful gifts and an insane amount of baby clothes. It seemed most people arrived with a 'his' and 'hers' gift bag, which is quite thoughtful, but made for a lot of gifts to open!

Probably the most sentimental gift I got was from Annie, my sister in law. Among other things, she put a picture of her two kids (Riland, age 6 and Bergen, age 3) in a 'Cousins' frame that a sweet little saying on it. Riland also wrote a note (in blue marker) saying 'I can't wait to meet you'. Of course my eyes swelled up with tears.

I also had any ultrasound on Tuesday, which I wrote about in the previous post. This put a little panic in me and garnered excitement in Michael. He's says he's just anxious to meet the babies, but part of me thinks he's tired of hearing me complain about all the fluid I've been retaining.

This fluid is slowly taking over my body. What started just in my feet, progressed to my ankles and calves and this morning my thighs. It looks so bad and I'm so embarrassed. I know I shouldn't be, but its just not me. I look down and cannot believe these are my legs. What the hell happened?

The one thing I keep telling myself is that its not permanent. I've been lucky enough to avoid stretch marks (at least so far) so I should suck it up and deal with the swollen lower extremities like the tough bitch I am.

How far along: 34 weeks
Weight loss/gain: 34 lbs
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: not so good
Best moment this week: Baby shower with family and friends
Food cravings: once again, I can't get enough watermelon
Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing: easily finding a pair of shoes to wear
What I'm looking forward to: finishing the nursery this weekend

11 lbs 6 oz Baby in my Belly

Yesterday, at exactly 34 weeks I had my last and final growth scan to check in on the babies. I always enjoy having the ultrasounds, hearing their heartbeats, watching them wiggle around and hearing how well they are doing.

Both babies have been measuring ahead at all my ultrasounds so I've come to expect that. My 30 week ultrasound was the first one that Little Guy (baby B) measured larger than Baby Girl (baby A).

As it turns out, Little Guy is not so little anymore! He's weighing in at an estimated 6 lbs 1 oz, which puts him at the 95th percentile and actually measuring 36 weeks instead of 34 weeks. Holy smokes that a big baby! His heart rate was perfect at 134 and everything was just as it should be, thankfully!

Baby Girl weighed in at 5 lbs 5 oz, which puts her at the 75th percentile and has her measuring 35 weeks instead of 34 weeks. Her heart rate was 136 and she was perfect in every way!

Both babies are now transverse and as the MFM put it, Baby Girl has the bottom bunk and Little Guy has the top bunk. Their heads are together, which I'm probably envisioning is much cuter than it really it is.

While I'm thrilled both babies are wonderful and measuring nice and big, I expressed my concern that both babies are measuring so big and I still have 4 weeks to get me to the 38 week mark. The doctor seemed pretty confident I'd go into labor on my own before 38 weeks. He said the babies are measuring big and I have a small frame so he wouldn't be surprised if I had them within 2 weeks or so.

Yikes....enter panic mode! I almost started crying. I'm scared shitless and hardly feel ready! On the contrary, Michael is thrilled and super excited. He said it was the best appointment yet because he's so excited to meet our two little miracles. While I am too, I'm worried about their lung development among other complications if they are born too early, finishing their nursery, installing car seats, buying diapers and crib mattresses (my list could go on and on).

I go see my OB on Monday and we will definitely be having a chat about this. I also want him to do an internal and tell me if I'm starting to dialate as I feel that is a better indicator of an impending labor.

In the meantime, I will be frantically trying to get my shit together and finish up all the last minute items 'just in case'.

33 Weeks

33 weeks and I'm really starting to feel it! My back hurts from sitting at my desk all day and my legs, ankles and feet are retaining so much water I feel like I'm having an out of body experience when I look down. I just can't believe those are my legs. What happened to my thin toned legs? I see them in the morning and at some point during the day, they disappear. It probably doesn't help that its been in the 90's here and extremely humid.

Other than the swelling and back aches, I'm still forging ahead. I'm still going to the gym and trying to do as much as I can. In all honesty, I'm afraid to stop. I feel like if I stop, I loose. Like I'm letting pregnancy kick my ass and I'm not having that.

I'm loving feeling the babies move and how they keep getting stronger. Little guy seems so much lower than he was, hence my basketball belly. Baby girl, I swear, is coming out of my side. It is so funny to her push or stretch and its so far on the side of my belly its almost in the back.

How far along: 33 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 30 lbs
Maternity clothes: yes, with the exception of maxi dresses. The maternity maxi dresses have too much material and make me look like a tent. Not flattering!
Sleep: waking up every 2 hours. Michael just told me he is getting on the babies scheduled too because he is now waking up every couple hours.
Best moment this week: maternity pictures at the park we got married. I can't wait to share them!
Food cravings: still watermelon
Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing: my thin toned legs, real ankles and normal feet
What I'm looking forward to: my family and friends shower this Sunday!

32 Weeks

Why is it that I always feel like I look so much bigger in person than I do in pictures? I'm still, thankfully, stretch mark free and don't have any restrictions. I'm still working, going to the gym and doing all my normal activities.

I have however and unfortunately now succumbed to retaining water and wonderful swelling in my feet, ankles and calves. Nice timing, just as its getting hot and I want to wear shorts or cropped pants, I'm now too embarrassed to wear anything but jeans and long dresses and skirts.

I had my first NST (non-stress test) on Memorial Day. It was supposed to take 30 minutes or so, but I was there for 2 hours. Baby Girl wasn't responding as they wanted her too so they just kept monitoring me to make sure things were okay. Thankfully, she started to become more active which appeased the doctors and I was released after two long hours. I was also informed this will now be a weekly appointment. I guess its time to find a good book to bring along.

I also dropped. It may be hard to tell in the pictures, but I woke up on Monday and Michael I couldn't believe the difference in my belly. I now have very visible upper ribs that look like brackets holding my belly up. It makes me a little bit nervous, because I thought you didn't drop until the end of the pregnancy, but I guess I'm getting close!

How far along: 32 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 28 lbs
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: really missing it
Best moment this week: Listening to Michael try to guess the body parts he can feel
Food cravings: watermelon
Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing: my ankles
What I'm looking forward to: My family and friends shower

31 Weeks

31 weeks and still going strong. I had an OB appointment at 30 weeks and my OB has been really impressed with how well I'm doing and how great I look. Of course that's always a nice compliment. I have my first NST (non stress test) on Monday, Memorial Day, just shy of 32 weeks and then head back to the OB. Hopefully all is well.

I must look like I'm about to pop because I've had several people this week (mostly men) ask me if I'm due any day now. It makes feel like I must look huge, discourages me that I still have 7 weeks left to go and overall, is just a bit offensive. I'm not huge by any means. Perhaps because just about all the weight I've gained has gone straight to my belly, I look disproportionately large. I don't know.

How far along: 31 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 26 lbs
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: Between the time I go upstairs to get ready for bed and right before I come down in the morning, I go to the bathroom 7 times - so no, I'm not sleeping well!
Best moment this week: The ultrasound at 30 weeks and knowing our little ones are doing good, are big and healthy!
Food cravings: Lemon ice, Popsicles, anything cold and sour is always good
Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing: sleeping on my stomach, or just sleeping for that matter
What I'm looking forward to: planting my vegetable garden this weekend (hopefully)

7lbs 3oz of Babies in My Belly

On Tuesday, at exactly 30 weeks I had my appointment with the MFM for a growth scan. At my last growth scan at 26 weeks both babies were measuring big so I didn't expect them to suddenly be smaller, but boy were we, as well as the doctor surprised to find out just how big they were measuring now.

Little Guy (baby B) has always been smaller. I'm even convinced that he was the embryo that wasn't hatching when we went in for our embryo transfer. Well guess what, that little guy has finally taken over and now out-weighs his sister. He is estimated to weigh 3lbs 12 oz which puts him in the 86th percentile. He's also made himself comfortable curled up, transverse and high in my belly.

Baby Girl (baby A), who's typically been larger, has now been surpassed by her brother but she is still holding her own weighing in at 3lbs 7oz putting her at the 65th percentile. She is still vertex, although she is snuggled in really low.

Both babies' heart rates were good, Baby Girl at 136 and Little Guy at 156. Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures because Baby Girl was facing my back and Little Guy was curled in a ball. I'm just happy they are big and healthy.

My cervix is still holding strong at 3.2 which the doctor said was great. For some reason I'm super paranoid about my cervix and request trans vaginal ultrasounds at every appointment. It always makes for an uncomfortable moment between me and whichever doctor I'm seeing. I think Michael gets embarrassed for me. They seem to think I have no idea how they need to take the measurement. I remind them every time that I'm pregnant thanks to my 4th IVF so me and the vag cam go way back.

As I mentioned earlier, the doctor we saw seemed surprised by the size of the babies. He said if we make it to term, they will be good sized babies. He even made a couple references to 'in normal twin pregnancies' followed by 'but in your case' since the babies are quite big, particularly for being twins. Hopefully, they keep getting bigger. I would love to deliver full-term healthy big babies that require no NICU time.

Stay put little ones, mama loves you just where you are! Oh, and she is not ready....at all!

30 Weeks

I'm starting my count down now. 8 weeks or less to go since Dr. J. or Dr. Flintstone as Michael likes to call him (because he's a character, he delivered me and therefore old) said he wouldn't let me go past 38 weeks.

On one hand, 8 weeks makes me feel panicked. There is still so much to do, my shower isn't until June 12th and until then, I pretty much have a bare nursery with the exception of furniture. I had a dream the other night that the babies were born early and we didn't have any mattresses for the cribs nor did we have diapers (both of which are a current reality) so the babies had to sleep in the bathtub and they were wrapped in the shower curtain liner. Talk about Mother of the Year! Clearly, I don't feel prepared.

On the other hand, I feel huge and cannot imagine my body handling 8 more weeks of this while getting bigger. Carrying this extra weight really takes a toll on one's body and it makes me thankful that I'm fit and healthy both pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy.

How far along: 30 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 24 lbs

Maternity clothes: yes

Sleep: between bathroom breaks, switching sides to sleep on and braxton hicks contractions waking me up, sleep has not been the best

Best moment this week: putting all the furniture into the nursery

Food cravings: pineapple, unfortunately the pineapple I bought was so bitter

Gender: boy/girl

What I'm missing: a good nights sleep

What I'm looking forward to: our next ultrasound in an hour - can't wait to see my sweet son and daughter

29 Weeks

29 weeks and still going strong! I still feel really good, am working out and am having less back pain than I did in the second trimester. Of course my belly is getting bigger and heavier so doing certain things is getting a lot harder, but I'm feeling really good.

I can't believe how soon I will be meeting these sweet little babies. While I don't have visions of what they will look like, I can envision what it feels like to cuddle a sweet little baby, kiss their soft little heads and take in all that sweet baby smell.

On the flip side, I'm nervous and can't believe how quickly time has gone. My checklist is still a mile long and poor Michael has been busting his butt around the house. We are both 'nesting' and for some reason, making something better usually requires that something to get worse first.

In the midst of being excited for the babies and making messes while trying to 'nest' I had my first Mother's Day. I was so surprised to get cards from close friends and family. On top of that, as we were out running our weekly errands several strangers wished me a Happy Mother's Day.

How far along: 29 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 23 lbs
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: nightly bathroom trips have increased to 2-3 per night
Best moment this week: my first Mother's Day
Food cravings: Italian Ice
Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing the most: sushi has been sounding awfully good lately
What I'm looking forward to: next ultrasound on Tuesday 5/17

28 Weeks

I feel like I'm getting really big. My stomach is so heavy and I'm not used to the size. I'm starting to bump my belly when doing things around the house. I can also no longer easily put my shoes on. Particularly the cute sandals with buckles. The bending over for that long trying to fuss with buckles makes me sick to my stomach and crunches everything up under my ribs. Thankfully I have a husband who understands the importance of cute fashion (or at least he is learning).

I think I felt Baby Girl's hiccups this week too. At least I assume that's what it was. It was a constant jerk movement for a few minutes. I'm still always amazed every time I feel them move. I just love every minute of it and know this is one thing I will miss the most about being pregnant.

How far along: 28 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 22 lbs
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: seems to be getting worse
Best moment this week: Baby Girl's hiccups
Food cravings: dried apricots
Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing the most: sleeping on my stomach
What I'm looking forward to: our next ultrasound on 5/17

27 Weeks

Finally in the 3rd trimester! The time between 26 and 27 weeks was weird. My boobs have officially started leaking, which totally blows my mind since they've grown AT ALL since being pregnant. Then at 26w4d I had my first braxton hicks contraction. I haven't had too many, but its such a strange sensation. I called my OB and they said it was pretty common, to drink some water, put my feet up and call if they became painful or were accompanied by vaginal discharge and blood.

Other than those two new experiences, I'm still feeling great. I keep thinking I'm going to get to a point where I feel like I'm hitting a brick wall, but so far so good!

How far along: 27 weeks
Weight gain/weight loss: 21 lbs
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: still waking up several times a night
Best moment this week: the ultrasound, its always so reassuring!
Food cravings: nothing
Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing most: my body that I'm used to
What I'm looking forward to: childbirth class this weekend

26 Week Growth Scan

It was a great appointment and it turns out I'm growing big babies! Baby Girl A was 2lbs 4 oz and in the 76th percentile and Little Guy B was 2lbs 3 oz which is the 66th percentile. The doctor was very pleased with their sizes and the fact that there is only an ounce difference between the two. Yay for big babies, though now I'm concerned how my body will handle the rest of my pregnancy.

Baby Girl is still head down but Little Guy is now breech. The reason my ribs on the right side have been hurting so bad is because Baby Girl's feet are right up there along with Little Guy's head. He's laying on a diagonal. Both the doctor and the ultrasound tech said that's a lot of pressure in one concentrated area and unless they move, to get used to it.

My cervix was measuring 3.7 which the doctor was very happy with. He doesn't see any need for any restrictions so I asked that be made perfectly clear in the follow up notes to my OB since he seems to think I should have started bed rest last week. Crazy old man!

We only got a couple pictures of Baby Girl because Little Guy was facing towards my back and had his sister's feet practically on his head. Poor Little Guy.

Here's the best picture of Baby Girl, which Michael says looks like mashed potatoes. I will never tell our daughter her daddy said she looked like mashed pototaoes. I think she looks beautiful!

26 Weeks

Another week and a shirt I think looks more flattering in real life than in pictures. I'm definitely looking pregnant and get stranger comments pretty much everywhere I go. Michael thinks I'm becoming famous at the gym because so many people talk to me and talk to him. If I'm not there, people ask him about me. Personally, I think people are used to seeing a pregnant woman at the gym.

I've also gotten comments the last two weeks at the grocery store. People are surprised I'm carrying twins and like to tell me how great I look. Which, I don't mind hearing. Michael thinks I will end up with post partum depression because people will stop telling me how great I look. I like to think they will tell me how cute my babies are instead. Only time will tell.

How far along: 26 weeks
Weight gain/loss: up 20 lbs
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: Waking up more frequently now due to my comfort level and bathroom breaks
Best moment this week: Laying in bed with Michael's hand on my belly feeling baby girl going nuts. We were both laughing wondering what in the world she was doing in there.
Food cravings: Cheez-its
Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing: my non-maternity spring clothes and being comfortable in heels
What I'm looking forward to: ultrasound tomorrow!

25 Weeks

Holy smokes, 25 weeks! My belly seems to be getting heavier and my ribs and back more sore. It was fun week though. My mom is going to be making baby quilts and bed skirts so we spent most of last Saturday in search of the perfect fabric. Mission complete after a little visit to Etsy on Monday!

I've also noticed the babies movement patterns have changed. While I still feel them throughout the day, they are starting to become more active at night. I wake up several times to use the bathroom and change sides. Now, its just become more difficult to fall back to sleep because I'm feeling them move so much. I love feeling them move and it always makes me feeling like laughing, which of course makes it even harder to fall back asleep. However, I wouldn't change it for the world!

How far along: 25 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 17 lbs total
Maternity clothes: yes, although surprised I still fit into my cropped pants from last summer. I think because they sit below my baby belly.
Sleep: as good as its going to get!
Best moment this week: fabric shopping with my mom
Food cravings: nothing really
Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing: laying on my stomach
What I'm looking forward to: next u/s on 4/20

24 Weeks

I can't believe I'm 24 weeks! That is a huge milestone as we've now reached viability. If, heaven forbid, the babies were born today, they'd have a greater than 50% chance of survival. Of course I want to keep them cooking for as long as possible.

I'm still feeling pretty good other than the middle back discomfort and tender ribs. I'm feeling a lot of movement and I just love it! I love the little reminders that I'm carrying precious cargo. It never gets old.

How far along: 24 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 16 lbs
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: some nights are better than others
Best moment this week: seeing my friends excitement over my belly
Food cravings: tomato juice/V8 (reduce sodium of course) Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing: sleeping through the night
What I'm looking forward to: next ultra sound on 4/20

23 Weeks

I could probably start each blog the same way but I seriously can't believe I'm 23 weeks already.

I'm starting to really feel like this pregnancy is flying by and before I know it I will have two beautiful babies in my arms.

I'm trying to cherish every moment I have with these two little babies inside me. I'm loving every wiggle, punch to the groin and kick in the ribs. According to my mother, they are just letting me know they are there.

How far along: 23 weeks

Weight gain/loss: 14 lbs, lost one pound this week

Maternity clothes: yes

Sleep: still waking up 2-3 times per night to go the bathroom and readjust my support pillows

Best moment this week: strangers recognizing I'm pregnant and for some reason this week, I was told several times how cute I am by coworkers and strangers

Food cravings: none this week

Gender: boy/girl

What I'm missing: a good night's sleep

What I'm looking forward to: 24 weeks and viability

22 Weeks

Another week and an uneventful one at that. I went to the OB on Thursday and am measuring about 4 weeks ahead. Still within the normal range for twins. He was also impressed with my belly, the babies size from my last ultrasound and my health in general.

How far along: 22 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 15 lbs total
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: same as it has been
Best moment this week: feeling both of them move at the same time
Food cravings: pink lemon-aid
Gender: boy/girl
What I'm missing: no back pain
What I'm looking forward to: going to register

21 Weeks

I was really late this week. Its been a tough week at work and just too busy for my liking.

On the other hand, its been a fabulous week on the baby front. At 20w1d I finally felt our little girl move! She is definitely a strong kicker/puncher! She's my little fighter. Even more exciting was 20w3d when Michael got to feel our little kick for the first time and 20w5d when he felt our little girl give him a swift kick.

Its been so amazing to share the experience with Michael. Its really the first thing this pregnancy that he has been able to physically experience with me. Of course now every time I feel them move I call for him to get his hand on my belly as quickly as possible.

How far along: 21 weeks
Weight gain/loss: up 13 lbs total
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: the bathroom and my back keep me up and now I've resorted to keeping a rolled up hand towel in bed to act as a prop and hold my belly. I just hated that pulling feeling.
Best moment this week: feeling our little girl move and Michael feeling both of them
Food craving: nothing specific this week, though I've noticed the items I've craved in the past weeks have made it into my daily rotation (grapes, carrots, prunes to be specific)
Gender: a boy and a girl and I'm so in love!
What I'm missing: a good night's sleep
What I'm looking forward to: going to register this weekend

20 Weeks

I'm a couple days late this week and really can't believe I'm already 20 weeks! Time certainly flew by. I've also just come to the realization that I will meet these babies in 3 1/2 months. I feel so unprepared.

It was an exciting week for me and my little gummy bears. On Saturday, at 19w4d I felt our son move! I was laying in the recliner watching a movie after a wonderful afternoon of yoga and lunch with girlfriends when I could feel him. It feels a little bit like gas, but it doesn't hurt and doesn't move in 'that' direction. It was so amazing and I'm so glad I got to feel him.

My back has been killing me. Its not been my lower back like I thought it would, but rather my middle back. A wise friend of mine, also pregnant with twins, suggested it was because the babies are now moving their way up. That makes perfect sense, so I'm going with it.

How far along: 20 weeks
Maternity clothes: Yes, this week I made the switch and commitment to maternity clothes. The pants are a bit big and I keep pulling them up, but I'm sure I will grow into them soon enough.
Sleep: the bathroom and my back are keeping me up
Best moment this week: feeling our son move
Food cravings: grapes
Gender: boy/girl (confirmed last week!)
What I'm missing the most: no back pain
What I'm looking forward to: feeling our daughter move

Anatomy Scan Results

We had an amazing anatomy scan yesterday! I just love being able to look at the babies for a straight hour, especially now as they look even more like babies than they did at 12 weeks.

Both babies are perfectly healthy. Baby A, the little wiggle worm made it difficult to get all the measurements and Baby B was a little show off. Eventually they got everything they needed and we learned who's been growing in my belly.

Baby A, is a girl. I'm most shocked by this because at the NT scan they were pretty confident that Baby A was a boy! Her heart rate was 144 and her estimated weight is 12 oz.

Baby B, is a boy. His heart rate was 143 and his estimated weight is 10 oz. He was our little show off. It was like he was posing for the camera.

Both babies are head down and Baby Boy B was spooning Baby Girl A. It was too cute, but of course she turned her head and we never got a great picture of this.

My cervix was 5.2 cm, which from what I've read looks pretty good and the doctor was quite pleased with it.

It was such a wonderful experience and I'm so amazed how much they've grown and developed since 12 weeks. I go back again at 26 weeks and will then start going every 4 weeks to monitor their growth.

Here are my favorite pictures

Baby Girl A's beautiful profile

Baby Girl A in 3D with her little hands up by her face Baby Boy B's handsome profile

Baby Boy B in 3D with his mouth open and hand by his face