34 Weeks

Yesterday, the gals and I started our 34th week. Whew! The date Dr. Mac wanted us to make it to. Now, we're just going one week at a time to see how we do. I had an appointment yesterday. Sweet sistah came and picked me up and took me and David was able to meet us at the hospital. We had another growth measurement ultrasound thingy...took for.e.ver. The girls are all kinds of twisted and squished in there and she couldn't figure out who was who and what belonged to who...whom. So, she finally just did a guesstimated measurement. At this stage, one baby should weigh between 4.5 and 4.75 pounds. Well, my little chonkers weigh roughly 5 pounds and 5 pounds 15 oz. Of course, once again, I was like...what about the weight difference? She said it was perfectly normal and they had both gained weight proportionally since the last time and it was incredibly rare for twins, even identical, to weigh the same at birth. Relief.

Then, I met with the nurse, who weighed me...50 pounds total so far. I think she should have subtracted about a pound and a half, though, because I had on heavy shoes and jeans...but whatever.

Then, we met with Dr. Mac. He said he couldn't be happier with the girls' progress and that they were doing great, etc. And I'm like, well, yeah...they're super stars. I asked again about the weight difference and he reassured me everything was totally normal. He did say that if their weight difference increased by a good bit more, they might take them a little earlier than planned, but he didn't foresee that happening. So, I'm just praying they kind of start matching up a little bit. But, all in all, it was a great check-up and everybody's doing great! I have +1 edema, he determined after looking at my legs/ankles. I'm assuming that means I have semi-cankles. Awesome. But, my blood pressure is still really good. The range has been 110/70 to 120/80. I can totally control my BP. I can raise and lower it at will...like those airplane pilots. I'll teach you sometime how to do it.

GIRLS ONLY!!!!!!!!! If you're a guy and you read past this, you have been warned and you have no one to blame but yourself. Here, look at these pretty pictures to keep yourselves occupied, while the girls keep reading...

So...Dr. Mac sprung a surprise exam on me...one of THOSE exams...and wanted to check for dilation. I am dilated 1/2 a centimeter...which is like pansy dilation, but still...a start. He did the whole check-up...it was ugh...and then tells us that he thinks we can make it to 37.5 weeks...January 11. He also said he thought I was an excellent candidate for a natural birth. (Just to clarify...when I say "natural", I mean the normal way a baby comes out WITH an epidural. I just say "natural" instead of using the "v" word in case some dumb boy read past the warning.) After a good little talk about how you have to be 100% interested in doing a natural birth with twins because "it's an adventure" and you can't go into with the thought of "well, I'll give it a try and see if I can do it"...like, you have to be hard-core into it...he kind of looked at my face and said, "I'm just not seeing that you reaaaaaaally want to do that." And I said, "Well, I know that natural births are easier on the babies and of course a much quicker recovery for me, but I'm afraid I'll get in there, have one naturally and then still have to have a C-section to get the other one out and I really don't want to hurt in two places." And he said, "I've done over 100 twins births here and never once have I ever had to section the second baby. I always get them out the same way." So, that was really comforting to hear.

But, he said..."Let's tentatively schedule a C-section and if you go into labor before then, alrighty!" So, he looked at his calendar and asked what a good day would be and we picked January 8!! Elvis Presley's birthday. Not that I care about Elvis...it was just ironic because that's David's nickname in my family. January 8 is also a Friday and I wanted either a Thursday or Friday so it'd be easier for my family and his family to both come. He said if I changed my mind about the C-section, we could still keep the date for an induction and just let me see if I went into labor naturally or they'd induce then.

So, that's my dilemma...I don't know what to do. Sure, I would love to do it naturally. But I've watched a lot of Baby Stories on TLC and those women with the epidurals suuuuure seem to be hating it and not much better off. Is it really still that bad, even with the drugs? What would you do? I feel like I'm pretty tough...I'm just afraid of not having the endurance to get through it. And also, if I go into labor on my own, what if I get a doctor who's not Dr. Mac and he gets one out naturally, but can't get the other out and has to do a C-section anyway? Is the natural way really bad? If you were in my place, what would you do? Less pain now with a longer recovery or more pain now but shorter recovery? Agh...it's a huge decision. I have no idea and it's bothering me. I don't care about a C-section scar...you can take them out through my face if you want...it's really just the pain that scares me. And stitches/staples...aaaaaaaaaah...it's worse than the dentist. I can't even look at stitches. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to see them anyway, what with the flap o skin left over, but still. I'll know they're there. But, then, what if I have to have an episiotomy? Ouch much. So, my lady friends (that sounded sketchy), you guys have to tell me what to do. I would appreciate it if you'd make the decision for me. Thanks in advance.