Earned a Stay at the "Grand River"

Wow, this has been a crazy two weeks! It all started Friday, February 16 when I realized that my feet were starting to swell like crazy. I had high blood pressure already, but now the swelling was starting to become bad. I figured I had better keep an eye on that. I also had a headache, but it went away after I took Tylenol, so I didn't think anything of it.

Saturday, February 17
The swelling was bad again, and I had another headache. But Tylenol worked again and I just spent most of the day on the couch so the swelling didn't get painful.

Sunday, February 18
The swelling in my feet was now out of control - I could barely walk my feet were so painful. I also had pain in my hands and my face was starting to swell. And I had yet another headache. Not a good combination. Randy convinced me to head into triage at the hospital "just to get things checked out". I assumed I'd have my blood pressure checked and be sent home on rest or even medication. So we hopped in the car and headed to Grand River Hospital.

When we got to triage, it was nice and quiet - so I got a bed right away. My BP was around 158/97, not good. The resident ordered blood work and a protein urine test and told me I'd probably be going home but that I'd have to go to my OB tomorrow to get checked out again. Well, they decided to take my BP again an hour later and now it was 168/102 - and this was with me laying in bed not moving!! The OB on call told me that they were admitting me and putting me on medication right away. Also my iron came back low - it was 99, so they were also going to check on that. The did a non stress test (NST) and the babies were moving well - they passed with flying colours.

So at 33 weeks exactly, I was hospitalized with official PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension) and low iron. I was hoping I wouldn't have to be in for long.

Monday, February 19
My day started off with a slew of bloodwork at 5 am. While I was hospitalized, I'd also have to have daily NST (sometimes twice daily) and my vitals checked 5-6 times a day along with daily bloodwork and protein tests. I felt like a lab rat. I also found out that I was scheduled for an ultrasound for the next day - I was going to be staying in the hospital until my OB could read the results.

I also found out that my iron levels were crashing - only 12 hours later, my iron levels had fallen to 82...which prompted even more bloodwork. I was also put on blood pressure medication twice daily along with additional iron.

Tuesday, February 20
Had my ultrasound...was very painful (as it hurts to lay on my back with this huge belly) and took over 90 minutes to do. I did find out that baby A was still head down and measuring 32 weeks. Baby B was transverse and measuring 34 weeks. Also, his head was growing at a faster rate than his body. Hmmmm. Didn't sound good. Both babies had possible IUGR - and the only 'cure' for it is to deliver.

Friday, February 23
My OB finally got all the reports from my ultrasound and told me that I would be having another ultrasound on the next Tuesday because they needed to check on the growth of the babies. My iron was stabilized (still only around 84) and so was my blood pressure. But that I could have a pass to go home for the afternoon on Sunday for Hunter's birthday as long as I sat with my feet up the whole time. On a positive note, my BP medication was working well - I've lost 10 lbs this week, just due to getting rid of the excess fluid from my swelling!

Sunday, February 25
Had to do a ton of tests on the babies and myself before I was finally given a pass for 6 hours. Hunter was thrilled to have me home for the afternoon - he had a great birthday party! And I was really good - I sat on the couch the whole time. Yay, I had made it to my next big goal...I was now 34 weeks!

Monday, February 26
My OB talked to me today and told me that now I was 34 weeks, the babies were pretty safe to be delivered now. He just wanted to see the results of the ultrasound tomorrow to be sure, but that it looked like I'd be induced by the end of the week. I figured as much, so I was not surprised.

Tuesday, February 27
I almost passed out today after my shower - my blood pressure is now dropping too much with some activities. Great - first high bp, now low bp. :o)
In the morning, I had my daily NST and Bailey didn't do very well. He had enough movements, but his heartrate wasn't getting high enough. Usually Zoe's heartrate was in the low 130s and Bailey's was in the high 120s, but today his was low 120s and even dipping into the 110s. Also my nurse told me that I was on the list to be induced tomorrow!!! Yikes - I would be having these babies in 24 hours.

Then I went to my ultrasound. I had the same tech as last week, which was good because she let me have breaks whenever I needed them. Of course it didn't help that I was also having contractions most of the day - and trust me it hurts when you're having a contraction while they are pressing down on your belly for the ultrasound! Baby A was still head down and was now measuring 34 weeks - she had caught up in her growth! Baby B had flipped yet again and had his head right by baby A's belly. He slowed down in growth and was now measuring 35 weeks - they were only a week apart now instead of over 2 weeks apart. That sounded pretty good. They were also moving around a lot and both had passed their practice breathing tests. And I got to see that both babies now have hair! Both of them have really cute spiky hair - I can't wait to see what colour it is!

My OB came by just before dinner time to talk to me. I assumed he was going to discuss my induction for the next day, but instead he told me that I could go home!! Both babies had done really well on the ultrasound, they were now very close in measurements again, my BP had stabilized (except after having a shower) and my iron levels were also stabilized. There was now no reason to induce me!

So I got to go home on BP meds, iron meds, and put on strict bedrest! I have to go back to the hospital next Tuesday for another ultrasound and I have an OB appointment on Wednesday.

The boys were so excited that I was home and today they have been bouncing off the walls...I guess having their mom away in the hospital was really starting to get to them (even if grandma was here and spoiling them rotten!). I'm thrilled to be home and can't believe that I'm going to make it to March!! Now I'll have a January baby, a February baby and 2 March babies.

Want to bet that I make it to March 19th now (37 weeks - induction time)? LOLOL!

Hmm...What Did I Swallow?

My dad sent these pictures to me tonight - they were taken on Sunday at my sister-in-law's baby shower. I am 32 weeks exactly in the pictures...but I look like I'm WAY overdue. :o) And yes, it's the same top I'm wearing from my last belly picture at 27 weeks. What can you expect when only 3 tops fit right now?!


A great side view (including the new stretch marks I've been getting - thanks dad for making sure those are included).

But this picture is my favourite. I can't believe how huge I really look. This is the first time I've seen what I look like when I'm sitting.



Man, that just looks uncomfortable. Oh, wait, it is uncomfortable!

Wow - I can't wait to see what I'll look like in a couple weeks!

32 Week OB Appointment

Well, time just keeps on rolling by...and I'm still pregnant! :o)

I had my 32 week OB appointment today and I'm happy to say that my BP is still lower (it was 145/94 today), I gained 2 lbs. in a week and yes, this belly is still growing. I'm now measuring about 45 weeks.

The OB had a hard time finding the girl's heartbeat - so that had me a bit worried, especially after he asked me if I could feel her moving. And of course she's being kind of quiet today so I'm trying to drink lots of cold water to get her kicking harder. But we had no problem finding the boy's heartbeat - and he's been kicking up a storm today (as usual). Oh, and he's flipped yet again - he's sideways now with his legs right under my ribs. When he stretches those legs, it feels like my ribs are splitting. Lovely.

With everything looking stable for now, I don't have to go back to the OB for another 2 weeks (I'll be 34 weeks), and then I'm officially on weekly appointments and weekly non-stress tests until I deliver. And of course, I still have another ultrasound for next week. Wow, with all these appointments, it's a good thing we live in Canada - I couldn't afford the medical care if I lived in the US!!

I'm hoping to post another picture of my belly sometime this week - my dad and sister took some great pics this past weekend at my SIL's baby shower. As soon as I get copies of the pictures, I'll put them up.

And here are the lastest countdowns for me:
12 days until Hunter's birthday (and I'll be 34 weeks - a huge milestone for twins...and also the point that my mom delivered her twins)
16 days until March (I'm really hoping I can make it to March)
33 days until I'm 37 weeks (which is considered full term for twins)
54 days until my due date - which I'll never reach.

33 days....doesn't sound too bad. I think I can make it!!

BP Went Down!!

I had some great news on Friday when I went to the OB's office - my blood pressure went down! It's not normal, but low enough that I apparently "bought my ticket to go home". From the sounds of it, if my BP was still as high as it was on Monday, then I was headed to the hospital!

Most of my blood work was good, except that I'm now anemic and I have to take extra iron. If my hemoglobin doesn't go back up, then I might not be allowed to have an epidural - not a position I want to be in!!!

The babies are still growing well according to the ultrasound I had on Tuesday. Baby A is still the girl, is head down, and is 1901 grams (4.2 lbs.). Baby B is still the boy, is still kind of sideways with his head angled down, and is 2127 grams (4.7 lbs). Both are over the all-important 1800 gram weight (the weight babies have to be before they are allowed to leave the hospital). The only issue from the ultrasound is that there is extra fluid around Baby B now - so I have to have yet another ultrasound in two weeks. Hmmm. That will be ultrasound #8! Wow.

I'm supposed to keep my feet up this weekend and take it easy - not a problem, that's pretty much what I do on the weekend anyways. I also have to keep my OB appointment for Tuesday...just to keep an eye on my blood pressure. I'm hoping it's still down enough that I get to stay home!

And we have an update to the twins' names....we've finally picked a middle name for Bailey. So our twins will be:
Zoe Renee and Bailey Grayson
Or as Hunter calls them: Zoe and Blech. :o) He still doesn't like Bailey's name. But he finally admitted that he would "probably love Bailey when he's born...but only if he's cute". I can't wait to see Hunter's reaction when he finally sees Bailey for the first time. I'm sure he'll fall in love with his little brother!

Had to "Pop" Into The OB's Office to Check My Blood Pressure

My BP was up at last week's appt. so the OB wanted me to just 'pop' in to get it checked again today. Well, now it's even higher than last week. It's almost as high as it was with my first pregnancy...the day the OB decided I needed to be induced (I had PIH with my first pg.).

So I've got a ton of blood work to do tomorrow after my u/s - and then I've got another OB appt. for Friday morning. He wanted me back this week...but in enough time for him to receive the u/s report so we could 'talk about everything'. Hmmmm. That doesn't sound good.

Also, the nurse kept checking my BP, and asking me a ton of questions - how are you feeling; have you had any headaches; any swelling. And I think she checked my sample about 10 times and had me hop on the scale more than twice (I only gained a pound this week). But I don't have any other things going on besides my high BP.

I'm wondering what's in store for me on Friday.

30 Week OB Appointment

Hmmm. I guess my blood pressure issues aren't finished after all. My blood pressure at my appt. on Tuesday was elevated again. High enough that the nurse took my bp 4 times - and tried each arm. And then I got all the questions from the OB - "have you had any headaches?" "are you swelling?" "do you see spots at all?" And if I have any of these at any time, I'm to head right into the hospital. Also, I now have to pop into his office to get my blood pressure checked regularly...without an appointment. Doesn't sound good to me.

Everything else went well - my belly is now 43 weeks in size. The girl seems to still be head down. They are both moving around a lot (they kept kicking the OB's doppler - he had a hard time chasing them around my belly to get their heartbeats). My weight gain seems to be going steady. All my blood work came back normal (no GD!). And my cervix is still closed. So I don't have a full OB appt. for another two weeks - and I get to go back for another ultrasound next Tuesday.

Later that day I had my hospital pre-registration too. It's a good thing I went, because I couldn't find the registration desk or triage!! Two very important places to find when in labour. The L&D ward was under construction when I delivered Hunter, so it was nice to see everything finished now. It's beautiful - but it won't matter, I don't get one of the nice labour and delivery rooms...I'll be in the OR in case baby B needs an emergency c-section. Ah well, I'm hoping to have a private room afterwards - that's more important!

So the paper work is in, now I'd better start packing the hospital bag. Then there's not much more to do and we'll be ready for these two. 46 days to go (until possible induction)!!