After my rough week last week my sweet Mama surprised us by deciding to fly down to help me for the remainder of my pregnancy! This means that she will definitely be here when the babies are born and she’ll stay for as long as we need her. For now we get to have some special mother daughter time before the babies come. Talk about getting spoiled!
Being pregnant is the perfect time to get pampered and spoiled by mom
Over this past week my mom has been reminding me to take my vitamins and is preparing little meals for me throughout the the day. She also insists on doing the dishes so I can stay on the couch with my feet propped up. I was so tired after taking a shower the other day, so she offered to blow dry my hair. It was so relaxing- and it reminded me of why I love going to the salon to get my hair done. We’ve decided that we will bring the hair dryer to the hospital when I go into labor- since it is definitely something that calms and relaxes me.
Obstetric Cholestasis update
As far as my OC symptoms go, nothing new- still itchy. I do feel like I’m having better days though where I am only super itchy at certain times rather than all the time. This is progress! I am happy to announce that my blood work showed that one of my bile salt levels has gone down a little bit! I’m now taking the maximum dose possible (2100 mg per day) instead of the 1800 mg I was taking last week. My bile salts are still elevated, but I’m encouraged that the higher dose of Ursodiol must be working to at least partially bring down my levels. Even though the itching is still there, I’m feeling less stressed knowing that hopefully the babies will not be as affected by the bile acid in my blood!
Other 32 week pregnancy symptoms:
Edema (Swelling in my feet): oh my goodness I didn’t know it was possible for my feet and ankles to swell so much! I’ve noticed that my shoes haven’t been fitting very well for a while now, but this week it was almost impossible to find any shoes that would fit. I’ve been resorting to some cheap plastic flats that have no support, but at least I can squish my feet into them. My ankles also have been really swollen- especially on my right leg. The skin gets so tight that it hurts to bend or rotate my ankle and my jeans feel tight around my ankles too. Also if I press on my foot or ankle (and lower leg) the dent remains for a really long time! Elevating my feet helps temporarily. I need to check with the doctor to make sure everything is okay, but I’m guessing this is just part of the last stretch of pregnancy.
What else is going on at 32 weeks pregnant:
-twins are moving like crazy- and hurting their mama (ribs, cervix, bladder etc)
-having to pee immediately at this moment or else I might pop (waddling to the bathroom and holding onto the walls to sit down)
-needing my husband to help push me up off the couch to stand up
-ordering a breast pump through my insurance company- which one to get? Medela vs. Freemie
-moving- starting to move into a new place- these babies better wait to get here until we are all moved in!
-leaking nipples (especially the right side)
-veiny hands and arms. Hands turning red in the shower and pulsing from all the blood pooling- scary but normal for pregnancy.
-crazy puffy feet and ankles (blood pressure was high and the cuff hurt last time the nurse checked it)
I almost wish I took some pictures of my swollen feet to show you, but I’m too embarrassed to share them on my blog because they are so gross! So here is my growing belly instead:
Although I did not post these photos last week they were taken last Wednesday when I was 31 weeks pregnant with my twins. It has been a difficult week emotionally and physically. Having a dear friend pass away is not something I’ve had to deal with many times- and even though this is not the first friend I’ve lost it doesn’t make it any easier. This is why I felt like I needed to take a break from my blog and just process things before continuing to write. I still feel guilty writing about my how happy I am to be carrying these two babies and how much I am eagerly anticipating their arrival. I do want to continue to press on and stay consistent with my weekly updates, so here is a recap from last week.
Week 31 pregnancy symptoms: Dealing with Obstetric Cholestasis
As far as my physical symptoms for this past week- I’ve also been pretty miserable and overwhelmed with how to deal with Obstetric Cholestasis (OC). In a previous post I described the itching in detail. That has been pretty much the same even while taking the Ursodiol medication. After being on the increased dose of Usodiol (600mg every 8 hours) I am still experiencing the same amount of itching (mainly on my hands, feet, ankles, arms, belly- well, it’s basically everywhere). I have found some ways to get on top of the discomfort and soothe my skin so that I can stay somewhat sane.
6 things that have helped me cope with Obstetric Cholestasis:
#1: Scratching does NOT help! It is so hard to not scratch, and sometimes I wake up scratching in my sleep- which is pretty much unavoidable. I do know that once I start scratching I can’t stop and then the burning and itching becomes much more intense.
#2: Resisting the urge to scratch is mainly a mental exercise. I have to focus on other things, try to distract myself and stay calm. As soon as I get upset about the itching it overcomes me and I want to rip off my skin. This leads to me turning into a child throwing a tantrum yelling “make it stop”!
#3: Soothing massages help distract me from the itching. I’ve been asking my husband to run his fingers through my hair or tickle my back whenever he has a chance. This really helps to calm me down and keeps me from focusing on the irritating itchiness.
#4: Benadryl helps with sleep. I have been assured again and again by my doctors and other friends who have been pregnant that it is safe to take Benadryl during pregnancy. I have been hesitant to take any type of medication during this pregnancy, but I finally gave in and started taking Benadryl regularly. It doesn’t actually relieve the itchiness, but it does make me drowsy enough to fall asleep at night (and during the day when I desperately need to catch up on sleep). I guess OC is helping me prepare for interrupted sleep after the peeps are born.
#5: Soaking in a warm(ish) but not hot bath helps relax and soothe the skin. If the bath is too warm it can make me more itchy, but if it is just about body temperature it feels pretty nice on my skin. I am able to float in the tub and escape the itching. I have been taking a bath as soon as I wake up- when the itching is unbearable, at night before bed when the itching starts to get worse. I sometimes take multiple baths during the day or in the middle of the night when I wake up scratching myself. I always use Dr. Bronner’s Pure Peppermint Castille Soap as a body wash and this leaves my skin feeling cool and tingly- which helps with the itching too.
#6: Aloe gel is soothing on my skin. Rubbing the gel from a fresh aloe plant works too. I also have been using the Honest Company Healing Ointment- especially in areas where I’ve broken through the skin from scratching too much.
This post is probably pretty boring for those of you who are not suffering from OC. But, hopefully this post will be helpful for those of you pregnant mommies who are dealing with OC during your pregnancy.
Finally I’ll leave you with my 31 week bare belly shots:
I don’t think I can write about my pregnancy this week. I’ll post my 31 week belly shots later this week but I will let you know that the babies are still doing just fine.
My heart is heavy after losing a very dear friend of mine that I’ve had from childhood through adulthood. I miss her, and I want to share some comforting words that have comforted me this week and hopefully will comfort and supply others reading this blog. I don’t understand why the Lord allows certain things to happen. I do know that He is good at being God and that in all situations and circumstances all He desires is to add more of Himself into the ones who love Him.
I’ve been listening to a CD of Scripture songs. This song in particular has been staying with me throughout the past few days. This song is based on the verses 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.
He’s the Father of compassions
The God of all comfort
Comforting us in a personal way
Though the sufferings abound
Christ the comfort abounds
Partake of the comfort today
The ministry is formed when we turn to the Lord
And experience Christ in affliction
Then we, unto others a comfort become
True ministers in resurrection
So stay open, open to Him
The God of all comfort
Then He can touch others in a personal way
Comfort to you, comfort through you
The comfort abounds
Partake of the comfort today
If you are reminded to pray for this family please mention them in your prayers. Especially pray for her mother and her twin brother. May the Lord comfort them with Himself and keep them soft and open to Him. I believe that her life, her suffering and even her passing will turn out to salvation (Philippians 1:19).
This is just a super quick update to share my 30 week pregnant belly shots with you all! It’s Thanksgiving, so we are planning to drive about 2.5 hours away for the weekend and I’m just about packed and ready to head out the door. We’ve been a bit apprehensive as to whether or not we should make the drive due to our exciting week full of contractions, cramping and cholestasis.
My OB wasn’t comfortable with us going so far and she gave me a good list of possibilities of things that could happen like- you could be hospitalized away from home, your babies could be born there, they could end up in the NICU for a month or more and you’d be stuck in a hotel for their entire stay. She succeeded in freaking me out pretty good, but honestly I just don’t think these babies are coming this weekend. I know things can happen that we never expect, but even with all of my contractions and cramping my cervix is still completely closed- and has not changed at all!
I had an appointment with my MFM specialist and asked him what he thought about me traveling for Thanksgiving and he was okay with me going 2.5 hours away. He did give me a copy of my ultrasound report to give to an ER doctor in the other city if for some reason we end up needing to go in. All in all my husband and I still feel good to go, but we will be praying the entire time we are away and I will be taking it extremely easy (couch potato status). If you think of us this weekend please pray that there wouldn’t be any complications while we are out of town!
An update on my Obstetric Cholestasis (OC):
I mentioned in my last post that after taking Ursodiol for a few days I thought the itching was improving, but then it started to be even worse than before. It has continued to stay pretty consistently irritating. I found out while talking to my OB that the dose I was originally given (300 mg 3 times a day) was actually the wrong dose! I was supposed to be taking 600 mg 3 times a day. I’m told that this is why my itching hasn’t cleared up. I’m now on day 2 of taking the higher dose, so I’m hoping it will start to work. More importantly when the itching goes down this should be a sign that the bile acid levels in my blood are also going down- which is what I’m mainly concerned about.
That’s all for now, hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!
This is not my usual weekly pregnancy update. I just wanted to check in and give you all an update on what’s been going on over the past few days. I’ll start with the most eventful item which was my fist visit to the hospital.
Last Thursday (right after my 29 week post) I was walking through the parking lot to my car when I felt a strong pain like one of the babies was kicking me hard down by my cervix. Immediately following the sudden “kick,” or whatever it was, I felt a very strong cramping in my lower abdomen. This cramp was low but I also had the more familiar tightening of my whole abdomen. It took my breath away (like the Braxton Hicks that I’ve felt for a while now) but this cramping was something I hadn’t felt yet. It was more like a really intense menstrual cramp that also sent cramping pain through my lower back (similar to the back pain I used to get during my periods.) I had to stop walking and breath deeply for about 30 seconds, then I got in my car to sit down and continued to watch the clock. I think it lasted for about 1 minute. The intense cramp then loosened, but I continued to feel dull cramping in my lower abdomen and back (and a lot of movement from the babies).
This was around 4:30pm just as I was getting off work. As I drove home I had more Braxton Hicks (my whole abdomen tightening) but since I still had the abdominal and back cramping I’m not sure if these were actually considered Braxton Hicks (since I’ve heard that Braxton Hicks are not usually painful). I figured I should call my doctor just to check in and see if this was something worth coming in for. Sadly the office had just closed and I couldn’t seem to get through to anyone through the answering service (since I’ve never called in after hours about anything during this pregnancy).
When I got home I laid on the couch with my feet up and drank water (as instructed by a friend who had dealt with frequent Braxton Hicks during her pregnancy). This didn’t seem to stop the cramping or the Braxton Hicks. I needed to run to the store to get some ingredients- I was planning to have some friends over to make caramel apples- and I was pretty sure I would be feeling better by 8pm so I made my husband drive me to the store. Walking around the grocery aisles caused my cramping to increase and I realize that it probably wasn’t wise for me to go shopping. Back at home I stayed on the couch with my feet up and my friends made the caramel apples without me, they were concerned but I assured them that I might go in to the hospital once they left.
At 10:45 the girls headed home and I again tried to call the after hours line at my doctor’s office- and still couldn’t figure out how to get through. I felt stupid for not knowing what to do in a situation like this, but I just really haven’t needed to call the Dr. until this point. I ended up looking through all of my papers and pamphlets for my hospital and found a note saying that after calling the office you have to stay on the phone until the line goes dead and then someone will answer- oops- didn’t know that! So I finally got through and they notified the on-call doctor. I got a call a few minutes later from my doctor and after listening to my symptoms she told me I needed to come in. I asked if I could wait until the morning to come in, but she insisted that because I’m pregnant with twins and it’s too early for me to have them that we needed to check it out. I was also concerned with the situation due to my possible Obstetric Cholestasis because it can sometimes lead to premature labor but I was trying not to let my mind go there because it was just too soon for the babies to come.
I had to wake up my poor husband and we headed to the hospital. Thankfully the hospital where I will be delivering has a floor specifically designated as the “Women’s Assessment Center” so we didn’t have to go to an ER. When we arrived we found out that I was 1 of 2 patients on the entire floor, so we got pretty immediate care. I was quickly checked in and set up in this room:
My first hospital bed
They hooked up my belly with monitors so they could keep track of the babies heart beats and also measure if I was having contractions. It took a while for the nurse to lock onto the babies’ heart beats because they were swimming around so much in my belly!
All hooked up to the monitors
The babies heart rates were fine, nice and steady- so they were not in distress- thank You Lord! My monitor showed that the tightening I was feeling were indeed contractions and they were occurring every 5 minutes. They say you should come in if you are having contractions every 10 minutes, so I guess it’s a good thing that I came in when we did.
Monitoring the babies and contractions
I did have a moment of concern when I found out I was contracting so often and realized that the tightness I was feeling wasn’t just from the babies moving around. I began to silently pray for the babies to stay put. It was too early for them to be born. Overall my husband and I felt relatively peaceful though especially since the babies heart rates were stable and not distressed. So all that was left to do was get my cervix checked.
I know women say this is painful so I was ready for it to be unpleasant. I wouldn’t say that it was painful as much as it was extremely uncomfortable and made me feel overwhelmed with the desire for it to be over. The good news was that my cervix was still completely closed! The doctor said it wasn’t thinning or opening due to the contractions so I was free to go! I am so thankful that my body is doing its job to keep these babies in the oven longer.
We were also able find out the results for my bile acids test while we were at the hospital. It turns out that one of my bile acids was elevated. This means that technically I do have Obstetric Cholestasis (OC). Because we did the blood test and started on the medication only a few days after my first symptoms of itching the doctor feels like we can keep it under control. I will continue to get weekly blood tests to check my bile acids and liver function. I will also begin weekly Non-Stress Tests (NST) on Monday. The NST are basically exactly what I had done on Thursday night- where I get hooked up to the monitors and they check the babies heart rates to make sure they are doing well while resting, while moving or during contractions. This test also can tell whether the babies are getting enough oxygen.
As for my OC, I have found that some days are worse than others. On Thursday I wasn’t as bothered by the itching, but this could have been because I was more focused on the contractions. Yesterday and today the itching has been back in full force and maybe worse than I’ve experienced up to this point. I’m not sure why some days are more unbearable than others. I am continuing to take my Usodiol pills three times a day and I cover myself in a nice thick layer of aloe vera gel multiple times a day.
My husband researched other liver conditions (like jaundice) and found that some were helped by light therapy. So I sat out by the pool for an hour today (it just happened to be 78 degrees today in the middle of November). We’ll see if there is some long term benefit to being in the sun because there was definitely no immediately relief today. Regardless of what we are able to do to lessen the itchiness I feel like I am having an easier time mentally accepting that I may just be itchy for the next 6-8 weeks. I’m more than willing to bear it for a full 8 weeks if it means my little boys will not come too early!
I’ll still share a short update with belly shots in a few days when I hit 30 weeks. Thank you all for your prayers for these babies and for my new condition. Knowing that you all are standing with us is such a supply and a comfort.
Last week as I wrote my weekly update my typing was slowed down by the swelling in my fingers and hands. I was sore after typing, but I barely notice the pain anymore thanks to my newest pregnancy symptom- itchiness. This week I can’t even get through one sentence without stopping to rub my hands together and try to scrape the itch off of my burning red palms. I itch EVERYWHERE! Mainly on the palms of my hands and the bottoms/sides of my heels.
One word: ITCH
I am aware that pregnant women develop itchy skin on their bellies, so at first I thought the itching was just a normal part of pregnancy. I don’t have dry skin on my hands and feet and I’ve never experienced this type of relentless itching before so I mentioned it to my doctor at my last appointment on Monday. I had only been noticing the itchiness over the weekend (that came with a nice whopping cold bug that knocked me out all weekend- and I’m still recovering from that) but again- the misery of being sick while pregnant doesn’t come close to the incessant skin irritation I’m experiencing.
Before I go on about what it feels like I’ll try to explain what I’ve learned about this new symptom. It is a condition called Obstetric Cholestasis (OC) or Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP). I had never heard of this before my doctor mentioned it on Monday and over the past three days I feel like I’ve read all of the material available on the internet- which actually isn’t a lot. This condition is apparently not very common. It affects less than 1% of pregnant women- but it is more prevalent in women who are pregnant with twins or multiples. I did find a support website for women with this condition that was helpful.
What is Obstetric Cholestasis?
Basically Obstetric Cholestasis (OC) occurs when the bile ducts to the mother’s liver do not function properly (possibly due to the elevated estrogen and progesterone hormones that are especially high during the third trimester). If the ducts to the liver don’t allow the bile to move through to the liver this can cause a build up of bile acid in the system that can eventually get into the blood stream. This isn’t usually harmful to the mother (it mainly manifests itself in the form of the itching I’ve already described.) The danger of OC is that the bile acid in the blood can harm the babies. It can cause spontaneous preterm labor and if left unmonitored it can be fatal to the baby in the final weeks of pregnancy. Some babies born to women with OC are oxygen deficient at birth and require immediate oxygen or resuscitation. There have been some cases of stillbirth after 37 weeks gestation in women with OC and for this reason most physicians will induce labor before 37 weeks.
How to diagnose/treat Obstetric Cholestasis?
I haven’t been officially diagnosed, but this seems to match my symptoms perfectly so I’m pretty sure that I will get a call from the doctor in the next few days to confirm our suspicions. I had two different blood tests done. One was the liver function panel and the other is to measure bile acid levels in the blood. My liver function panel came back normal (for a pregnant woman) the alkaline phosphatase was slightly elevated, but not enough to concern the doctor. The bile acid test will be a more clear indicator if I in fact am suffering from Obstetric Cholestasis. Rather than waiting for the results of the blood test the doctor immediately started me on three doses of Ursodiol daily to begin to attack with the problem that we think we are dealing with. Hopefully the mediation will counteract any elevated bile acid levels in my blood.
I know I’ve gone on and on complaining about how the past few days have been unbearable- mainly because I need to vent out my frustration and feelings of helplessness in trying to cope with this. Honestly when I consider constant itching for the next 2 months it makes me want to rip my skin off to get away from it. I feel like there is not much I can do except wait for the babies to be born and that is really the only “cure”.
Helpless
Beside the discomfort though, more seriously, I hate the itching because it is a constant reminder that there could be high levels of bile acid in my blood that is flowing to my precious little babies. This to me is the most infuriating and helpless feeling I’ve had during this entire pregnancy. All I’ve wanted to do over these past 7 months is protect my babies and give them a safe, healthy environment to develop in. This condition that I may have could be preventing me from doing that one thing- and instead I feel like I am poisoning them. This thought truly makes me want to rip off my skin and get all of the bile out of my system or get a blood transfusion or something in order to keep these little ones safe. I feel helpless. All I can do is pray that the medication they gave me will help lower the levels enough so it doesn’t harm my babies.
Losing sleep
Last night I slathered on aloevera gel and tried to resist the urge to scratch at my skin. Eventually I was able to sleep for about 3 hours when I was woken up from a dream. In my dream I was buying our infant car seats and for some reason I was “testing” out the quality or safety by ripping them to shreds with my finger nails. I then became aware that in reality it was my legs that I was clawing at- to the point of making them red, raw, puffy and slightly bloody (sorry that’s a gross image). It was still 2 hours before my alarm would wake me to get ready for work but at that point there was no way I could get back to sleep. The itching and anxiety was too much.
Desperate
I found myself at the kitchen table trying to eat a bowl of cereal (so I could take my Ursodiol pill with food as recommended). I could only take one shaky half bite and then drop my spoon and scratch at my thighs, then another bite and then scratch at my ribs and back. I started to cry as I realized that this is truly something I can’t deal with. I can deal with the pain and discomfort of pregnancy. The migraines, nausea, nerve pain, stomach pain and swelling were all things that I could handle up to this point and I knew they wouldn’t harm the babies. This new situation however is making me desperate for the Lord.
Trusting
I realize that I need Him to calm my anxiety regarding the health of our babies. I need Him to help me bear the seemingly unbearable itchiness of cholestasis. I need Him to take over my natural abilities and desire to thoroughly plan out the next few months of this pregnancy and my birth “plan”. I need Him to take control. I need Him to supply me with grace to pack up my apartment and move into our new place (did I mention that we are moving in a few weeks?) Well, the point is I can’t do any of this on my own and I greatly need to rely on my Lord to carry us through and get our babies born healthy and home safely.
I’ve hardly experienced any charlie horses since I mentioned it in my 16 week pregnancy update. When I first started trying out the Calcium I didn’t take it every night and I still had two or three mornings with leg cramps. For at least 10 weeks now I have been faithfully taking Calcium/Magnesium supplements every night before going to sleep. On Monday night I wasn’t feeling well (more on why later) so I was in bed early and forgot to take my Calcium. Tuesday morning I woke up to my alarm (pushed snooze thinking I’d go back to bed for a while) and slightly stretched my legs- which immediately sent me into spasms with a major charlie horse in my right calf. This got me up and out of bed as I attempted to stretch my muscles and massage the cramp until it subsided. So here’s what I learned: 1) the Calcium supplements have been working and 2) pregnancy leg cramps are way more effective than an alarm clock!
New pregnancy symptom/scare
Now back to why I wasn’t feeling well on Monday night. For most of my pregnancy I’ve been having a hard time catching my breath when I walk up the stairs or bend over to pick up something off of the floor. For a few weeks I’ve been really noticing that it seems like I can never quite get a deep enough breath. I know this is normal during pregnancy so it didn’t bother me. So Monday night we were having a few people over for a visit and I was quickly tidying up the apartment and washing a few dishes. As I was rinsing the dishes I tried to take a few deep breaths and I felt like I couldn’t get enough air. I took more deep breaths and then all of a sudden my whole body from head to toes went tingly and I thought I was going to pass out. I dropped the bowl I was rinsing in the sink and made my way to the couch to lay down. After a few minutes the tingling stopped, but I still couldn’t catch my breath and I felt extremely exhausted.
Hyperventilation during pregnancy
I went directly to bed (while my husband entertained our guests) and of course I did some internet research to find out what could have caused my near fainting episode. From what I found online it seems like I may have started hyperventilating by taking in too much oxygen and not having enough carbon dioxide in my system. One of the pregnancy sites said that during pregnancy even if you feel like you aren’t getting enough air- you are- the uterus is just putting extra pressure on the diaphragm. By sitting propped up this can alleviate some of the pressure on the diaphragm. I guess my deep breathing was unnecessary especially since no matter how deep you breath when you are pregnant you still don’t “feel” like you are getting enough air. Another lesson learned this week: 1) don’t take too many deep breaths in a row and 2) when sitting or laying down use more pillows to take the pressure off of my diaphragm.
Prayer request for Baby A
Enough about me, what I really want to write about this week is a prayer request for Baby A (Left Baby). At my appointment on Friday the MFM doctor saw what could be higher levels of fluid in one of the ventricles in Baby A’s brain. He wasn’t able to get a good measurement of both sides of the brain and the one measurement that he was able to get was still within the normal range (just on the high end- 9.8 something). Even though this is technically fine it is still something that the doctor wants to closely monitor. If the fluid does measure above a 10 then the doctor would recommend a fetal MRI. I tried to not become overly anxious about this news since the numbers are still considered to be “normal” but I also realize that this is an opportunity to ask for prayer. My mom reminded me that sometimes the Lord needs us to pray for specific things in order for Him to answer our prayers. So if you feel to mention these higher levels of fluid in Baby A’s brain to the Lord we greatly appreciate and rely on all of your prayers.
Overall babies are doing well
All of the other measurements are looking good for the babies. Baby A (Left) is measuring 2 lbs. 13 oz. and Baby B (Right) is measuring 2 lbs. 8 oz. (both measuring in the 60th percentile). Baby B is head down and he is still the presenting baby (closest to my cervix). I have felt some higher kicks on the left side so I’m wondering if Left Baby has flipped again. If so then we’ll see who’s the presenter at my next ultrasound. They really must be fighting to be the first born!
Glucose test results
I had my glucose test done on Friday as well. It was not pleasant- mainly because they decided to draw an additional 8 vials of blood for other tests that needed to be done. Not only did they take extra blood- they decided to draw it during the first baseline blood draw (fasting- no food or drink since the night before). Because of that I felt nice a queasy before I even drank the sugary, syrupy, food coloring-y drink that they gave me. Needless to say the following 2 hours went by slowly as I waited for them to draw more blood at the 1 hour and 2 hour mark. BUT- the good news is- I don’t have gestational diabetes! Yay! Especially yay that I can continue to indulge in my pregnancy cravings listed bellow- which would not have worked on a low glycemic diet. All in all I feel peaceful about how the pregnancy is going. 28 weeks is quite an accomplishment!
Week 28 pregnancy symptoms:
Round ligament pain- especially when coughing or laughing
Nerve pain in left hip- radiates down left leg through thigh, knee and ankle
Sharp pain in left side when moving around and walking
Cramping with bowel movements (mainly on left side that shoots across lower abdomen)
Hand pain/swelling (especially at night) more pain in left arm and hand after laying on left side
Sore feet and slight swelling in both feet
Shortness of breath (and some hyperventilation)
Having a very round belly (my favorite symptom)
Week 28 pregnancy cravings:
Juice! So much juice! Orange juice with pulp, sparkling apple cider, spiced hot apple cider, lemonade, limeade, plain apple juice, fruit smoothies and did I mention JUICE!
Dairy- still drinking lots of milk, kiefer, yogurt and putting lots and lots of butter on my toast.
Those are the only cravings I can think of for now, I’m sure I have more but all I can think about right now is pouring myself a nice big glass of orange juice- and that’s what I’m going to do as soon as I leave you with my bare belly shots for this week!
The creases on my right side are from my clothes- still no stretch marks thankfully!
I’m starting to look a feel very pregnant. This week my belly started to feel so much heavier and it also started putting a lot more pressure on my round ligaments, sciatic nerve, intestines and bladder. I’ve mentioned these types of pains before in my 25 week pregnancy update, but this week everything was much more intense. For example I’ve been waking up multiple times at night with shooting pains in my left hip. It feels like a pinched nerve that radiates down through my knee and into my calf. Around this same area I also feel sudden cramping mainly on the left side but it also goes across my lower abdomen (kind of like the pains that accompany diarrhea, but there is no diarrhea with my pain). The abdominal pain is more intense and it freaks me out more than the hip pain because it is closer to the babies. I did finally break down and call the nurse’s line at my Ob’s office to make sure that the cramping wasn’t a sign of preterm labor, and she again strongly recommended getting a belly support band. I’m sure these pains are normal and this is just a part of pregnancy, but it’s new to me so I wanted to double check. So I’m now in desperate need of finding a belly band that will help alleviate the pressure from my doubly large twin uterus. (I’m gladly accepting belly band recommendations from you folks!)
Increased swelling in my hands and feet
The swelling in my fingers and hands (especially my left hand) has become much more noticeable this week. You may be able to see the difference in this week’s belly shot compared to the earlier photos. Last week after my acupuncture appointment I thought the swelling went down for a few days, but it is back again. My feet are also puffy again and still sore when I walk or stand too much. The swollen feet also seemed better for a few days after my appointment. I may need to start visiting my acupuncturist more often in the coming weeks to help with this issue. It’s getting more difficult to type on my laptop keyboard too.
Leaning towards private Bradley Method sessions
I did get in touch with one of the Bradley Method teachers in my area who is willing to work with me so late in my pregnancy. We may end up doing a few private sessions with her rather than signing up for the group class. This way we she will come to our home so we don’t have to travel and we can ask her to work on specific exercises and techniques rather than focusing on book knowledge that we can read on our own time. I will confirm the lessons after my MFM appointment on Friday.
Upcoming appointments this week
Friday is a pretty big day. I will be 27 weeks 2 days along and at this point we should be able to tell if the placenta previa will continue to be an issue. I was told that by 28 weeks if it hadn’t resolved then I would have to schedule my c-section for before 37 weeks. So I’m hoping that the ultrasound will have good news for us! I will also be going in for the blood tests for gestational diabetes and a few other blood tests that I never had done because I jumped around to so many doctor’s offices during my first and second trimesters. I’m looking forward to both appointments because hopefully we will be able to get a better idea of when the babies will be born- so our family members can start to book their flights!
Today is the first day of my third trimester! Even though I’ve been impatiently counting down the days of this pregnancy (I actually mark off every day that passes in my calender) but part of me can’t believe that we are already at this point. These little peeps have made it through 26 weeks and they only have about 10-12 weeks to go! I’m starting to realize that there’s not much time left and still lots to do to prepare.
Finding a birthing class that’s right for us
I’ve been researching different birthing classes at the different hospitals in our area as well as private classes like the Bradley Method. I was waiting until the third trimester to begin the classes but what I didn’t take into consideration is that my last trimester is not going to be as long as a typical 40 week pregnancy. I also didn’t take into consideration that the Bradley Method classes run for a full 12 weeks and they don’t have classes starting very often. I did find one class that begins Nov. 15th but that means I would most likely miss the last 2-3 classes where they go over the major birthing techniques. The Bradley Method classes are usually between $250-$350 for the 12 week course and I’m not sure if it’s worth it if I can’t complete the entire course. If anyone has any recommendations for what types of classes to take to prepare for childbirth please leave a comment below!
How do you choose classes to prepare for twins?
In addition to a birth preparation course I would also like to take a breast feeding class, newborn care class, infant CPR class and there are even a few classes specifically for multiples that would be great to attend. Each class costs from $30-$140 so that really adds up. I want to be prepared but I don’t want to spend too much money if these classes are not all necessary. What classes did you other mommies take before you had your kids? What classes did you find helpful and what classes could you have done without?
Dancing babies in my belly
As far as an update on my darling boys I don’t have much to report. They are moving around a lot which is still such an amazing and unreal feeling each time I feel them. The other day I was watching a video on another twin pregnancy blog that had a country music song playing in the background. Right away I started to feel a lot of activity going on both sides, top, bottom and center of my belly. I’m thinking either both babies starting dancing when they heard the music- or they really hate country music and were letting me know that they wanted it to stop immediately!
Today at my acupuncture appointment I had all of my needles in place, a mild heat lamp positioned over my belly and some soothing music with nature sounds playing. Again the boys started fluttering around much more than normal. Right baby (who is still head down) began kicking under my ribs repeatedly like he was jogging in place. It was hard to close my eyes and relax like you are supposed to because I just wanted to watch my bouncing belly. I have a feeling that once they are born I will miss feeling the babies moving in my belly. Although having them physically in my arms will be a million times better!
What husbands shouldn’t say to their pregnant wives
Tonight when my husband took my week 26 belly shots he exclaimed “that’s one round belly.” He tends to say very blunt comments like this even when I’m not pregnant so I’m used to it. A few weeks ago I tried to sit on his lap to give him a hug and he grunted and said “honey you are so fat.” Usually I pout and take the opportunity to educate him on what to say and what not to say to your pregnant wife. Tonight I took it as a compliment. My belly is indeed getting nice and round, but I’m loving it. I probably shouldn’t wish for it, but I’m looking forward to seeing it grow into a giant twin belly! Remind me to re-read this once I get to 36 weeks because I’m pretty sure I won’t be feeling so fond of lugging around an enormous gut but for now I’m still enjoying it!
This week has been pretty productive. I’m trying to smooth out all of the details of where I’ll deliver and who will deliver our babies. I’ve also been taking more steps to get things ready for the babies at home. A few days ago I was convinced that we needed to move out of our third floor apartment because I could not wrap my head around how I would be able to leave the apartment with 2 babies in tow. Now I’ve come back to reality and am content to complete my nesting process in our little apartment (thankfully it has two bedrooms!)
Speaking of nesting
Last week I mentioned the maternity pillow sleeping setup that I made and I wanted to show you what I was referring to:
My pregnant lady nest
Back to nesting in preparation for the babies:
I went to a big community event called “Just Between Friends” last week. People can consign used baby and kid items to be sold at a big garage sale type event. I was able to go to the pre-sale for first time moms so I got to go check everything out before it was sold out. I found a bouncer that was barely used for $14 (originally $60) and a baby carrier that works as a front or back carrier for $15 (originally $80). I also picked up a baby sling to try out for $7 and a few baby clothes (all $4 or less per item). I felt like I made some major progress toward finding useful items and I got most of the stuff for some pretty sweet deals.
Double Snap-N-Go Photo from Amazon.com
I also saw a Baby Trend Snap-N-Go stroller frame that carries 2 infant car seats at the garage sale for $65. I almost bought it but called my mom so she could check the prices on Amazon first. Apparently the stroller is originally $99.99 but is usually on sale for $70 on Amazon and at Target. I decided to hold off on buying the used stroller and I’m so glad I did because last night as I was looking for cloth diapers on Amazon I happened to see the same exact stroller for $40!!! I couldn’t believe it, and I thought it was a mistake- so I quickly bought it before someone noticed that they were selling a $100 stroller for less than half price! I also emailed the link to my friend who is also pregnant with twins and she immediately bought it. I just went back to check the same link on Amazon and the price is back up to $94.41. I am incredibly thankful that we were able to find such an amazing deal (and at least my late night Amazon browsing has not been in vain).
Preparing for my vaginal twin delivery
I know there is still a possibility that we may need to do a cesarean section, but I moved one step closer to a vaginal twin delivery today. I met with a new OB who is a huge advocate for vaginal delivery for multiples and she agreed to take me on as a patient- even though it is already late in my pregnancy! Thank You Lord! My husband and I both really liked her- she is completely on the same page as I am about using as few interventions as possible (unless they are necessary of course).
She is also comfortable assisting in a breech extraction if Baby B ends up being breech during the delivery. I believe that this new doctor is fully capable of assisting in either a vaginal or cesarean delivery and therefore I feel much more at peace letting her call the shots. I’m not worried about her forcing anything on us or doing any unnecessary interventions. She also suggested that I sign up for a natural birthing class as well as a cesarean section class so that we can be prepared for either scenario. All in all I feel very good about making this switch to our new OB!
A quick update on the ever growing peeps
I am so thankful that I don’t have much to report concerning the health of the twins. People keep reminding me that an uneventful pregnancy is the best kind- and I couldn’t agree more! At my appointment today we heard 2 strong heart beats (152 and 150 beats per minute). Baby B is head down and Baby A is breech (but I feel them flipping around on a daily basis so I’m sure their positions will continue to change over the next month or so- while they still have room to swim around).
Baby A and Baby B are trading places
Baby B has decided to change things up and since he is head down and his head is the closest baby part to my cervix he has claimed the first position in the womb. Meaning he is actually considered Baby A now. I’ve decided that from this point on I will call them Left Baby (previously Baby A) and Right Baby (previously Baby B). I have already been getting to know them based on their movements in my womb so it is very important to me that I keep them straight during the pregnancy and I know who is who once they come out. I did ask the doctor what the hard protrusion I was feeling on my right side was and she said it was most likely Right Baby’s little knee- so I guess I’m not squishing his head after all. That’s about it for my uneventful update on the babies!
My body also needs to get prepared- to become exponentially larger in the coming weeks!
I’ve been much more aware of the earth’s gravitational pull lately. My legs feel like they are magnets being suctioned to the ground. This means that walking up three flights of stairs with groceries plus my additional 30 pounds is a slow, slow journey. My belly is also being affected by the very real law of gravity and it lets me know this by sending shooting pains from the round ligaments that are trying to keep my uterus in place. The nurse at my doctor’s appointment today suggested that I invest in a belly band that wraps around the waist underneath the belly to hold it up and take the strain off of your back and round ligaments. This will be my next serious Amazon search.
25 weeks pregnant and rounding out
The new maternity bathing suit
I couldn’t deprive you all of seeing how cute my new suit is (from A Pea In The Pod), so I caved and decided to post a picture of it as requested by my dear sister (who is celebrating her 9th wedding anniversary tonight) Happy Anniversary! Love you Sister! xoxo
growing peeps 