Photo from A Pea in the Pod

I am experiencing really bad swelling and water retention. It's mostly in my legs and hands. From the knee down I have what they call pitted edema -- the swelling is so bad that when pressed, the skin stays indented. Sexy, I know.

I don't have preeclampsia or toxemia, and all my tests have been coming up fine. It's just twins at 33 weeks can make a woman have the types of feelings like she's 41 weeks with one baby. That's what the doctor told me...and I'm also measuring like I'm full term, too.

So the OB told me to get compressions socks and I wrote all about it in another post. I've been wearing them for two weeks...but before you go out and buy them, here's a warning.

Photo from Motherhood Maternity

I bought two nursing bras this weekend...and I am still a little skeptical. Did I really need them? Couldn't I just wear a sports bra and pull it over to the side?

Will I even be wearing a bra at all?

Photo by Damo Momo

We've all seen the maternity shirts with the funny sayings on them -- everything from Love Hurts to I'm Not Fat, I'm Pregnant.

Some of them can be a bit brash, but this Bun in the Oven t-shirt ($25) from Damo Momo is more subtle.

Photo by dennysgirl07

Who said pregnant women can't be sexy?

If you ask my husband and he'll tell you how sexy he finds me!

With Halloween coming up, why not go the revealing route like CafeMom dennysgirl07.

I love her costume!

She was Princess Jasmine from the movie Alladin, but she wanted her belly to be something from the film as well.

Photo from Zappos

Bastien Cabrice boot

Every morning it's the same thing -- after agonizing over what to wear (because I'm very limited in what fits my pregnant body) I do my best to shove my sausages (aka feet) into my boots.

Once I clear the ankle, my boot still fits fine, but some days it's a real struggle. And forget about getting them off. If my husband isn't home to pull them off for me, the process involves sweat, lots of grunting, and me nearly giving up before I finally get them off.

Photo by o0laurie.love0o

Last week I wondered if scary maternity halloween costumes for us pregnant ladies was too much. So far all of you thought I should go for it.

But in case you wanted to go the cute maternity Halloween costume route, I have more ideas!

Photo frome BuyCostumes.com

Halloween may be one of my most favorite days of the year, second only to Thanksgiving because I love stuffing and gravy so much. But Halloween! I dress up every year.

My birthday happens to fall two days after, so if I have a get-together, it's often Halloween-themed. Last year I had a 70s costume party and the year before I dressed up as a car hop who had been run over -- blood, guts, tire tracks, and all.

I tend to like the gory costumes and I was reading a post in the Stay at Home Moms Group (must be member to view) about how she too liked the blood and guts aspect of it and wondered if pregnant women should tone it down for Halloween. Would it offend?

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty

There are two ways to sport your baby bump when dressing up during pregnancy. Flaunt it or go flowy. At the Emmy's Heidi Klum flaunted it with a bump hugging dress and Kourtney Kardashian went with a loose flowy dress that tends to hide it a little.

Photo from Sculptz

Being pregnant is beautiful,  but it certainly comes with some cases of ugly. One case is swollen ankles and pale as can be legs, and I'm lucky if I even shave. I mean, my husband is lucky.

Pre-pregnancy I was a fan of shapewear -- underthings that keep any jigglies at bay and smooths me out under a tight dress.

Turns out shapewear can also be a pregnant woman's best friend.

Photo by seemommysew

Sometimes you can get away with not having to buy maternity clothing during your pregnancy. Sometimes, you have no choice (those jeans just refuse to give anymore). Here are some maternity clothing links I love: