Week 32 - Still Pregnant!

Week 32

The weekly doctor’s visit proved once again that we’re still on target and doing the right things for the babies. They have shifted a little – with “Baby A” seemingly making her way toward the birth canal. This means that they are no longer nose-to-nose with both heads laying the same direction across my belly. I’ve gained 4 ½ pounds in the last week (a little self-conscious, I reminded the nurse that I had just finished eating lunch and drinking a large lemonade) and my belly is officially larger than most full-term ladies’.

Each baby should be a little over 4 ½ pounds each and about 17”-18”, although those measurements are guesses until the next ultrasound in 2 weeks. We measured my girth again and found that I’ve gained another 1 ½ inches there making it a total of 45 ½” – 16 ½” bigger than I was last September when we started counting. I am now broader in my waist than my husband is in his shoulders! (Scary!)

This week marks the end of our scheduled education classes. The second-half of “Parenting Newborns” is over on Wednesday and is my last excuse to venture into the outside world other than the weekly doctor visits. We are getting more and more serious (I hope) about deciding on names for the girls. As I mentioned before, I am steadfast in naming the younger one “Bettina” but calling her “Tina” for my grandmother – also a twin. This naming process, however, seems to be an on-going battle of wits.

The "Godfather" Shower

Saturday I got another chance to participate in “the outside world” again. I was thrilled not only to be able to get out of the house, but to be in attendance for the wonderful celebration Paul’s sisters had prepared for our babies’ anticipated arrival. It was a typical “Italian” style party – large (about 45 people attended) and with emphasis on family and food. All guests were encouraged to bring their family. An inflatable jump house kept most of the kids active while “too much” beer, wine and food kept the “adult” guests content and busy. Since I was still on bed-rest, I was required to sit in my glider chair, strategically placed next to the presents and cake, with my feet up. It made me feel like The Godfather. People would come in, cross the room to my “Godfather” chair, drop off their gift, give me a hug or a kiss on the cheek, and chat a little bit before moving on to get a glass of wine and some anti-pasta, grilled veggies, or a plate full of other great foods. The only thing missing was the giant gold ring!

This shower was more than a shower – it was a tsunami - a marathon of present-unwrapping where the kids were more than happy to help with the larger ones too big for my lap. The hostesses had arranged an alternative group gift for those who didn’t quite know what to give. It ended up being a huge success. Fifteen or so guests decided to opt into the group gift and were able, with their combined purchasing power, to get nearly all the large ticket items left on our registry – a car seat, 2 extra bases, both our indoor and our outdoor Pack n’ Plays, the breast pump and 12 bottles - a huge help to Paul and me!!

As with most of “Italian”-styled parties, there was no designated end-time. Paul and I finally packed the car, and ourselves, for home shortly after 8pm – 6 hours after the party started - a very full day. It will take me at least 2 days of my upcoming bed-rest and the rest of my stationery to thank everyone! If you’re interested, pictures from that party are available to view clicking here.

Week 31 - Continued Bed-Rest

So, bed-rest is not very glamorous. You would think that being given orders not to do anything but sit in bed and sleep would be a luxury – a sort of exposure to lifestyles of the rich and famous. However, that illusion quickly fades a few hours after your only companion, your husband, leaves for the day. My days were filled on the internet, trying to do something productive: finding christening gowns for the girls, birth announcements, updating my address list, reading my breastfeeding book or checking to make sure my registry was complete. When all that was done, I’d take out a pad of paper and start making lists of things I couldn’t do, but needed to get done so that Paul could do them when he got home. Things he could bring me from around the house to keep me occupied, chores around the house, things with the car, plants that needed watering, checks he should cash, items to fax, etc., etc. So engulfed and satisfied with how productive I was, I was completely surprised that when he did come home from his already long day and had no interest in first making me dinner (I was always starving!) and then immediately jumping into my sometimes 2-3 page “Honey-Do” list. The frustration level on both our ends was very apparent!!

By Day 4 of bed rest, I started noticing fruit flies in the bedroom (I figured they’d come from the bag of lemons my father-in-law brought from his tree 3 days prior that have yet to be unloaded or washed by Paul), an overflowing and ignored laundry pile, a neglected grocery list, bed sheets that needed changing and floors that needed vacuuming among other sure signs of household neglect. With frustration mounting, I ordered the evacuation. Paul’s full-time job plus all the other responsibilities of the house were too much to attend to. Good friend Lisa answered the call and brought the car over, helped me pack myself, some laundry, and the dog, and delivered me to my mother’s.

What would we do without the innate sense of nurturing that mother’s have? She’s been proactive in ensuring I’m hydrated, fed, the laundry’s done by the end of the day and she even goes out to fetch mint chip ice cream sandwiches and string cheese! She’s helped me organize my mail, care for the dog (to which she’s allergic!), and solicits help from neighbors to rearrange furniture for the expected twins. Now Paul’s short list is much shorter and, although he doesn’t get to sleep in his own bed, he does get to relax when he gets home and enjoy some dinner that he didn’t have to make himself. We didn’t expect to move out here this early, but it was clear that bed rest on my own wasn’t the best for me, the babies, or Paul.

So, what do I do with my time? I’ve now figured out how to hook up my computer to the internet here, so that’s still an outlet. BillPay and Netflicks are good new friends. I’ve brought a big blanket out here that I’ll have my mother lie out in the backyard in a sun spot so that I can take a nap with my “C” pillow or throw the ball for Hayden. Friends come by to visit for an hour or so which also helps to break up the day. I also have brought my scrap booking supplies and hope to get through last year’s Australia photos. There are also calls and emails from friends which help me feel more connected to the life I “used to have.”

The good news is that the babies are still growing (along with me – I gained that pound back so I’m at 40 pounds gained again and 44” along the girth). The contractions are still coming, but not like before; only 4/day rather than 6-10/hour. The drugs continue to work, although, since my body is getting used to them, I need to start tapering so that they’ll be more effective. The doctor says I’m still at the same place I was last week, so this coming week will be more of the same. I did, however, get permission for 2 outings: I can attend our “Caring for Newborns” class with Paul (provided he drops me off/picks me up in front so I don’t have to walk much and I prop my feet up on a chair the whole time) and the party that Paul’s sisters are throwing for the girls on Saturday (same stipulations apply). No walking or driving around – just laying down, sitting with feet propped up, unless I’m using the restroom or shower. If we can get away with doing this for another 3 weeks, we reach our goal. And, to use the perintologist’s words, anything beyond that “is gravy!” If we make it longer, we have a scheduled C-section at 10:00 am on June 3rd. Both babies are still transverse making a vaginal delivery unlikely.

Week 30 - Paul Earns Brownie Points

Since I was not allowed out of bed, I couldn’t attend the “Breastfeeding for Multiples” class that I was very much looking forward to attending. I figured if I could get a grip on that whole challenge, it would save me upwards of 6 hours a day once the babies arrived and we both learned the trick to this whole tandem feeding thing. The next best thing to me and Paul attending, I thought, was to have my mother go in my place. After all, she would be with me the majority of the day when Paul wasn’t. So, without argument, Paul picked up his mother-in-law and drove her to the 2 ½ hour class where they talked about mammary glands and milk production and how multiple babies fit into the scene. While my mom took copious notes, I’m sure Paul was daydreaming away, but at least he was there. ‘Atta boy!

And, the Vertict is... Bed-rest

Last day of freedom - at nephew Elio's birthday party

We heard from my OB late last night. The fetal fibronectin test I took yesterday came back positive which means that they did find some of the proteins indicative of pre-term labor. The chance that I would deliver within the next 2 weeks is 25%. That still means there's a 75% chance I won't, but since they still want me pregnant at least another 2 weeks, its drugs and strict bed-rest for me.

Strict bed-rest is much different than the modified bed-rest I was anticipating for the later part of my pregnancy. Whereas with modified you can get out of bed and shower when you want to, make something to eat when you want to, visit with people or drive somewhere, with strict bed-rest, you're not allowed to go anywhere but the bathroom. If the doorbell rings, you're not supposed to answer it. You run out of food or need some more water? You're supposed to ask someone to get it for you even though the kitchen's right there. It's hard to plan for everything you think you're going to want to do for the next 10 hours and have it next to you when your husband leaves for work in the morning.

I do have a book called "The Multiples Manual" that has a whole chapter with ideas of things you can do while on strict bed-rest, since it is more common in twin pregnancies. I hope that their list will keep me busy and productive for at least a little while! (Why didn't I take up knitting??)

I will be tested again on Monday, in week 31 to see if there's any change. Until then, we'll be keeping our fingers crossed that I'll be pregnant for at least a little while longer.

7 Weeks Left - Or So We Hope!!

"Baby B's" footprint - 30 weeks

Monday morning of week 30, Paul and I drive to our ultrasound appointment. The babies are still doing great and continue to grow beyond their benchmarks. Each baby is a little over 3 ½ pounds, which is still about ½ pound above a “normal” singleton pregnancy and way over the benchmark for twins. Above is a cute picture, again in 3-D (which Paul and I have decided we still don’t like), of “Baby B’s” foot (the face ones didn’t come out too well. “A” looks like she has a black eye and “B’s” cord is in front of her face which makes her look like she’s got a huge lower lip. Perhaps they’ve been duking it out while the cameras are off?!). All functions look good and things are great. I asked them to check on my cervix as the last week and a half or so, I’ve been feeling that my contractions may be more than normal and I want to make sure there are no signs of pre-term labor. Good thing I asked…

The perinatologist (doctor who specializes in high-risk or troubled pregnancies) comes in after the ultrasound to say that he’s already paged my OB doctor and that they want to keep me for a couple more tests. The ultrasound shows that my cervix has shortened from 3 cm to 1 ½ cm in the few weeks between appointments. The good news, he says, is that when they put pressure on my uterus, it doesn’t shorten further. However, it looks as though I’ve been having pre-term contractions mixed in with my Braxton-Hicks. He says that, although they can handle the birth of these babies now, it’s very stressful on everyone and he hopes with managing my activities, he can keep them in at least 2 weeks longer, or his goal, 4 weeks more. The rest above that, he says is “gravy.” Wow! Not what Paul and I were expecting.

After meeting with my doctor’s colleague, I’m told to check into OB emergency at the hospital for some tests and monitoring. They want to measure the number and severity of my contractions as well as watch the babies’ heart beats. They put an elastic “girdle” around my belly and stick 3 sensors under it – one for each baby to measure their heart rates and the other to measure contractions. They will watch for an hour total. After about ½ hour, the nurse comes in and says that it looks like I have an irritable uterus (which she says is common for twins) and more contractions than what she’d like to see. After talking to my OB doctor, she gives me a shot of a drug called terbutaline which, although is supposed to make my heart race and make me feel jittery - like I've drunk 2 cups of coffee, is supposed to calm down my uterus and lessen contractions. She says that if the drug is effective on me, I will probably only have to be on bed-rest at home. If it’s not, I’ll be checked into the hospital right away. Oh, gosh! I hope it works.

Fortunately, my body liked the terbutaline and my contractions go down. I can go home as long as I continue taking the drug every 4 hours around the clock. I have to go in tomorrow for another test, called fetal fibronectin, which will try to determine, based on proteins in the birth canal, the likelihood I’ll give birth within the next 2 weeks. If no proteins are present, it means I’ll have a 99% chance of not giving birth within 2 weeks (5 weeks early for twins and 8 weeks before their June due date). If the proteins are present, I have a 25% of birthing within 2 weeks. We are, of course, hoping for a negative result which would decrease my chances of having to go to the hospital or stay on strict bed-rest. We should get the results on Wednesday.

Week 29 - The Progress

Physical Stats: The width of my belly has grown from the pre-pregnancy size of 29 inches to a whopping 44 inches! It has grown 3 inches since my last OB doctors visit 3 weeks ago. The irony: I’ve lost a pound while still gaining the inches. My total weight gain is now 39 pounds. The weight loss although nothing to be concerned about in its own right, my doctor says, shouldn’t happen continually. I get a hall pass to eat more ice cream and try to make up the calories!! Yippee!

My blood pressure is still good and I don’t have any water retention or swelling (yet?), but the doctor’s disappointed that I’m still going to work. I only have 4 more days, though, and she’s OK with that.

The Babies: Still doing well and still both in a transverse position (lying horizontally). “Baby A” is still close enough to the cervix that she could turn head-down – the proper position for a vaginal birth – in the next couple of weeks. Next week’s ultrasound may give us an accurate indication as to which type of birth we should expect. If she’s still transverse, we will schedule a planned C-section. For the first time, the babies have pretty different heart rates: “Baby A” is 145 beats/minute (which has been usual for them both) and “Baby B” is down at 120. Still, there’s nothing to worry about there either.

Education: Paul and I attended the all-day birthing class last weekend and on Wednesday, we took the 3-hour “Preparing for Multiples” class which was taught by the current President of the Marin County Mothers of Multiples group. Both classes were very helpful. A lot of it was reinforcement of what I’ve been reading in the stacks of books near the bed, but was really great I think for Paul to hear. I appreciated the logical, male-oriented way the information was presented. Breaking down obscure medical to tangible visuals or the profound statements into mathematical equations really allowed us to get a better sense of what to expect. Some interesting tid-bits that stood out for us:
Did you know?

• 50% of twins are born prior to week 37 and weight less than 5 pounds 8 ounces.
• The average labor and birth is 16 hours long. (Gasp!) The chance the labor will still force a C-section for twins is 50%.
• Whichever way we start the birthing process, it will happen in the OR just in case surgery is necessary. There will also be about 10 hospital staff in the in the room with Paul and me (2 of everything – OBs, pediatric nurses, neonatologists, pediatricians, etc., and one anesthesiologist). No other guests are allowed (as if they’d fit!).
• Prepare to change 165 diapers a week for a set of twins and spend 12 hours a day breastfeeding (unless you learn to master the double-feeding techniques). This amounts to 16,060 diapers until they’re potty-trained which should add up to about $4,161 over the years.
• With 168 hours in a week, studies have shown that 125 of them are necessary to feed and change a set of newborn twins. This leaves 43 hours/week available to take care of yourself, which breaks down to a bit over 6 hours a day or: ½ hour to shower and dress, 1 ½ hours to prepare and eat all your daily meals, and 4 hours to sleep. (An eye-opener!) The teacher suggesting adopting the following mantra, which she used after the birth of her twin boys: “Don’t cross my threshold without a casserole!” or “All guests must assist you.”
• The divorce rate among parents with multiples is more than twice the national average. Not only do the kids take more work, but so does making time for each other.
  

The good news is that it does get easier after 3 months!

Next week, we take the “Breastfeeding for Multiples” class. I started reading my “Nursing Mother’s Companion” book this week in preparation. When following instructions to check for *problem nipples* (which thankfully I apparently don’t have), I was surprised and, I hate to admit it but, excited to see that I’m already producing colostrum! (I feel so motherly!)

Elbows and Hiccoughs

Bizarre Tremors

Remember the worm-tunnels in that silly 80’s movie, Tremors? The group of young scientists that went out into the desert and discovered these weird giant gopher-looking trails? It takes them until half-way through the movie to figure out what makes them, and, when they do find out, the creatures are totally alien-looking monsters.

That same storyline is taking place on the top of my belly. During the Easter Sunday service, for example, I sat in my pew and looked down at my belly as I feel the all too familiar twitches of baby movement. I wore a silver silk dress my cousin lent me that day and it lay smoothly against my skin. The little lump that was twitching under my skin suddenly started visably traveling a couple inches to the right. I elbowed Paul in enough time for him to see Baby B’s fist make the trip back, like a moving worm-hole, toward my center again at the end her stretch. Kind of an errie occurance to watch – especially at church when you imagine a rebellious exercist baby fighting the sounds of godly hymns and prayer (taking after her Dad, I guess, who squirms through most church services!).

Paul finds these movements a bit unnerving. I’ll put his hand on a hard lump and, at first, he’s curious – he’ll keep it there and wait. But, as soon as the lump starts traveling somewhere or moves up toward him, his “heebie-jeebie” factor becomes too strong. His hand flies off and he’ll mutter something while shaking his head. Sort of like those scientists in the movie Tremors who have this curious, but terrifying experience with their discovery.

I, on the other hand, have become more like Bill Murray in Caddyshack. I’m constantly seeking those hard lumps, trying to figure out where “the gopher” will be next. I’m fascinated, nearly obsessed, trying to figure out what the lump is: a foot, an elbow, a head, a bum? I haven’t got to the point of wanting plastic explosives to get my answer, thank goodness, but the game does intrigue me. It’s easy for me to check up on “Baby B.” “Baby A” is too far under my belly to monitor and she hides much deeper into the insides while “B” likes to lie pretty close to the surface just above my belly button. Keeping my hand on my belly, I’m able to ascertain how she is lying (small lumps are feet or elbows/fists; medium hard lump is her head; large softer lump is her bum) and can feel the rhythmic pattern of her hiccoughs every once in awhile.