31 Weeks

I love it when people ask me if I'm due any day now.  No.  I'm not.  But it did become even more a reality today when I had my 31 week appointment with my doctor.  I didn't have an ultrasound this time.  He measured my belly and told me I was doing wonderfully!  That's always nice to hear and reassuring that things are going as they should.

I measured at 40 weeks today which is full term for a single baby.  No wonder I feel "cooked".  When I asked the doctor what I measured, he said, "Big...you're big."  I'm not sure if he was hesitant to make me really feel my actual girth but he hesitated to say the number of weeks.  I just laughed.  It was no surprise to me!  I know I'm larger now than ever because my stretch marks are having babies of their own!  One of these days I'll brave a bare belly photo just so you can admire the forest of veins and stretch marks that have overgrown my once smooth belly.  My belly button has literally been turned inside out.  There is no more room for it "give".

I went to my visit today with a number of questions.  Sometimes I ask the same question to multiple doctors just to see if they're on the same page or if I'll get a variation of the last person's answer.

1. I've been having strange cravings:  fabric softener, bleach, dishwasher detergent...really any cleaning product makes me drool.  I switch the laundry loads and have the urge to take a bite of the clothing.  I can see myself gnawing on a shirt or pair of shorts like a donkey.
1. Answer: You need more iron!  I asked if it was normal and he paused and smiled and said, "Well, not really, but it usually means your deficient in iron."  I assured him that I wouldn't give in to the craving.
2. How does my body know to keep these babies in any longer??
1. Answer:  It doesn't!  (Oh good, that really doesn't help my paranoia of pre-term labor.)
3. Can I go on a short road trip to Colorado next weekend?
1. Answer:  We'll start checking your cervix next week (WHAT?? Whoa!!!) and if you're closed, you can go, if you're dilating, we'd rather you stay here. (I knew they'd be checking me starting at 32 weeks but it really put things into perspective that these babies could arrive any day now.)
4. Are there doctors that aren't comfortable with breech deliveries?  
1. Answer: Everyone is comfortable with breech deliveries.  We are cautious about them but we're all capable of doing them.
5. When should the babies be in position (Vertex = head down)
1. Answer: Um, now! (Yay! Both babies are vertex!!)

So, I left my appointment feeling pretty happy but seriously nervous that I'm not going to make it as long as I hoped I would.  I asked the doctor at what point the babies would be able to go home with me and he said by 35 weeks and sometimes 34, babies are usually good to go home with mom.  This was very reassuring news for me.  I've been telling myself all along that I wanted to make it to 38 weeks.  This last month or so, I've been telling myself that I'd like to get to at least 36 weeks.  I guess what it really boils down to is that I want my babies to come home with me.  I'm still hoping for big babies (relatively) and shooting for at least 6 pounders, hopefully 7, but with how huge I am right now, I'm just not sure that's going to be a possibility.

Anyway, I leave you with my latest belly bump:

31 Weeks (measuring 40 weeks)