32 week photos

Kevin took these last night. Not the greatest shots of me, but I don't get very dolled up in my hospital room. My belly is getting bigger and bigger by the day! Baby B has taken up residence in my diaphragm/ribs region which has made me the most uncomfortable I have felt overall in this pregnancy, but so far, he/she continues to look healthy on the monitor and by ultrasound, which is all we really care about. Today, I got to watch both babies "practice breathing" by ultrasound as they moved their small chest walls in and out. They are not actually breathing air as they are immersed in fluid in the womb, but this practice breathing is a good sign they are getting enough oxygen and working on getting ready for the real world. YAY!


BR day 74
32wks3d
11 days until 34 weeks

Ultrasound Update - New countdown

Hey all,

I was taken on Thursday for an ultrasound finally. They made me go by stretcher which made me feel like quite the invalid and transport left me parked in the hallway of the perinatal testing center. I didn't enjoy watching all the "healthy" pregnant women walk by for their outpatient visits while I had to lay there on display. Luckily the timing worked perfectly with Kevin's planned visit so he was able to join me for the ultrasound. They did measurements to determine the growth profiles of both babies in the last month. Baby A is measuring almost 4 pounds (3 lbs 14 oz) whereas Baby B is still under 3 pounds (2 lbs 12oz, I think). The difference in weight and rate of growth is concerning and the doctors are now closely monitoring Baby B and the blood flow from its placenta. This is common with multiple pregnancies where one baby doesn't grow as well as the other due to difference with their placentas. It could be because of the initial placement of each placenta and sac or because one baby is infringing on the other's space. Based on the description of where each baby is laying, it seems like Baby A is spread out comfortable occupying most of my belly and Baby B is squished over on my right side. Perhaps that is why I often feel his/her bum pushing out underneath my ribs as if trying to carve out more territory!

So, what all this means is that they have taken me off the medication to stop the contractions and have told me that if I do go into labor, they will not stop it. Sometimes if one baby is not getting enough nutrients, hormonal signals are sent to trigger labor. Thus, it may be better to deliver Baby B so that he/she can get adequate nutrients to continue growing and Baby A will just have to come along for the ride. We have gotten different predictions from the doctors, but the consensus is that the twins will be here in the next 1-2 weeks!

Kevin and I took a tour of the NICU last night as our babies (if born between 32-34 weeks) will indeed have to move in there for a visit. I am really happy we went down as it doesn't seem as scary of a place now that we've checked it out and met some of the people. The nurse practitioner pointed out one baby that she thought would be similar to what a 32 week baby would be size-wise and he wasn't as small as I've been imaging (hard to picture that there are TWO of them in my belly!). We won't know until they are here how long they might have to stay or what kinds of support they will need. Luckily, some of the scariest stuff (brain bleeds, eye problems) usually occur when babies are born before 32 weeks and more than likely we will be facing issues with temperature regulation, breathing, and feeding.

So my plan of going home at 34 weeks and delivering closer to full term is not going to happen. Kevin and I are excited about the fact that the end is in sight and that we will soon get to meet Baby A and Baby B. I am worried about the c-section, the recovery from it and of course about the NICU experience, but I am trying to not focus on any of that too much. It will be nice to be able to go home and get a little more organized before we bring these babies home. Kevin has done a great job getting the house ready, but as you all know me, I am itching to get my hands involved in setting things up.

So stay tuned . . . and we will keep you posted on any updates and the big arrival whenever that will be. Eeee!

XOXO

BR day 72
32wks 1day
13 days until 34 weeks

Lots of visitors!

The past few days have been kinda busy with visitors here at the hospital. On top of my regulars, Kevin and Dad Davies I have been treated to visits from an old Colby friend Sandra, one of my oldest friends ever Sharon, and my cousin Roxanne. Thanks ladies! It was great to catch up with all of you and a wonderful change to the repetitive tedium of my hospital days. I wish all of my blog readers lived closer and could come hang out with me here.

Not too much else to report. Things continue to be stable and under control with my medication. Each doctor tells me a different day for when I will have another ultrasound so I do not have any update on their positions or weights or even a clue as to when I might get to find those things out. I am thankful that the medicine is working and for each day I go without delivering. As ready as I am to meet these two buggers and especially to find out what they are, I know that it is not quite time yet and that I must continue to be patient.

BR day 69
31wks5d
16 days until 34 weeks!

10 thoughts from week 1

1) My sleep schedule is adjustable! My set in stone sleep schedule of 10 pm to 6-7am has been adjusted to an 11:30/midnight – 8 am schedule. Kevin doesn’t understand why I was never able to stay up later and sleep in more at home, but that I am able to here in the hospital.
2) I love rice krispies and wonder why I do not eat them on a more regular basis in my "normal" life.
3) Not having access to my bathroom scale is not such a bad thing when you are 30/31 weeks pregnant with twins.
4) My twins are on completely opposite sleep/activity schedules from each other. This will need to be fixed once they get to Havertown.
5) Dropping a lap top off a hospital rolling table can destroy a hard drive completely.
6) A hot shower can really make my day.
7) Being forced to sit during said shower is kinda nice.
8) Most of the nurses at Bryn Mawr Hospital are great. Some of them get frustrated when I cannot tell them exactly where my babies are lying at any given period of time so their heart rates can be monitored. I am not sure why they think I can predict these things.
9) Chick-ful-A nuggets/waffle fries and L&M bakery cupcakes taste even better in the hospital.
10) Buying a mini van, even one that I’ve never seen or test driven, is not the end of the world – especially if it comes complete with all the fancy bells and whistles. The Grugan babies will be riding in style!

BR day 64
31wks
21 days until 34 weeks!!!!!!

Feeling more positive

As Kevin has pointed out, there have been a lot of highs and lows in my mood with this pregnancy. It's the hormones, right??? Well, I am happy to report that I have had a couple good days here in the hospital and am not feeling quite as blue as I was when writing my last few posts. Perhaps it is because of all of the phone calls, emails, special take out meals, and visitors that I've been treated to . . . or perhaps it is because the sun is finally shining again and will be for the next 7 days at least . . . or maybe it is because I am having better luck sleeping in my hospital bed and adjusting my body to a different sleep schedule. Who knows? But things are going okay here for me so that is good. Everything continues to be stable in terms of the babies and my lack of contractions. The countdown now says 23 days. Progress!!!

Big news from our house in Havertown -- the babies room has been painted green (the lighter color for those of you who got to vote) and most of the furniture has arrived. It is now just waiting to be assembled. Kevin has been bringing the camera filled with pictures of his progress when he comes to visit each night. I hope tonight's pictures will include some new shots of my friends Addy and Emma who I miss dearly. At least I got in two months of mega cat/kitten/Kate bonding time as things will surely be different once the twins take over all of our lives. Poor kitties won't know what hit them.

Still no word on the viability of my lap top. The timing couldn't be worse as I finally have things that I could be doing for my research at Penn and I'd like to get them crossed off the list ASAP since we have no clue when these kiddos will be joining us. I still have Kevin's mac so I can do some of the Penn stuff (as well as email, facebook, and other fun internet distractions), but I am hoping my computer will be up and running real soon.

That's all for tonight.
XOXO

BR day 62
30wk5d
23 days until 34 weeks!

My new countdown

The white board in hospital room 2006 has the number 25 on it. That is the number of days I need to stay here to make it to 34 weeks. If I make it that far, than they will send me home on bed rest to wait out the start of labor. At times today, 25 seemed totally doable, though there were other points of that day where it seem like an eternity and not achievable whatsoever.

I would say I am having a much harder time transitioning to my new home than I did transitioning from my normal life to bed rest at my house in Havertown. I guess it is to be expected, but knowing that doesn't really make it any easier. I try to focus on the fact that this is the best place for the babies and me to be, and that every day here is a gift to them allowing them to grow and thrive in their safe little (or not so little) nest. It is good practice for motherhood, I guess, as it is clearly no longer about my comfort or what I would like best, but really what is right for them. Hmph.

The nurses seem to have an inate sense of whenever I have a mini (or not so mini) breakdown and always pick that time to stop by to take my vitals or hook me up to the monitor. At times I feel like I have no independence or privacy, but then at other times, I am starved for attention and conversation. So really, who knows what will make me happy!

It doesn't help that I dropped my laptop on the floor yesterday and it no longer works. Poor Kevin had to make an emergency trip to Penn today and make a plea to our tech guy to fix it ASAP. He also left me his laptop for the night so that I could catch up on emails, my blog, and watch DVDs. He is working hard and trying to make all of this as easy for me as possible. I probably am not doing the same for him and for that I am sorry and will strive to do better tomorrow.

Thanks for all the emails and phone calls. They are needed right now. My phone number listed in my last blog entry works and is the best number to use to call me as Kevin and I are close to running out of our monthly cell minutes and still have a week to go before it resets. Oops.

I apologize if the overall tone of this entry is a little down. I have tried to keep my blog posts upbeat as it helps me stay in the right mindset. Tomorrow is another day closer to the end goal. XOXO

BR day 60
30wks 3d
25 days until 34 weeks

Adiós Bed Rest Central . . .

Hello Bryn Mawr Hospital!

Yup, you've read it right. I've moved into the hospital. On Thursday, at my ultrasound, my cervical length had decreased from 2.2 cm from 2 weeks prior down to 0.6 cm. This was a big surprise to everyone as I had been checked by my obstetrician on Tuesday and she had said my cervix felt long and closed. I was immediately sent to the labor and delivery floor and hooked up to a monitor to see if I was contracting. Indeed I was contracting (some that I could feel and some that I could not) about every 2-3 minutes. Obviously if left unchecked, I could have ended up in labor and getting a c-section, so I was put on some pretty strong medication to stop the contractions.

The magnesium sulfate that I was on for the next 24 hours was not pleasant, nor was the fact I was not allowed out of bed at all (hello to my first experience with a catheter, UGH!) or the fact that the babies had to monitored nonstop so that every time they or I changed positions, the nurses had to come in to find their heartbeats again - all night long.

The doctor told me that with my cervix so short, I will need to remain in the hospital until the babies arrive or I make it to 34 weeks, which ever comes first. After that point, they do not do anything to stop labor, so they would likely send me home until I went into labor naturally whenever that would be. I have read stories of women in similar situations who go into the labor the next day after going home and others of women who last for another 2-3 weeks at home before labor kicks in.

As you can imagine, this was really tough news for me to take on many levels. First and foremost, I was afraid of going into immediate labor, under the knife for a c-section (baby A is happily breech and does not appear to be moving!) and delivering 30 week preemies on Thursday night. I wasn't prepared for that reality what so ever! Second, the thought of not being able to go home again until after the babies arrived whenever that may be was another reality I wasn't quite ready for. The thought of sleeping in a hospital bed alone and not beside Kevin for the next month (plus not getting to see my beloved cats again for quite some time) was a major bummer I was not ready to face. Making up the list of things Kevin was running home to pack up for me pretty much sent me over the edge. Luckily, my ever more fabulous husband recognized how much I needed him and made plans to camp out at the hospital with me - even when he thought his only sleeping option would be a rather uncomfortable and not reclining chair. (Fortunately the L&D floor has cots for husbands/fathers who are sleeping over so that made it slightly better - despite his also being woken up during my hourly vital checks and baby monitor adjustments).

I've waited until things have stabilized to update my blog or really tell anyone about this, mostly because the magnesium made me feel awful and I wanted to find out if they were going to be able to stop the contractions. I was also given two doses of a steroid shot which they give to mothers who are are risk for preterm delivery to help speed up the babies' lung development. Babies who get the steroids in advance of premature delivery do much better overall in the NICU.

Anyway, things have gotten better. The magnesium did stop the contractions and I graduated to a different oral medication to keep them from acting up again. This morning, I was moved from the active labor and delivery ward to the maternity ward where I will only have to be hooked up to a monitor for an hour 3X a day to check on the babies and for contractions. The IV is gone, as is that horrid catheter, and my very nice nurse immediately got the doctor to return my bathroom and shower privileges. God Bless her!

So Bryn Mawr Hospital room 2006 is my new home for the next few weeks. I think my room phone number is 484-337-8247 (someone should try calling it so that I can save up my cell phone minutes during the weekdays). The goal to stay pregnant as long as I can. The nurses have been fantastic and really helped put me in better spirits. Kevin and I met with one of the doctors from the NICU yesterday who gave us a rundown on the types of complications that can occur with babies born at each of the weeks ahead and estimations of how long the babies could expect to stay at the NICU depending when born. Though I know that the babies would be okay being born today and that despite the long stay in the NICU, they'd likely be fine down the road, I am still hoping that I can last though 34 weeks and get to go home before going into labor. But as has been the story for this entire rather challenging journey toward parenthood, only time will tell.

Thanks again for all your support. I couldn't have made it 8 weeks at home without all of you. I am hoping to adjust to my new reality and get into some sort of routine again that will keep me sane and the babies where they belong. More posts to come will tell you all about how that is going and what life as a full time hospital resident is like. XOXO

BR day 58
3owks1d