Goal #1 - 24 Weeks!!
ACCOMPLISHED!
Its hard to believe that we will be 24 weeks tomorrow on 5/6/11! This was the very first BIG milestone we set for ourselves, and we made it!! Of course making it through the 1st trimester and to the 18 week ultrasound are big mile markers as well, but 24 weeks means fetus viability! What does that mean ... well, it means if labor came on the doctors would officially call them babies and deliver them if needed. Of course at this point it is far too early to welcome the little ones without having super high and scary risks involved and they would do everything they could to stop the labor. The survival rate is still very low at 24 weeks being 50% compared to the next big milestone at 28 weeks when the babies have a 98% survival rate, almost doubled!! But for now, we will celebrate the little victories!
The appt today went well! I have only gained 5 lbs overall, which the doctors are pleased with. My BP is still in the average range at 120/82 and my pulse was in the 80s (lower than its been = good news). As for the babies, they are are still doing well! Baby B still has "low normal" fluid but Dr Acker keeps telling me that's still "normal" and they are not worried at all. Looking at the chart for their sizes they all look on track with each other. They wont start guesstimating the size/pounds until our next appt at 26 weeks. We do not have twin/twin at this point, which is GREAT news! If we can make it to 24-26 weeks without it, then we are very lucky. Of course its only a 15% chance that we could get twin/win syndrome (TTS) with the identicals, but if it happens, its not good. It has been one of our biggest fears all along. There are many stages of it (six to be exact) and since we are 24 weeks with no signs, there is a highly unlikely chance it will be a risk we will ever have to worry about - thank God. Next on the 'worry list' is to watch how they to "grow". Of course we are always worried about preterm labor, but we are doing everything in our power to avoid that with the bed rest (THANKS TO ALL OUR HELPERS!! Esp Nana!). Now we will mostly need to focus on how they grow individually and to make sure that it is at even rate. If for some reason one starts to fall behind (which is common with identicals who share a placenta - esp given one has a 2 vessel umbilical cord) then we will start to worry about having to do an early c-section. For now - all is going very well!!
At my mom and sister in laws request, we asked to have to have my blood work done again to check my iron count and thyroid levels to see if it could justify the higher heart rate. I am still waiting on the results of the Echo, but overall the doctor believes that my loss of breath and quick tiring is due to the fact that it is a triplet pregnancy ... and keeps reminding me that my body is no longer my own ... at least for 2-3 more months :-)
I think that's all for the big 24 week update! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the fact that Spring in finally springing!! Love to all and thank you so much for reading along and support us during this journey!!
Here's a few pictures to show the inside view of what we see every other Thursday when we visit Brigham and Woman's Hospital in Boston MA.
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| The office of my MFM, Dr David Acker at Brigham and Woman's whom I meet with after each US appt |
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| This is the bi-weekly scene in the ultrasound room at Brigham and Woman's where we peek at the babies |
Congratulations!! 24 weeks is a terrific milestone to meet. And it sounds like good news on the TTTS front, too. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Every day is a gift. You are doing a great job.
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