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[kerpupples]

Maria - as much as nurses have to be on their feet I'm really impressed that you have made it this far. I say it's a great idea for you to switch to half days. If you are feeling it then you are probaby ready. I'm still working too - I have a desk job but I think even I may not make it past the end of this week. Like you, I'm feeling SO heavy and I think I'd just benefit from more rest. Your nursery looks great! We almost went with that bedding set from Babies R Us with DD - it's very pretty. I can't believe you're having such regular contractions. No fun. Are you dilating yet? What position are those little girls in?

Leora - these babies seem pretty darn healthy indeed. I'm looking forward to the day when all the discomfort now will be clearly worth it.

So I went to the city pool on Saturday and soaked in there about 40 minutes - the relief was GLORIOUS. Imagine my frustration when 2 hours after I got home the swelling was just as bad as before I got in the pool. Sunday morning it was even worse. Any standing, sitting, or bending felt like the skin on my calves and thighs would split like a sausage casing. I wasn't satisfied with the doctor's explanation of dehydration and/or heat. I was inside all day and drinking water nonstop. I also had zero swelling anywere but my legs. After copious internet searches it occured to me that a physical blockage was keeping fluid trapped in my legs - my belly! So I started sitting with my legs splayed nice and wide and ladylike so the belly wouldn't rest on them. Little by little, I started feeling relief. I'm going back to the pool to try and drain this fluid again tonight, and my legs are still feeling bruised all over, but I think I've figured this one out.

[WeHaveHope]

Kerpupples-I still can't believe we are exactly one week apart I'm so sorry that you are so swollen. I haven't had ant swelling with this pregnancy. But I remember with my son I wad swollen beyond belief but I also had developed pre-eclampsia. I hope you start to feel a little better soon. When is your next appt? Mine is tomorrow. We shall see what my cervix is up to then. I am happy to report that the nursery is officially finished. Well, everything except for the window vallance. The dresser took two hours to put together tonight. But other than the vallance, all done. What theme are you going yo use for your nursery? I would love to see pics. Below are some pics of the completed nursery.

[fvrogers]

OMG!! I am so out of touch.

Barbara - Congrats!! Your little guy is too cute!

Maria - Your nursery looks awesome. Good to see that you are still hanging in there.

Leora - So great to see you on this board. Even though I am not on much I think of you often.

Tess - I am so glad your scans are looking good. Will keep praying that the next 4 week scan looks just as good.

Kerpupples - You are doing awesome!! Momma you have hung in there like a trooper!!

Kbillsy - Your gang is beautiful!! I can only imagine how full your hands are.

AFM - We are doing great. I am enjoying every second with my little guy. He is getting so big and changing every day. He eats constantly and is already wearing 3-6 month clothing!! DH are toying with the idea of another frozen cycle next spring - I can't believe it! I think of you all often and will continue to pop in.

Love,

Felicia

[kerpupples]

Maria - how was your appointment today? My next one s on Monday. You're so lucky you avoided swelling this pregnancy. With DD I think my ankles swelled a little one day toward the end. Today my legs are so swollen I can hardly bend them. If it gets any worse and my belly gets bigger I'm afraid I won't be able to stand up. It frustrates me that the doctors don't seem concerned. It's not pre-e so its not dangerous, but it is painful. I've gained 13 pounds in a week and a half and it has to be 80-90% fluid in my legs.

Nursery is Winnie the Pooh. Should be able to get some pics this weekend.

Felicia - my goodness, Samuel is cute! I want to nibble on him. Ad a big boy too!

[WeHaveHope]

Felicia-your little guy is absolutely georgeous. Those cubby cheeks are just too cute.

Kerpupples-How are you feeling? I really hope the swelling gets better. My appt went well. I am 1cm dilated. Next appt is next Tuesday. I'm pretty tired and ready for the girls to arrive. I hoping that this happens sometime next week. Of course, as long as the girls will be ok.

[kerpupples]

Glad the appointment went well Maria. 1 cm is not much - you could be there for awhile. Hope you get some rest!

I'd be doing much better if it weren't for this leg swelling. A naturopathic doctor friend recommended alfalfa tea and alternating hot/cold foot soak so I will try both of those things. My belly is getting really heavy. If we can't get this leg swelling addressed then I REALLY hope these babies are ready to go at 36 weeks.

[blueeyedreamer]

Amy, are you able to elevate your legs and use any compression? I'm sorry you are having such problems with the swelling. Although I've never had pregnancy related swelling, I have had rapid fluid gain from IV steroid treatment for my MS. It sucks!

[kerpupples]

Nicole - I do elevate my feet and sleep with them that way for at least part of the night. I haven't tried compression - I looked into some stockings earlier in the summer but decided it was too hot. That was before it got this bad though so I may check into it again. Right now I have the legs of a 300 pound 80 year old woman. I had fluid retention from the IV I had with my last C-section - if I have to have that again for this delivery I'm not sure where the fluid really has to go. My legs are FULL.

Thanks for the input! I saw you had your retrieval - great eggs! I Need to check back in the IVF forum for your fert report.

[blueeyedreamer]

Amy, I had an occupational therapy friend tell me about massage for fluid build up. I can't remember the name but the idea is to start at the top and work your way down to the feet. The massage is meant to work the fluid up the legs. So picture your dh massaging your legs while they are elevated at night. He would massage in an upward motion (meaning towards your head) starting at the upper thigh and slowly moving towards your feet. The reason to start at the upper leg is so the fluid has a place to go. If you massage the feet or calves only then the fluid will stay there. Does that make sense? I hope you get some relief!

[kerpupples]

Thank you so much Nicole -we'll give that a try! Elevated my feet higher last night and that did give some relief - I was up peeing out a lot of liquid throughout the night. Willing to try whatever might give some relief.

[LYD10]

Hello ladies, I've had relatively few complaints up until now. But as if yesterday I became so congested I can't breathe if sleep. It's miserable. I always congested during pregnancy but Afrin has been able to clear it up until it stopped working. Now I can inky breathe thru my mouth and its miserable. I slept 3 hours last nite. Am at doctors now hoping to get some better mess to deal with this.

[kerpupples]

LYD - can you try a neti pot or nasal wash (with distilled water ONLY)? That always helps clear me out. I really hope you get some relief - it's SO miserable not being able to sleep! I've been pretty congested this pregnancy too but breathe right strips open me up enough to get me through the night. You are almost done, I'm jealous!!!

[LYD10]

Thank you, Amy. Doc,oked sudafed at nite. So I am going to try that. I tried saline drops yesterday and it only made it worse. It's like a dry kind of stuffiness, not a wet kind. It feels like something is swollen in there - probably blood vessels. So I doubt netti pot will help.

I did get breeze easy strips last nitr, at 2:30 in the morning they helped a little bit.

Man, I was hoping to bank some sleep before the baby comes. Instead I am getting early training in sleep deprivation.

[WeHaveHope]

Hope everyone is doing well.

Lyd-glad your OB was able to give you something for the stuffiness. I guess we have all suffered from this during our pregnancies. I also had and continue to have pretty severe stuffiness. Oh, and sleep... What is that??? I vaguely remember something called sleep. I guess it's just natures way of preparing us.

Kerpupples-you are so close now!!! How us the swelling. Has the suggestion that Blue provided helped?

AFM-another appt today with my OB and another u/s. I am do uncomfettable now. Mu pubic bone started to really hurt yesterday. It feels like someone took a hammer to it. It hurts to even move. But I'm pushing through and going to work anyways. Bags are all packed and ready just in case my OB sends me to L&D today.

[kerpupples]

LYD - of course it's dry stuffiness, what was I thinking? I'm sure your blood vessels are nice and swollen. I've been getting the occasional nosebleed and anything I manage to blow out tends to have blood in it.

Maria - I hope they have you on desk duty at work! You described our condition very accurately - I too feel like my body is about to break. It hurts to move. We really do deserve medals for going through this. The massage did help, but as with everything else it's only temporary. These big babies are sitting on my veins so any time I stand up, the problem worsens. How was your appointment?

I had an OB appointment today as well - I'm now borderline for hypertension but still preeclampsia-free. As I said, nothing permanent to be done about the swelling, just methods for temporary relief. At times it feels like my legs will burst. The doctor said my lower belly is swollen too. We scheduled a c-section for 38 weeks on September 10th - but I am really, really hoping they are ready before then. I'll be on weekly appointments until then to monitor me and the babies.