30 Week Appointment

Ok where to start, lots to report this time! Baby A is 3lb 3oz, Baby B is 3lb 1oz and both are right around the 50th percentile in comparison to other single pregnancy babies. (they're doing just right for twins) My blood pressure is great at 96/60 and no signs of swelling. We're hoping this means no gestational hypertension with this pregnancy! No signs of TTTS or IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) so far.

My cervical length is back down to 1.8-1.9, Dr B was less worried about this since it's less of a problem at 30 weeks than at 26 weeks. He asked if I had any symptoms so I explained that my bleeding was heavier over the weekend and that I had a 2 painful contractions on Sunday. This bothered him just a little so he told me to have Dr. H check to see if I was dilating at all. After a bit of a wait I got to see her and she checked to see how 'big my belly was' ... I'm measuring at about 38 weeks (8 weeks ahead now!) So I am officially as big now as I was when I delivered Abby last time! Then she checked my cervix and yep... I've dilated to 1cm. She gave Dr B a call to consult with him. They decided to give my the betamethasone steroid shots for the babies lungs.

If you don't already know what these shots are, they give them to pregnant mothers before 34 weeks whom they think might possibly deliver soon. What the shot does is give the babies a little boost in lung development and cuts down on their risks of getting brain bleeds because they are premature. Basically it boils down to the fact that if babies get them and come earlier they do better with the shot than without. Dr H said everyone is different. I could go into labor 6 weeks from today or I could go into labor tomorrow... it's just hard to know. They just wanted to be safe. I had one shot done today and oh my does it HURT! I've never had a shot that was quite that painful. (I've had quite a few!)  The best part is I have to go into the ER and up to labor and delivery tomorrow to have another one. There are 2 shots that need to be done within 24 hrs of each other. They'll have to monitor the babies on an NST so it will probably be a 1hr to 2hr long session.

Dr H wants to check me again next week so I'll be going in to see her again. Then the following week I'll have another appt with Dr H, Dr B and they'll be doing what is called a biophysical profile ultrasound where they score the babies on movement, breathing etc. (i had a 1-2 done with Abby) Then we'll start doing NST's regularly to see how the babies are handling being 'squished' By the way, Baby B has moved into the head down position alongside her sister now. So they are cuddling :) (see picture below)

So it looks like another adjustment around the house here. You would think we would be used to my taking it easy but I have such a hard time following orders with that. I can let things 'go' for so long and then I'm back up and at it cleaning and such. I've been 'nesting' so much lately it's hard not to want to move the furniture... yes move furniture we arent just talking folding baby clothes... I have the urge to rearrange whole ROOMS. I think that at least I will be going down to Beresford or my mom will be coming up so that I have less one on one time with Abby. This should be the biggest help. Hopefully we can figure it all out. Need to keep these babies in here for another good month :) (my cute hats aren't here yet!) hahahaha yes because thats why they need to wait... I'm just kidding.

No 3D pictures but I did get a few fun pictures at least. They did check for the vasa previa really good this last time and no signs of it at all. The tech said that Baby A is so mashed up against my cervix she doubts anything could fit in between that! Gives me a little peace of mind for which I am thankful for. I know some of this news is crazy and maybe a little worriesome but I'm really doing ok with it. I feel at peace about it and even if my babies DID come early they should be ok... I just don't want them to yet, they need to cook longer and give me time to get ready. So keep us all in your prayers just so that we can adjust once again to this change. I swear it's up and down and up and down all the time. I may be posting more often as I get more news or vice versa.

29W 4D

The next time I will be posting will be on Friday after our 30 week appointment :) I am so excited to see the girls again and find out how much they have grown. The next few days will be filled with appointments! Tomorrow I have to take Abby into what they call 'baby clinic'... this is with Dr. B to evaluate Abby's hair pulling and see what is going on with that. The biggest thing we want to check on is why exactly she is doing this. Could it be physical and she is having headaches? Is it stress related or is it compulsive behavior? I've scheduled other people for the clinic but I've never been a part of it so I'm curious to see what it all involves. They were going to have her come in November but someone canceled so now we can get in earlier! This will really help with me not being massive pregnant or with two more little ones.

The weather looks like it is going to be nasty at the end of this week... both days that I will be going up to SF in the afternoon. As long as it doesnt snow I'll be happy. :)

I will be approaching my doctors about the past issues of the Vasa Previa today. The closer and closer we get to the girls coming the more I start to worry that we've missed it and that something will go wrong and I will lose one of the girls. I want them to check for it and check for it and check for it until I feel more confident that this isn't just hiding somewhere. Probably should talk to my doctor about the heavier/darker bleeding and the fact that I think I'm having strong contractions in the morning... or the strangest stomach cramps in the world.  Part of me wonders if I should call in and talk to them earlier? Or just wait till Friday? I've not gone into labor yet lol

Well I suppose.... more to update with Friday!!

29 weeks 1 day

Wow has it only been one day since I posted? It feels like it has been a whole week. Tom, Abby and I went down to Beresford after he got off of work yesterday. We decided that we would stay overnight for fun since it had been so long. It was nice to have someone else for Abby to play with, I think she was really getting tired of playing at home with mommy.

Last night was not good, ugh. I started feeling a little off around supper time but thought perhaps I just had allergy issues. Played some Xbox with Tom and my brother Andrew after Abby went to bed (very fun) then decided to go to bed. The mattress in Tiffany's room I think has seen better days and was hard hard hard HARD... or maybe I'm just really sensitive being so pregnant. The aches and the chest tightness just got worse and worse by the time Tom came to bed and I told him I couldn't sleep on the bed. Moved to the couch but felt so awful I really wanted him to be near me. My brother Paul was camping so we checked his room out and settled into the bottom bunk after giving it a good toss (Matthew had been playing on it I think) It might have been just a little softer but it was much cooler down there. The babies were having a good time, B had hiccups and Tom got to feel her 'going at it' which he really enjoyed. *usually when I tell him they are moving like crazy they stop as soon as he puts his hand on my stomach. *

He fell asleep, I couldn't. Got up and took some Tylenol which helped me get a little more comfortable. Had a rough night though and was up walking through the minefield that was my brothers room to the bathroom. Note to self, clear a path BEFORE going to bed. Then around 7:30 when I woke up I attempted to turn onto my other side and had two really really strong contractions (i think thats what they were) To me it felt as if I had a really bad Charlie Horse cramp across my lower abdomen. Oh it hurt! It wasn't mild cramping or tightening this was full blown painful and probably a minuet or more long (hard to keep track of that). So either it was a contraction.... or one of the girls REALLY adjusted herself and stretched my poor tummy.

The spotting has been back in full force again these last few days :( In fact today I was almost a little concerned because it was so much darker. I'm back to using sanitary pads because I'm soaking through undergarments so quickly. It's sooooo frustrating this spotting. The girls don't seem to be bothered by it and have been keeping plenty busy. My appointment is Friday so I guess we'll see how things are going.

I still don't feel very good. Thankfully Tom will be home to help me out tomorrow if I'm sick. It's hard to have the energy to keep up with Abby when I'm feeling good.... almost impossible when I'm run down and sick. Guess we'll find out tomorrow. Hopefully I will get a good night's sleep and that will improve things!