4th Trimester

I've decided that this is my 4th trimester.  Since I've passed the full-term singleton size everything from here on out is uncharted territory.

I started my Non-Stress Tests (NSTs) on Tuesday.  I have them twice a week to make sure that the babies and my belly are handling this situation alright.  Everything went great.  They have to watch them for 20 min.  During that time they want to see the heart rate increase with movement and they have a third monitor to watch for contractions.  The babies did great (though they kept kicking the monitors off my belly and the nurse had to keep putting them back on).  If one or both babies don't pass the test they make you drink juice then try again.  After a few tries you have to go to the hospital for monitoring.  But hopefully we won't have to go down that road.

Today I got another weight/size ultrasound.  They estimate that both babies are within 1% of each other: 4 lbs 3 oz each!  HOLY COW!!!  That's 8.5 lbs of baby in my belly - no wonder I'm so uncomfortable.  Scarlett was only 6 lbs 14 oz at 41 weeks!

Everything's looking good.  My blood pressure is really low.  No signs of TTTS.  No gestational diabetes.  Good good good.  But....... I'm sooooo miserable.  When the doctor came to talk to me I told her I felt guilty complaining cause everything was going so well.  She went and got the other MFM OB who had twins a year ago.  They sat across from me and gave me a pep talk.  They said that no matter how well things are going I still have TWO babies inside me and that is difficult.  The last few weeks are justifiably miserable.  I have every right to do whatever makes me feel comfortable.  It's normal to hurt everywhere and be in constant pain.  I kept pushing down on the babies (they keep climbing in my ribs and my ribs are SO SORE).  The OB just laughed cause she remembered having to always push them out of her ribs - then she asked me how tall I was.  "5'2"."  "Oh you poor thing!"  She then told me that two newborns will be a snap compared to being pregnant with twins!  And that I will feel instantly better on the operating table.

So I no longer feel guilty that I pray for preterm labor every night.

The best part was that while they were giving me a pep talk - sitting across from me - Scarlett went and sat by them and started coping their gestures.  We all busted out laughing - she was joining them in the pep talk!  What a cutie!

Pardon my awkward expression - Jake was just snapping away - but this angle shows my belly pretty well.

Now I'm going to complain about all my symptoms (mostly so I can remember what they did to me when they need to be punished as teenagers).  I realize that most of these are borderline TMI... so don't read if you don't want to know.

• heartburn (from any food)
• can't breathe - especially at night when I'm laying down and they float into my lungs
• belly is soooo heavy and soooo tight
• I can feel all their movements - my belly looks really freaky when they are awake - like something's trying to get out
• hands and feet swollen - can't fit rings or most of my shoes
• wake up every 2 hours at night to go potty
• have to wake up to roll over, makes me out of breath
• most maternity clothes too tight
• always hungry but can't eat too much 
• already have gained 40 lbs (total weight gain with Scarlett was 40 lbs, but I attribute most of that to the DQ Blizzards we ate every night the last two weeks I had to be prego)
• feel nauseated in the mornings or if I lay on my back too long
• so tired, have to nap every day
• stuffy nose from all the extra blood flow restricting my sinuses
• popped blood blisters all over face and arms - looks like red polka dots
• they kick me in the bladder, colon, and stomach - makes me throw up or makes me have to potty immediately
• can't bend forward well, can't even really sit at a 90deg angle
• apparently crumbs fall down my shirt all day and collect on top of my belly
• pinched nerves in my back send shooting pain down my legs
• ribs hurt soooo bad
• belly hurts like a sore muscle
• little bums poke out making my belly all lumpy and asymmetrical looking
• can only spend an hour or so on my feet per day (WITH my belly support band on)
• sometimes hard to wipe after going #1 - especially if I ate and my belly is full (like I said, TMI)
• always out of breath!
• I swear I can tell that some days they go through growth spurts.  Good for them, bad for me!

I can do it.  Only 4.5 weeks! *tears*