10.16.09

That's the date!

I'm getting filleted like a fish (really, can you describe a c-section any other way?) on 10/16/09.

My blood pressure isn't getting worse, but it isn't getting better. My doc and the maternal medicine specialist she consulted with feel that, while my health isn't in imminent danger, it is safer for me to get the boys out. So they're letting me go to 37 weeks (considered full-term) and not a day longer. I still have FOUR appointments next week to monitor the situation and, if it does get worse, they'll come earlier. But its nice to have a deadline.

Also had a big ultrasound today. Baby A is 5lbs 12oz. That's around the 50 percentile for overall size. However, his head measures in the 97 percentile and his limbs only in the 30 percentile. HAHAHAHAHAHA. That there is a Doran boy. Baby B is 5lbs 14oz, with long limbs and a normal sized head. Haas/Lauginiger?

I asked the ultrasound tech if this means they are fraternal since they're body types and heads are so different. She said it does indeed make the case even stronger for fraternal twins, but did say some identicals measure very differently in the womb due to various conditions/space constraints.

Check back to the blog for pictures! Before we go in, I'll try to put up a picture of my massive pregnant body.

Love to all.

Hans and Frans Haas might be here sooner than we think!

So, had another doc's appointment. My blood pressure went up again. The only cure for pregnancy-induced high blood pressure is delivery. My BP isn't so high as to warrant that quite yet. However, the doc was clear that BP usually gets worse and not better. Our goal is to get me to 36 weeks with rest (I'm at 34 today). After that, we'll take it day by day. But she was pretty sure I was NOT going to make it to 38 weeks (which is when they induce/perform c-sections on full-term twins). So, I went into the appointment thinking it would be a month until I met the boys. Now it seems that it might be two weeks or maybe even less. That's a big difference when we're talking the arrival of humans.

The boys are fine. BP is more of a threat to mama's health.

34 weeks is an excellent place to be, really. The boys would have to spend some time in the hospital, but they wouldn't be there for too long (barring any other complications). But 36 weeks is sort of the holy grail. And I'm hoping for 37. Keep us in your thoughts!

Oh, and we need name help. Big time. These guys are still A and B to us. I'd like them NOT to be that when they're born. Suggestions welcome.

Sedentary Lifestyle is (is not?) for me

Last week, my ankles were swelling so bad that they looked as though they "belonged to a 250 lb woman" (Ryan's words - he's a gem) and my blood pressure was climbing a bit, so my doc prescribed a sedentary lifestyle (her words). Not bedrest - I'm allowed a stroll, an errand here and there, a few hours at the office when necessary. But I'm working from home and taking it easy. The swelling and blood pressure can be signs of some nasty pregnancy complications. Lucky for me, my lab work is coming back great and it seems I don't have those complications. But I guess the doc still didn't like the look of my cankles (ankles that look like continuation of one's calves), so sedentary lifestyle it is.

Its been helping, though. And I'm not really minding the whole bed-as-an-office thing. I'm a bit bored and miss my long walks with Roadie but, other than that, happy camper I am.

32 week ultrasound...

We're 32.5 weeks (every day counts!) and had an ultrasound today.

Baby A weighs 4 lbs 3 oz
Baby B weighs 4 lbs 4 oz

The tech said they can be off +/- 10%, but both are weighing at the 50%. They are just average Joe's (nope, that is not one of our names). They used to be weighing much bigger and I, for one, am happy that they've slowed down just a bit. The Doran women in my life will understand. We make big babies. I don't want two 9 lbs babies.

The most important thing is that they are weighing similarly. It is not a good sign when one baby is much bigger than the other.

We also found out that Baby A is still head down and Baby B is still in a breech position (by the way, Baby A refers to the baby who is first in the birth canal and Baby B is the second in the birth canal; they don't switch during the pregnancy). Most twins pick their position by 32 weeks, so this is likely how they will stay. And I am, therefore, likely to have a c-section. My doc and her practice do not attempt vaginal births unless both babies are head down. You can hope that Baby B would flip head down after Baby A comes out, but it is a bit risky to Baby B. Also, if he decided not to flip after his bro made his way out, then I would have a C-section on Baby B after vaginally birthing Baby A. YUCK. NO.

We have weekly ultrasounds now, so I'll keep everyone more updated.

My daily conversation with the public...

...goes like this:

Public: How many more weeks do you have to go?
Me: 6-8.
Public: WHAT?!?!? You are about to pop! You should be careful not to gain too much more weight or you won't be able to walk. And your kid will be too big to push out. Are you sure you're not having twins?
Me: Ummm, I AM having twins.
Public: Oh, you're so small! You should eat more! Those kids need to grow. Aren't they too small?

I find it so funny that I literally have some variation of this conversation 8-10 times a day. When I'm walking the dog, in line at the market, hiking, everywhere! And the change in opinion on my body mass is so QUICK!

I think every prego woman should tell people she's having twins when they piss her off by saying she's too big. It feels wonderful to be told I'm too small :)

More maternity photos

30 weeks!

Hanging in there at 30 weeks and a couple of days.

Getting really tired, but feel great overall and blessed to be able to take care of these kiddos inside.

I kept telling Ryan about how much the babies were moving. Finally, last night, he committed to watching the belly for a few minutes. The boys cooperated with some amazing acrobatics. It is entirely possible to discern little arms and legs and even a head. The problem is that I don't always know whose limb it is that I am seeing and/or feeling.

Here are a few maternity photos. I am really glad we had them taken...I'll put up the rest in the next post.