Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Everyone's Getting Bigger

Yesterday’s sonogram went just fine, thank goodness. The babies are laying in a reverse transverse position: Meaning Baby A is laying with her head to my left and her feet to the right and Baby B is dong the opposite above, right under my ribs. How these babies have room to move I don’t know. But they are just having a party in there, switching it up each week.

They are big: Baby A is 4 pounds 12 ounces and Baby B is 4 pounds 11 ounces. And I am only 32 weeks. I asked the doctor if they were getting too big too fast and he said there is no such thing as that with twins. Well, maybe not for him, but for me there sure is. At this rate, the babies will be almost 7 pounds each at 36 weeks and almost 8 pounds each at 38 weeks. I’m grateful to have big, hopefully healthy babies, but I worry about how this physically happens. It just seems impossible that my uterus will be able to carry that much. My cervix, for those who monitor these things, has shortened a bit, from 4.0 to 3.6. Anything above 3.0 at this stage is great, according to the doctor. And their heart rates were both around 148, which is normal (the acceptable range is 120 to 160)

I feel like I went from walking to waddling in one short week and I am convinced that my fingers look like little water-retaining sausages. And my speed has slowed down even more. On the way to the u/s yesterday, Nicole met me at home and we walked up together (well, she was constantly a few steps ahead of me) and she said, and I quote: “It’s painful to walk this slow.” Ha! But it’s true, I walk slow now and meander, gradually moving from one side of the sidewalk to the other. And I need to take little breaks to catch my breath. I’ve never felt so out-of-shape and yet so full-of-life (literally). Yet another pregnancy oxymoron.

And now we go into appointment-palooza. Starting next week I will have weekly sonograms and weekly non-stress tests and weekly visits with Dr. Nothing Bothers Her. I’m glad I selected a doctor within walking distance of my apartment!

Pictured above is Baby A. I asked our lovely u/s technician (no Attila!) if we could get pictures, and she was happy to try. She even did the fancy 3D/4D thing! But, she said, there is “just too much baby in there” to get a good shot. She tried a few times and then went back to 2D and this is all we got. No pictures of Baby B because she is facing my spine, which makes me nervous that she is spinning around in there. So this picture shows Baby A’s face to the right and her hand is on her head. I know, it is not the best view, but it was the best she could get. I’m pretty sure I see some chubby cheeks but that could be wishful thinking.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

phew!
Hurray for a great scan AND a photo!
So - the way you described the positions- it sounds like they are yin and yang. Very cool.

lagiulia said...

Yay! You have a wonder cervix! I've never said that to anyone before. ;)

Those babies are nice and big. My guys were about the same at the point you're at. I don't think them being big was the reason they came early, though. I think they came early because they'd been trying to come out for so long, and as soon as they took me off the anti-contraction medicine, out they came! You could very well go for a while longer I'll bet, even though they are big.

I know your fear that it will become really uncomfortable, and it probably will. All the weight and mass you're carrying may affect your body in negative ways. However, I doubt that any problems will be permanent (well, other than the stretched out tummy, but there's not much to do about that other than a tuck). I am sorry you are really feeling it now. Probably most moms-of-twins would say, "Aha! She is *finally* experiencing a twin pregnancy!" That is not to say that the rest of it has been easy as pie, but I guess what I'm saying is that I think this is quite normal, how you are feeling now.(Hope it doesn't sound like I'm diminishing your concerns- it is very hard, no doubt!)

Just please take it easy. I really do think that's important to them staying in longer (many docs say 36-37 weeks is term with twins), and you will probably feel better if you are putting your feet up and relaxing more often than not.

I'm so excited for you. Twins are really the best. It's an awesome experience, being a parent to twins, and you will be a fantastic mom!

K J and the kids said...

Cute picture. How nice that she tried for 3-D and 4-D.
They need to move to the head down position for the remainder of this flight :)

I'm glad things went so well.
My boys measured that big....they were 7 lbs'ers. PERFECT weight.

I don't know if walking distance is a good thing. I don't know that you should be walking this much. I would hate to see you thrown in to labor.
Take it easy. Rest. And EAT !

(my comments will all sound similar from this point out :) ha ha ha

Dee said...

So glad everything is going well!

I find that I'm always a few steps ahead of Shelly now. I feel like I'm always waiting for her to catch up. Yesterday I made a concerted effort to walk along side her rather than rush ahead.

OMG! Weekly appointments. It's insane! Glad your doc is close to home. It usually takes all day Wednesday for Shelly to recuperate from Tuesday.

You're doing fantastic! Your girls will be here to see you in no time. And I'm glad they're so healthy!

Anonymous said...

she's got cute little chubby cheeks for sure!