Tuesday, March 16, 2010

"I'd get everything ready at home."

Still pregnant! 35 weeks and 2 days now, fast approaching that 36-week average for twin gestations. Striving to be average, I'm awesome.

My weekly OB appointment was this morning. After another successful night in his big boy room, Bean woke up around 7 am-ish and started the day by chatting with his froggy stuffed animal and the monkeys on his pajamas. I dug in my closet for the only maternity shirt that still fits without my stomach hanging out at the bottom like a bad beer belly on Thanksgiving. My Mom did everything to get all three of us ready to go, as always. (I fully expect a halo to appear on her head any day now.)

In the waiting room, Bean charmed all the young pregnant couples holding hands and eagerly anticipating their ultrasounds. They smiled as he waved his toy truck in the air and announced proudly, "Mommy! Dump truck fly!" Then he hopped across the room to throw away some trash for me when I asked him to. Will their kids be as cute, well-behaved, and smart as mine? Not a chance. But it's nice to see them have hope. I only wish I could take some credit for him. We'll see how the other two turn out, then I'll make the call.

I was uncomfortable sitting in the chair, and it felt like forever until the nurse called my name to head back. I was happy to see the number staring back at me on the scale -- I gained about one pound in the past week despite my concern that my stomach is so smushed that I can't eat enough calories. (A once-in-a-lifetime concern, no doubt.) I actually weigh about the same with these twins that I did with Bean at this point in my pregnancy. My blood pressure is still within the normal range, which is very reassuring. I don't have any other signs of preeclampsia, but it's always a worry on my mind.

The doctor came in and we talked about how the boys and I are doing. My belly measures 42 weeks now, although it looks more like 62 to me. Twin A's heartbeat is in the 140s and Twin B is in the 150s, as usual. This does surprise me every week, though, because Twin A is more hyper in the womb. I always imagine him being my high-strung child, and Twin B being extremely laid back. (With Bean falling in the middle of that scale.) Perhaps I'll need to adjust my stereotypes after they are born.

I was due for my Group B Strep screening, and since the doc was already all up in my lady bits, I asked if she would check my cervix.

"Well," she raised her eyebrows at me when she was done, "you are four centimeters dilated."

!!!!!

I had expected a centimeter or two, but not FOUR. When I was 4 cm dilated with Bean, I was in the triage room at the birth center, gripping DH's arm with white knuckles and crying, "Why does it hurt so much? How can it hurt so much?" as I contracted. A private room and epidural immediately followed.

The doctor told me that she could feel Twin A's bag of waters resting on the cervix. She guessed that my water breaking would be my big sign to head to the hospital. DH will be glad to hear this, because he is still traumatized from our early days on bedrest and seems to fear that I suddenly may drop two babies on the floor of our bedroom without warning. The doc smiled and assured me that won't happen, the boys are much bigger now.

We chatted about the logistics of getting me to the hospital and how the process works if it's during the day versus the middle of the night. Unfortunately my doc is going to be off next week, she's staying home with her son until his day care slot opens up. I doubt I'll make it that long anyway, but who knows. "Some women walk around for weeks at four centimeters," she told me. "But I'd get everything ready at home."

Back in the car, I was almost giddy calling DH, my Dad, my in-laws, and my grandma with the update. The thought of meeting the boys soon is absolutely thrilling -- even if it's a couple weeks sooner than I had hoped. But I must say that excitement is tempered by my fear of the C-section, even though my first one was completely fine. I am not so scared of surgery when it's done with general anesthesia... I just have this belief that one should be completely under when internal body parts become temporarily external. Of course in this case the spinal block is better, because I'll get to meet the twins right away. But if they try to narrate which of my organs they are violating to get them out, we are going to have a problem. I would like to hear about my babies, but let's leave the fact that you are slicing through my uterus completely out of the discussion. Thanks.

Anyway, I'm back in my bed. For now. Excited and nervous. And I still haven't learned how to use that darn camera.

Photobucket

29 comments:

Kristina P. said...

This is an exciting update! I hope it all happens soon.

Leah Rubin said...

You got great news, and congratulations! You're doing a great job, and those boys have a wonderful momma! Can't wait to see their photos and learn their names!

Keep up the good work!

K said...

Great update!!!!

My friend delivered her twins at 35 weeks and they were in the NICU for only 1 night. I swear! So you are already at a safe place God Willing.

And four centimeters???? WOW!

So excited for you :))

Erin said...

Wow 4 cm. My mother had twins (I am a twin) and she said that a few hours after her water broke she was pushing us out. So, you really might not need a Cesarean this time around, especially with all the weight on your cervix.

Wow it's almost time!! I am glad you made it this far along.

LOL, I am kind of scared of Ceserean section too. Just the thought of it freaks me out ;)

Our Family said...

Wow! How exciting! I hope you make it to the hospital if your water breaks...when they broke mine this time, 27 minutes later Cara was born! Good luck and can't wait to hear about the boys!

Pufferfish said...

This is so exciting!! I'm amazed and proud you have made it this far. Well done!
My boys were smaller than yours at 35 wks, 5 days and only one was in the NICU overnight. Don't worry, I think you'll all be just fine.
Oh and on the breastfeeding...get the dbl breast feeding pillow and do them at the same time. So much easier.

Mary said...

You are doing SO awesome Momma! Hang in there! Livi was my more active baby in the womb and we all know what a little jumping bean she is now! And I was 3 cm dilated at 32 weeks and made it to 38 with very modified bedrest so it IS possible!

AFD said...

How exciting, and how thrilling that you have made it this long. I am so impressed. I check your blog like 3 times a day, with the time difference, I figure I might miss something! I'll keep checking! Good thoughts and hugs coming your way!!!
Al

Michelle said...

I am so excited for you! Soon you will be meeting your boys. Try to enjoy these last days with 1...at least as much as you can being in bed.

Coffeegrljapan said...

4cm -That's crazy?! I'm with you - at 4 cm, I *totally* knew I was in labor and was ready for the whole thing to be over. How do our bodies work these miracles! It's getting exciting now, no????

Banshee said...

wow, 4cm! go momma go! good luck with everything this next week! sounds like you're in really good shape for everything though!

Michele said...

I am so happy for you!!!

At 4cm dilated, I had just had my cerclage removed and was being prepped for a c/s!

MissMVK said...

So exciting! Eventful appointments that don't involve risky stuff for the babes are the best! I wonder if our FOUR boys will have the same birthday? :)

Kristi said...

I am getting so excited for you. Any day now, I expect to pop over here and see a photo of two adorable babies, and one proud big brother.

Good luck!!!!!

Pufferfish said...

Oh I had to laugh because 'reading the manual for my new camera' was ony list to do during modified bedrest....and I never did it! I had plenty of time!

Mrs. Gamgee said...

Hoo Boy! 4 centimeters? Wow!

I am soooooo with you about surgery and anesthesia. They wanted to give me a local for my d&c... I just about flipped out. Why would I want to hear/see/be concious for something like that????

Beautiful Mess said...

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! I can't even believe it, how exciting!

I am in total agreement with you about the internal organs thing. When I had my hand surgery and the doc wanted me awake to see if I could move my finger, I asked to be put back to sleep. No thank you, I'd rather not feel the stitches, thank you!

Learn how to use that camera, love. We all DEMAND pictures!
*HUGS*

Furrow said...

The camera? Eh, just point and click. We can't wait to see those boys! At 4 cm I was only 2 hours away from pushing. It can't be long now!

Anonymous said...

Very exciting! Good luck, I can't wait for more updates!

Jen said...

4 cm...wow!!! I am so amazed that you have made it so far. 36 weeks seemed impossible even a couple weeks ago. And that 42 week measurement, I don't buy it. As for the camera, you're about to have twins. You'll be too busy to learn how to use it anyhow. DH or your mom should probably figure it out in all of their "spare" time.

Woohoo! I'm keeping an eye out for a birth announcement.

Chad and Gena said...

Oh I cant wait to hear your news. I was measuring 42 weeks when I delivered...so you have nice, big, healthy boys :-). I kind of had a similar experience as I told I was 5 cm at one of my appointments...I too expected 1 or 2 but not 5 however, my dr. made me go to the hospital. I wish she has let me go home as I still wasn't in full labor...only made it 7 cm in the next 24 hours, they ended up having to break my water and give me pitocin to kind of jump start things. I always wondered how much longer I would have held on if they didn't make me go to the hospital that day.

I am still in awe of you making it this far. AMAZING :-)

Eve said...

So close, so close, so very freakin' close! (This became a song in my head as I typed it, lol). Thank goodness for mothers...I only have mine here for 10 days though...boo.

I almost went to hospital last night for PTL issues, and our doc also reassured us that we would not have these babies at home either...but we have/had the same fear!


In the home stretch now, momma!

Eve

Red said...

Every time you don't post for a couple of days I get excited thinking you have met the boys. It is SO close now. You have done so well to get this far.

Now, enjoy the last couple of days resting you are gonna get for years! ;)

Lisa said...

WOOHOO! Great news girl! I keep checking every day to see if there are 2 smiling on there....my guess was 36 weeks! :) Hang in there and cant wait to meet the little fellas!

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

Best Wishes, oooh, so close! I am very happy and excited for you.

IF Optimist, then... said...

Wooooo! You are getting close. Needed to check on you with my phone. The 4mm is a bit of a surprise but hang in there just a bit longer my hero. You are an inspiration to me. Big warm hugs! - Traci

Nicky said...

When I reached 4cm, I had been in active labor at the hospital for almost 12 hours, and I had just gotten an epidural (finally!). I remember hearing that some women just walk around, minding their own business, and BAM! they're several centimeters dilated. I was very jealous....

Also, I had the opposite reaction during my c-section. I was soooo happy to be awake for it, and I made the doctors give me live color commentary on what was going on. It made me feel more involved, I think. Also, I thought it was kind of cool that they were holding my organs in their hands while chatting with me. But I'm a bit weird.

MrsSpock said...

Holy crap, dude! Four! Four was about as far as I got after almost two days of labor. Hopefully it'll hang out there for another week or so...

Kami said...

I understand cervix condition isn't a good predictor after the first pregnancy. Actually I knew someone who was at a 4 for nearly 8 weeks on her first pregnancy. You just never know.

Hopefully you will get to 37 weeks!