FAQ about growth ultrasounds

I've gotten a few questions about how the growth ultrasounds work so I'll try to answer them here. Please note I did not do any actual research to find out these answers - anything I know I got from the doctors.

1. Are the percentiles for single babies or multiples?
The percentiles are for single babies. Apparently there are no uniform stats for multiples, which I find hard to believe given the explosion of multiples over the past many years. However, I'm always reassured to know that my babies are of average size compared with singletons!

2. How do they estimate the weights?
They measure head diameter and circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, and humerus length. Then they plug all the numbers into the computer and some sort of formula is used to spit out their weights and percentiles. There's probably always a degree of measurement error, but I prefer to believe these good weights are extremely accurate!

3. What else do they look at during the ultrasound?
For each baby, they look at the level of amniotic fluid, the condition of the placenta, organs such as the bladder and stomach (apparently if there is fluid in them it's a good thing, because it means they're swallowing fluid), heart rate, and the ventricles in the brain. They also like to make sure they're moving around enough.

4. How long does the ultrasound take?
Thankfully, I have cooperative babies and a skilled ultrasound technician. This last one took just over 30 minutes to get all the measurements needed for the 3 babies. Still, it's a long time to be on my back (even elevated), and I got really hot at one point. The tech said that's the first sign of restricted blood flow, so she had me lay on my side and gave me a cool washcloth for my face. That really helped.

Of course, then we waited almost another 30 minutes for the doctor to come in to review the results with us. Why do doctors always take so long, and what are they doing while we're waiting??

5. How often do the ultrasounds happen?
They usually like to do the growth ultrasounds every 4 weeks so they can really see the changes and trends in growth. Any earlier than that and there would be too much chance of measurement error and little change between scans. It's hard to wait that long but we're trying to be compliant. :)

Ok, I think that's it. If anyone has more questions feel free to ask!

28w6d Growth Scan

Back from another big appointment! Well, I've been back for 4 hours but had to take a 3 hour nap to recover. We had the ultrasound at 8:30am, then had a break before the 10:30 OB/MFM appointment, so Jason was able to get me a bacon, egg, & cheese sandwich from the hospital cafeteria. It was so good and totally revived me. Then there was more waiting at the OB/MFM appt. but at least they got us into a room more quickly so I could lie down while waiting. Afterwards Jason took me to the McDonald's drive through so I could get a cheeseburger and fries. I think the mild anemia is starting to get to me so I am craving beef again - just like in the first trimester. Don't worry, I am now eating a healthier snack of cottage cheese.

Ok, enough about my eating habits. Here are everyone's statistics:

Baby A: 3lbs, 1 oz, 59th percentile. We got to see her swallowing on the ultrasound!

Baby B: 2 lbs, 11oz, 47th percentile

Baby C: 2 lbs, 11oz, 46th percentile

That is around 8.5 pounds of baby! No wonder I look like a full-term pregnant lady.

Oh, and the best news - Baby C has moved down below my ribs instead of being in them! I had been feeling better the past few days but was afraid to hope that she had moved out. Let's hope it's a permanent move!

All the babies looked good in terms of movement, amniotic fluid, and placentas. The doctor was optimistic enough about how well I'm doing to schedule our next growth scan for 4 weeks from now. He feels it's realistic to expect me to get to at least 34 weeks, but of course he can't predict that with certainty. If they are still inside me 4 weeks from now, he expects they'll be at least 4 pounds, which would be awesome.

Ok, now my stats:
BP: still great at 110/60
cervix: holding steady at 3.5cm long, 1cm dilated
weight gain: getting very close to my minimum goal of 50 pounds; averaging about a 2 pound gain per week.

So the plan is to continue bedrest, continue eating lots of high calorie/high protein foods, and keep growing the babies as long as possible.

A Virtual Baby Shower!

On Saturday we had a virtual baby shower, organized by my mom. We invited the relatives on my dad's side of the family, all of whom live in the midwest, very far away from us on the east coast. We used the www.mebeam.com website to do a live video chat. It was pretty fun to be able to see my aunts and uncles and grandma, as well as my dad, who was back home. All they could see of us was my gigantic belly, although Jason and mom edged their way into view when they could. It was really neat to be able to open each present and thank each relative "in person". Those who weren't able to log on called us as we opened their presents. It made the whole thing much more personal and fun, rather than us just opening presents by ourselves.

Here are some pictures:

Jason showing off the "manly" diaper bag from Howard & Rosella


On the phone and in front of the computer




Crib mobile from Grandma


Book about healthy sleep habits for multiples, from Will & Ginny


Double snap & go stroller from the Colorado clan


Thanks everyone!!!

Snow!

This is the craziest winter ever. Two big snowstorms in one season, plus a few smaller ones. Yesterday I suggested that Jason make some snowmen for fun. Here's what he came up with:





It's a triplet snow family! They are already almost covered up after today's additional snow. Too bad I can't help Jason shovel...

I think we have enough clothes...

My mom has been doing baby laundry nonstop since she arrived. We have been given tons of baby clothes from friends, acquaintances, and even near-strangers - they are all really happy to be cleaning out their closets and helping out a "high need" family. We also received some adorable clothes, blankets, and sheets as shower gifts. We are thrilled that we will probably not have to buy any clothes for the first year, but a bit overwhelmed about where we are going to store everything. The above picture shows all the clothes that have been washed so far - and these are only the preemie, newborn, and 0-3 sizes. We have many boxes in the attic of larger sizes. Our dresser is looking smaller and smaller!

This weekend we are going to attempt to organize everything and get it in drawers, and I will hopefully be able to post an "after" picture in a few days. Thank goodness we have a back-up dresser in our guest room for the overflow!

p.s. my ribs have been feeling a bit better in the last 24 hours or so. I think I was too active on Tues & Wed (dr. appt., folding baby laundry, etc.) so I've been forcing myself to lay more still. I think it's helping.

I think I've hit a wall

Remember the complaining I've been doing in the last few weeks? Ignore it. This complaint is for real this time. Baby C is still wedged up in my right ribs, and in the last few days the pain has gotten increasingly worse. Yesterday it hurt to cough, sneeze, take a deep breath, and move. Until now I've been able to move around fairly well - my belly is big and I get out of breath but it hasn't been painful to move - just awkward. Well, I think we've crossed the bridge into painful. It's hard to find a comfortable position when sitting or lying down, and then when I have to shift positions it starts all over again. I've tried gently massaging my ribs in a downward motion to try to get her to move, asking her nicely to move, and threatening her with being grounded as soon as she's born. :) Nothing has worked yet, although Tylenol sometimes takes the edge off. I know I'm not unique in this - lots of moms of singletons also deal with the baby in ribs issue. I just would really prefer not to have her in my ribs for the next 4-6 weeks. This is the first time I've actually thought that I want the babies out sooner rather than later, just to get rid of the pain. Of course I want them to stay in as long as possible, but when I can't do anything without pain in my ribs I start to get a little cranky and just want them out.

In other news, my mom is still here and might have to be here until Monday since we're expecting another snowstorm this weekend. This is the craziest winter ever! I don't think we've had this much snow in the 6 years we've lived here. At least it's a good season for me to be stuck inside!

Good OB appointment today

Here's the update from today's appointment: Everything is good!
Babies' heart rates are strong
My blood pressure is still nice and low (110/58)
My weight gain is steady (45 pounds so far!)
Cervix is stable at 1cm dilated - no changes in the past week
Fundal height (basically the size of my belly) is 39cm, which means my belly is around the same size as someone who is 39 weeks pregnant with one baby!

Oh - and a few weeks ago I took the 1 hour glucose tolerance test (to test for gestational diabetes) and I passed. yay! no diabetes for me. :)

The doctor jokingly complained that I'm a boring patient. :) I'm supposed to continue the strict bedrest and the medication to manage contractions, and will continue having weekly appointments. The goal is still to get me to at least 32 weeks. Next Tuesday we will have a long ultrasound of the babies so they can measure their growth and we can find out how much they weigh now.

And I have met two of my mini-goals this week! I did not deliver the babies in January, and I have successfully made it to 28 weeks (well, I'll be 28 weeks tomorrow). The next mini-goal is to make it to 30 weeks, although honestly every day that I stay pregnant is a victory as far as I'm concerned.

In other good news, my mom is here staying with us this week. Jason is thrilled to get a break from the constant care-taking, and I am looking forward to starting to organize the nursery with mom. She also got to come to the appointment this morning - I liked that she was able to meet my doctors and nurses and see what my appointments are like.

That's all for now!