34 Week Appointment

Not much has changed.

Both girl's heart rates continue to be strong.

My levels look good. 

Both girl's hate being monitored with the non-stress test about as much as I do. One of them always jumps off the monitor or kicks the other one off.  While I love getting to hear their heartbeats each week, I officially dread laying there, on a hard exam table, on my side, with gel all over my belly (by the end), praying my hips don't crack and stomach doesn't split open, all the while watching the girls literally jump on and off the monitor! Even my OB came in today and said, I think we've tortured you enough! Seriously!

I did get a few answers today:

• If I go into labor right now, they will try to stop it up to 36 weeks.
• If my water breaks, they will deliver the babies (this starts at 34 weeks) because the risk of infection is greater than the risk of prematurity. (I knew this about singleton pregnancies, but I've read many cases where they have held off on delivering multiples up to 2 weeks even after water has broken if there is still enough fluid for the baby...wow!)
• At 34 weeks, the number of healthy babies born is now equivalent to the number of unwell babies that are born. 
• The new recommendation is to not schedule a c-section/induction until 39 weeks with twins. I near about fell off the table when he told me this...but if Addie's delivery is any indication of this one, then I'll probably go into labor earlier than that. (not that anything about this pregnancy has been even close to the one with Addie...but still.) That puts our target dates from April 12th (35 weeks) to May 10th (scheduled section at 39 weeks).

I have another appointment next Tuesday with an ultrasound to measure the girl's weights. If (and I don't know for sure) they gain about 4-6 oz a week, they would be about (Baby A) 4lbs 4oz to 4lbs 8oz and (Baby B) 4lbs 8oz to 4lbs 12 oz right now. The average singleton gains around a half pound each week from weeks 32-34, but twins are different (and from what I've been able to find, gain about half that each, or 4 oz).

So now we play the waiting game! Monday is a huge milestone at 35 weeks and the following Monday (36 weeks) is even bigger. We continue to pray that these girls would grow and develop, that the perfect doctor will be on call if they decide to arrive before my scheduled section, that they would turn to be head down if that's the best means of delivery for them, and to prepare all of our hearts and minds for their arrival!

Love to you all!