24-hour urine collection showed 9.7 grams when 5 grams are considered severe. They've moved me to L&D and put me on mag to prevent escalation and side effects. C-section is scheduled for 7 am, and I will be on mag for 24 hours following the delivery as a precaution.
Just wanted to give you an update. They're going to be here soon! I will post birth stories and photos as soon as I am up to it.
Thank you for all your support and prayers.
Not super surprised by this, given how I've been feeling. Back in the hospital, this time for symptoms of preeclampsia.
I went to my weekly NST appointment and yesterday the nurse noticed my blood pressure was elevated - 162/101. We went to the hospital to get checked out and are now being kept for observation. Symptoms currently include edema which is swelling/fluid retention in my feet, ankles, eyelids and well... I basically feel like I'm retaining a little in most places including my legs and even my belly. When I was admitted yesterday they noted a level 3 pitting edema in my ankles (the number of seconds skin stays indented when they press on swollen areas). Apparently a 1 is mild and 4 is considered excessive. I've also gained another 10 lbs in 7 days.
The initial dipstick test for protein in my urine came out pretty elevated... creeping into the severe category. Since apparently this type of test isn't always super accurate, they ordered a 24-hr urine test. We should get the results of that back either late tonight or early tomorrow. If there is a high level from this one, they would likely deliver asap, as it would signal not only are vital organs like my kidneys not functioning properly, but it means the placentas aren't working efficiently and the babies likely aren't getting enough nutrients or oxygen any longer. If the results are "mild", and my other symptoms stay the same, they might instead just keep me here until delivery or when something changes that causes them to need to deliver. Also, my bloodwork came back slightly elevated, but nothing alarming, however one thing they look for in particular (forget the name) that is indicative of preeclampsia did come back above normal, just not severe.
I honestly thought that this second time around at the hospital would be easier. Because I feel like I just don't have much strength left in me it isn't, or at least yesterday, it wasn't. Lots of "what ifs" that made it seem a bit overwhelming at first and, like I said, I just felt like crap. In fact, not sure if this was just due to me not being able to eat anything since breakfast, in combination with wicked acid reflux, but I ended up throwing up later in the evening. What's my deal with throwing up in the hospital. Embarrassing and just not fun at all (not that it ever is). Today my energy is up a bit and I feel more at ease. It's nice to know we are almost there and that is what I'm trying to concentrate on now. Though it would be great to squeeze out another 1-2 weeks in an ideal world, if it's "time" we're ready, especially if it means keeping the babies any myself safe.
I did receive another round of steroids for the babies, so that's good. And so far their heart tracings on the monitor look good as well. I will be getting an NST done every day from now on while I'm here. I did find out my OB will be leaving town at the end of today and not returning until Monday, so that stinks if we have to deliver. And, my high risk doctor is also out until Monday. I have to laugh a little... these kiddos sure do know how to stir things up!
Anyway, now we wait and see what the results of the test, watch symptoms and go from there. Praying for a safe close to this pregnancy!
The good news is I'm 33 weeks now. As of this past Wednesday, baby boy weighs 4lb 10oz and baby girl a lighter 3lb 10oz, which is MUCH better than her previous weight. My guess is that they just didn't get accurate measurements on her last time. I'd really like to see her get above 4lbs before delivery, so that, along with getting to 34 weeks, is my current goal. Makes it seem less overwhelming if I approach it this way.
(I feel like I'm reading the "specials of the week"...) New ailments include the ever-famous and oh-so-desirable "cankles". I've always thought ankles were highly over-rated anyway. Also numbness in my hands and feet, along with puffy eyelids. I frequently grunt and moan after getting up to do simple tasks like rolling over, bathroom breaks, etc. It ain't pretty folks. My body really dislikes me these days. Jay took one look at my bare tummy the other night and said, "Yeah, I don't think you have much longer"... or do I? (:o
Yes, at times lately I definitely feel like I've hit a wall, but I'm crossing my fingers I find my second wind!
I am so thankful we've been able to get our babies to this point (and counting!!). It is such a relief to know they would, if born now, likely live full lives with no long term health issues. Though they were hopeful, doctors never really thought I'd make it to this point. Every prayer that has gone up and every helping hand that has been extended has not gone unnoticed. We are so thankful for everything and I know we wouldn't be here without the wonderful support we've received and a loving God who still has big plans for these two lives.
What's new with mommy?
At 32 weeks it would seem my body is really starting to feel the effects of this pregnancy. For one, I now weigh... gulp... an embarrassing 158lbs. That's a 50 lb weight gain. I guess it's no wonder I am not feeling tip top. A few weeks ago my legs started turning bright red and itching like crazy when I stand up, a sure sign of poor circulation. Last week my wrist began hurting off and on, this week my knees feel like they can't stand to bare much weight, my heels ache when I walk and the joints in my fingers are filled with fluid and hurt when I bend them. I also cannot breathe very well sitting, or sometimes even reclining, upright. I attribute this one to both the third trimester and months of bedrest. Add to that, an increase in contractions in the past week and a half and that sums up where I'm at these days. Gone are the days of a "healthy pregnancy," but a fair and willing trade for two healthy babies.
Getting Ready...
At this stage of the game, I'm eagerly searching for a speed-bake button. Between my body, nearly three months of bedrest and the finishing touches being put on the nursery, I am finally feeling as ready as one can be to become a parent. I think Jay would agree, seeing as how he's been talking to the babies and telling them it's ok to come for weeks now. I have been scolding him, saying "not just yet!", but I'm now opening up to the idea more and more each day. My feeling is that each day I can keep them in is one day closer to them coming home!
Looking back at this pregnancy...
Well, it's not quite what I had imagined, though how could I have possibly anticipated so many extremes. Feeling Overcome with Joy. Elated. Surprised. Scared. Alone. Exhausted. But most of all: Honored unlike ever before. To have a little lives taking shape and forming inside you is nothing short of a miracle in the making. I already feel extremely honored and grateful to be their mommy and to be able to share this life long bond with them.
I have loved feeling them getting bigger and stronger with each passing week, seeing them grow through our many ultrasounds and learning little traits that each possesses, even at such a young age. Like baby girl who has forever been curious about any little object that touches her through my belly - from the doppler and now to daddy's hands that move from one spot to the next, with her moving right along with them, investigating the outside world. Or, baby boy who has, for most of the pregnancy, been in "hibernation" soaking up the calories and passing up his sister in weight, but who has now, within the past couple weeks, woken up from his slumber to cause "earthquakes" when he decides to stretch and test out his strength (he is resting "deeper" than his sister, so his movements generally feel quite a bit different than her pokes and prods). It's quite obvious these two are getting bigger, especially when they keep me up with their early morning play time sessions as recent as this week. Who knew their cute little movements would start to make mommy say ouch!
I wouldn't trade any of that for the world. Not infertility. Not the chubby cheeks. Not the complications. Nothing.
Doctor Updates
Last week I did my first NST monitoring. Babies were showing great activity and responding well. I also saw my OB. Blood pressure was 134/80, which is somewhat high, but not too high (140/90 is the threshold). Cervix is still closed and the cerclage is holding strong. Great to know all is well in that department, but ever since the cerclage was put in, OMG those digital checks are just about the top of my pain tolerance! When doing a quick scan we saw that baby girl had flipped AGAIN and is back in the breech position. Crazy girl! Overall, he was impressed that we've made it this far and we even went ahead and set a date for my 37 week c-section, should I actually make it that far. I'm doubtful and laugh at that thought, but who knows... I'm cautiously penciling in Friday, April 9 at 9:30 am as "the" big day.
We have another NST and growth ultrasound tomorrow. Hopeful and anxious to see if any of those eight mommy pounds gained in the past two weeks went to beefing up baby girl. Praying for a positive report!
Here are some favorite ultrasound pics from the last few months that I just got around to scanning. Again, (as noted on the photos), Baby A is our little boy and B is our girl.
