Pregnancy Buzz

Photo by PrinceEdsmommy

November is Prematurity Awareness Month and I just learned of a test that can predict a woman's risk for preterm birth -- it's called fetal fibronectin testing (fFN Test) and it's similar to getting a Pap test.

I've never been more aware of preterm birth than I am right now -- I'm in the high risk category since I'm having twins. But I'm just about 34 weeks pregnant now, so I'm in a good place. But what about others with risk factors? Who is at risk?

Photo by Emmy_Dollface

My first trimester I was amazed at my growing belly. It's funny...looking back at it  now it was so small! I had terrible morning sickness all day, but was still was thrilled to be carrying twins.

Second trimester had some ups and downs, but there was a point where I felt so great, so healthy, and pretty, sporting a cute bump.

Now I'm in my third trimester and hello heartburn, edema, carpal tunnel, and tons of crankiness. I'm almost ready to scream, Get these babies out of me!!

After getting through most of my first trimester eating cold cuts for lunch almost daily, I learned I'm wasn't supposed to eat deli meats during pregnancy...unless they are heated up.

So that next time I ordered my turkey and cheddar on whole wheat, I instead asked for grilled turkey and cheddar so the heat would kill off any listeriosis.

Photo by wntg1grl

We're joining Kim (aka wntg1grl), a stay-at-home mom of three who's expecting twins, on her exciting journey from bump-to-babies. Check back every week for the latest developments.

Photo from Amazon

My doula has me drinking two cups of red raspberry leaf tea a day. Luckily it's really yummy and its said to be really good during pregnancy because it's great for the uterus.

I have my sister drinking it too because she wants to have a VBAC and I thought it would be great for her to strengthen her uterine wall.

Photo by AshBayGrammy

Before I got pregnant, I had asked myself that very question hundreds of times. Along with "What's wrong with me?", "Am I not meant to have kids?", "Did I do something to make this not happen?"

It also didn't help that some people who knew I was trying to conceive had some things to say that were hurtful. I'm sure they didn't mean it but when you hear something like, well, you spent a lot of time having fun and going out a lot so maybe that's why it's not happening for you, it can make you want to scream.

Here's the thing...it's not like I was some big party person -- I'm actually kind of a square when it comes to that...I barely drink. But even if I did, that doesn't often mean anything in the scheme of things when it comes to getting pregnant. I know a woman who has been on every drug imaginable and has gotten pregnant...oh, maybe seven times.

Photo by Baby Hawk

Designed from the Chinese Mei Tai baby carrier, Baby Hawk is one continuous piece of fabric crafted to securely hold your baby close to you.

You can wear the carrier on your hip, or  front or back, and you can also choose from many designs. Good for newborns and kids up to 40 pounds...that is, if you can carry them that long. (Can you? Seems like it would kill my back!)

I even saw one mom on the website wearing two -- with one baby in the front, one in the back. Strong mama!

As much as I would like to, I don't think I can do that with my twins. One goes with hubs, the other goes with me.

Photo by PaintdBabyBumps

Photo by PaintdBabyBumps

I love taking baby belly shots -- and my husband and I have a ton of them, we even have a Mommy Measure and mark off the growth of my twin belly. I haven't given that much thought to a belly cast...until I saw these!

I'm on the computer for work...and I'm typing this right now. When I'm deep in thought and pounding at the keys, I'm not thinking about the pain, but when I stop, it does hurt. A lot.

It's carpal tunnel...one of the products of swelling or edema during pregnancy.

Yes, anyone can get it from typing, but I have it from being pregnant. The swelling in my wrists presses on the nerve, and then affects my hands. My middle three fingers on my right hand are numb.

Is it weird that I want to plant my placenta? Some people might think so, but to me, it feels too sacred to not do something with. Plus a lot of cultures believe in the ceremony of committing the placenta to the earth.

The only problem is that I live in NYC and rent, and don't have a yard.

Do I plant it in my parents' yard who live in the suburbs? Will they think I'm nuts?

Maybe. But not any more nuts than me in high school wearing all black and burning special love candles and incense on the lace covered altar in my room all night.

Don't make fun, that was a long time ago. But back to the placenta...