On Thursday we went to both my regular OB and the high risk office. Exciting day- I got to leave the house twice!
First we went to the OB. That appointment went fine other than the fact that my blood pressure was higher than normal. It was borderline, so not really high, but high enough to be something to watch. Dr. Zaita asked me about contractions and since I really hadn't been having many at all, she didn't check my cervix. She wasn't worried about it. She checked the heartbeats, which both sounded good. She downgraded me to "modified" bed rest until Wednesday (tomorrow!) and told me to keep taking my Procardia until Saturday. She also said that if I were to go into labor, they would still try to stop it until after Wednesday- assuming my blood pressure was okay. They did some blood work because of my blood pressure and said I'd only get a call if something was wrong with it. I didn't get a call, thank goodness. I go back to her on Thursday of this week.
Oh, she also said that if we decided to schedule a c-section she would do it sometime between 37 and 37 1/2 weeks. But for now the plan is to at least attempt a vaginal delivery. Granted, I could change my mind on that after we get the results of our growth scan this week...
And then Thursday afternoon we went to the high risk office for a fluid level check and a non-stress test. They tried to do the non-stress test first, but she could only get one baby on the monitor. So they decided to do the ultrasound to find where to look for the babies on the non-stress test. Well, the babies looked good. Their fluid levels were good as were their heart rates. Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures, but, really, they're getting too big to be able to see much in a picture. So then we went back and they tried the non-stress test again. Even though we knew where each baby was, they still couldn't get both on the heart monitors. We knew there was a chance of this because they're so close to one another in there. The ultrasound tech had done what they call a biophysical profile- checking for movement, practicing breathing, and I can't remember what else- when she did the ultrasound just in case they couldn't get the non-stress test to work. So the high risk OB was okay with that and let us go. We go back on Thursday for a growth scan and, supposedly, another non-stress test. I can't wait to see how big they've gotten...
Of course, since those appointments I've been having some contractions. Ben made me page the doctor on Saturday because I was having contractions. Of course, none of these contractions have been painful, so it's just my body practicing for labor. When I talked to the doctor on Saturday she said that she wasn't worried about it since I'd only had 5 contractions in 2 hours. She told me to lay down and drink lots of water and if things get worse to call her back. Well, from that point, the contractions slowed down some, but I was having them about every 30 minutes or so. That continued on Sunday, but finally got better yesterday. I've had a few this morning, but nothing to worry about. Of course, I'll talk to Dr. Zaita about all of this on Thursday. I doubt she'll be concerned about it, though. Unless, of course, there's a change in my cervix.
Well, that's the update for now. Today I'm 35 weeks 3 days. There have been times during this pregnancy when I wasn't sure I'd ever make it this far, but here we are to almost 36 weeks. YAY!!!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Our new blog
Ben and I set up a new blog for the girls. Right now all it has on it are some nursery pictures, but we'll be updating it with pictures and stories once the girls are born. The address for it is therowlandtwins.blogspot.com
I'll continue to update this blog until the girls are born and then I'll switch over to updating the twins blog. I'll do another post like this when I am going to stop updating this blog, which hopefully won't be for another couple of weeks.
I'll continue to update this blog until the girls are born and then I'll switch over to updating the twins blog. I'll do another post like this when I am going to stop updating this blog, which hopefully won't be for another couple of weeks.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Nursery
Here are some pictures of the nursery that Ben took so that I could see it while I'm stuck laying on the couch. Here's one of the cribs with the bedding on it:
This is a picture of the valance over the window. You can also see some of the decorations that Ben has put up on the walls.
This is the nightstand that we got that matches the cribs and dresser. It's got the lamp and picture frame on it that match the bedding.
This is the second crib and the nightstand. They're directly across the room from the other crib. That's all the furniture in that room. We have another room set up with the dresser/changing table and the glider, but I don't have pictures of that room all set up.
We're still not done with the crib room. We're going to put the girls' names up on shelves on the walls over their cribs, but we're waiting on the shelves and we can't put the names up until they're born since we aren't telling anyone their names. The letters are all ready to go, though. Ben painted them the red color that is in the bedding. It's pretty much fire engine red and looks awesome! I can't wait to see the whole room put together. I'll try to remember to post pictures after it's all done.
33 week 5 day appointment
We went in for another ultrasound yesterday. It was a real quick one. The ultrasound tech checked my cervix, although she said there's really no point to it at this point. Yet the doctor ordered it, so obviously someone sees a point to it. It's still really thin, but looked about the same to Ben and I.
Then she took a quick look at the babies. The heartbeats were good and they're definitely getting big in there. The fluid level on baby A looked good, but we're not sure she checked the fluid level on baby B, but they must not be worried about it because they didn't take me back to get a fluid level.
She told me to make sure we head for the hospital pretty much as soon as I start feeling contractions or have any strange mucousy discharge. She doesn't seem to think my cervix is going to hold for long after labor starts. I've already been told repeatedly to call my doctor as soon as either of those things happen, so I plan on doing that. I trust what my OB tells me more than I trust what an ultrasound tech tells me.
Then we met with a doctor. He wants me to get to 37 weeks, but doesn't seem too sure that my cervix will hold up that long. What Ben and I found kind was odd, though, is that my OB seems perfectly happy with my cervix, but this high risk doctor seemed really concerned about it. But since I've only met this high risk doctor once and I've seen my OB many times, I'm going to stick with what she says. I trust her to know what's best for me and the babies. And she's well aware that my cervix really hasn't changed much in a month or so, but still seems confident that I can get to 35 or 36 weeks and she'd be happy with that.
So basically, we're exactly where we were before yesterday's appointment. We go back to the high risk doctor next week for a fluid level check and a non-stress test- that's where they monitor the babies heart rates and for contractions. We also go to my OB next Thursday, so it's going to be a busy and exhausting day. But hopefully I'll get word from my OB that I can start moving around more soon. What I'm anxious to know is when she'll take me off the Procardia...
Here's a couple of shots of my belly from last week. Is it just me or is it really getting big?
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
My husband
I thought about waiting until Fathers' Day to do this post, but I've decided that since I have no idea where I'll be on Fathers' Day, I'd go ahead and write it.
I have the greatest husband in the world! He's been so wonderful to me through this whole bed rest and hospitalization thing and really this entire pregnancy. I never could have made it through all of this without him. He comes home from work every night and does everything he can to make me comfortable and make sure I have everything I need. He goes with me to every doctors' appointment (although he did miss a couple in the beginning) and always makes sure he's prepared with questions for the doctor.
We knew from early on that bed rest was a definite possibility for me, so we made sure we got registered and picked out our nursery furniture fairly early. But the only thing that was done in the nursery when I was put on bed rest was the paint. My parents and I had gotten that done a few weeks before bed rest. Ben took care of everything else. And I mean everything. He ordered the furniture, then he and his dad put it together. He organized the closets (with our parents' help). He put decorations up on the wall. He came up with the idea to put the girls names over their cribs, bought the letters and painted them. He went to Babies R Us and bought everything that we needed and didn't have yet. And he's started putting things together like the strollers. He's read about putting the car seat bases in the cars, but hasn't done it yet. I have a feeling he may do that this weekend or at least sometime very soon. Oh, he also picked our pediatrician. We had gotten the names of a few pediatricians from our OB and I did the research on them, but he went and met with the one I had picked out- and he really liked her. Basically, he has taken care of everything to make sure we're ready for when these little girls get here.
I don't know what I would do without him. He's taken such good care of me and I can tell he already loves these girls like crazy. He says good night to them every night and normally says goodbye to them when he leaves home. It's so cute! He calls me from work everyday to check on me and the girls- at least once.
I never knew it was possible to love someone as much as I love him. And we're both preparing to learn about a whole new type of love. I can't even imagine how much we're going to love these girls as soon as we see their little faces. We both already love them, but I know that love will just grow from here.
When I met Ben almost 7 years ago I had pretty much given up on ever finding a guy in Charlottesville. I'd been there for 5 years already and hadn't found anyone worth keeping, so I didn't expect that to change. Little did I know that working just two townhouses over was the man I was going to marry. At that point I never imagined that almost 7 years later we'd be preparing for the birth of our twin girls and getting ready to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. 5 years. We've been married almost 5 years. That's hard to believe. And we'll be celebrating that anniversary just one week after our girls' actual due date and the day after one of my best friends gets married. It'll be a little surreal being at a wedding the day before our own anniversary, but hopefully we'll be able to enjoy that wedding almost as much as we enjoyed our own.
Here is a picture of us from a vacation we went on a couple of years ago for our anniversary. We went to Wyoming and visited Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. This picture was taken on a hike we went on around Jenny Lake in the Grand Tetons. That's Jenny Lake behind us. You can't see the Tetons, though, because they're in front of us. That was a wonderful vacation and I truly cannot wait until our girls are big enough that we can take them out there and they can enjoy and remember the experience. I know I'll never forget any of my three (so far) trips out there. And I'm glad Ben and I got to experience it just the two of us before starting a family.
Ben, I truly do love you more with every passing day and I can't wait to raise our children together. I know that you're going to be a great father. Heck, you are already! I LOVE YOU!!!
I have the greatest husband in the world! He's been so wonderful to me through this whole bed rest and hospitalization thing and really this entire pregnancy. I never could have made it through all of this without him. He comes home from work every night and does everything he can to make me comfortable and make sure I have everything I need. He goes with me to every doctors' appointment (although he did miss a couple in the beginning) and always makes sure he's prepared with questions for the doctor.
We knew from early on that bed rest was a definite possibility for me, so we made sure we got registered and picked out our nursery furniture fairly early. But the only thing that was done in the nursery when I was put on bed rest was the paint. My parents and I had gotten that done a few weeks before bed rest. Ben took care of everything else. And I mean everything. He ordered the furniture, then he and his dad put it together. He organized the closets (with our parents' help). He put decorations up on the wall. He came up with the idea to put the girls names over their cribs, bought the letters and painted them. He went to Babies R Us and bought everything that we needed and didn't have yet. And he's started putting things together like the strollers. He's read about putting the car seat bases in the cars, but hasn't done it yet. I have a feeling he may do that this weekend or at least sometime very soon. Oh, he also picked our pediatrician. We had gotten the names of a few pediatricians from our OB and I did the research on them, but he went and met with the one I had picked out- and he really liked her. Basically, he has taken care of everything to make sure we're ready for when these little girls get here.
I don't know what I would do without him. He's taken such good care of me and I can tell he already loves these girls like crazy. He says good night to them every night and normally says goodbye to them when he leaves home. It's so cute! He calls me from work everyday to check on me and the girls- at least once.
I never knew it was possible to love someone as much as I love him. And we're both preparing to learn about a whole new type of love. I can't even imagine how much we're going to love these girls as soon as we see their little faces. We both already love them, but I know that love will just grow from here.
When I met Ben almost 7 years ago I had pretty much given up on ever finding a guy in Charlottesville. I'd been there for 5 years already and hadn't found anyone worth keeping, so I didn't expect that to change. Little did I know that working just two townhouses over was the man I was going to marry. At that point I never imagined that almost 7 years later we'd be preparing for the birth of our twin girls and getting ready to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. 5 years. We've been married almost 5 years. That's hard to believe. And we'll be celebrating that anniversary just one week after our girls' actual due date and the day after one of my best friends gets married. It'll be a little surreal being at a wedding the day before our own anniversary, but hopefully we'll be able to enjoy that wedding almost as much as we enjoyed our own.
Here is a picture of us from a vacation we went on a couple of years ago for our anniversary. We went to Wyoming and visited Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. This picture was taken on a hike we went on around Jenny Lake in the Grand Tetons. That's Jenny Lake behind us. You can't see the Tetons, though, because they're in front of us. That was a wonderful vacation and I truly cannot wait until our girls are big enough that we can take them out there and they can enjoy and remember the experience. I know I'll never forget any of my three (so far) trips out there. And I'm glad Ben and I got to experience it just the two of us before starting a family.
Ben, I truly do love you more with every passing day and I can't wait to raise our children together. I know that you're going to be a great father. Heck, you are already! I LOVE YOU!!!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Yesterday's OB appointment
I went to the OB yesterday for my first check up since getting out of the hospital. We heard both of the heartbeats, which both sounded great. She measured my belly- but didn't tell me how big I'm measuring. She checked my cervix and although she said it has changed a little bit, I'm still not even a centimeter dilated. And apparently I could stay at this level of dilation for quite awhile.
She also checked my blood sugar level chart. I've had some readings that were somewhat high, but she was not at all concerned. That's nice to know- that she's okay with my blood sugar. I was a little concerned about it, but not anymore.
We also talked about delivery. Basically, as long as both babies or at least baby A stay head down and baby B doesn't get to be too much bigger than baby A, it's up to me whether I attempt a vaginal delivery or have a c-section. So now I guess I need to figure out what I want to do. I'm leaning towards attempting a vaginal delivery, but that will depend on how big the babies are estimated to be when I go into labor, I think. I don't really know yet.
The really good news we got yesterday is that I only have to be on bed rest for another two weeks! That's when I'll hit 35 weeks, at which point we've been told I can do whatever I want. I just hope I make it to that point...
So for now I'm stuck in the house for another week. I go for an ultrasound next Thursday and then back to the OB the following Thursday. I can't believe I'm going to be 33 weeks pregnant tomorrow. These babies are going to be here before we know it!
She also checked my blood sugar level chart. I've had some readings that were somewhat high, but she was not at all concerned. That's nice to know- that she's okay with my blood sugar. I was a little concerned about it, but not anymore.
We also talked about delivery. Basically, as long as both babies or at least baby A stay head down and baby B doesn't get to be too much bigger than baby A, it's up to me whether I attempt a vaginal delivery or have a c-section. So now I guess I need to figure out what I want to do. I'm leaning towards attempting a vaginal delivery, but that will depend on how big the babies are estimated to be when I go into labor, I think. I don't really know yet.
The really good news we got yesterday is that I only have to be on bed rest for another two weeks! That's when I'll hit 35 weeks, at which point we've been told I can do whatever I want. I just hope I make it to that point...
So for now I'm stuck in the house for another week. I go for an ultrasound next Thursday and then back to the OB the following Thursday. I can't believe I'm going to be 33 weeks pregnant tomorrow. These babies are going to be here before we know it!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
I'm home!!!
Okay, so actually I've been home for a couple of days. They released me from the hospital on Thursday afternoon. It's so nice to be home. My parents brought Jefferson back yesterday and all he's done since he's been home is sleep. He hasn't even eaten- he's too exhausted.
I went for my ultrasound Thursday morning- my nurse wheeled me downstairs for it. We didn't have our regular ultrasound tech, but the one we had was really good- she explained everything she was looking at. She started by checking my cervix. It looked about the same as last week. She even got some measurements that looked better than at my ultrasound two weeks ago, but then she got a couple that were a little shorter. It looked good, though, which was such a relief.
Then she looked at the babies. They're both still head down and baby A's head is right by my cervix and baby B's head is right at baby A's chin. The babies both looked great. We could see them opening their mouths and got good looks at their beating hearts. The tech also pointed out their bladders, kidneys and stomachs. It's amazing what you can see with an ultrasound. Then she told us the approximate weights on the babies... Baby A is measuring about 4 pounds 13 ounces and baby B is measuring right at 5 pounds!!! They're so big for their gestational age, but still within normal limits. They are running the upper 70s to low 80s percentile for their gestational age. And the tech told us they're growing about 1/2 a pound a week at this point. That means that if we make it to 36 weeks I could end up having two 7 pound babies! That's just crazy! Especially after we were so worried about them being born early and being so small. Just a couple of weeks ago we were trying to figure out if we needed to get preemie clothes. Well, I don't think that's going to be a problem now. They may not even last in newborn clothes for very long at this rate!
Their fluid levels looked good, too. Oddly enough, after all this time with baby A being bigger and having more fluid, now baby B is bigger and has more fluid. Their fluid levels are still within normal limits, too, though.
So basically, everything looked great at the ultrasound. We talked to the doctor down there for a couple minutes. She asked me how long they'd kept me at the hospital after my last ultrasound and seemed surprised when I told her that I was still there and whether or not I had to stay depended on this ultrasound. So she said she would call my OBs and let them know how the ultrasound went so they could decide if they were going to send me home or not.
We went back up to my room and my nurse came in and did my daily non-stress test. Of course it was one of my worst. Baby A would not stay on the monitors and I was having quite a few contractions. The contractions slowed down after I'd been on the monitors for 40 minutes or so and I went quite awhile without any- which made the nurse feel better about it. So she took me off the monitors and went to try to get in touch with my OB to talk to them about it and see if she needed to put me back on. Well, they never called her back, instead my OB showed up at the hospital.
She came in the room and told us that we were going home! She said she wasn't concerned about the contractions because the ultrasounds (especially the internal one) can irritate the uterus and cause contractions and cramping. She said that from what she'd been told everything was good with my ultrasound- although all she was worried about was my cervix- and that I was good to come home and be on bed rest here. Ben asked her if they'd told her how big the babies are and she said no, so he told her. She said those were great sizes and that 5 pounds is really the weight they want them to be before they will send them home from the hospital, so it's great that our girls are already about that big. But we still want to keep them in there for another 4 weeks. She also told us that she had been prepared to come examine me before sending me home, but after my ultrasound she didn't see any reason to. She'll just check me when I go in for my appointment (which she had already made for us) next week. So now I'm free from doctors until Thursday unless something happens. She sent me home with prescriptions for Procardia (to control contractions) and Ambien (to help me sleep).
Ben left me at the hospital one more time and came home to get a suitcase in order to pack up all my stuff. I had lunch at the hospital and took my 2pm dose of Procardia and then I was free to go home!
Here are the pictures from the ultrasound. In the first one you can see baby A's profile and then baby B's head right at her chin. If you look closely at the third picture, you can see the membrane separating the babies right up against baby A's face.
Baby A:
Baby B:
So now I'm on the couch for the next few weeks. I have no idea when or if my OB will lift any of my bed rest restrictions. I'm really hoping to make it far enough that she'll loosen my restrictions or possibly take me off of bed rest. It'd be nice to be able to go out to dinner at least once with my husband before these girls are born...
I went for my ultrasound Thursday morning- my nurse wheeled me downstairs for it. We didn't have our regular ultrasound tech, but the one we had was really good- she explained everything she was looking at. She started by checking my cervix. It looked about the same as last week. She even got some measurements that looked better than at my ultrasound two weeks ago, but then she got a couple that were a little shorter. It looked good, though, which was such a relief.
Then she looked at the babies. They're both still head down and baby A's head is right by my cervix and baby B's head is right at baby A's chin. The babies both looked great. We could see them opening their mouths and got good looks at their beating hearts. The tech also pointed out their bladders, kidneys and stomachs. It's amazing what you can see with an ultrasound. Then she told us the approximate weights on the babies... Baby A is measuring about 4 pounds 13 ounces and baby B is measuring right at 5 pounds!!! They're so big for their gestational age, but still within normal limits. They are running the upper 70s to low 80s percentile for their gestational age. And the tech told us they're growing about 1/2 a pound a week at this point. That means that if we make it to 36 weeks I could end up having two 7 pound babies! That's just crazy! Especially after we were so worried about them being born early and being so small. Just a couple of weeks ago we were trying to figure out if we needed to get preemie clothes. Well, I don't think that's going to be a problem now. They may not even last in newborn clothes for very long at this rate!
Their fluid levels looked good, too. Oddly enough, after all this time with baby A being bigger and having more fluid, now baby B is bigger and has more fluid. Their fluid levels are still within normal limits, too, though.
So basically, everything looked great at the ultrasound. We talked to the doctor down there for a couple minutes. She asked me how long they'd kept me at the hospital after my last ultrasound and seemed surprised when I told her that I was still there and whether or not I had to stay depended on this ultrasound. So she said she would call my OBs and let them know how the ultrasound went so they could decide if they were going to send me home or not.
We went back up to my room and my nurse came in and did my daily non-stress test. Of course it was one of my worst. Baby A would not stay on the monitors and I was having quite a few contractions. The contractions slowed down after I'd been on the monitors for 40 minutes or so and I went quite awhile without any- which made the nurse feel better about it. So she took me off the monitors and went to try to get in touch with my OB to talk to them about it and see if she needed to put me back on. Well, they never called her back, instead my OB showed up at the hospital.
She came in the room and told us that we were going home! She said she wasn't concerned about the contractions because the ultrasounds (especially the internal one) can irritate the uterus and cause contractions and cramping. She said that from what she'd been told everything was good with my ultrasound- although all she was worried about was my cervix- and that I was good to come home and be on bed rest here. Ben asked her if they'd told her how big the babies are and she said no, so he told her. She said those were great sizes and that 5 pounds is really the weight they want them to be before they will send them home from the hospital, so it's great that our girls are already about that big. But we still want to keep them in there for another 4 weeks. She also told us that she had been prepared to come examine me before sending me home, but after my ultrasound she didn't see any reason to. She'll just check me when I go in for my appointment (which she had already made for us) next week. So now I'm free from doctors until Thursday unless something happens. She sent me home with prescriptions for Procardia (to control contractions) and Ambien (to help me sleep).
Ben left me at the hospital one more time and came home to get a suitcase in order to pack up all my stuff. I had lunch at the hospital and took my 2pm dose of Procardia and then I was free to go home!
Here are the pictures from the ultrasound. In the first one you can see baby A's profile and then baby B's head right at her chin. If you look closely at the third picture, you can see the membrane separating the babies right up against baby A's face.
Baby A:
Baby B:
So now I'm on the couch for the next few weeks. I have no idea when or if my OB will lift any of my bed rest restrictions. I'm really hoping to make it far enough that she'll loosen my restrictions or possibly take me off of bed rest. It'd be nice to be able to go out to dinner at least once with my husband before these girls are born...
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