This week's ultrasound updates

We got to see the babies twice this week. Because of the ICP, the babies are being monitored more closely so we can be prepared if something starts going wrong and we can take the babies right then.

Nothing too exciting to report except that they are getting great grades on all of their measurements. We didn't get any growth measurements, so we don't know about how much they weigh or anything like that. But their heart rates, blood flow from the umbilical cords, and amniotic fluid all scored 8 out of 8 on their medical scale (which is good!). And they are still practicing their breathing which is good news about their lungs developing and getting ready for birth.

It's getting a lot harder to make out all of the images on the screen at each ultrasound, so David and I usually just stare at it will blank looks on our faces until we see a spine, or a profile really quickly, or a heart beating. That's pretty much all we can pick out.But this picture is somewhat clear enough to post... The tech told us that they're belly to belly. This picture was taken on Tuesday and they were still in this same position yesterday (they have no room to go anywhere else!)

The 2 round spots are the bellies and the line in between them is the line that divides the 2 sacs for the babies.Also, here's what the chalkboard is looking like today...

34 Weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 34 Weeks

Size of babies: 17.8 inches long

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 57.2 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Full time sweatpants now since I'm not working.

Gender: A boy and a girl :)

Movement: Yes, but it's getting more limited with less space for them to move around.

Sleep: Not so good lately. It's hard to get comfortable and I'm having an itching problem, still.

What I miss: Being able to sleep normally, and I don't see that happening anytime soon because once this pregnancy is over, I'll be losing sleep with 2 babies in my arms. But I bet those sleepless nights are going to be a lot better than the ones I'm having right now.

Cravings: Nothing really, but I still love my Oreos. I don't really have much of an appetite for anything. I'm getting hungry more frequently, and I think that might be due to the steroid shots and that the babies are supposedly going through pretty big growth spurts right now.

Symptoms: Everything from my waist down is swollen. Heartburn is getting bad again. I'm having some side effects from the liver pills that I don't want to mention. And I'm still having the itching from the ICP. But it will all be over soon enough!

Best Moment this week: Getting to see the babies twice this week, being told to stop working (who's going to complain about getting to stay home and sleep whenever I need it?!), and moving the scheduled c-section up to 36 weeks!!!


 

The latest

We finally had an appointment to see the doctor today and talk to him about what this ICP really means.

We had an ultrasound first and the babies looked perfect. We didn't get to measure their sizes (next time), but their heart rates, blood flow from the umbilical cords, and amniotic fluid all measured perfect.

So what the doctor basically told us was that after meeting with the specialist, they have a plan of trying to make it to 36 weeks, as long as everything still measures good at my appointments twice a week. So that makes the delivery date January 20th. He said that we take a gamble on taking them too early because of the chance of long term complications and we take a gamble with keeping them in too long. So for now, it seems like a guessing game.

I'm still pretty nervous about it, but I trust that checking them often will help ease my mind.

Also, my blood pressure was a little high and the doctor recommended that I stop working now. So tomorrow is my first official day on bed rest. I'm looking forward to it because I might finally be able to get some rest. I'm not sleeping very well at night because of all the itching caused by the ICP. But hopefully the medicine I'm on to treat it and the steroids will help with the itching.

So, the house is all clean and the nursery and playroom are all finished so all I have to do now is rest and wait.