36 weeks 5 Days

My Dr. appointment went well today. I am about 3cm and 75% effaced. Baby boy is measuring 6lbs 2oz. Baby girl is measuring 6lbs even. Both are head down. I get induced in the morning. I'll have our babies at 36 weeks 6 days. Almost 37 weeks. Shawn and I just installed the carseats to make sure we know what we're doing. OMG! Shawn and I are going to have 2 babies tomorrow!

What is your guess on their weights tomorrow?

Have a wonderful day!

~Sam

36 Weeks 4 Days

Nothing new to report.  I freaked out a little during the Colts game yesterday.  Apparently both babies were sleeping and I couldn't get them to move.  I put ice on my belly and they finally started moving.  They are moving less and less.  I'm not used to that.  I read that they get calm before labor, so I wonder if my body is gearing up for that soon.  Shawn came home from work last night and said my belly has dropped a bunch.  I guess I'm getting closer.  I hope that means either A) I go into labor on my own. B) The Dr. strips my membranes and I go into labor. OR C) I get induced and things go smoothly.  Unfortunately, induction can lead to c-sections because your body isn't ready.  I am relaxing and picturing everything going smoothly, so I really think things will go well for us.  I think my body is getting ready.  I'm getting excited!  Just think, we could have babies at home for the next Colts game.  ;-)

It depends upon who you talk to, but some Dr.'s consider 36 weeks full term with twins.  I know the ultrasound tech considers me full term.  Other Dr.'s don't consider twins full term until 37 weeks.  I'm not sure about my Dr.  Just to play it safe for lung development, my Dr. wants me to make it close to 37 weeks.  Unfortunately, gestational diabetes can slow lung maturity.  At the same time, I have been able to control mine with diet alone and I RARELY go over.  I really hope that by keeping it under control it hasn't had much of an affect on the babies.

I'm ready when the babies are ready or the Dr. says its time.  My next post could have pictures of babies!

Take Care!

~Sam

Getting Closer

I'm 36 weeks 1 day pregnant today.  My BP is always high when I get up in the morning.  It was the highest its been today.  It was 175/100.  After getting out of bed, 2 hours later it was 143/87.  I called my Dr. and left a message just to let him know how high it was and that I would be in for my NST in a bit.  They called me back as my mom was bringing me to my NST.  My Dr. said he would either send me home after my NST or see me depending on how the babies were doing.  Thankfully, the babies are just fine.  NST was perfect again.  So I got to go home and he will see me at my appointment Tuesday.  He said at my appointment we would discuss inducing me on Wednesday.  With my BP creeping higher and higher, its time for these babies to come out.  He just wants me to make it close to 37 weeks.

I'm hoping he will strip my membranes on Tuesday and I will go into labor on my own that day.  If I don't go on my own, I'm ready for induction.  I know he said discuss inducing me on Wednesday, but as far as I'm concerned, its a done deal.  Lets get the ball rolling.  I thought about trying every old wives tale I could find about trying to get the babies to come this weekend, but the more I think about it, the more I realize I should just rest.  These babies are going to come when they are ready, not when I want them to.  I should rest up for labor and staying up with 2 newborns instead of wearing myself out.  I thought about taking a walk, but I'm just going to save my energy.  I feel really tired today too for some reason.  I think I hear a nap calling my name.

Have a great day!

~Sam

Week 36 - 9 Months!!!

I went to the Dr. yesterday/Tuesday.  I had an NST at 9am.  I've learned to wait and eat breakfast while I'm hooked up.  The babies move around a lot more and their heart-rates go up and down like they want to see when I eat.  The babies get so excited when I eat.  The flavor of what I eat does go to their amniotic fluid, so I guess they get excited because they know they will be tasting something soon.  After my NST, I met with my Dr. for an OB appointment.  He asked how I was feeling.  I was honest and told him I'm miserable now and my pelvic is killing me.  He checked me and I am 2cm dilated and 75% effaced.  I thought I would have spotting, but I actually bled a little after he checked me.  My Dr. said he could feel baby boy's head when he checked me.  He did not strip my membranes, yet.  He really wants to see me make it to 37 weeks, unless the babies make the decision for him.  I think he will strip my membranes at my appointment next Tuesday.  He doesn't like the way my blood pressure is so all over.  It was really high this morning when I got up, but it started going down as soon as I got up.  I don't know why it gets so high when I sleep.  The Dr. also had me stick around and have another ultrasound at 1:00.  He wanted to make sure the babies are close in size to each other.  The babies are similar in size, so that's good.  They are somewhere between 5-6 pounds.  They are so cramped in there, it was hard getting good measurements and with baby boys head engaged in my pelvis, it was hard getting his head.  They do seem to have long femurs, so maybe they will both end up being tall.  Their hearts were pumping away.  Baby girl was practice breathing on ultrasound.  Everything is great with them still!

I figure this may end up being my last week pregnant, so I'm going to show off my belly, stretch marks and all.

Far Along: 36 weeks with twins!

How big are the babies: Somewhere between 5-6 pounds. http://www.babycenter.com/average-fetal-length-weight-chart

Maternity Clothes: Yes - Pretty much dresses are the only comfy thing on this belly.

Weight Gain: Just under 28 pounds.

Belly: Huge

Stretch Marks: Most definitely.

Sleep: I wake up every 1 1/2-2 hours to pee. I drive Shawn crazy getting up all of the time, but I wake up having Braxton Hicks because I need to pee.  It also hurts to roll over.

Best Moment of the Week: Seeing the babies are still perfectly healthy on ultrasound Tuesday.

Movement: All of the time. Makes me smile a lot!

Symptoms: Sore boobs. Taking off my bra makes me cry. Acne on my neck, chest, etc. Hair growth on my belly. Major heartburn. Braxton Hicks.  Extremely sore pelvic.  Baby boy has been head down and engaged for so long I just ache.

Food Cravings: I'm dying for pizza and a nice warm brownie with ice cream and chocolate syrup for dessert.  I dream about it, but can't have it.

Genders: A boy and a Girl!

What I Miss: Not worrying about what I eat (deli, etc). Sleeping through the night. Not waddling. Having energy. Being able to walk through a store. Painting my toenails without leaving unpainted strips on the sides.  Not hurting when I get up and walk.

What I'm Looking Forward to: Meeting the babies. I don't want it to be too soon, but I can't wait. Soon!

Weekly Wisdom: Naps are great!

Milestones: 36 weeks is considered safe and "full term" with twins!

Emotions: Still crying like a baby.  I cried earlier because I'm going to miss being pregnant.  I hurt and I can't wait to meet the babies, but I'm afraid of forgetting what their movements in my belly feel like.  This is the one time I will get to experience this.

~Sam

35 weeks

Second post today, so don't miss the post below.

Far Along: 35 weeks  with twins!

How big are the babies: Baby girl was 5 pounds 6 ounces and baby boy was 5 pounds 3 ounces on Tuesday. http://www.babycenter.com/average-fetal-length-weight-chart

Maternity Clothes: Yes - Pretty much dresses are the only comfy thing on this belly.

Weight Gain: 25 pounds.

Belly: Huge

Stretch Marks: Most definitely.

Sleep: I wake up every 1 1/2-2 hours to pee. I drive Shawn crazy getting up all of the time, but I wake up having Braxton Hicks because I need to pee.

Best Moment of the Week: Seeing the babies are still perfectly healthy on ultrasound yesterday.

Movement: All of the time. Makes me smile a lot!

Symptoms: Sore boobs. Taking off my bra makes me cry. Acne on my neck, chest, etc. Hair growth on my belly. Major heartburn. Braxton Hicks..

Food Cravings: Tacos and Mexican food. I can't eat enough taco salads.  I had a burrito from Taco Bell Monday and I had a taco salad while in the hospital.  It wasn't too bad for hospital food.  I can eat more Mexican food now.

Genders: A boy and a Girl!

What I Miss: Not worrying about what I eat (deli, etc). Sleeping through the night. Not waddling. Having energy. Being able to walk through a store. Painting my toenails without leaving unpainted strips on the sides.

What I'm Looking Forward to: Meeting the babies. I don't want it to be too soon, but I can't wait. Soon!

Weekly Wisdom: Naps are great!

Milestones: Babies are over 5 pounds each now.  I now have mild preeclampsia.

Emotions: Major crying now.  I don't need a reason to cry.  I've probably cried AT LEAST 5 times today for no reason.

~Sam

Update

Remember I was having blood pressure issues and it was high at my NST on Friday?  I woke up Monday and my blood pressure was 161/98.  I called the Dr. and they made me come in to check for protein in my urine.  Unfortunately, the test strip they dip in says positive or negative, and mine said positive.  I had to be admitted and spent the night in the hospital so they could monitor my blood pressure and do a 24 hour urine test.  They needed to know just how much protein I'm spilling in my urine to determine if I have preeclampsia.  Let me tell you.  It's great fun peeing in a "seat hat".  Good times...  Not!

When I was admitted into the hospital Monday I said I was 34 weeks 4 days pregnant.  I asked if I would have to be transferred to Lafayette if the preeclampsia were bad to deliver.  I was told that I was close enough to 35 weeks that they would keep me.  I was immediately hooked up for an NST to make sure the babies were not under stress from my BP.  They were just fine.

Tuesday morning the Dr. came and visited me and said I would likely spend another night in the hospital because my blood pressure was very inconsistent.  The Dr. wants to play it extra safe because I am having twins.  At midnight it was 124/81.  At 4am it was 143/88.  At 6am it was 147/95.  It kept going up, but by 4pm, it started going back down.  It goes up in the morning and down in the evenings.  You would think it would be opposite.  Sleeping and resting should make it be lower.  Apparently, your blood pressure can fluctuate a lot in the early stages of preeclampsia.

The Dr. also told me that I'd be getting another NST and an ultrasound that morning.  I called Shawn to let him know and he came up to the hospital as soon as the kids were on the bus.  He wasn't there long when I was taken for the ultrasound.  With high blood pressure your fluid levels around the baby can lower and you can also have reduced blood flow to and from the baby.  The ultrasound tech did a very thorough check.  Their brains are fine, all 4 chambers of their hearts are fine, blood flow is fine, fluid level is fine.  It was a great ultrasound.  My blood pressure hasn't stayed up long enough to affect the babies.  Baby girl has moved, yet again.  Baby boy is still head down ready to go.  It was difficult getting measurements of his head because it is so far down in my pelvis.  She also had a lot of trouble getting an image of my cervix since he has it covered.  She did not do a trans-vaginal ultrasound, so I don't know how long it is now.  The ultrasound tech also had difficulties measuring both babies femurs to help determine their weight.  They are very cramped in there now.  They are all balled up in the fetal position.  She said baby boy is around 5 pounds 3 ounces and baby girl is around 5 pounds 6 ounces, but they could be off a little since they are so cramped now.  I have over 10 1/2 pounds of baby I am carrying around now!  Baby boy is head in my pelvis and laying to my right,  I don't think I realized just how big he is until the ultrasound.  He is in the fetal position, but still is up to my ribs.  Baby girl is now head down on the left.  For a while she was on the right.  She was transverse a lot.  Her head is beside her brother's shoulder.  She goes up to my ribs and curves around to the right towards her brother.  Both babies were still facing my spine, so no face shots.  We haven't seen their faces since 24 weeks.  :(  Facing my spine is a good thing though.  That's the way they need to be when they come out.  Now that she is head down, she should move in to position when baby boy comes out.  That's good to know.  Now she had better stay that way!

They also drew blood 3 times to check my kidney and liver function.  Those came back normal.  My 24 hour urine showed that I have a small amount of protein and ketones, which means I have mild preeclampsia.  I did not want to stay another night just for bp, so I begged the Dr. to come home.  I promised to check my BP every 4 hours and stay on strict bed rest.  I'm already on bed rest for my shortened cervix.  I was afraid they were going to try and keep me until I deliver with my blood pressure being so inconstant.  They let me go at 9pm last night.  At 8:45 I told Shawn he should take the kids home and get them to bed.  I didn't think they were going to let me go.  He said he didn't want to leave and have to turn around and come back.  I'm glad he waited!  As soon as they said I could go, the kids started packing up my stuff.  They missed me and wanted me home.

Sleeping in your own bed is so much better than sleeping in a hospital.  I hardly slept Monday night.  Last night I was out in no time.  I wake up at least every 2 hours to be.  I woke up at 12:30 last night and didn't wake up again until 4am.  I was having the worst contraction from holding it.  I had to go so bed I was afraid to roll over and out of bed.  I made it, but wow was that painful.  I was so tired I slept through it.

I love being pregnant and I love feeling these babies move, but I'm starting to stress out.  I can't wait for the babies to be here and this stage of pregnancy be over.  Preeclampsia can stay mild, it can gradually get worse, or it can rapidly get worse.  There is no reason why this happens.  The only
cure for preeclampsia is delivery of the baby/ies. Having multiples as well as a first pregnancy (technically my second, but first in the 3rd trimester) increases your risk of developing it.  I pray it stays very mild and the babies can stay in a little longer.  5 hours until midnight and I will officially be 35 weeks pregnant.

For the past 2 days, I've been a basket case.  All I feel like doing is sleeping and crying over everything. I mean, who cries at the beginning of Star Trek where Kirk's dad sacrifices himself to save him and his mom while she's in labor? Oh! That would be me.  I can sit here and cry for no reason.  I've had emotional moments this pregnancy, but not like this.  I wonder why I'm so emotional now.  Because we're getting close to these babies being here???

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers!  Please continue to send them.  Now I'm on the couch with Zac and Abby while Shawn is driving home from work.   I love my family!!!  I will update later with my weekly picture.

~Sam

34 Weeks 2 Days

I had another NST (non stress test) yesterday.  I get them every Tuesday and Friday.  They are really boring.  Supposedly, they can take as little as 20 minutes.  Mine have never lasted under an hour.  All they do is wrap bands with heart monitors around my belly on each baby.  Then they put a third band around me at the top of my belly to measure contractions.  I usually have 3-5 contractions while I'm there.  I push a button every time the babies move.  They need to move so many times in an hour along with their heart-rates going up and down during those movements so they know the babies are not under stress.  Both babies have been fine every time we go.  It's getting harder and harder for baby boy to move.  He's head down and engaged, therefore there's not as much room in my pelvis for him to move.  Baby girl is transverse up high, so she has more room to move.

On Tuesday my blood pressure was something like 132/80 at my NST.  Yesterday when I got there it was 154/80-something.  By the time I left after an hour and a half of laying my top number was down to 138.  I've been tracking it and its been up and down.  I called L&D (labor and delivery) yesterday afternoon and asked them if my blood pressure got to a certain high, should I call or come in.  They said if my blood pressure got above 160, to call.  They may have me come in for another NST.  I worry I may be getting preeclampsia.  I have no other symptoms.  I'm not swelling and I don't have a headache, so maybe its just PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension).   We will find out Tuesday at my appointment if I have protein in my urine.  If I do, then it is preeclampsia.  Let's hope not.  The best thing I can do is stay on bed rest and keep checking my BP.

I called one of my cousins last night and she made me feel a lot better about it.  She developed preeclampsia at 30 weeks with both of her babies.  She was put on bed rest and the earliest she had a baby was 36 weeks 0 days.  She said bed rest is very important.  I'm already on bed reset and taking it seriously since my cervix has shortened early.

I know I need to make it to 35 weeks in order to have my babies in Logansport.  I'm 5 days away from that.  I hope to make it to 36 weeks at least.  We will see.  Send prayers and wish us luck!

The good news is the babies are developed enough that they wouldn't need the betamethasone steroid shots for lung development any more.  According to: http://www.webmd.com/baby/antenatal-corticosteroids-for-fetal-lung-development  "Many infants born at 33 to 34 weeks' gestation have sufficient lung maturity to breathe on their own. But considering the low-risk, high-benefit nature of this treatment, corticosteroids are typically used up to 34 weeks of pregnancy."

If the babies are gaining 1/2 a pound a week, baby boy should be around 4 pounds 15 ounces and baby girl should be around 5 pounds 9 ounces today.  Baby girl was gaining weight faster than baby boy, so she may be a little more and he may be a little less.  Unless, he hit the growth spurt that she hit, then who knows.  The ultrasound tech is predicting a pound difference by the time they are born.  

I also get tested for Strep B on Tuesday and checked for dilation.  Any predictions?  I've been on bed rest a week and a half and I've been having less contractions.  I have been, however, seeing tiny bits of my mucus plug off and on again the past 3 days.  I'm going to guess I'm only 1cm dilated.  Then again, I've never had a baby, so I don't know what to expect.  I'm no expert in this area.

Zac and Abby are doing great!  They are doing wonderful in school.  I'm so proud of them.  They make me a proud mama!  Right now they are sweeping the tile floors.  They know I can't get up, so they are extremely helpful.  When I do get up, they tell me to lay down.  They are so sweet!  They take care of me.  I feel so lucky to have them and Shawn.  My mom has also been a great help.  She has been coming over on the days Shawn works and putting supper in the crock pot for us.  She also took me to my NST's this week while Shawn was at work.  They are boring, but she kept me company.  She helps me run my errands.  I had to go to CVS after my NST yesterday to get thyroid medication.  Yesterday's crock pot meal was delicious.  She made vegetable soup with vegetables from her garden.  Fresh corn, carrots, potatoes, onions, etc.  I can't wait for leftovers!

I'm lucky to have so many people taking care of me.  I didn't realize how difficult a twin pregnancy can be until I started experiencing it.  Some women are lucky and have no issues.  Then there are some of us who have to take it easy to keep the babies in a little longer.

Take Care!

~Sam