31 Weeks and my last 4 days...

How far along?  We have reached the incredible 31 week mark today!!! And we won't be going very much further.  In 4 days time, we will be welcoming our miracles into our lives at last.

Symptoms?  Severe pre-eclampsia with protein count sitting dangerously over 6. 5 Is considered cut-off point. Hypertension being treated with meds. Severe lymphoedema. Headaches. Unbelieveable water retention - legs, feet, thighs, butt, face, hands. My belly is measuring 39cm from top to bottom - equivalent of a full term pregnancy. I can't bend over or cross my legs.  My knees are filled with water so if I kneel it feels like a gel pad. Have to wear special support stocking to prevent DVT. Can't sleep lying down as my sinuses are swollen so I make the strangest whistling noises keeping me awake and I also cannot breathe properly due to diminished lung capacity and fluid. Gosh...I sound like a moaner, but I realise now how serious pre-eclampsia really is...not a walk in the park! Let alone a twin pregnancy!!! All worth it though. I may need to stay in for longer than the normal 3 nights after the caeser however to stabilise my blood pressure etc.

Stretch marks? No new ones...using tissue oil morning and night. Existing stretch marks look more stretched but haven't started getting longer...

Weight gain? I have put on about 10kg now of water retention and my weight has increased by 13kg since I was admitted to hospital.  The good news is that it is completely reversible and I will lose up to 15kg immediately.

Sleep?  Despite the hectic issues...I am still managing about 6 hours during the night and day combined - good training for when the babbas come home!!!

Movement?  Still love feeling them so much.  I am going to miss having them inside me so so very much and I am trying to embrace and enjoy the last 4 days of being pregnant.

Best moment this week? Banking almost 3 weeks of time keeping our twins inside me in their cozy little nest so they can grow grow grow!!!

Food cravings?  Can't really eat very much at all....no real cravings....

What I am looking forward to? To seeing our babes faces at last. To seeing them hold my liitle finger. To looking into their eyes. To finally having these two precious miracles a reality...my heart can almost not handle the love I already feel for them.

Milestones?  The precious time we have gained.  Both Obgyns really thought I wouldn't make the week...and I made almost 3!!!

Emotions? A mixture of sadness that I won't experience my last 4 weeks of pregnancy.  Relief that we will have reached 31 weeks and 4 days. Excitement at knowing we will meet our babies in 4 days time.

General... I met our paediatrician, Dr W today.  He is so awesome and seems quite chilled and pleased about the twin's weights. He said we will only know more once we evaluate them after being born, but if just the basics, he would say we could even be looking ahead to about a 4-5 weeks NICU stay!!! The quicker they can suck, breathe, self regulate and do all together...and get over 2kg, the faster they get to come home! He also said the smaller twin sometimes progresses faster as they are more stressed and reactive. How amazing it would be to have them home in 4 weeks! That is something to look so forward to. All in all, I am so blessed to have had this time to prepare properly. I am at peace.