32 Weeks Pregnant with Twins

We’ve hit another mini goal!  12 weeks, 24 weeks, 28 weeks and now 32 weeks…so proud of the Beans and I!   2 more to go.  34 weeks is a big one and 37 is considered full term.  Holy geez…that’s like, any day now.

What’s up with your baby? She’s starting to get ready for her big debut, tipping the scales at almost four pounds and topping out at just about 19 inches. In these past few weeks, it’s all about practice, practice, practice as she hones the skills she’ll need to thrive outside the womb — from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking. In anticipation of that momentous transition to mouth feeding, your baby’s digestive system is all set and ready to go. And though you’re weeks away from D-day, your baby’s looking more and more like a newborn: As more and more fat accumulates under her skin, it’s becoming less transparent and more opaque.

At 32 weeks pregnant, you’re likely feeling tapping and squirming instead of your baby’s signature rocking and rolling. That’s because, while comfy, your baby is a bit tight for exercise space right now — she’s actually back to a curled-up position (you try standing up in those cramped quarters!). Your baby has also probably settled into the head-down, bottoms-up position in your pelvis in preparation for birth. That’s because the fetus’s head fits better at the bottom of your inverted, pear-shaped uterus, plus it’s easier during childbirth if your baby comes out head first. Fewer than five percent of babies prefer the bottom-down (or breech) position by full-term — so don’t worry if your baby hasn’t assumed the head-down position yet. There’s still a good chance he or she will flip head-side-down before birth, even in the tight confines of your uterus.

And speaking of that big day, hope you’re resting up for it — because your bambino certainly is. In preparation for that big first date with you, your baby is sleeping like a baby — with sleep cycles of 20 to 40 minutes long (which would also account for the decrease in movement you’re likely feeling these days).

Bump – 32w2d

On the inside

On the outside

Yikes!  That’s the same shirt in the 22 and 32 week pictures.

Happy St. Patty’s Day!

I’ll admit I’m quite fond of my belly, but good grief…it’s always in the way!  Bending down is a joke. I’m always bumping it into doorways or the table or people (awkward).  My belly button still hasn’t popped.  No stretch marks and no brown line.

Doctors Appt – 32w1d

Total Weight Gain = 34 lbs.  BP  110/74.  Protein – negative.  Butterbean HR 146+.  Lima bean HR 129/152+.  Belly measuring – 39 WEEKS

No wonder I’m feeling so large.  39 weeks?  That’s a lot of baby!

Everything looks really good.  The doctor called me a rockstar because of my stellar blood pressure.  We discussed changing my Loveonx Protocol to Heparin around 35-36 weeks.  I’m not 100% on all of the details but I believe this is due to the time it takes for the blood thinner to get out of my system.  Lovenox is 24 hours and Heparin is 12.  I’m going to discuss it all with MFM next week.

I was also reminded of the importance of taking it easy for the next 2 weeks.  Lots and lots of downtime will give these babies the best shot of baking until at least 34 weeks.

Next week, I start my weekly OB appointments, in addition to weekly Non-Stress Tests.  I also have an ultrasound next week so we have 3 appointments.

How I’m feeling

We’ve officially hit the “fun”, final stage of pregnancy, boys and girls!  I’m definitely not at the point where I’m “over it” (and it’s a good thing because we have 5 weeks to go)…but I’m ready to do some complaining.

Swelling is in the house! Just call me Banana Hands.  Good grief, my fingers are blown up like sausages.  Annnnnnd, I have cankles.  And Fred Flintstone feet. The swelling seems to come and go depending on my water intake and activity.  Movement doesn’t seem to bother me much but standing for more than 5-10 minutes does.

My hips don’t lie…Relaxin has officially kicked in.  This fab hormone is responsible for loosening my muscles, joints and ligaments in preparation for birth.  It is also a contributor to heartburn, which I’ve also had a lot more of.  Aching hips.  Burning esophagus. Three cheers for hormones!

The carpal tunnel in my right hand still sucks.  Dr. Jerry has been wrapping my wrist in an ace bandage at night and I’m happy to say, we’ve had pain free nights!  I know I could buy a brace but I’m cheap and lazy.  This works just fine.  Unfortunately, that’s not the only nerve effected by my extra fluid retention.  Sciatica pain is back.  Ouch!  It takes a while to shake off if I sit for too long.  And it makes me limp a bit, which kind of looks like a waddle.  Dammit.

I’m waiting for the whole “nesting” thing to kick in.  Right now, I just want to lay around and do NOTHING!  Overall, I feel beat up and tired.  Especially the hour right after work.  I can catch a little second wind if I take it easy for a bit and have been trying to spend 1/2 hour or so organizing baby stuff.  But other than that…no nesting.

Food

Same old, same old.  I’m just hungry all the time.  And I want a plain old turkey sandwich…that hasn’t been heated in the microwave.

Sleep

I’m generally awake every night from 3:30 – 5:00.  Sometimes I can snooze a bit before the alarm goes off at 5:30 but usually, no dice.  I broke down and took 1/2 a Unisom one night and slept from 8:30 – 5:30.  It was fabulous.

Movement

These babies are NOT running out of room.  And I read that at this point, they’re sleeping 90-95% of the day.  Not my kiddos!  There is a constant party going on in there.  The movements are very exaggerated too.  Lots of rolls and stretches.  It’s kind of my favorite thing right now.

Mood

Hooboy, I was a pill on Thursday!  I just felt lousy and didn’t want to talk to anyone.  Of course, it was the day when everyone was asking “how ya feeling?”.   No one wants to listen to me bitch and complain so I just say “I feel very pregnant”  One of my co-workers responded to that comment by laughing, which made me want to simultaneously punch them in the face and burst into tears.  They weren’t laughing at me, but with me (it was a woman and she gets it)…I guess just need kid gloves these days.

For the most part, I’m all over the place.  Seriously, I have 27 different emotions going at all times.  Cranky, sappy, blissful, terrified, ecstatic, weepy, irritable…all could happen at any given moment.  Jerry is really enjoying living in crazytown.

Nursery & Baby Stuff

Jerry and his Dad did an amazing job putting together the nursery over the weekend and it is adorable!  OMG, I can’t get over how perfect it is.  We have a few final touches to add and then I’ll post some photos.

It still kinda looks like a bomb went off in there at the moment.  But that’s only because I need to find an organizational plan for all of the baby stuff we were gifted at the shower.  Seriously, we have pretty much everything we need for these Beans.  Everyone was so unbelievably generous.  I’m still in awe.

Random Thoughts/Observations/Stuff

* It’s the first day of Spring!  And how does Pittsburgh celebrate?  With snow.

* I am really lucky to work for a company that permits working from home and I hope to start taking advantage of it a few days a week starting in April.  I still have to discuss it with my boss but he’s pretty great and don’t think it will be a problem. I’ve already had several of my coworkers suggest it, probably because they don’t want me to go into labor at the office!

* Speaking of my coworkers…they surprised me on Monday with a little mini baby shower!  It’s hard to surprise me but they managed to pull it off.  We were gifted with not one, but TWO Mamaroos and a gift card to buy diapers!!  I work with an awesome group of people.  These Beans and I are so blessed.

* I started packing my hospital bag but it really only has toiletries in it at the moment.  All of the other stuff I will be packing, I still need!  I guess I’ll just pack stuff and then live out of the bag until go time.

*And go time seems like it could happen at any minute.  I’ve been pretty confident that I would make it to 37 weeks this entire pregnancy but now I’m not so sure.  Just a feeling, not based on anything physical.  Should these Beans make their appearance sooner than 4/22, I’ll be putting it on my Instagram and updating the blog when I can.

*I’ll leave you with this