My Pregnancy

So, the adventure begins. I am horribly sick. I throw up many times a day, and I have this over-all crappy feeling every single second of the day. I can't do much of anything but lie on the couch and wish death upon myself. I swear... I used to cry because I just felt so miserable.

I wanted to have a homebirth and while I was seeing an OB, I was searching for a Midwife who'd take me on. And I did. In my 18th week I found a great lady who delivered her own twins at home in her tub many years earlier, and had since delivered other women's twins. Through my pregnancy I saw an OB, a Perinatologist, and my Midwife. I hated subjecting my babies to the numerous ultrasound scans and I ended up pretty much begging my Midwife to let me see her as my only practitioner, but she was a little scared. In NC, Lay Midwives are not legal. NORTH CAROLINA SUCKS!

I got big, and I got big very fast. I am tiny-height and weight- and I measured anywhere from 4-6 weeks ahead through out my pregnancy. The first picture above is from the 3rd month (barely) and the second photo is toward the middle of my pregnancy, around month 5. Even though I was huge, I felt pretty good after the neausea went away. I used to love my pregnant body when I was carrying my other children but I admit I was embarassed my belly this time around. People stared at me and when I was 6 months along a woman told me that I "must be overdue!" I felt very awkward and strange.

I thought I would carry these children with no problems, but at 28 weeks I went into preterm labor. I stayed overnight and was given Magnesium Sulfate. It sucked... I had to have a bunch of straps on my belly, and they were so tight! It was painful and I could not get comfortable. I was advised to limit my activities, of course, and NO bedroom activities at all. I was already effacing and dilating and at 28 weeks, the babies were not ready to be born. I sort of cheated, but I did lay around most of the time. I ended up back at L&D after going to my moms for a BBQ ( I was inside, not out in the heat) but didn't need any meds to stop the contractions this time since I hadn't dilated anymore. I did, however, get a scolding! Looking back, I shouldn't have been so ignorant.

The weeks flew past. When I was 31 weeks along, we got news that my husband, J., could get his old job back. In Connecticut. Were were living in North Carolina!!! My family was very upset because we had to move on such short notice if we wanted J. to get his job back but two DAYS later, I stopped in at L&D for a NST, got a copy of the results and my records, and we left.

The trip was long and uncomfortable. I couldn't get in a good position. My back hurt, my belly hurt, the babies were pushing on my lungs and ribs, and every bump made me contract. I kept praying that we would make it to our destination because I was so crampy. We did. Barely.