OB update #3,267

I have had *so* many doctor's appointments with this pregnancy, I've lost track of just how many. Despite this fact, I still find myself getting anxious and worried before each one. And when I don't feel anxious and worried, it's always the ONE time that I get unsettling news. So before my ultrasound and OB visit yesterday, I was a ball of nerves. I was just sure that my cervix had shortened or that les Twinks' fluid levels were low or something untowards was happening.

Of course, I should not have been worried.

The Twinks are growing by leaps and bounds! They are 4lbs2oz and 4lbs6oz respectively. Their fluid levels are ample and they were wily as ever for the ultrasound technician, always a good sign. Baby B's arrhythmia was slightly more obvious than at my last appointment, but as Dr. Fox had told me, it would come and go throughout his infancy and adolescence, so not a source of worry.

My cervix is still long and closed at 3.6cm. Apparently it is the Cervix of Steel. After I heard that, I excused myself from the ultrasound room, went down to the parking lot and threw the biggest truck I could find. I wanted to crush some marble with my bare hands, but there was none handy. So throwing a car was the next best thing. I mean, I'm barely 5'3", carrying gigantic twin boys and have somehow, at 32 weeks, managed to maintain a cervix of some serious magnitude. What better way to celebrate than to throw a couple tons of metal around?

I must admit to you, I felt like all kinds of AWESOME after my cervix check.

And this is not to say that my friends who have shortening cervixes are not full of AWESOME too, it just my dumb luck really. Kind of like those of you who are 5'8" and never have to hem your pants. Nothing that you really deserve credit for, but damn, I can only imagine how amazing it would be to just go into Nord's and buy a pair of Sevens and be able to wear them that very day.

I can't remember if I've discussed my lovely itching problem with you yet, my bloggy friends, but oh my DEAR GOD it is bad. Poor Mr. K will come home from work and I'll be on the couch with my bare belly exposed, scratching like a FERAL CAT. He'll say to me "Um, babe, do you want some privacy while you do THAT?" And I'll be all "OMG, I am SO FREAKING ITCHY! LOOK! LOOK!" And Poor Mr. K will politely decline and excuse himself upstairs. Can't really say I blame him.

On the upside, my wonderful OB prescribed me some steroid cream and antihistamines that seem to be helping. Maybe my feral cat days are over or at least numbered? Oh and this will MAKE YOU LAUGH. I went to the pharmacy, prescriptions for relief clutched in my paw and when I went to pick them up, the cashier said I needed to have a consult with the pharmacist.

The pharmacist walked up the counter and looked over my prescriptions, looked at me and asked "So, are you still pregnant?"

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAA!!!!

Now I've heard that you are never supposed to assume a woman is pregnant unless you actually SEE THE BABY CROWNING.

So if he was going by that rule, it was a safe question.

But one look at me and COME ON.

At long last

An update.

From moi.

This post threatens to be so long that I almost think it deserves a foreward. No really. However, seeing as it's 10:29 p.m. on a Friday night and I'm fresh out of famous people or experts to write one, I'll just jump right in. For some reason, I'm feeling the list format for this one.

1. I saw Dr. Dreamy this week...the tie was green with a silvery diamond print and the shirt was crisp and white with a subtle tone-on-tone stripe. The loafers were black and shiny, but not too shiny. There were four hugs and much friendly banter. I may or may not have hugged too tightly back. Clearly my crush is still present and accounted for. In fact, when I took attendance, it jumped up and said "That's ME! I'm here! I'm here! Alive and kicking!" What can I say, old habits die hard. Good thing Mr. K is not the jealous type. For my new bloggy friends, you can read a bit about my obsession extremely professional relationship with the Dreamster here.

2. I bought more twin gear. Not just clothes, but real stuff that requires assembly and installation and swearing whilst using allen wrenches. I am now the owner of not one, but TWO double strollers. The nesting continues. Today I washed bottles even though I know I will have to wash and sterilize them again once the babes arrive. I just needed to go through the motions to remind myself how it all works. I found all my pump parts and milk storage stuff...ah the memories. I've already been scoping out places with the plumpiest cabbage.

3. I've been having a lot of contractions, both real and Braxton Hicks. I had my first episode of feeling short of breath and had to lay down on my side and drink lots of water before it passed. My OB says the contractions are to be expected with a second pregnancy and especially with multiples. I lost two pounds last week. What?!

4. Mr. K's company party was this week. I was bad, very bad and stood up and walked around for three straight hours. Because it was an all-company party with the folks from the UK and Japan in attendance, not to mention all other remote and local employees, Mr. K needed to make the rounds. I have to say I had a great time because I've been around long enough now that I have made friends of my own within the company. Plus, I got to see my pie-baking friends from the condo, Avery, Caden and Josie's mom and compare bellies with Dr. A. The only downside was that the next day my body said:

Oh, so *that's* how you want to play?!

Take THIS! (sciatic pain) and

THIS! (contractions) Oh, you still want more?

How 'bout a little of THIS! (toilet facial)

5. And last but not least an update on Les Twinks. A week ago Friday I had another appointment with my MFM practice. It was a standard fetal growth scan where they measure the babies growth, check their amniotic fluid, make sure all their important bits are present and no irregular bits have popped up. They also listen to the babies' heartbeats and take note of the BPM. It usually takes about 90 minutes or up to two hours if the babies are feeling particularly wily.

My ultrasound on this particular Friday took over three hours. It appears that Baby B has an arrhythmia so they did an immediate echocardiogram. Structurally his heart looks fine, no abnormalities so that rules out more serious types of arrhythmias. But I have to tell you, MY heart was in my throat when I heard his heart skip a beat on the doppler. I was all "What, why, um, did his heart just SKIP A FREAKING BEAT?"

My MFMS, who is a prince of a man (perhaps could have had Dreamy status were he about 20 years younger), and not at all alarmist, said that while many arrhythmias resolve themselves, he did not think Baby B's would. And for some reason in my mind, I still thought that it would be something he'd eventually outgrow, but nope. Dr. MFMS said that it would likely not cause him any problems in infancy, childhood or even adulthood. Adulthood - WHAT?! I was so sad to learn that it's something he'll probably have his ENTIRE LIFE. Eff.

The good news is it will not preclude him from doing anything (Mr. K's response was "Does it mean he can't run?!"). It just means he will be monitored for it his entire life. When I take the Twinks to the pediatrician, I'll always have to say "Oh and he's the one with the arrhythmia." As an adult, when filling out medical forms, he'll have to check the box with "arrhythmia." And while the news is not devastating, it it never feels good to hear that there is something, anything irregular or wrong with your child. And especially not a major organ. Sigh...

And were that not enough drama for one visit, my cervix shortened nearly one centimeter in a week to 3.4 cm. And while the sonographer was checking it for funneling she saw that I was having contractions that I WAS NOT FEELING. Eff!

I had another ultrasound this week and all looks the same - cervix still 3.4 cm and arrhythmia still present. Oh and the boys' weights are discordant for the first time ever. Baby B weighs 2lbs 12oz. and Baby A weighs 2lbs 6oz. At least they're both still fatties. :)

OB appointment update

Just a quick update about my appointment yesterday.  Let me preface this by saying that I *love* my OB.  In fact, we are friends outside of our dr./patient relationship.  So going to my OB appointments are also like catching up with a girlfriend.  From here on out, I'll refer to her as Dr. Adorable, because that's what she is, doll-like and adorable, but don't let that fool you, she is extremely capable.  Dr. Dreamy referred me to her after I was released with Piglet. That Dreamy, he never fails me.  

Appointment details: All is well with Les Twinkies, hearts beating away.  I have not gained any weight - not shocking considering my current hate-hate relationship with food.  I didn't have an ultrasound since I'll have an in-depth one at my NT scan next week.  I'll keep having ultrasounds every two weeks with the MFMS until about 28 weeks and then I'll start having them at my OB's office if all is on track.  I might even have them at both places. Fine by me!  

One of the topics we discussed were my delivery options.  I had a V delivery with Piglet and all went fine.  The fact that the twins are mono-di means that a C-section is probably in my future.  I'm actually ok with this.  I could have another V delivery if a lot of things fall into place: the twins are both head down, they have not had any growth or fluid issues my entire pregnancy and I carry them to at least 36 weeks.  I'm thinking this is doable (like how I was so breezy about ticking those things off my list already?  Ha!).  

But here's the funny part. 

While we're talking about the possibility a C-section, Dr. Adorable says "Do you want me to do a tubal while I'm in there?"  

I started laughing hysterically.  

ME!  An Infertile!  

Talking about getting her TUBES TIED! 

Surely you jest.

She might as well have asked me if I wanted to walk on the moon too.   

Once I collected myself, I said "Do you really think that's necessary? I mean, given that I'm you know, completely infertile?"  

And she replied "Well I've seen other people get pregnant again..."

And once again I started laughing hysterically.  

Those other people also don't have gimpy ovaries that barely respond to the highest doses of stimulation medications. Those other people didn't have cysts come back six weeks after being surgically removed. Hahahahahaha!  Tubes tied!  Ha!

Then she reminded that I had already bucked the odds because I have a toddler at home and identical twins on the way.

Gulp.  She was right!  

That cured my laughter pretty quickly.  

In the end we decided on a C-section because I am going to have her take out my left ovary at the same time.  Not sure about the tubal yet.  

But I know that horrible cyst is coming back with a vengeance soon after I deliver the twins and there is no way I'm going through the stress of having someone else care for my babes while I am recovering from surgery. 

Been there. Done that.  Not going back.   

So that was my appointment in a nutshell.  I go back in three weeks.  

Next up, first trimester screen including a nuchal translucency scan.  

After that, my next ultrasound will be my gender scan at about 15w.

GENDER, PEOPLE!  We will know if Piglet will have baby sisters or brothers.  

Swoon.  

PS -- I have to give a shout out to MeInsideOut for her HILARIOUS comment, giving a name to my "toilet water on my face while puking" description - a TOILET FACIAL. Seriously.  Infertiles are so funny!!! 

Piglet takes home the gold...

*Warning and disclaimer: the following could be construed as (gasp) bragging.   Avert eyes if such things are found offensive.

Yesterday I took Piglet to see his pediatrician for what I feared was more than just teething symptoms.  He has been cranky, feverish and then yesterday started coughing (saddest sound in the world).  I chalked it up to teething but the advice nurse told me some startling news - fevers are NOT a symptom of teething!!! Everything of course is, but not fevers.  I was shocked (and felt quite bad). Anyway, we go in to see PD (Piglet's doc) who is by all accounts a wonderful person, but pretty reserved and not overly effusive.  Piglet despite feeling terrible, was shockingly good throughout all the poking and prodding.  This prompted PD to say things like "he is a very charming baby" and "what a wonderful disposition this little fella has" and "Piglet is a delightful boy."  Piglet of course,  just ate that up smiling and cooing at the good doc. Btw, turns out the only disease he has is the disease to please, that and a tooth about to come up. ;)

To Piglet, you have brought honor to our family with your highly favorable performance at the office of the healers.  Our great many ancestors are smiling upon you. With that said, I bestow upon you, the gold medal for "Happiness & Harmony While Being Poked and Prodded." Carry on little Grasshoppa.