Preeclampsia Update

I had an appointment yesterday with my regular OB/Gyn. She was happy to report that my blood pressure is much lower now and I still don't have proteins in my urine. For now, I'm off the hook for pre-eclampsia. She does, however, want to keep a close eye on it. I will continue to take it pretty easy and will have a few more appointments every two weeks, instead of every week. She wants me to let her know if I have *any* issues at all so they can get me in right away to check my levels.

We talked pretty extensively about the actual delivery. Obviously, if our little guy continues to stay transverse we will be having a c-section. She wants to schedule it, but has to follow the hospital rule of no non-emergency c-sections before 38 weeks for twins. So, if all stays the same with my preeclampsia and the babies positions we will have a scheduled c-section on or around July 13. However, if anything changes with my situation or the babies, we could have them at anytime before that. Also, if I go into labor when I get closer to my due date, but it's before 38 weeks, she will go ahead with the c-section or vaginal birth (whatever we have decided at that point). Hopefully that all makes sense. She really doesn't want to help us make a decision on what we're going to do until 36 weeks to allow adaquate time for our little man to turn head first. We will have a 34 week ultrasound to check both babies positions.

Home

I'm really enjoying being done with work. My time at home has been a mix of relaxation and actually getting a few things done. Thankfully, the baby stuff is essentially ready to go, so I've had time to do other things. I still wake up early as if I were going to work, but now I have time to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine, read, watch TV, take a nap, and occasionally get something productive accomplished. I'm currently working on organizing all my recipes. I'm taking them from an overstuffed box of folded recipes and putting them in a nice recipe book with dividers. I love to cook, so even though I worked on it for over an hour yesterday, there is still much more to do.

I've been feeling pretty good, aside from typical pregnancy aches and pains. My back still bothers me, but that's not surprising. I'm still sleeping really well I I count myself lucky for that. And despite what everyone told me, so far I can still eat a normal amount of food. We will see how that goes as the days go on and the babies continue to push against my stomach. I've noticed a shift in my energy level. It seems like simple activities such as grocery shopping have become quite a chore for me. I usually need a break after being on my feet for even 30 minutes or so.

Now, I present to you the latest belly shot. Do you think it's getting bigger?

30 week ultrasound

Yesterday's ultrasound went really well! The babies are doing great, have plenty of amniotic fluid around them and both placentas are healthy and doing their job. They are starting to get more fat on them, so they have little cheeks now...so cute! Our little girl is still hanging out low....really low now. She is just under my pubic bone and very deep towards by back. Maybe that's why it hurts all the time. Haha Her estimated weight is 3lbs 2oz. Our little guy is still transverse (horizontal) and very high (just under my ribs). He was being a bit shy and didn't want to show his face. In fact, his arm and hand were in front of his face most of the time. His estimated weight is 3lbs 3oz. As we get into the 3rd trimester and our baby boy is still transerve, we are looking at a very likely c-section situation. We still have a few weeks for him to decide to go head first, but for now we are getting ourselves used to the idea of a c-section.

After my ultrasound, the tech found a nurse who took my blood pressure and tested my protein levels in my urine. Both came back normal!!!! So, for now the preeclampsia is under control. They still want me to take it easy, but I'm allowed to do things as well. I can't explain how much relief and freedom I felt from hearing that news! Huge fist pumps for good blood pressure. :)

I have a check up tomorrow and will have Craig take a new belly picture tonight. Stay tuned for another update soon.

The first video below is our little girl. It looks like her eyes are opening and closing, but they weren't...it's just the way the 3D ultrasound made it look. Her video is a full face shot, with her hand by the right side of her face.

The second video is our little guy. His is a profile video and he's on the left side. Like I said, he's kind of hiding behind his arm and hand so you have to look carefully.

Is this a joke?

What's the funniest thing about pregnancy? It has to be the fact that at every appointment the pregnant woman is asked to pee in a cup. It makes me laugh every time because I can't see where I'm going. I just sit there and do my thing and kinda hope just a bit of it has made it into the cup. Do you think they have hidden cameras in the bathrooms that the doctors and nurses sit around and watch at the end of day...you know, they don't get a lot of humor in their jobs.

Screech!!

My smooth sailing pregnancy came to a screeching halt yesterday. On Wednesday morning I noticed that my ankle (only one of them) was pretty swollen when I woke up. Not a big deal I thought, happens to most pregnant women. Then, while eating lunch at work I noticed some very odd squiggly lines that were flashing like a strobe light in my field of vision. Uh oh. I instantly thought of the pregnancy books I've read. Vision changes usually indicate a problem with blood pressure. I called yesterday morning to get into the doctor. Unfortunately, my doctor was out yesterday but they got me in with another doctor at the office. They tested my urine for proteins....passed that test with flying colors. Then the nurse took my blood pressure. It was pretty high considering how low it had been only one week before. I was diagnosed with mild preeclampsia. :( Preeclampsia, if kept under close watch can be controlled, but not improved. The doctor told me it won't get better until the babies can be delivered, and that it will likely progress. He also mentioned that I would likely not make it to the full-term 38 week mark, but would instead deliver around 36 weeks (June 30). For now, I'm not on bedrest but he wants me to take it very easy and keep my feet elevated above my heart when I'm relaxing.

It's a good thing I'm done with work today because he was going to ask me to be done. The news of getting preeclampsia has been difficult for me. I'm a very active person (even at 7 months pregnant) and it's so hard to be told I can no longer do all the things I wanted to do before the babies arrive. The good news is that it's not too bad yet and at least we have nearly everything ready for the babies arrival. I'm trying to focus on the fact that I need to relax anyway, so this is just a way to force me to do so. It will be a long time until I can take naps whenever I please, so I will try to take advantage of that situation.

All in all, the news could have been so much worse! I've made it to the 3rd trimester with no complications and very few symptoms. I feel lucky to have had that experience.

3rd Trimester!!!!!

I'm 7 months pregnant now and officially in the 3rd trimester! I know I keep saying it, but it's hard to believe we're in the home stretch...it's gone so quickly! It's crazy to think that in a maximum of 10 weeks we will be parents of not one, but two babies. Wow.

I had an appointment today and my doctor was surprised I wasn't experiencing any Braxton Hicks contractions yet, but she was glad I wasn't. I gained another 3 lbs in the last two weeks and I'm still measuring 7 weeks ahead...so I'm the same size as a mom carrying one baby at 35 weeks!! My blood pressure was normal, which becomes a big concern as we approach the end of the pregnancy because preeclampsia is more common with multiples and high blood pressure is one of the first symptoms.

My doctor also agreed to help me try to get some Aflac benefits during the time before I have the babies, which is great news. Now I don't have to go all that time without pay. Well, if it gets approved by Aflac.

I have some great "from the mouths of babes" one liners to share...have I ever mentioned how much I love working with kids?! A three-year old at school told me the other day that when our babies are born they're going to say, "Wah, we want to go back in your tummy". :) Another child (6 years old) who has autism, was staring
intently at my belly a few days ago. After some time, he said, "Why you not have a kaleidoscope on the outside so we can always see what they're doing?". Um, good question...but a kaleidoscope? Hmmmm....

Nursery and Update

We have been busy getting everything ready for the nursery. It's been a lot of fun as my mom, my dad, Craig and I have each had a hand in preparing it. A few weeks ago my dad and Craig put the cribs together, followed by the bedding arriving for me to make up the cribs. This weekend my mom and I did some elephant murals on the walls to add some decoration. Next week our dresser/changing table arrives, which will be one of the final touches to the room.

I talked to my boss last week and informed her that I'd like to be done working on May 28. There have been some budget cuts at the state level (my job is funded through Medicaid) so she asked if I could be done on May 14 instead. They are going to have to temporarily layoff two people, and I figure it's only fair that one of them is me because I will be on maternity leave during that time anyway. So, long story short, my last day will be May 14. There are several projects I'd like to get done around the house as well as some last minute things to do, so it should be fine. I will be almost 30 weeks along by then.

I had a funny/embarrassing moment recently. A few nights ago, Craig and I went out to eat. The waitress showed us to our booth and I had an uh oh moment when I tried to slide into my seat. "Excuse me, I think we're going to have to move to a table." Pure embarrassment.

I'm continuing to feel pretty good. I sleep well at night, other than having to get up 3-4 times to go to the bathroom. I always get right back to sleep though. My only issue has been my back. It continues to hurt. I've tried many things to make it feel better, but they are all temporary. I think it might be time to schedule another massage appointment. I really am very thankful that everything has gone so smoothly and that I'm still feeling so good!! :)