Fantastic news and a little disapointment

I had an ultrasound today. Both babies are head down, so we are good to go for a vaginal birth! "Clark" is estimated to be 5lb 4oz. I'm not sure what the over/under is on that, but if it's accurate it would make him my biggest baby yet, bigger than my 37 weeker. "Addison" was estimated at 4lb 8oz. She's also presenting first, so it looks like she'll be the older twin.

Now for the disappointment: I was scheduled for induction tonight/tomorrow and was all prepared for it. Then my MFM decided that since I had remained so stable, I should try for one more week. I'm not horribly upset, I know it's best to give the babies more time and getting to 36 weeks would be great. (Plus, tomorrow is our anniversary, and it'll be nice not to have to share it with a double birthday.) But still, I'm so ready to get out of this hospital room. I've already been here almost 2 weeks. The OB promised, though, that if anything changes even a little, we'll go ahead with the induction.

The end is in sight

I'm on the schedule for induction Monday night/Tuesday morning. I'll have a sono Monday morning to confirm position, so let's all pray the babies are head down by then.

Hospital Bedrest

Well, Papa Runner brought in the laptop after we finally figured out there's wifi at the hospital. I've been on hospital bedrest since Thursday when I developed a potentially dangerous new symptom. I know bedrest doesn't work for everyone, but it's done wonders for me. Every time I get worse, we increase my rest and my symptoms stabilize and hold steady for a while longer. I'm bored out of my mind, but I'm glad to be here as I could turn bad really fast.

When they admitted me Thursday night, they went ahead and put me on the schedule for transfer and delivery Friday; we were all sure this would be it. Obviously, we made it past that as well as the scheduled induction on Tuesday. I'm currently penciled in for induction next Tuesday (30th). Making it to 35 weeks with twins and PE sounds great to me, and I'd be content with going forward then.

Thanks, everyone, for the concern and prayers. It's made such a difference.

Another update from Mom

Well, Mama Runner is still at the hospital. They thought today might be the day, but her labs are still holding steady, so they are biding for more time. She is physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to be done being pregnant . . . but, of course, it is best for the babies to incubate on the inside rather than the outside. So pray specifically that Mama (and Papa Runner) (and Grandma) can patiently endure the wait. Who knows - she could possibly make her 42 week goal that she posted on March 6th (here). Wouldn't that be something! Thank you all for your prayers - it works!! I will let you know how things progress.

Cathy

Hospital Bed Rest

This is Mom (Cathy) with an update. It looks like Mama Runner will be in the hospital for the duration of the pregnancy. If a transfer is necessary, she'll go to Carle Clinic in Champaign. Everything is holding steady right now and the babies appear to be fine (although they are both breech right now). The plan has been to deliver here if she makes it to 34 weeks, which will be next Tuesday. So, we'll see. I'll keep you posted.

One more week down

I'm 33 weeks tomorrow. I had a loooong stretch of appointments today--first an NST to check babies (both passed) and lab work. There was a miscommunication about the lab work, so after the first round came back I had to be stuck a second time and wait another hour for that test. Everything is holding steady but my kidneys, but they're not so bad yet that I have to deliver. It is enough, though, that I'll need twice a week appointments now, so we'll repeat everything on Thursday. Then I went on to the doctor for my usual check-up.

On Thursday, in addition to the NST, labs, and regular appointment, I get another ultrasound. Yay! I can't wait to see how big they are and what position they're in. From there it's just a few more days to our goal date: June 23. I have been warned that once I turn bad, I could get very sick very fast and should come in immediately if anything changes. But for now, it's just more bedrest and more appointments/testing every few days.

Overnight at L&D

I got my first overnight visit to L&D last night. My second 24hr test came back at 1048 (the first was 852, PE is diagnosed at 300) so the OB wanted more bloodwork. He ordered a different test this time in addition to the usual PE labs. My platelets were fine, liver enzymes were up a little but not horrible, but the new test showed my clotting factors were really weird.

Spent the night doing another 24hr and baby monitoring, then repeated the BW this morning. Plus we did a second round of steroid shots. The 24hr came back under 1000, babies both looked great, and BW came back unchanged. Also, my BPs were great the entire time I was there, which confuses me so much. So I'm back home again. It is so frustrating to be told you might deliver tomorrow, only to be told tomorrow that you've got several more weeks in you. The not knowing is driving me nuts!

Another day down

My BP is back up, but holding steady and not horrible yet.

Does anyone have or know where I can find a shower chair? It's getting too hard to get up and down from the floor of the tub, and standing too long makes me dizzy. Thanks!

BP is...NORMAL???

The extra rest and prayers must be working! My BP this morning was 120/72! I haven't had numbers like that in 10 weeks and thought it must be a fluke, but they were like that through my OB appointment, the NST, and since getting home! My blood work came back unchanged, and now I'm just working on the 24 hour test. Dr. S was encouraged that we might just make 34 weeks after all.

Still here

Just wanted to reassure everyone that I'm still here. I feel horrible and am really tired of laying down almost constantly, but we're still hanging in there. I had my second steroid shot yesterday, so if I have to deliver in the next week at least that's been done for them. If I make it to Friday, we'll repeat the shots (they work best if done less than a week before birth.)

That about sums it up....

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." --Mother Teresa

Officially PE

Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers. My test results came back today, and I do have PE. We'll repeat all the tests on Monday to see if I'm holding steady or progressing.

The girls are enjoying spending lots of time with their grandmas.

Now I'm headed to the hospital for steroid shots. I just can't wait for the whole thing to be over.

Full Bedrest

Well, it's happened. My blood pressure has been creeping up the last few days, especially just before I'm supposed to take a dose of meds. Today it finally crossed the "magic line" of 140/90 and stayed up even with the meds. I had a non-stress test and blood work at the hospital (came back fine), and I have one more test tomorrow that will determine officially if this is pre-eclampsia or just progressing pregnancy-induced hypertension.

I'm on full bedrest now. I can get up long enough to get a shower and something to eat, and that's about it. If my BP gets much higher, I'll be admitted and kept on hospital bedrest for the duration.

We really, really want to get three more weeks before these two make their grand entrance. If it is PE, average time from diagnosis to delivery is two weeks, and in my previous pregnancies I delivered within 48 hours. So we're praying I'll be a slow-progresser this time. I'll be under very careful monitoring to balance babies' health and my health.

ETA 31 week picture: