32 Weeks Today

Today I had my 32 week ultrasound and check-up. At the ultrasound we found out that Mya is 4lbs. 14oz. and Stella is 3lbs. 15oz. That means my little chunkers are growing. Mya gained 1lb. 14oz. and Stella gained 1lb. 3oz. in just 4 weeks. They are doing awesome! The doctor said that she isn't that concerned about the difference in their weights even though it is almost a two week lag for Stella. She did say that she always plays it safe though so she is sending me back to Maternal Fetal Medicine at the hospital to have another ultrasound. She wants to see if they find that big of a difference and if they would be concerned. I asked her what that would mean if they were concerned and she said they would just do a bigger study on Stella to make sure that she is getting all that she needs. She says that we aren't to this point but if the gap in weight would continue to grow they may need to take the babies sooner. But she really reassured us that she is just playing it safe and that she doesn't think we really have an issue. I go next Friday for another non-stress test and then for the ultrasound.

We also talked about delivery today. Mya is still head down where she needs to be and Stella is still breech. Because of this Dr. Kanios said that if it were her she would have a c-section because of the risks to Stella if she doesn't flip. Also, she wouldn't want to have both recoveries if I would have Mya vaginally and Stella c-section. That is exactly what I was worried about. I don't want both recoveries either. The thought of a c-section terrifies me, but if there are risks for Stella if I would want to try vaginally then of course I will have the surgery. Also, I completely trust my doctor and if she says that this is what she would do then I'm going to follow her advice. Wes says that I have time to think but I said that if I'm going to do the surgery then I need these weeks to prepare myself for it. I know that people do them everyday and they do them multiple times in their lives. It just isn't what I envisioned for myself.

We also talked about time frame. She told me again that the average is 35 weeks and 36 weeks is our golden number. That means in 3 or 4 weeks the girls will probably be here!!!!!! She said that I've made it to the safe point. 32 weeks means that they can breathe on their own and although there would still be complications at this point, they are very safe now. So now I'm really excited. I'm a little nervous to find out what they say next week, but I'm feeling optimistic that my little trooper will catch up! Maybe she's just petite and Mya is a little chunkier like her cousin, Sophie!!!! (Sophie was born on Monday and she weighed 8lbs. 14 1/2 oz.!!!!!! Oh yeah, and she was anterior, which means face up during delivery, and Ashley had her completely unmedicated!!!!! My sister is my hero!!!!)

Non-Stress Test

So I went to the hospital this morning for my non-stress test. They had said to allow an hour for the test but it could be shorter. My appointment was at 8:30 and then I was planning to head up to sit with my sister and Sophie (my newest little niece that was born Monday) until she was discharged. The test was done in about 30 minutes and the nurse who was doing it told me that I was having contractions 4-5 minutes apart. I can feel the tightening but there is no pain so I am used to that. Well she said that she can't let me go home without calling my doctor. Dr. Kanios said that she did not want me to go home but that I needed to go up to triage in labor and delivery to be checked and monitored. I was a little freaked out because I didn't know exactly what all of this meant and all I knew was that I didn't want the babies to be born yet.

I got up to labor and delivery and they had me change into a gown and admitted me. A nurse hooked me up to the fetal monitors and I had to lay there for about a half an hour. I continued to have the contractions but the girls were doing wonderfully. They were not affected at all by the contractions. They called the doctor on call to do a fetal fibronectin test that checks for pre-term labor. Apparently, if the test comes back positive it is not a guarantee that you will deliver in the next 7-10 days but it puts you more at risk and you have to be monitored more closely. The test doesn't tell if you are in labor but it can tell you if you are not. If it is negative it tells you that you have a 95% chance that you will not deliver for at least the next two weeks. The procedure is done like a pap. It was a little uncomfortable. The doctor also checked to see if I was dialated or effaced. I am 1 cm. dialated and 30% effaced. Then I had to lay another 45 minutes hooked up to the monitors while I waited for the results. It came back negative so thank goodness I don't have to worry about delivery for at least 2 more weeks. I want so badly to get to at least 36 weeks so that was very reassuring. They sent me home telling me that unless the contractions start to become painful I should be okay.

After the appointment I went and sat with Ashley, Craig and Sophie until they were discharged. Being with them makes me both nervous and excited. I cannot wait for the girls to be here but I am also finally having the "OH MY GOD I'M HAVING TWINS" thoughts. I never really thought that deeply about it I guess because we are so excited. Watching Ashley with Sophie these last few days makes me feel a little overwhelmed. I know we will be fine. I have an awesome husband and family, but I just feel a little nervous.

Tomorrow is my next appointment and ultrasound where I will get another weight update. I can't wait to see how big they are now. It has been 4 weeks and I'm thinking that they are 4-4 1/2 pounds each by now! I also scheduled my next NST. I have to have them every week until I deliver now. They aren't bad as long as I don't have to follow each one with a visit upstairs!

Bed Rest

So I have officially been on modified bed rest for 2 weeks now and I am already so bored. I am supposed to lay on my side for 3-5 hours during the day and take it easy for the rest of the day, putting my feet up as much as possible. The first week was fine because Wes was on spring break and so he was home with me. The second week I was all alone and for most of the week it was cold and rainy. That makes it so much worse!!!! I have plans to work on different projects while I am just laying around but it really is hard to get motivated. I feel sooooooo lazy.

I am also feeling so clingy to Wes right now. I'm sure I'm driving him nuts, but he hasn't complained. Even though I'm bored, he is really the only distraction I want. I don't feel like talking on the phone or doing much else. It is surprising me how fast I am feeling depressed by doing nothing. I want him to come home right after work and I don't want him to plan things every night and every weekend. I know I sound crazy. I think the reason I am feeling so attached to him right now is because even though I am so incredibly excited to meet our girls, I know that our alone time is about to be over. 3 years of it just being us has been very nice. We can do whatever we want, when we want. Again, we are so excited for the girls to be here it is just going to be such a change for our relationship. I know that this will just make us stronger and probably even more in love as we get to see each other become parents. It is just a little bittersweet for me.

Even though I'm bored and ready for them to be here, I'm hoping they stay in there at least another 4 weeks. That would take us to 36 weeks and the risks go down considerably. I go for a Non-Stress Test on Wednesday and the 32 week check-up on Thursday. I am so anxious to see how big they are now and if Stella possibly flipped back over so she would be head down. We will see, I guess! I am also anxiously waiting for my sister to deliver my sweet little niece. She is due this Friday so any day now!!!!!!!!

My Current Stressor

With the extra time off and delivery day nearing I have been really thinking about what is going to be happening in the near future.  I think of my dreams of labor and delivery and I know that most of what I have always wanted as far as that goes is out of my control.  I really want to have a drug free delivery.  It is best for the babies and it is what I want.  I really hate when I say that to people and they tell me that I have no idea how painful it is.  I realize that but why tell me I can't do something that I have never tried.  I think that is all about how you approach it.  We took the Lamaze classes and while I know that breathing won't take away pain, I feel that we learned a lot of things that can relax me and distract me during contractions.  I also think I have the most wonderful husband in the world and he understands that his job during the labor and delivery is to keep me focused and calm.  He is really good at that and he knows what my wishes are so that if I would try to give up early he would be there to keep me on track. 

With all of that said, I know that with twins they always take extra precautions and they may not even let me attempt to deliver without an epidural.  I also know that a c-section is entirely possible and I would definitely need medication for that.  This is what stresses me out.  I have waited so long for this and I don't feel like I have any say in what is going to happen.  

What I do have some control over is what happens after the girls are born.  My number one priority is to breastfeed them and for Wes and I to have skin-to-skin time with each girl.  This is the very best thing we can do for our brand new little babies.  Research shows that skin-to-skin time is the next best thing to being inside my belly.  Breastfeeding is going to be a challenge because there are two and I know that all three of us will be learning together, but this does not change my mind at all.  That is the way that I will be feeding my children no matter what.  No formula is equivalent to a mother's milk.  

We have to also consider that our girls will be sent to the NICU, I may need to go to recovery if I have a c-section and a number of other factors could happen.  Because of all of these things Wes and I do not want any visitors for the first 24 hours, or at the least until we say otherwise.  If it is an uncomplicated birth and things are going well we may feel differently.  We just don't want the pressure of people waiting to come in while we are meeting our little miracles for the first time or while I'm trying to breast feed them.  I am very private about my body and would feel very uncomfortable with people in the room while I am breast feeding or doing skin-to-skin.  My fear is that I will have to have a c-section and while I'm in recovery all of the waiting family will meet my girls before I do.  That should not happen.  I am hoping that everyone can understand where we are coming from and know that we are not trying to not include people.  There will be so many opportunities for people to meet our babies and to be involved in their lives.  We just feel their first day or at least the first few hours of their lives is time for just our new little family.  We will be more than willing to show them off when things are stable and we are comfortable with our situation.  I am hoping that everyone can respect our wishes and try to understand why we are asking for this.  

Touring the NICU

Wes and I toured the maternity floor at the Toledo Hospital in March.  It was very helpful to get a feel for the place and to have questions answered.  However, when they got to the area where the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is they just pointed and said it is through those doors.  We were the only ones expecting twins in the large group we were in and probably most of those couples do not have to concern themselves with the thought of a NICU stay.  We were a little disappointed.  Luckily, Jill, a parent of one of Wes' first graders, is a nurse and lactation consultant in the NICU.  She had already offered to him that she would be willing to answer any questions we had and so we made a list and then also asked if she would be allowed to take us on a tour.  Her boss said that would be fine so on Thursday we went for the tour.

The place was just renovated last year so it is all very new and nice.   The babies do not stay in a large nursery with tons of incubators.  Each baby has their own suite.  They have double rooms for multiples, so if our girls have to stay they will be in separate incubators but in the same room.  The room is pretty large and has a pull-out couch so that we can stay there if needed.  I told her that I was trying to be very optimistic but that I also didn't want to be shocked at what I would see.  She showed us all the things they may be hooked up to and what they would be monitoring.  She explained breastfeeding in the NICU to me, which I am still a little unsure of and I just really hope that is not an issue.   I also asked about what I should expect at each week if the girls were born.  For example, if they are born at 32 weeks she said that they would be able to breathe on their own and shouldn't need a ventilator.  At 34 weeks, they would have the sucking and swallowing reflex and could be breastfed.   Otherwise they would need a feeding tube.  If I make it to 36 weeks they probably wouldn't even need NICU time, except for maybe a few hours of transition time!  That was the biggest relief to me.  I did not think that was the case.  We are able to go and see them 24 hours a day.  We are allowed to bring in two people per baby at a time, so that is a bonus of having twins.  We can bring 4 people back to see them at a time.  She showed us the family lounge and just reassured a lot of our worries.  After that visit, I feel a little more prepared for the birth.  There won't be so many unknowns for me and I can feel confident that I understand what is happening with our daughters.

30 Weeks

I hit the thirty week mark on Thursday!  My body is definitely feeling the effects of a twin pregnancy.  Not that I haven't all along but boy is it hitting me now.  I am constantly drinking water because that is best for my babies and staying hydrated should help keep early contractions away.  Of course, the constant drinking leads to constant peeing.  Throughout the day I probably have to pee about 10-15 times and then overnight it is about 3-5 times.  The 30 pounds I have gained so far are making my body feel very heavy and sluggish.  I am achy and sore.  My ribs hurt because they are spreading and there just isn't very much room in there.  I actually dread going to bed because I know that it will include several trips to the bathroom and countless flipping from side to side (which isn't easy with my big belly) because my hips and legs ache from laying on my sides.  The one thing that bothers me the most I thought I was going to be able to avoid.  I have been constantly applying lotion to my expanding belly to avoid stretch marks but unfortunately it wasn't enough.  Two rapidly growing babies are just too much work for lotion.  I am hoping that they will fade after I give birth, but who knows.  Until then I will just keep the cocoa butter applied and look at them like a badge of honor for carrying two babies!  Finally, I'm feeling very clumsy.  My balance is off and I keep dropping things which I don't really want to bend over and pick up.  Good thing my husband is willing to pick up things I drop, help me put pants or socks on and tie my shoes!!  I do like being pregnant but I'm getting very anxious to meet our girls and to feel somewhat normal again.

I went for my weekly check-up on Wednesday.  The ultrasound was a shortened study so they just checked my cervix (which is maintaining!!!!! The extra rest is working!!!!) and then minimally checked on the babies.  I always love seeing them and hearing their hearts beating.  They only tell me how big they are every four weeks so that I wouldn't stress if they grow more in certain weeks.  Everything looks good.  Stella was folded up with her legs up by her head.  She was playing with her toes and it was so cute.  Mya was all stretched out and moving all over as usual.  We also found out that she has a lot of hair!!!!  We couldn't tell with Stella.   My regular OB was on vacation, so we saw one of her partners for the check-up part.  She said that my blood pressure was great and that if I were to keep the girls in until term (it won't happen) they would be 7 and 7 1/2 pounds at birth!  I am expecting them to be at least 5 pounds if I make to 36 weeks.  The doctor said that I wouldn't need to come back for two weeks since things were looking so good.  So my next appointment is April 23rd, when I will be 32 weeks.  I will get a weight update at that appointment.  The day before, the 22nd, I have to have a Non Stress Test (NST), but since I am having twins I have to go to Maternal Fetal Medicine at the Toledo Hospital where they have two monitors.  I did a single NST at our doctor's office last week and she was satisfied with the results.  Apparently, I will be having these each week until I deliver so they get an idea of when labor will begin for me.   All in all, it was another good week for me and the girls.  

The BIG News

So everyone already knows that we are having two little girls.  If you look back over previous posts, Mya Alyse is Baby A.  She has been a little bigger all along and will be the first born.  She is currently head down, which is where she needs to stay.  She was always our more active little lady and is not shy at all.  Each ultrasound she is all stretched out and has her legs wide open.  Stella Grace is Baby B.  She is our peanut.  She is normally all curled up and has her hand up by her face.  She took a lot of coxing for us to find out that she was in fact a little girl.  She has less room because Mya is a bit of a space hog in there.  She is currently breech, but apparently that is okay as long as Mya stays head down.  She can be moved after Mya is delivered.

We went to the doctor last Thursday (3/26) and Mya weighed in at exactly 3 lbs. and Stella was 2 lbs. 12 oz.  They are both still ahead  of schedule which  I am thrilled about in case they decide to come early.  Their heart rates were identical at 154.  Everything with the girls looked great.  However, they found that my cervix was shortening and funneling.  Because of this my doctor said that for the next week I needed to sit as much as I can at work and then go home each day and put my feet up.  She wanted to see me in a week and she said that I should be prepared for her to take me off of work.

One week later we went back to the doctor.  At our appointment today they found that my cervix had shortened only slightly more and that the funneling appeared to have stopped.  However, I have also been having an increase in number and some intensity in Braxton Hicks contractions.  They had me do a non-stress test to monitor the contractions.  I only had one in that 20 minute period and she was satisfied with that.  I notice them a lot more frequently at the end of the school day or in the evening after having been on my feet all day and that test was at 10:45 a.m.  She decided to take me off of work for the remainder of the school year because she likes to be extra cautious with twins.  I am still in a safe place with my cervix and she wants it to stay that way so these little ladies don't come early.  I was put on modified bed rest, which means that I have to be laying on my side for 3-5 hours a day in the afternoons.  

I have to go back next Wednesday and they are going to check my cervix again and decide from there if the amount of bed rest is sufficient for now or if she wants me laying down even more.  I am doing whatever she wants me to do because I do not want them to spend time in the NICU.  The longer they stay in my belly, the bigger and healthier they will come out.  If it were up to me I would want them to stay until 38 weeks (which she said is my cut-off) and that means 9 weeks.  I at least want to make it to 35 weeks, which is 6 more weeks.  I will probably go out of my mind with all of this time off but I plan to spend some of it at my sister's house once she is on maternity leave with Sophia.  I also want to organize my photo albums and recipes.  I plan to read a lot of books about multiples and watch a lot of movies.  Planning for next school year is also going to be a priority because I am going to take off the first semester, which means no work for me until January.  While it will be wonderful to be home raising my daughters, it will be in my best interest to be organized for when I have to go back to work, breastfeed, lesson plan, and grade papers.  If anyone is up for phone conversations during the day, I'm sure I'll be available!