Monday, April 30, 2012

Week 34 and Maternity ER visit

I woke up yesterday and had a few symptoms of labor (I'll spare the gory details).....although one of them was that my pants were completely soaked.  I called the doctor on call (because, of course, it was Sunday) and she told me to come to the maternity ER.  They did a non-stress check (all good) and then checked to see if I was leaking amniotic fluid.  The test showed that I wasn't....but she wasn't convinced.  I was also dilated 1 cm.   So, they put me on the non-stress machine for another hour.  All good again.  They did another check for amniotic fluid....and found nothing.  So, my water hasn't broken.  I probably just peed myself.  Nice. :)  They did determine that I am having very mild (and almost unnoticable to me) contractions every 1-2 minutes.  That, plus being dilated 1 cm, are cues to pay attention to other labor symptoms and call right away if I notice anything.  Dave came home and immediately went into "nesting" mode and cleaned out his office and organized his files!  It was comical!!  So, I am home, resting, and back to waiting.....

Friday, April 27, 2012

Week 34 (joy!) and a baby shower

We are officially at week 34.   Since early on in the pregnancy, we've been so worried about not getting here.  We made it!  The doctors would like us to get to week 38, but if they should come early, there aren't too many major concerns.  Whew!! :)

I have declined showers from so many thoughtful friends and family.  I was worried about having one too soon and I have already been "showered" upon by people when Evan was born a long, long time ago!  Well, my school friends all surprised me last night with an amazing shower!!  I thought I was meeting a small handful of friends at the Depot restaurant for dinner.  When I got there, there were 22 people!!  We had dinner, awesome conversations, gifts, and cake!  When Dave stops working today, I can't wait to go through all the gifts again and show him.  People were so generous!  I have such good, good friends!!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Week 33

Good news!  I believe we have found a night nanny.  Her name is Lauren and she is a senior communications major at SUNY Brockport.  She and her husband have a 5 month old baby boy.  We interviewed 2 people and we really felt comfortable with her.  I hope it works out.  I hated going through the process of finding and interviewing people.  As it stands, she will start a few days after we get home from the hospital.  She'll work 11p - 6a, giving me a chance to sleep and heal.....or that's the plan, anyway!! :)

We had a doctor appointment today.  My weight is 181 lbs!  That is a 4 lb increase in 2 weeks!  I'm feeling it!  I've gained almost 40 lbs now and my lower back is starting to kill me.  I'm tired, can't breath, can't bend over, can't roll over in bed, etc. etc. etc!  Whew!  Everyone keeps saying that they can't believe I'm having twins because I just don't look big enough.  I don't know if they're just trying to be nice or what.....but I am certainly big enough!!  They measure me at 44 weeks pregnant!!  That means my uterus is stretched to the capacity of being 4 weeks past a due date, if I were having just one baby.  I'm feeling very whiny.  My blood pressure is still good:  130/74 today.  My middle measurement is still about 45 inches around.  Both heartbeats are good.  They get the hiccups a lot......baby A more than B.  Twice they have had them at the same time!

Now the plan is to try to get to 38 weeks.  They are in the process of scheduing the c-section officially.  They will let us know. Until then we are supposed to be watching for any signs of labor since the size of my uterus and very short cervix could cause that to happen.  Dave asked about cord blood banking.  We have to order a kit online and take it with us.  The doctors will fill the kit and then we are responsible for mailing it back ASAP.  Seems kind of weird.  Dave is talking about trying to schedule less travel in the coming weeks.  I hope he's able to be around more because I just can't do much for myself anymore!

In the meantime, Dave and I both saw our lawyers and wrote up draft wills and health care proxies.  I'm glad to have done that.  Without being married, all of the usual stuff is kind of tricky.  Evan is not biologically his and these babies are not biologically mine.  If I should die, we had to spell out that they all go to Dave, along with the house.  Also, because we aren't married, we can't be health-care advocates for each other unless it is written legally.  We've decided that to protect ourselves from both dying in the same catastrophe, we shouldn't drive or fly anywhere together, leaving our three orphans for family to raise!  Ugh.

Next visit is in 2 weeks for an ultrasound and office visit.  After that, we go in every week....which is only twice.  Then, it's BIRTH day!!  I can't believe this is really, finally happening!!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Week 31

I had a doctor visit this morning.  My weight is 177 lbs.  My middle measurement is 45 inches.  Heartbeats look great.  They've been getting the hiccups for a few weeks now.  Still lots of movements....and some serious good kicks to the ribs.  Blood pressure is in a good zone still.  I'm scheduled to go back in 2 weeks for another doctor visit.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Week 30 - not feeling "B"

For the past 5 days I just haven't been feeling Baby B like I usually have.  I did a couple of days of kick counts and it was always A=55 and B=9.  Anything under 10, they want you to call them.  I called last Friday and they calmed me down on the phone.  Today, I knew I would stress myself out until I knew things were okay.  I called the doctor and they scheduled me for an ultrasound late this morning.  All is good.  It turns out that B is halfway on A's side.  I thought they were supposed to stay on their own sides!  I have a lovely dark line down my belly that clearly shows whose side is whose!  So, B's legs are on A's side and they've both been kicking up under my ribs - ugh!  Their weights are:  A = 4 lb 8 oz and B = 4 lb 9 oz.  I've been getting headaches and last week my blood pressure was in the pre-hypertension range.  Today's blood pressure is excellent:  115/85.  I'm scheduled to go in for a regular visit next week.  Sooo relieved that they're both looking good and all those kicks are from both of them!