14 Weeks: A little scare, but everything is great!

Week 12 was uneventful. Week 13 was *almost*... but then Friday arrived.

Everything was fine until a little after 4pm. I was sitting at my desk, minding my own business, when I felt a gush. I ran to the bathroom to see what I thought was quite a bit of blood and completely flipped out. At that very moment all of these thoughts and feelings came rushing over me. I just kept saying over and over "God please don't take my babies. Please!!" By the time I made it to my car, I was sobbing hysterically. I flew home and Jay and I started towards the Urgent Care center nearby.

In the meantime, we were able to get a doctor from my OB's office on the phone and she instructed us not to bother with Urgent Care, as they wouldn't even have an ultrasound machine. We could go to the emergency room, but there would be little they could do for us other than give an ultrasound. She was then nice enough to offer to stay at St. Luke's until we arrived so that she could do a scan. What a relief! I have heard enough bad stories about emergency room ultrasounds that I didn't want to do that if at all possible.

I was still really shaken up when we arrived, but I quickly undressed and held my breath for a brief moment as she put the goop on my belly and began the scan. Immediately we saw two happy babies (below), moving around more than ever and two little hearts beating away. What a relief! For the first time we saw tiny fingers and toes. It was adorable!!

She went on to explain and show us that I had what was called a subchronic bleed at the edge of the lower placenta. In this case, the placenta at some point became irritated and a blood vessel burst, causing the initial "gush". She said that she, too, had this very thing happen before and her bleed was even larger. I was relieved to hear that this isn't uncommon and typically leads to healthy babies. The good part is that I only spotted Saturday through Tuesday and today it seems to be gone.

Another OB appt tomorrow! We did end up moving up our next OB appt at the recommendation of the OB who saw us that day. So, that means we'll be seeing our babies again tomorrow (10/5)! And, this time, we're going out to the location we went to on Friday... for one, we'll be heading to our multiples class nearby immediately following so it just makes logistical sense and, more importantly, because of their awesome ultrasound screen! Seriously, this thing is HUGE. A TV that is at least 42-46" is mounted on the wall, right in front of the table so that you can see everything! The other location is a bit more convenient for us at times, but I'm sure we'll be back to this office from time to time for this reason alone!

I am curious to see what my doc has to say about the incident... should we be on the look-out for anything else (ie. if it happens again, should we be concerned about this leading to preterm labor)... will I come in more frequently until the bleeding (internally) has resolved?

We have really been enjoying our Preparing for Life with Multiples class over these last couple of weeks. The first week we watched two videos which basically followed several families expecting multiples and revealed what their pregnancies, deliveries and raising twins during the first couple of years were like, which was interesting. We also found out that our class will have a "reunion" next year so that we can all get together and catch up and see each others' babies. I thought that was really a neat plus, but since we are the earliest couple along, it won't be until after we deliver, and then our babies will still only be about 2-3 months. Oh that should be fun. :P

Last week, we had a pediatrician come and speak to the group about everything from how twins are twins in the womb (whether they share a sac and/or placenta) to labor and delivery, especially concentrating on preterm labor. You should know that our twins are what they call Dichorionic and Diamniotic, which means they each have their own placenta and gestational/amniotic sac. This, as the OB we saw on Friday put it, are the "best" type of twins to have because the risks of complications are lower if they shared one or both of the above.

I think the biggest thing to swallow from his talk was the preterm labor, viability and what to expect with NICU care. Generally speaking, twins must make it to week 24 to have a chance at survival. Even then, they will likely have some type of long term health issue if they do survive. The next milestone is 28 weeks, then 32 and up. I am amazed at how precious each and every passing week is to the growth and development of a baby in utero and this just goes to further that point. The longer they can stay in mommy's belly, the better off they will be. Obviously, it's not to early to start praying.

This week is our last class for that series. Tomorrow, we get to take a tour of the NICU and speak with women who are currently living in the hospital under maternity convalescent care. I have a feeling that it will just make everything that much more real for us. These things are scary to think about, but we would rather know what the possibles are and what we could expect, if it is something we end up having to deal with. This class has definitely made us grateful we've started early with everything. In fact, we're thinking about moving up a few of the classes to before the holidays, just in case.

What's New with Mommy...

Sleep: I so do love my sleep (yes, twins will be an adjustment!). For the past several weeks I had designed this crazy system of first a teddy bear and then a throw pillow between my knees and then as of late, I was also stuffing a t-shirt under my small but growing tummy. However, my friend Donna recently let me borrow her Snoogle Total Body Pillow that she used when she was pregnant and I have been sleeping MUCH, much better! It's a little funky looking, but it's a life-safer! Thanks Donna!!
Clothing Update: Do I really have to wear pants? At least that's how I'm beginning to feel anyway! The Bella Band is still working out ok, but there are some days when I really would rather have nothing more than a baggy pair of stretch pants touching my stomach. It's amazing how tender my organs are sometimes! One night, in desperate need for my already comfy pants to be that much more comfy, I hopped out of bed and cut the elastic band in the waist - ahhh... now that was more like it! Hey, it still had a draw string. Who needs elastic anyway?! Needless to say, I need to scope out some true maternity pants just so I don't feel so ick all day at work.
Symptoms: Still tired (9pm bedtime), nauseous and snacking like a fool. Ugh. Lower back pains - check. Morning congestion too (weird huh), but it actually has a name: Pregnancy Rhinitis. Who knew! Also, I have again, over the weekend, started having a couple Braxton Hicks contractions. These are "practice" contractions and are more common in twin pregnancies, so I'm not hugely alarmed by these, unless of course they are more frequent (like 4-6 per hour), at which case indicates preterm labor.
Can you feel those babies yet? Nope, no baby kicks or movement to report just yet. I am constantly keeping my hands on my belly in the *hopes* that I'll feel them soon!
Random Thought: I absolutely hate sneezing while I'm pregnant out of fear that I'll pull something or wake the babies! How silly is that. I also hated to laugh following our IVF transfer while I was on bedrest for the same reason. Of course we all know how that turned out!

Two tiny heads at 8w5d!

In the 8 week stretch... tomorrow makes 9!
I know it's not a trimester, but for some reason that feels like much more of a milestone than 6 or 7 weeks. So far we have taken two belly pictures (will post soon!). I had to laugh because there is already a noticeable difference! Yes, I have quite the pooch for this early on. In fact, at our doctor's appt yesterday I found out that now the weight gain so far is... drum roll please... 8 lbs! I've read that since I was slim to begin with and the fact that there are two, this is normal, and from what some of my books are saying, it's good to gain early. The more weight you can put on earlier pregnancy with multiples the better, as it correlates with a higher birth weights in many cases.

Wednesday was our first appt with the new OBGYN.
Things went really well! We liked both his warm personality and what he had to say with regards to what lies ahead. While he doesn't have tons of experience delivering multiples (6-8 a year, which he said is fairly average for a typical OB), he does have a plan of action, should this pregnancy turn high-risk. We will be seen 1x each month before Week 20, every other week between Weeks 20-30 and once a week after Week 30. If something should come up where we/he is concerned, he will bring in a specialist to assist. We also talked a bit about where we would deliver. Anything before week 31 will be at St. John's, no questions asked. They have the NICU set-up that allows them to be able to best care for preemies. Anything after week 32 is up to us, though I think we're still leaning towards St. John's.

Also, while 37 weeks is considered full term for twins, he said that most of his patients with twins go to around 34 or 35 weeks on average. This is also the average that many of the books I'm reading state. We chatted about the "what-to-do's" and "what-not-to's", most of which I was already aware of, and then we discussed the flu and H1N1 shot. I was on the fence about the flu shot, but opted to get it done that day, but am still not so thrilled about H1N1 since it hasn't been tested much yet. I've got some time to think about it still, as the vaccine doesn't even get distributed until mid-October.

The best part about Wednesday - Seeing the babies!
We weren't entirely sure if we'd have an ultrasound done at the first appointment, but we were thrilled when we were able to see them again. What we loved the most - they now have very distinguishable little heads!! So, so adorable. And, this time, we got to "see" their tiny hearts beating in their chests. I can't even describe that moment. It was awesome to see those little lives growing before our eyes. Just amazing.

Of course, we got some new pics to show off, though the ultrasound machine at this office isn't quite as fancy as the one at our last doctors - stink. And the pics, well, they don't even look as detailed as the screen did, but that's ok. You can definitely see those little heads!! I tear up every time I look at these. Thank you God!

Tweedle 1 - Measuring 21mm at 8w5d

Tweedle 2 - Measuring 20mm at 8w4d

He also said they were measuring right on target - one at 8w5d and one at 8w4d. I was put more at ease when he said the likelihood of a miscarriage is about 3% now. I almost didn't even want to write that in here, but I did because I have to keep reminding myself that each day is a milestone and one step closer to our babies!

One thing that surprised us though was when he said, "Did they talk about if they were identical or not?". Us: "Um... no." He said that even though they are in separate sacs, there is still a 5% chance they could be identical. Something about it has to do when they split, if they did in fact split, instead of two implanting separately. This site talks a bit more about it... I should ask when this scan will be! Sounds like that will tell us a bit more. Other than that though, we won't know more until 1) We find out the genders. If they are opposite sex, then we know they're not identical. 2) If they are the same gender, we won't know until either after their born!

Two Tiny Heartbeats!

Today just couldn't get here soon enough - our second ultrasound and the day we were able to heartbeats for the very first time! I learned two amazing things today - the sound of two tiny heartbeats at just 6 weeks of age is a miracle in and of itself. To think our babies still have "tails", yet they are now helping to sustain their own very lives by this one little continuous beat puts me in complete awe. The other thing I learned is that while the road to our babies was difficult and full of uneasy moments, this pregnancy will be something that has an entirely new set of concerns.

Last night I woke to my uterus contracting and the site of a bit of blood. Talk about scary. This was the third time already during this pregnancy that has happened. Jay managed to calm me down and, since we already had an ultrasound scheduled for today, we just decided to wait it out and see our doctor had to say. Then, to my surprise, my Mom showed up at the appointment! I had e-mailed her that morning so that she could be praying because of what had transpired during the night, and she decided to just hop in her car and make the drive. She is awesome - it meant so much!

When I asked Dr. Ahlering about the sensation I felt, he said that, yes, they are actual contractions (crazy!) and are more common in multiple pregnancies and to not be surprised if they continue. He noted that the progesterone supplementation I am getting can also sometimes trigger these (which makes sense, since we did an injection last night). As he started the ultrasound, he noticed a bit of blood near one of the babies, inside my uterus and said that, most likely, was where the blood was coming from and to also not be surprised if I saw more over the next few weeks as that spot goes away. So, no cause for alarm, but I would MUCH prefer to not have this happen again.

On to the BEST part! Dr. Ahlering quickly located each of the babies, confirming all is well with size (8cm in fetal length, each baby measuring the same) of each baby. Then, he was able to call out each of the babies and their own little beat! Jay was amazed. He didn't think they would be able to do that at this point in time. And then we heard them. Each babies beat was anywhere from 125 bpm to 130 bpm - right on target for 6w6d of age. Praise God!



Here are the latest ultrasound pics of our little growing babies. Soon they will *look* like little people!

Here they both are!

Pose number two!

This is one of the babies.

And this is the other!

Our good friends, Chris & Donna, celebrated the occasion with us with these cute little gifts for the babies. The "2 Beats" illustration at the top was the tag on the gift bag. I just thought that was one of the best parts! Thanks so much!!