I know I just posted a few days ago and some of you have heard this sudden news, but I wanted to get it down in writing as well. First off, yes, we still have two healthy girls inside me! Shane and I had our 28 week Perinatology appointment with the Neonatologist at UVRMC on Thursday. I had a bit of an uneasy feeling going into it. The babies looked great! Growing at the same rate still and weighing in at 2pounds 6oz. The Dr. asked me towards the end if I've been having contractions and lots of pressure.....I knew from previous appts if I didn't say YES then they wouldn't check my cervix and this was what I was a little on edge about. So I lied a bit and said yes. Sure enough I was getting my trans-vaginal exam as I hoped for. Not great news....My cervix is opening up, alot. In fact its barely holding itself together. It's supposed to be 4-5 centimeters. (If you make a fist a cervix is about as thick as all four fingers, across - NOT lengthwise) Unfortunately my cervix is closed by only .7 of a centimeter. (about as thin as half the width of my pinky) Confusing? I know. Basically meaning I'm over 85% effaced. Within minutes we were emited into the hospital and I was being hooked up to all kinds of needles and tests. They especially wanted to run stress tests on the babies. Meanwhile the Neonatologist was on the phone getting further instructions from my OB, Dr. Judd.
To my surprise, the stress tests were showing I was having contractions and abdomen irritability every 12 min or so... Weird, I just kind of thought my stomach was growling because I was so hungry. haha, I really did. So after he found out about the regular contractions, Dr. Judd requested I get that steriod shot to help the babies lungs develope faster. (May I please express my gratitude for technology and meds these days!!!!) The shot feels like peanut butter and stings a bit but I told them to poke me 100 times if it helps the girls. * Shane was so cute and supportive and trying to help out during such a helpless situation*
The next day we got my second dosage of the same shot for the babies lungs and they did a fetal fibronectin test. This test detects a protein present in the cervix. My results came back negative- which is awesome because a positive test result would mean I'll most likely go into labor within two weeks. So this was encouraging news. The downfall is they did another exam on my cervix, this one was digital, and found that I'm thinner and much softer that day than the previous.
( 'A-bee' and 'B-bee' side profiles)
End result?...bedrest, again. I really thought I was going to cry because I know exactly what this is like. I had 4 months of it in the beginning of pregnancy only this time I'm huge and quite uncomfortable. BUT then they told me I got to eat and I forgot all about bedrest.... (I love you Lar and Cher thanks for the most delicious hamburger of my life!!)..... :)
Dr. Judd and the hospital nurses said that with everything I've been through during this pregnancy, my body is obviously not going to hold it together as long as we'd all hoped it would. With the extra pressure, extra baby, extra fluid, and extra placenta I have about a month left if I'm lucky. It's just too much for my cervix to handle. I didn't realize I've been having that much extra pressure. Of course I feel it but complaining about it doesn't make it go away, either. I've been told I need to be more vocal and express what I'm feeling during these last few weeks. Done, I can do that. Now we're just timing my contractions and crossing our fingers my cervix holds out a little longer because once it opens then I'll most likely start dialating. I feel pretty good about everything and I know we're supposed to have these baby girls. I can't wait to hold and smell them! I only hope it's not too soon before I do; and in the meantime Shane and I will do whatever it takes. Honestly, this is such a small sacrifice for what we're getting in return!!
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