Update on the Twinners

It is so wonderful that I have made it to 31 weeks so far! I have officially been on bed rest for 5 weeks and it hasn't been terrible at all! I sleep in, buy baby stuff online, read, watch TV and hang out with visitors. I honestly feel fulfilled right because I know that what I am doing is important - growing these little babes. I guess I am already learning what it is like to be a mother - to give up EVERYTHING - my job, my  church calling, my body, my social life, etc - for them. I gladly do it!

Five weeks ago, I was put on bed rest because of high blood pressure. Miraculously, it did not turn into preeclampsia (apparently 50% of pregnant women who have high BP before 30 weeks get preeclampsia). My doctor even thought I could get off bed rest because my BP is being controlled through medication. That did not turn out to be the case. I ended up on bed rest again due to a shortened cervix which meant that I was already 50% effaced. For a few weeks, I didn't really think about my BP, but instead I worried about going into preterm labor.

On Wednesday, we went to our weekly doctor's appointment, and nothing really prepared me for what happened. They did a growth scan via ultrasound, and it ended up that our little boy was not growing at the rate that he should be. At 31 weeks, both babies should be weighing around 3.3 pounds. Our little girl was 4 pounds one ounce, and our little boy was only 2 pounds 11 ounces, putting him in the 17th percentile. They looked further and learned that the umbilical cord was working too hard to provide the nutrients that he needs, and it is looking like he has IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction.) There is something wrong with his placenta and this actually correlates with my high BP problem. My doctor says that he is better off inside of me, as he is still growing, but that it will be a breath of fresh air for him once he is born and he can get the adequate nourishment that he needs. Basically, he is developing at the normal rate, but he isn't putting on enough weight. I had a really hard time hearing this, as my little boy is literally starving inside of me. There are luckily no life long issues that result from his condition, but he will just take an extra year or two to catch up weight wise. There is a chance that he will never reach his growth potential, and I have never been so grateful to have married a man who is 6'6". Even if our little guy doesn't reach his growth potential, he will still be pretty tall!

I had a really hard time hearing all of this terrible news, but I am feeling really great about things now. Even though 31 weeks gestation seems terribly early to deliver, I am so grateful that I've made it this far! A few weeks ago my doctor didn't think I would, and I am defying the odds. My doctor is very positive about things and really isn't terribly worried. It is a reality that our little guy will be small - most likely in the 3 pound range - but he will catch up and be fine. For the first few years of life, his twin sister will be much bigger than him, but that's okay with me. He's going to be my cute little guy and I'm going to love my two miracles that much more. My doctor feels like I am going to be able to keep the babies inside for a few more weeks - even until 35 weeks or so - and I am so hoping that is the case. It is still a reality that our little guy will be in the NICU and that our little girl will go home weeks before him. Nothing with this pregnancy has been normal, and it has honestly been the craziest roller coaster, but I am so grateful for the blessings and miracles that I have witnessed. When my IVF doctor told me months ago that these were special miracle babies, I knew he was right then, but I believe him even more now! Keep praying for our little guys - they will be here before I know it!