Moopers’s Weblog

After NST test #2 yesterday, L did her usual urine test… and had a +3 reading for protein!

Egads!  She used to be such a good student.

The lovely Dr. K said to do a 24 hour protein test and be prepared to be called in.  She did, there was a lot of protein, and sure enough they are calling her in tonight, as if we were going to have the babies.

L isn’t showing any other signs of pre-eclampsia (except pitted edema)… no big headaches or blurry vision.  Just the nasty high levels of creatinine in the urine.

So hopefully we’ll check into the Hotel Kaiser, get a good view and chill out for a few days before the kids join the party.

- P

L also went in for her first weekly non-stress test (NST) today.

Unlike our second (of two) impromptu visit to the Labor & Delivery ward that happened 3 weeks ago, this time they started with an ultrasound and were therefore able to pinpoint the two heartbeats right away.

They are looking for two accelerations of fetal heartbeats per baby, due to activity.  The boy was active the whole time.  The girl slept through his rambunctiousness and had a perfectly steady heartbeat.  We stayed an extra fifteen minutes and she woke up and bounced around a while, passing the test.

The whole time, L had ZERO contractions!  This is a big improvement from a couple of weeks ago when she was regularly getting one every ten minutes or so.  We were so used to that we didn’t know (at least I didn’t know) that it could go to zero.

L’s blood pressure was still well with in range but, for the first time, slightly higher than before.  It’s to be expected.

They scheduled a sequence of NST appointments well into March… which we are unlikely to need.

So we are encouraged: all signs look great for a continued gestation, including the fetal fibronectin test that the OB administered four days ago that came out negatory.  Depending on who you read, this gives a 95% chance that L will not go into labor for another week or two.

Today was busy: we went to our second meeting for new & expecting parents, followed by L’s first NST (non-stress test) appointment.

There were three pairs of twins who were incredibly cute.

Let’s see… what did we learn?

• Mothers like being at the twins groups because they’re usually more frazzled than everyone else at regular mom’s groups.  With twins, every mother is frazzled, so it’s fair.
• It’s also nice to feel normal.  In other circles, twins are a curiosity, and it gets tiring being a celebrity.
• Both the babies are transverse, which makes C-section guaranteed and, we learned, more tricky.
• Sleeping arrangements: we will have to experiment.   Co-sleepers don’t work well for women who have C-sections, but could work on the guy’s side.  The babies wake so often when they are new that it’s much more convenient to have them in the room at first.
• It’s impossible for women with C-sections to bend over to lift anything.  Stairs are a real problem (oops).  One of the women would come downstairs in the morning and go upstairs at night for the first couple of weeks.
• The first month of baby care is especially hard.  Then it gets hard again when they get mobile.
• What else?  L?

- P

L continues to do really well, despite the pains of a healthy twin pregnancy.  She’s just a few pounds shy of my weight!

Yesterday was the first day of the rest of her life; it was also her first day as a temporary retiree and, as I like to overemphasize, housewife.  (Yet I’m still doing most of the cooking??)

I’ve had the occupation of chauffer for a while now.  I even open doors and carry luggage, without expecting a tip.  Last week I drove her down to Mountain View for her last day in the office (on which day her company threw her a surprise baby shower with lots of useful gifts).

We are steadily chipping away at our list of pre-baby chores.  Last weekend we put up the downstairs crib and the upstairs changing table.

One priority is preparing what is necessary to get family health insurance, as we lose L’s at the end of February.

- P

The construction on the guest-room-turned-nursery was finished yesterday! The contractors opened up the closet and moved a 1/3 of the wall back to reveal more space. They also painted the room green and yellow. When it was done, I had this moment of realization “This is where the mini-schwees are going to be sleeping!” We just need to touch up a few paint seams before moving and assembling cribs.

Today is the beginning of 32 weeks. Last Monday, we went in for an ultra-sound. Baby A and B look great. Baby A is tracking above 50th percentile and Baby B is a little smaller. They’re heads are back together again. The outline of their faces is a little stronger (although still alien-looking on the ultrasound). They are kicking strongly, which I love to feel.

My feet have been swelling up like crazy (puffy sourdough loaves!), so the OB told me to keep my feet elevated. It’s getting really cumbersome to move around since by belly is BIG. Strangers think I’m going to give birth any day, until I tell them I’m expecting twins. My knee joints ache walking up and down the stairs. Fortunately, the contractions are more random now. I think sleep, food and plenty of water keeps them at bay.

I drive in twice next week and then I’m OFF of work. It’s weird that I started this job with the intention of being pregnant soon and stopping after 1.5 years. I can’t believe I will be leaving almost exactly 4 years since I started (about Feb 15th, 2005). It’s been very exciting and somewhat stressful. I’m glad for all the skills I learned. Who knows if I will go back to the same job? I’ll see when July/Aug rolls around.

We went for our last baby class last night, breastfeeding twins. We saw some familiar faces, so hopefully we’ll meet more twin parents though SPMOM. The previous classes we attended were Multiples, Birthing, and Newborn Care. I feel we are learning incrementally now (instead of being overwhelmed with all new information), which is a good sign.

At 32 weeks, the survival rate is 95%. The next goal is 34 weeks and then 36 weeks. I’m already the ever worrying mom on their health. Despite my whining about being uncomfortable, I still feel it’s the calm before the storm.

-L

2 days ago, January 8, L woke up feeling more contractions than usual.  They had forewarned her to watch out for contractions that were more regular than usual.  So despite having work to do, we lay in bed and tried out a contraction timer we had just downloaded on the iPhone to time them.

They were occurring at 10 minute intervals, on the dot.  So we called the special number we have for having a risky pregnancy.  They said we should come in to get it checked out.  This would be our second visit to L&D.

We drove over to Kaiser the efficient way (turn left from Divis on O’Farell; don’t go down Geary).  I dropped L off at the emergency ambulance door and went to park the car as she was wheeled up to Labor & Delivery.

Bluey has been having intermittent starting problems, and of course he chose the moment I was parked in the ambulances-only-beotch area.  After four or five tries he kicked in and then pretended like nothing happened.  I could only park him on the roof of the garage, where a few spots remained.

When I tracked her down she was in the triage room.  They put a contraction monitor on and tried hard to locate the two heartbeats.  It’s always very difficult, we were told.  Eventually one of the two residents did an ultrasound and was able to locate the heartbeats, so the nurse knew where to put the monitors.

There was a gruff junior resident (whom I shall call resident (evil)) and a more senior gentler resident.  The resident (evil) administered a cervical exam which hurt L, and she could barely touch it.  Then a couple of hours later, with a different position, the same resident (evil) could and reported dilation of 1cm.  That appeared to be a change, which is concerning as it *a* sign of active labor.

They did a fetal doohickydoodoo test.  That’s the test that if positive, doesn’t mean much, but if negative, means there is a 95-99% chance that L will NOT go into labor in the next two week.  Fortunately it was negative.  Yaay, we get to go home.

But no the second cervical exam being different meant she had to stay.  Morevoer the gruff resident needed the gentler resident to double check b/c of the uncertain first exam.  And then she needed to be checked again two hours later!!!

L and I were both hungry and the gentler resident said she could eat.  (The rules on this seem to waver.)  So I bolted across Geary to get the craved-for turkey burger and fries.  Yum.  We scarfed them down back in the triage room.

(In the other bed, a couple of women came and went.  I spoke with one on the walk out who was at 38 weeks and not feeling very happy.  The other apparently got the rough & gruff intern treatment and yelped in pain.  Someone said, “You think that’s painful, wait ’til you give birth!”  I was appalled because I thought it was the resident (evil), but then I was appalled because L told me it was the woman’s mother.)

Since we were going to be a while they moved L out of the triage room into a nicer room with a view.  Not easy for L to appreciate with all the poking and prodding.  Nurse #1 came in and tried giving her an IV.  Unfortunately I was in the bathroom and couldn’t do my customary duty of overseeing the proceedure and directing the needle bearing nurse to the puffier of veins.  It was awful for poor L who hates needles anyway.  She poked and poked and couldn’t find the vein, then hit a nerve which gave L a huge pain.

Argh.

The nurse taped it up and quickly made herself scarce.  Meanwhile L didn’t have the saline drip for a long time.   The drip was needed to re-hydrate L since inadequate hydration is a common cause of contractions.  Finally a super duper gentle nurturing motherly experienced nurse came in and inserted it into L’s other wrist, painlessly.  We learned that they use large needles so they can deal with any contingency, including blood transfusions.

We dealt with the TV with a remote that barely worked.  L’s contractions continued but a little less frequently and with uneven spacing.  So after the fifth cervical exam they finally said she could go home.

Five cervical exams in one day.  Not good, especially for an exam they don’t do all the time because it could cause issues.   Grrr for being a teaching hospital.  Next time we have to set the rules: only one person on cervical duty.

We learned something important.  Before asking if you are allowed to eat, eat, because the answer will be no.  (L was eternally grateful for me for letting her break the rules before we drove in and having just one of her 3 morning bowls of Honey Nut Cheerios.)

We were there almost all day, from about 10:30 am to about 4:30 pm.  The time cost, plus having to deal with residents, plus the cervical exams, plus the needle trauma… unfortunately these things will make us think carefully about going in for minor concerns.

The bottom line: L is still doing extremely well, with labor minimum two weeks away.  The cervix is very long… over 4 cm… which is extremely reassuring.

Happy 2009 new year everyone!  A mere 6-8 weeks left!

What a wonderful holiday season this was for us.  I stayed local for xmas for the first time since L & I met ten years ago.  Most of our friends and L’s family were around and of course not working, so we got to spend quality time with them at heaps of fun gatherings.

Now we’re in the last couple of days before the everyone goes back to work.  We’re in the home stretch of the pregnancy, so we’re in serious baby prep mode.

A contractor is going to work on expanding the nursery and widening the closet door starting Monday.  So today we got trim and moulding and picked up the closet door from the Home Depot.

We went down to J&L’s and dropped off my huge amp to make space for us.  It was nice hanging out with them and learning the next round of Baby Knowledge.  They are lending us another huge pile of clothes and gear.

The registry work for the baby shower has been excruciating.  We have lists of things we are told we need, but we don’t really understand what everything is for, let alone what brands are best.  And when it comes to bottles, diapers and lots of other things, we simply don’t have the basis to make decisions.  Which makes such decisions very painful for us because we like to make informed choices.

This is going to be a very busy month with the construction project, P’s project, L’s final 3 weeks of work.  Plus two baby classes, at least two doctor/ultrasound appointments, and the remaining things on our list.

But… I have to say… we are s o o o o o o elated about our life right now.

It’s going to be insane once the babies are born… L will likely be recovering from a c-section and major hormone changes.  We’ll have two hungry, crying, squirming tykes unaccustomed to breathing oxygen.  We’ll be sleep deprived and uncertain on how to deal.  (I am going to set up an Excel chart showing level of pandemonium over time.)

Our motto is: “We can get through it.”

Wow, I can’t believe we’re here at 30 weeks on Jan 1, 2009. Our first post on this blog was:

“Let’s begin this blog, and our adventure, by saying that the 6 week ultrasound showed two beating hearts.
Wow.” -7/18/2008

The mini-schwees are kicking up a storm. I’m not even filling out my kick card because it’s obvious they are both active (probably kicking and waking each other). Some movements cause my whole belly to shake. I call them “belly earthquakes”. Sometimes a little bony appendage sticks out of my belly and I like massage it back “into” my belly.

Symptoms du jour:
- I’m really winded walking up/down stairs. Moving from standing to laying position is a big production.
- No more bending over. I try to use my toes to pick up things. Putting on socks requires P’s help!
- Frequent contractions. They usually happen when I’m tired, thirsty, changing positions or riding in bumpy cars (Nuey). When I lie down, they go away so the nurses aren’t too concerned.
- Very thirsty at night. I wake up in the middle of the night completely parched. My tongue is literally stuck to the roof of my mouth.
- Really swollen feet. My Dansko clogs don’t fit anymore. My largest shoes don’t fit anymore. Time to go shoe shopping.

I’m enrolled in a “high risk” group for preterm labor. I have to monitor my contractions, and a nurse calls me every Friday. The cool thing is I have a direct 800 number to a nurse specialist if I think labor is starting.

P and I have gone to two baby prep classes so far: a twins class and a birthing class. The twins class was great. The birthing class however was a joke. The tattoo’d instructor was very opinionated and seemed anti-doctor/hospital/pain killers. However, we did learn a lot from the videos.

On the last ultrasound, Baby B had moved to the left head down, and Baby A had moved to the right head up. (Previously they were both horizontal with Baby B on the top bunk). Who knows what position they are now. If both vertex, I would attempt a natural birth…. WITH pain killers.

My old friend M is planning my baby shower on Jan 10. I’m glad it’s early because movement is getting tougher.

The next milestone is end of 32 weeks, then 34 weeks, then 36 weeks. Wow, at most 7 weeks to go before we meet the mini-schwees!

-L

L’s symptoms if twin pregnancy are now kicking in big time.

Her feet are swollen.
Her stomach is small, yet she is hungry. If she eats too much she horks a little.
She gets contractions if she twists of strains, like getting into a car.
Small activities wind her. She is now getting door to door service when we go to our local neighborhood for lunch.
She’s got what may be her first stretch marks around her belly button!!

The twins are still knocking a lot at the walls of her uterus.

If she can make it six more weeks to 36 weeks we will be very grateful! 37 or 38 (when they would induce) would of course be even better. Every day they stay in is 20 diapers that don’t have to be changed.

L has been diligently buying used stuff off Craig’s List. Last week we went down to Fremont/Union City to get a glider & ottoman for $200 (instead of $800). This week she got a kinda banged-up changing table for only $50 (versus $200 new).

This week we did a lot more baby prep. Dropped off boxes of stuff at the Salvation Army (salvaging your old stuff, and your soul, for a hundred years). We got the 10 year old VW Passat tuned up. We tried to get the little things fixed up too, but they ended up being too expensive. Then, yesterday, we left the plug for the GPS in the lighter socket, and the car had a real struggle starting up. That little LED sure must be drawing a lot of current. Our battery had passed the load test at the mechanic, so I was able to return the cheap, overpriced one I picked up at Kragan — after a 45 minute struggle. (They insisted that it had been used and that they’d never have sold me a battery in that condition. Great. Only after accepting a replacement did they realize that the replacements look like they’d been installed too.) After barely starting up, I am having trouble trusting the old Passat, so we’ll probably get a new car (Mazda 5 we liked at the car show?) sooner than later.

Tonight we are working on our registry. It’s difficult because we have to make lots of buying decisions on things that we aren’t very familiar with. I’m procrastinating on helping L on that task by writing this blog post. I’d better stop now and help her figure out what type of diaper pail to get. (We’ll be going through 10 per baby per day, 140 diaper changes per week, 560 changes per month. Egad, what have we done??!!)