The Long Haul

It has been two weeks since they started me on out patient fetal monitoring, and up until Friday, things were going by without a hitch. On Friday I came in for my usual evening session and Twin B was having some decelerations in heart rate that were not exactly reassuring. They kept me overnight for observation to make sure she would continue to recover to a normal baseline heart rate. She continued to have episodes of decels during the night and on Saturday and still on Sunday. At one point on Sunday they alerted the OR staff that they needed to be prepared for my delivery, put in an IV, typed and crossed my blood. Luckily for our girls the decelerations resolved and we were able to make it through the day without any further hiccups.

Yesterday it was decided that I would remain in-patient for the remainder of the pregnancy for continuous monitoring. We did a second series of celestone (betamethasone) for the babies' lungs and now it is watch and wait. Sunday night through today have been very reassuring. Great baselines and good variability for both twins. I have had some contractions, but nothing that is progressing into labor. So far we have made it to 27 weeks 5 days, and every day these girls stay put the better their chance and lower the risks are related to delivery. The staff here at St. Vincents has been very helpful and informative.

Our ultrasound yesterday morning showed that Twin A weighs 2 lb 1 oz, and Twin B weighs 1 lb 9 oz. That is still a large difference, but the gap has not widened and they both are growing. I am so grateful that these girls have made it as far as they have and pray that we can get a week or more in before they make an entrance to the world.



What I do everyday