I’m gonna do it.
Post pictures of my angry red belly.
Why?
I don’t know…
I have noticed A LOT more traffic on my blog lately…lots of lurkers out there (Hi! Leave a comment, I’d love to know who’s out there!)…presumably lots of twin mamas…and I figure that if I’m going to take up real estate in cyber space, I might as well have some of it be useful to go alongside all the obnoxious “Look at how cute my kids are” pictures.
I need you all to understand that this was a big step for me. It’s one thing to post these photos for complete strangers…and a whole other ball of wax to post them and have to actually SEE some of you again! (Especially if any husbands/guys read this blog…like I said, I’m totally vain. It seems to rear it’s ugly head when I’m pregnant more often than not!).
PUPPPS BELLY.
Look at how lopsided and weird my belly looks! You can almost SEE baby parts!!! And where on Earth did my belly button go???
(clicking the pics to make them bigger makes it easier to see the rash…if you DARE)
Worse…what is all this going to look like when it’s deflated???
So, you can see that my stretch marks look like they were drawn on with a red sharpie. They used to be a light pink…but PUPPPS starts IN your stretch marks…so those marks are actually a row of closely spaced, little red, very itchy bumps. The rash spreads from the stretch marks out…and they have since spread to my thighs, boobs, BUTT, wrap around to my back, the tops of my hands, between my fingers, the tops of my feet, between my TOES, and backs of my knees.
I’ve read that PUPPS spares your face, palms, and soles. Yay.
Some of the areas are worse than others. Some itch worse than others (my belly, hands and feet are the worst). And it seems to spread further or deeper about every six hours. I figure it’ll be even worse than these photos in the next few days…
I’ve just about gone through an entire bottle of Caladryl Lotion (in four days), my doc prescribed Lanacaine Gel which did NOTHING (I might as well have just rubbed water on my skin), I take about three oatmeal baths a day (they don’t really help, but it makes me feel like I’m at least TRYING), and I take a couple of Benadryl before bedtime…which knocks me out for about 3-4 hours, but then I wake up feeling like my body is ON FIRE.
The itching is maddening. It makes me feel like the Joker in Batman…the Heath Ledger version. Like I need a straight jacket to keep my hands away from my skin. Craziness I tell you!
What’s the cure? Apparently it fades about 1-2 weeks after delivery (although *somehow* I think I’ll be the exception to that rule!). Hence, my decision to go ahead with the induction (which has now been moved to 5am on Monday morning…that’ll be another post, I’m sure).
My sister Marcia advised me yesterday: “You know, you should really start playing the lotto! With your luck, you’ll actually WIN!”
The girl has a point.
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oh honey, i cant even imagine. i have had my fair share of rashes and think itching is the WORST thing ever… BUT on top of being pregnant with TWINS… i cannot even imagine. lots of hugs to you right now… you are so close.
YOU POOR BABY!!! My goodness… I feel SOOO bad for you. I can't even imagine. Isn't pregnancy bad enough just feeling like a whale? Notwithstanding, TWINS? You get a gold medal, Jeannett.
I meant to post this a few days ago. Sorry! When I got a very large jelly fish sting several years ago (like covering my entire leg and my hand, from pushing the thing away from me) I had a horrible allergic reaction and couldn't sleep. Anyway, I know this is all over your body, but icing it really helped me. Just 10 minutes of ice would give me another 15 of peace. And who knows, maybe the ice would tick your girls off enough to come out…
you are ballsy. and just reading this post is making me itch.
Have you tried cold compresses? or I also used Witch Hazel and that seemed to help too…I swear, your girls are already testing you to see if you are up for this twin business.
Ok, I found you by accident, right after I accidently got pregnant, and have been lurking for months! I am addicted to your blog and feel for you in so many ways. You can do this…you have set the tone for all pregnancies and you are handeling this with such grace. You can do it!!
Starts IN the stretch marks?!? Rats.
Come babies – soon!
oh jeannett! you look miserable! i can not even begin to imagine what that is like :(
and you are not selfish for inducing – you've made it farther than most people having twins. i was induced with dillon due to my blood pressure being at stroke level and it wasn't really that bad. i'm praying for you guys and hopefully you will go into labor before monday morning :)
and i forgot to mention that you still don't look like you're having twins :)
oh man! i'm so sorry!
Whoa looking at the close up of those belly pics really made me feel for you even more than I already do. I cannot imagine living with the constant itching. You are such a strong woman to have gone this far with your pregnancy. I know it will all be worth it when you hold those baby girls in your arms. I went through some really tough times with my youngest daughter, but now I think I can't imagine my life without her, even if her beginning months were misery on everyone. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.
Anxiously awaiting the delivery of your girls. I am dying to know their names!!
dang!
Oh Jeannett, OUCH! You are an amazing mommy. If it was me, I would have gone in probably two days ago DEMANDING to be induced.
Come on babies, Come on!!
I've been reading your blog for awhile. Try a paste of baking soda and water and slather it on there. It will be horribly messy but may help a little.
oh my goodness, I really feel for you. I can't imagine what that is like. Hopefully it will be just a memory soon! Good luck on your birth next week. We can't wait to see pictures of your little babies!!
PS. I follow you around on twinstuff. I'm 30 weeks and patiently waiting :)
Oh my gosh. I feel for you girl! When I clicked on the "side view" pics, your red stretch marks seriously looked like FLAMES! Ouch.
Everytime I have a client who has a discomfort I'm not familiar with, I search through this midwife's research archives. She has categorized all her own findings in one place. The summary for PUPPPs is here: http://falcao.best.vwh.net/archives/miscdisc.html#Itchy
Hope that helps!
Holly-Thanks! I ran out to the health food store and I started a regimine of dandelion root, and I also picked up some Bio-K…hopefully it works!
Hey there Jeanett, yes I have been one of the "lurkers". I am Tracy and Trevor's Aunt. Please accept my sympathy for your discomfort, and congrats on your achievement of making it so long! Thanks for such a well done, entertaining BLOG.
oh OUCH! and no need to be vain, i say a pregnant belly–especially one with a horrible rash–is a badge of honor. let's face it, those babies have one awesome mama! hoping you find some relief soon!!!
Jeannett, I've been "lurking" everyday multiple times a day! I am so excited for you guys. And I really hope you find relief for your PUPPS. Ouch!