Status Quo

I keep getting questions about how I am doing, since I haven't updated in a while. I am happy to report that there is nothing to update! We had a bit of excitement last week when the ante-partum nurse noticed some skipped beats with the baby's heartbeat. Three NST's and a fetal echocardiogram later, all has been reported normal. Apparently this baby just has an immature conduction system, which is totally appropriate for a 27 week old fetus. I was not worried, but the nurses were quick to respond and made sure I had it checked out. I remain at home and in bed. Actually I get very fatigued just walking down the stairs for my home-care appointments twice each week. My fitness level is now down to nothing. I guess that's what happens when you spend a significant portion of a month lying around! Thank you to everyone who has dropped off food and helped to look after the kids. Your support has been amazing!

Home, sweet home

I was finally released from the hospital yesterday afternoon, following much begging on my part. I had a repeat ultrasound on Tuesday that showed no change to my cervix. It continues to hold at 1.3cm. The baby is a great size and was measured at just over 1100 grams. Perfect size for 26 weeks! It was kind of fitting to be discharged yesterday.....the same gestational age as the birth of our twins. So happy to have passed that milestone. I had the most amazing sleep in my own bed last night, considering I haven't had a good sleep since last Friday, and am so happy to be home. I am now on strict orders to behave and stay in bed. The research isn't great regarding the benefits of bed rest, but it is the only option they have to offer at this point. I definitely feel the pressure if I am on my feet more than a few minutes, so I am hoping that bed rest will work in my case!

Weekend away

When I thought forward to this upcoming long weekend, I had imagined a nice weekend away from home to relax and catch up on family time. At least I got part of my wish! On Saturday I came into the hospital for a check by the doctor (on the advice of my home-care nurse). A check turned into an overnight stay for steroid shots 24 hours apart and monitoring. Next thing I know, the 24 hour stay has now turned into a few nights stay....all expenses paid on this relaxing long weekend getaway! I am feeling fine, but they are worried that my cervix is continuing to shorten. Hospital monitored bed rest is one way to keep me off my feet. I guess they thought I was cheating a bit too much at home (and maybe I was). Johnny is quickly learning what it is like to be a single parent, poor guy. Shaylah seems to miss me the most though and cries every time I talk to her on the phone. The kids wil come visit me tomorrow morning and hopefully she will feel better. It is nice to get to hear the baby's heartbeat twice each day, but I would rather be at home with my family!

Latest ultrasound

Today I had another ultrasound of our little one and my cervix. I will start with the good news. Baby is looking great and right on target for size at 25+1 weeks gestation. Hooray! The bad news is that my cervix is continuing to shorten. The measurement today was 1.3cm with some funneling. Not good at all. My wonderful doctor has now told me that all activity is to be stopped. I am allowed to get up to go to the bathroom, but nothing else. I had been still able to help with the kids, but as of today we are going to need to hire outside help. I am told that if I can make to 28 weeks, I can start to do a bit more, but for the next three weeks I need to be "in bed with my feet in the air" (as quoted by Dr. R). I will miss Shaylah's first ever Sports Day tomorrow, which I am feeling very sad about, as well as countless other activities that come with the end of the school season. So 3 weeks of complete bed rest are in my immediate future for the sake of this little baby who is loved so much already. Next ultrasound in 2 weeks!

The plan

I finally have a plan in place. I am to see my OB/GYN every 2 weeks, with bi-weekly ultrasounds on the off weeks. I am to continue resting as much as possible and am not allowed to do much around the house. I am taking Prometrium to hopefully slow down the cervical shortening and I will also have an antepartum home-care nurse monitor me in the house for contractions and fetal movement each week. We hope that this will be enough! If my cervix continues to shorten, the plan will have to change, but we are hoping to at least make it until 32 weeks. I also learned today that mothers going into pre-term labour can be given magnesium, which they have newly discovered protects the child fom cerebral palsy. They don't know how it works yet, but it has shown statistical significance in recent studies. I think that is pretty cool! The twins received steroids for their lung development, but not magnesium. Both these meds have to be given when birth is imminent, so hopefully I won't be needing them for several more weeks. Glucose screening test tomorrow. I have never had issues with my blood sugars, so hopefully that will continue!

Pregnancy complications

It has been awhile since I have posted! Life with three little ones seems to be too busy for blogging. But life has all of a sudden forced me to slow down. Bed rest. It is something people often dream about. Lying in bed, having people do all your work, serve you, take care of you, while you relax and enjoy life. Sounds great, doesn't it? Maybe for a day or two. Let me tell you that it is no fun. I spent 12 excruciating long days on bed rest in the hospital just before the twins were born and I am trying to avoid having to do that again. The trouble is that my body is behaving just as it did when I was pregnant with them. They call it cervical insufficiency. Basically my cervix can't handle the weight of a growing baby, which causes it to thin (and possibly dilate) before the baby is ready. Ashlyn and Caelan were born at 26 weeks (or exactly 6 months) gestation and had to spend the next 4 months in an incubator before I could take them home. I am currently at 24 weeks with this baby and am more than 50% effaced. My last ultrasound showed my cervix at 18mm, where it was 35mm a few weeks before. I am officially on modified bed rest and not allowed to work, lift anything, do much of anything. The kids are struggling with not understanding why Mommy can't help them with everything and Mommy is struggling with guilt when she has to keep telling them "I can't". Daddy has been amazing at filling in the gaps though. I am certainly farther ahead of the game this time around. There is only one baby, I am being closely monitored, I am not yet dilated and I am not in the hospital. all great things! Prayers are always appreciated though, as I am nervous about another early delivery.