Sorry for the delay in actual pregnancy updates... several of you have asked. With my husband sitting shiva, it's been hard to get real time to post anything significant. Things have mostly been okay, but have been a bit up and down. It seems like every time I want to post "Yesterday was a really good day" I end up having a really crappy day, so then I need to post "Yesterday was a really crappy day" except then things turn back around, so I just can't keep it all straight. ;) This is not an entirely bad thing.
The good news is that the up and down is largely confined to the contraction side of things. This is good news primarily because of the terbutaline pump. There's a lot of leeway in how I can deal with dosages on the pump (or rather, how the nurses at Matria, the monitoring company, can deal with dosages). They have a lot of leeway in the doctors' orders in terms of giving additional "demand doses" or changing basal rates or auto-dose rates. So we've been playing around a lot with that. We've increased my basal rate twice and yesterday increased my auto-dose rate by 10%, but there's more wiggle room still if that doesn't work.
What's been tending to happen is that I go a day or a day and a half with no, or only one, contraction during each of my two daily monitoring sessions (which doesn't mean I'm having zero throughout the day, but that's another story), which is great. But then I'll go a day or two with 5-6 during each monitoring session, which is when we start moving doses around. Most of the contractions aren't painful, but they are fairly uncomfortable. What's more painful is that I have a lot of cramping all of the time, which wakes me up a lot too, but even the increases in basal rate have helped that, so it's likely that the cramping is low-level contractions that don't really register as contractions themselves on the monitor (if they're less than 40-seconds, they don't call them contractions). See, and here I thought I got pregnant to avoid being plagued by painful menstrual-like cramps. Sigh.
The really astoundingly good news is that bed rest certainly seems to be doing its job, which is good because I really, really don't want to be admitted to the hospital just now. Each appointment that I've had since that first alarming appointment where my cervix had gone down to 1.5cm has shown definite improvement in cervical length. I didn't even know that could really happen. My last appointment, on Monday, it was, at its shortest, 2.8cm. Go me! This has also enabled me to return to weekly appointments instead of twice-weekly appointments, which is good, because with S dealing with shiva, I wouldn't have wanted to abandon him too often.
What really astounds me is that I remember my first appointment with the perinatologist was at 8 weeks, 5 days, and this week's appointment was 25 weeks, 5 days. 17 weeks have passed, but it feels like a lifetime ago. 17 weeks ago, I didn't even have a clear idea whether all three were going to make it. 17 weeks ago I didn't even know if it made more sense to consider a reduction and I was getting tremendous pressure in all directions to reduce. 17 weeks ago, I finally walked into an office that didn't say my only option was to reduce the triplets. 17 weeks ago I had no idea if I was making the right choice, but today I have no question that I made the right choice. I didn't know then if these little monsters had any chance of making it, but now, I have little doubt they will, though I have no idea what issues they'll be facing on the other side. 17 weeks ago, I was in despair... yesterday, I was conspiring with Jess to create a baby registry, something I couldn't possibly have contemplated even a month ago, let alone 17 weeks ago.
I remember clearly the day that it became obvious that I was attached to these little monsters. I blogged about it, even. April 19th. That's when I realized it was okay to be attached to these little parasites... the little parasites I was still too terrified to refer to as babies. Now I often refer to them as babies, but I can't remember when that shift took place. What I do know is that shift wasn't insignificant. I never thought I'd call a baby a baby until it was born. I never thought I could bear having that level of attachment before it was a "sure thing". But here I am, with three babies kicking me regularly, and that's what they are to me... alternately babies and monsters (in the most endearing way possible, of course).
But I digress. Back to how I'm doing.
Contractions... today not bad, tomorrow, we'll see. Check.
Cervical length... getting better, apparently bed rest works. Check.
Babies (!)... They are terrific. I haven't had a growth ultrasound since the 11th, but will have another on Monday, so I'll know more then, but they've all got perfect heartbeats, plenty of amniotic fluid, and they're all quite active, so there don't appear to be any serious concerns in that regard. Or minor concerns, for that matter. The one seriously annoying thing is that as of Monday, they had all turned breach. Even Baby A who has been head down for MONTHS! I know they all have PLENTY of time to turn right back around, but I'm bitter. Bit-ter, I tell you! They'd better move back around and fast. One good thing about it, though, is that Dr. M. thinks that it's possible that part of the reason my cervix lengthened again this week was because the pressure had been taken off of it with the baby's head not constantly pushing down on it, so I guess I can't entirely complain. At first with them all turning around I couldn't feel them moving much, but I think they must have shifted somewhat again, because now Baby A is most decidedly kicking me directly in the cervix on a regular basis, which is more painful than head-butting and honestly, more painful (and more persistent) than punching. So I'm not loving that. But the other two must also have shifted somewhat, because I can feel them fighting with each other again. I doubt that they've turned all the way around again already, but they've definitely moved somewhat since Monday.
Next Monday, they'll do another fetal fibronectin test, talk to me more about steroid shots (though they're still trying to put those off until at least 30 weeks if possible), and they'll do the 1-hour glucose tolerance test. Yum. I wish I could just skip to the 3 hour, since I'm at such a high risk for gestational diabetes in the first place (triplet pregnancy, PCOS, overweight to begin with...), but it's all good. Hopefully it won't be an issue and I'll only have to do this once. They will also, as I said, do the growth ultrasound on the babies, so it will be a long appointment, which is fine with me, because it's the one excursion out of the house that I'm allowed.
The current bane of my existence is that I have a nasty cold, which I think is just adding insult to injury, and I'm quite bitter about it, but hoping that it will be short-lived. I hate colds because they are utterly miserable, but they are "just colds" so you can't really complain about them without being a big whiner. Unless you're pregnant with triplets, in which case, I think you're perfectly justified in whining about basically anything. At least, that's MY excuse!
And that's where things are right now. I'm slowly catching up on blogs. I haven't been purposely ignoring anyone, it's just that things have been a bit crazy with everything going on between my dramarama and my husband's father's death. So hopefully things will calm down soon A girl can dream, right? Today my big plans are to be able to take a nap at some point.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
26 Weeks - How it's Going
Labels:
pregnancy: never a dull moment,
triplets
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15 comments:
I kinda figured I wouldn't bug you during Shiva, so I'm glad to hear that things are going well, even if not totally physically comfortable.
I am SO excited that your cervix is almost 3cm, I mean, that's amazing. The little buggers are actually playing nice with mom, and snuggling in a bit.
I think about you and the little ones daily, and am trying to coordinate a time with Mel to come out in the next week or so :)
I'm so glad that your cervix has lengthened!! That's absolutely fantastic!
Gotta love the kicks in the cervix. My daughter was breech, so I know that well. She used to jump up and down on mine (or at least that's what it felt like). And when it wasn't the cervix, it was my bladder. Ah, the memories! I'm glad they're all active though! Another sign that they're all doing well!
Yay for 26 weeks!!!!
Love the new look!
I'm so happy for you that your cervix is behaving itself! That's fantastic, however being kicked in the cervix can't be fun. I never experienced that - my baby A was firmly head down from when I could start feeling them, but he or one of his brothers had a knack for planting a foot, hand or something in my bladder. Not fun!
Thinking nice calming thoughts for you. Glad to hear things are mostly well.
so glad the contractions are not too bad and that your cervix is a champ! Thinking of you
Great update Karen..thanks for all of the info. I enjoyed reading your thoughts about the kiddos moving from "parasite status" to "baby status" and how far you have come in 17 weeks with your perception of the pregnancy and acceptance of what is to come! I am THRILLED to hear that the contractions and terb pump seem to be cooperating with each other and that your cervix is obeying dr.'s orders and staying closed.
I hope you get your nap in today:)
A nap sounds like a perfect plan.
And omg, I never EVER thought I'd be commenting on the state of someone else's cervix, but here goes... I'm glad to hear that yours is imroving!
I'm so glad things sound good. About the cold, I noticed that with my twin pregnancy it seemed like everything was harder to get rid of and more torturous than usual, so you're definitely justified in complaining. Feel better soon!
Cervix pummeling hurts, without a doubt. P flipped so often that I got a lot of that when he was breech. I hope they turn back to vertex soon! I don't know if any of the exercises on www.spinningbabies.com are an option with you on bedrest, but maybe discuss them with your doctor when you're further along if the babies haven't flipped?
I'm glad that the cervix news (kicks notwithstanding) is so good, and that you've hit almost 26 weeks already. It seems like almost no time at all and forever, I'm sure.
And I also love the new template!
Thanks for the update, Karen. Everything sounds really good. Twenty-six weeks, wow, you're in the home-stretch now, aren't you?
I hope you get that nap ;-)
Thank you for updating us. Mazel tov on 26 weeks and all that you have overcome. What a strange time this must be for your husband.
What unexpected and great news the lengthening cervix is. There are ways to coax the babies out of breech, if and when that would be prudent.
Can you explain more about the terb auto-doses, why they are separate from the basal?
Get a testing kit and test your bg at home throughout the day under various conditions to get a real picture.
Thanks for the update! I love hearing all the details of how you are progressing. It all sounds good and although the kicking and punching hurts, I hope they stay int here for a good long time! Hope you enjoy your nap!!
Awww, it's nice to hear a good update. :D I can't believe how quickly things have progressed too.
I can't wait to hear about Monday's appointment. I'm keen to hear what the weight is for each baby.
I am glad things have settled a bit and your cervix is cooperating nicely!
Great to hear your cervix is getting longer. :)
I've almost graduated from "parasites" to "babies". maybe after my next u/s. Maybe once I feel them. Who knows...
Love the new look!
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