Okay, maybe not but I sure feel like it. I'm 36 weeks/1 day and the swelling just seems to be getting worse. It's to be expected though. OB says its just late pregnancy edema. Means that my body is preparing for delivery. Not a great deal has happened in four weeks since my last post, just a lot of doctors appointments, aches/pains, increased laundry and some serious nesting.
10/18/2011 - 33 Week appointment went good. The girls were very active. Gracie is still very low and Hailie is hanging out up closer to my ribs. Gracie's abdomen is still smaller then Hailie's, but hopefully she starts growing. Doc said we don't need steroid shots at this point but if Gracie doesn't start putting on weight then I'll start the shots at the next visit.
10/22/2011 - One of the worst days of my life. Had to say goodbye to my pup pup Dexter. That's all I'm going to say because if I talk about it I'll break down hard. I'll just say that I am still broken. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him. I miss him so bad!
10/25/2011 - 34 Week appointment went good. The girls were very active again. Gracie is still extremely low. She has dropped further down. She's now sitting on the nerve that causes me to leak on myself. Don't laugh! I seriously end up peeing on myself and as nasty as it sounds there is nothing I can do. I keep asking her to move up a little, but it's a double-edge sword because her feet are stuck up in my ribs. There are times where her feet get stuck and she yanks them out and let me tell you... that HURTS!!!! I'm swelling really bad to the point where I can barely walk. My legs are taking on shapes of their own and it's nasty.
11/01/2011 - 35 Week appointment went okay. The girls have jumped to the 35th & 31st percentile for the weight, which is a blessing. Gracie has something called a Grade III Placenta. It means her placenta is calcifying/maturing and will soon stop functioning. Gracie still has a smaller abdomen and long legs. Seems like she's going to take after Mac. Hailie has a larger abdomen and short legs. She may resemble Mac but she's going to have my body. Poor girl!!! As for me, the swelling has doubled. This isn't good!
11/02/2011 - Had an appointment with my regular OB. He walked in and said, "You're going the distance girl." As much as I wanted to laugh, my lips were so swollen I couldn't get them to bend upwards to smile. He was going to send me home but looked at my legs and sent me to Fairfax Hospital L&D (Labor & Deliver) to be tested for Preeclampsia. Although my BP was normal and I had no protein in my urine, he just wanted to be safe. I was sent home after an hour or so. No preeclampsia, just all babies. There just isn't a lot of room anymore.
11/08/2011 - 36 Week appointment went okay. Both girls now have Grade III placentas. I was told that Gracie's amniotic fluid level was low (half of what Hailie's is), but was still in the normal range. Three of the antenatal specialists got together to talk it over and finally decided to let me go home. They want me to do kick counts every hour. If I feel less then 6.5 an hour then I need to call my OB. Not sure how you gauge the .5 but okay.
I have an appointment with my regular OB on Friday so we'll see what he says. I wonder if he'll have another funny for me. Every time I see him I end up at the hospital so we shall see. I honestly don't see how I can go another 13 days. I can barely walk, I pee on myself at least three times a night, I have pregnancy acne which resembles a 13 years old, and getting in and out of bed or sitting on the couch has become challenging. Because Gracie's feet are so far up in my ribs, getting off the toilet has turned into a major task. I think I have created a new Pilate's position. Oh please... don't say gross... I'm just saying.
All that being said, for those of you who aren't pregnant, it really is a wonderful feeling. I have had a horrible pregnancy... a lot worse then others I know, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Every time I feel a kick, a punch or a roll, it makes it all worth it. I can't wait to meet my girls. I continuously pray that they are healthy, both physically and mentally. And I pray that I can be a good mother. Can you tell my nerves are starting to set in?
Stay tuned...
