Today I celebrated my official entry into the 3rd trimester with a delicious bottle of dextrose goodness and a Rhogam shot to the ass. And who said pregnancy isn't magical??? I am certainly eating my words from my last pregnancy update, as time has definitely not been passing slowly. In fact, I feel like I just wrote that 24 week post, and here we are a month later and a month closer to having two precious babies in our lives.
Annabelle's hand in front of Charlotte's foot--they must be so squished in there!
I had my third growth scan on Tuesday, and neither one of the girls was feeling particularly sociable. They flipped over face down, covered their faces with their hands, squirmed away from the ultrasound techs magic wand, and were just generally difficult, meaning no adorable glamour shots from this appointment. But we did learn that both babies are still doing great, and growing like weeds. They're no longer measuring ahead, which worries me just a little, but they're only a day behind, so hopefully we'll still get some nice, big babies when the time comes. Charlotte is a little bigger, measuring 2 pounds 11 ounces with a heartbeat of 158 bpm. Annabelle is back to being the little one, measuring 2 pounds 7 ounces with a heartbeat of 149 bpm. It's hard to believe I've got more than 5 pounds of baby inside me already--I've known girls who gave birth to full term babies not much bigger than that!
We met with the new high risk doctor, and got to ask him a bunch of questions about the labor and delivery process for twins. He confirmed that his recommendation is to take the babies between 37 and 38 weeks depending on how they are measuring if they don't come before that on their own. He also told us to be prepared for them to arrive anytime around 36 weeks. I'm still feeling a little anxious about that since Colby is scheduled on a trip that will get him back home when I'm 34 1/2 weeks, so hopefully the girls will stay inside at least until then and hopefully longer. But it's absolutely mindblowing to think that in 10 weeks or less, we'll be meeting our babies.
As for how I'm doing... I'm hanging in there. I have good days and not so good days, but I think considering what my body is having to contend with, it's doing a pretty good job. Bedtime has become my least favorite part of the day. I've pretty much returned to 1st tri levels of exhaustion, but now without the benefit of being able to sleep for 15 hours a day. I can't even toss and turn because just rolling over in bed requires such monumental effort. I sleep with a pillow between my legs to try to alleviate the joint pain in my groin, but I wake up every morning so incredibly achy. I really want to try to find somewhere around here that does prenatal massages--I would be willing to pay scads of money for just one hour of not feeling uncomfortable.
I've been having lots of weird little aches, pains, and twinges in my uterus that tend to freak me out a bit but so far haven't led to anything of concern. The Braxton Hicks still come and go, but without any regularity and no pain--though they are getting more uncomfortable. As the girls have gotten bigger, their sweet little kicks have turned into full on assaults. I think Annabelle is the one who likes to get right up into my ribs and just roll and flail, and Charlotte is down really low and likes to take shots at my pelvis. It's a real joy when they're both going at it simultaneously. It's all I can do to keep breathing. Is it possible to get an epidural at 28 weeks?
But still, I never take a minute of any of this for granted. I love these babies so much, and I am so excited for them to arrive. This weekend we're repainting the nursery in a different shade of grey (I wish I didn't think of S&M every time I thought about painting the nursery), and going to Ikea for the last of the baby furniture. I've started sorting through their clothes and hope to get it all washed and put away next week. My mom and a very sweet family friend are making the crib skirts and a roman shade, and should be finished by the end of September. Other than that, I'll figure out what else I want for decor when I see how much wall space we have. It's all starting to come together, and I really want to be ready for the girls to arrive any time after 32 or 33 weeks.
Please, let's all hope that Ikea is feeling kind this weekend. I've already had one tearful breakdown in that store, I'm not sure if I can handle another!
Pretty soon you won't be able to hold the visual aids up with one hand! You're in the home stretch!
Posted by: Mandy | August 30, 2012 at 06:48 PM
Hey...Stopping by to let you know I nominated you for a award. Check it out and see if you wanna play along :)
http://www.aguilarmarissa.blogspot.com
-Marissa
p.s I love your pictures that is such a cute idea!
Posted by: Marissa | August 30, 2012 at 09:35 PM
I Love the Pictures!!! They are soo cute!!!
Posted by: katie | August 30, 2012 at 10:01 PM
I was thinking the same thing! You look fabulous Angela :) I love the S&M thing in there...too funny!
Posted by: Solange | August 30, 2012 at 11:58 PM
aw friend i'm just so excited for you two and cannot wait to see those little ladies!
Posted by: katelin | August 31, 2012 at 12:53 AM
You look amazing! I hope we get to see you and Colby (and maybe the girls) when we come over next month!
Posted by: amy | August 31, 2012 at 02:31 AM
Wow! No paparazzi for the girls--talk to the hand (or foot). Everything looks good! I'm thinking positive thoughts that all goes well at IKEA!
Posted by: Kate P | September 01, 2012 at 12:07 AM
You look very pretty! Love the veggie-pictures :)
Posted by: Milana - FashionStyleAdvice | September 01, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Saw on twitter that you had a bunch of Ikea furniture to put together. Can I assume there were no tearful outbreaks?
ps. You have two freaking eggplants in your belly?!? That's crazy, man.
Posted by: Molly | September 01, 2012 at 10:42 PM
HOW ON EARTH DID I MISS YOU'RE HAVING TWINS?!? OMG, congrats! And you look amazing.
Posted by: Melissa | September 03, 2012 at 04:30 PM
Twins! How exciting! My sister and I are twins, and I have a ridiculous amount of respect for any mother who can handle two girls at the same time.
Posted by: Cori | September 03, 2012 at 04:36 PM
You look great! And I love you're painting the nursery gray, way to make it all about the book :)
Posted by: Jessica | September 04, 2012 at 04:47 AM
I love those names!!! And reading your progress
Posted by: Elle sees | September 04, 2012 at 04:08 PM
How exciting for you! Popped on over from Growing Up Geeky's linky! You look phenomenal!
Posted by: Sarah [NurseLovesFarmer.com] | September 07, 2012 at 04:55 PM