36 Weeks Pregnant With Twins!

Wow! I can't believe I'm finally at the 36 week mark! A part of me thinks it has flown by, and then I realize I still have at least 2 more weeks left and then time is crawling by again.
  I look back on my pregnancy with Avery and I will NEVER complain about a singleton pregnancy again, because it was a breeze compared to this.  I'm not complaining about being pregnant with twins, I'm actually so ecstatic I can hardly stand it!  My body is just in so much pain right now, and my hormones are off the charts I just need to vent a little, and tell of the joys and horrors of a twin pregnancy.

First the facts:

        Both baby A and baby B were head down at my last NST (non stress test) appointment. At this point in my pregnancy I've been having NSTs once a week.  This involves a small ultrasound to check fluid and determine the boy's positions then being hooked up to 3 different monitors, one to check baby A's heart rate and movement, the second monitor checks baby B's heart rate and movement, and the third monitor is checking for contractions.  I have to be hooked up for at least 20 minutes, however, if the babies move at all away from the monitors they have to start over until they get a steady heart rate for 20 minutes.  The nurse informed me that most women love having this time to just relax and maybe take a nap, but I hate it! It is so uncomfortable sitting in the reclining hospital chairs.

        In the beginning of my pregnancy every 2 weeks I would have an ultrasound to check the fluid levels in each of the boy's sacs.  They've always looked good, so at 24 weeks they said we could check every 4 weeks instead. Since my boys share a placenta it's a sure sign that they are identical twins, and with that comes certain risks like TTTS (twin to twin transfusion syndrome) which involves one of the boy's stealing food or even blood from the other twin, which could result in smaller birth weights or even stroke and death.  Thankfully our boys have passed so far with flying colors!

        Every 4 weeks we have a growth ultrasound where they measure every part of the babies and make sure that they are growing at similar and healthy rates.  Our most recent growth ultrasound was at 33 weeks, and both twins were weighing in at 4 lbs. and 4 lbs. 1 oz.  Next week will be our last growth ultrasound, and I'm hoping for 6 pounders!

Now the pains;

        I weigh about 158 right now, and I can feel the difference the added weight does to my body.  My feet hurt constantly, and throb due to the extra swelling.   I can't wear my wedding ring anymore because my fingers are little sausages, so now I've taken to wearing my big pink gaudy Mary Kay ring, it's fun.

       I can't sit up straight without my ribs stinging and then going numb.  I think Maverick has burrowed his way so high up there I can hardly move.  Not being able to sit up straight has also made using the restroom quite difficult, since they haven't made reclining toilets yet.  The whole issue of wiping myself when I'm finished is an entirely different problem with my belly becoming ever larger.  I'll leave it at that.

         Heartburn hasn't been too terribly bad, however, I don't go anywhere without my Tums.  If I can eat enough food regularly then it doesn't seem to be an issue at all.

        Headaches and sensitive eyes have become my new companions.  I need to drink water constantly, and when I don't drink enough I am punished with headaches.

      The worst pain of all though is not being able to pick up my precious baby Avery when she's crying out to me, or when I give in and the contractions start.  I think Avery is starting to understand that her life is about to change drastically, because she has begun to cling onto me and wants to be held a lot more than usual.  I'll be happy when I can easily pick her up and swing her around again.

The Joys:

       I LOVE that I am having twins! I have always said that I not only wanted twins, but that I would have twins, and it truly is a dream come true!

       I feel them moving constantly.  It's not like your usual punch here, and a kick there, it's like a wave pool is permanently set to the ON position, and they are having a blast riding the waves!

The Rant:

      When delivering twins in a hospital it is often common practice to have them via c-section, thankfully that is not the policy where I will be birthing my twins.  However, it is common practice to deliver twins in an operating room, even if there is no reason to suspect complications.  I have talked to every hospital in the area and every doctor, and none of them will relent on this practice, and it absolutely infuriates me!
       We are a hypno-birthing family, and for my labor and delivery to be successful I need dim lighting, and a homey environment.  The thought of being wheeled out of my dim peaceful room into the bright hallway and operating room just as my body is starting to transition and push the babies out is so appalling it makes me mad! What is wrong with me birthing my babies in an environment of my choosing?
        I keep having nightmares that things aren't going to go the way I want, because I already know they won't accommodate me on where I want to birth my boys, and I'm frustrated that there seems to be nothing I can do about it.

Anyway thanks for letting me vent, I really am enjoying my pregnancy, and am so grateful I can go to the pool almost everyday otherwise I don't think I could survive.  I feel blessed to have been chosen to carry these sweet boys, and I'm so excited to meet them in a few weeks!