37 Weeks 4 Days

 

Oh my gosh, just 3 days left...I'm getting nervous! I've never known when I was going to have a baby before...it's crazy to know for sure when they will be here. 

We had an ultrasound and NST before our appointment with the OB today. Babies are still both head down and have plenty of fluid. I am dilated to 3 and 70-80% effaced. We have a good start once labor begins. 

Jon and Sara came over last night and we enjoyed a relaxing and peaceful night in...just kidding....my kids hung on them and wrestled with them and I believe Easton may have inadvertently thrown food at them (he got a little excited while eating dinner). 

Here is a picture from our photo shoot. 

I feel good and I'm still sleeping well. My only complaint would be my swollen legs and feet. Today was my last day of work for a bit, I won't be gone too long 2-4 weeks at most. I suppose my next post might have a picture of a baby or two in it!!!!

This is a shirt Sara got me a while back. 

37 Weeks

We are down to ONE week...it is so surreal to think in one week these babies will no longer be inside of me. I feel good except my Fred Flintstone feet...I am going to post a pic to try to do justice as to just how large they have become. 

Other than that, everything is going well, we have 2 doctor appointments this week and my hope is that the babies will come sometime this weekend on their own. I'm not excited about the idea of being induced. The good part of being induced is that I will know that I have kept these babies in every last second that I could. 

 

⬆️ Seriously can't do justice with a picture lol. 

36 Weeks 4 Days

Jon made it to Iowa despite the weather this week. They came to our home for dinner on Tuesday and our crazy kids gave them a dose of reality...let's just say they weren't shy. 

Tonight we had a non-stress test and saw the doctor. My blood pressure was a little higher than usual so they sent me to the hospital for bloodwork and ultrasound. The bloodwork came back normal, my blood pressure went down and the ultrasound showed plenty of fluid. Both babies are looking amazing. Baby A is around 4lb 11oz and his sister is around 5lb 2oz. This isn't exact but it sounded good to us. They are both close to (or over) 5lbs which is awesome. 

We finally left the hospital at a quarter to nine and made our way to the hotel to have a late dinner with Jon's parents, the poor things were supposed to meet us at 6:30. They were delightful and worried about the babies. We assured them that everything was fine and enjoyed our meal and time together. 

In ten days or less the babies will be here and I can't wait!! 

36 Weeks

In 14 days or less these babies will be here. I am feeling excited and a little nervous. While I have had amazing labors and deliveries in the past, I got nervous with each. There's the pain factor of course and all the "what ifs". I can't wait for the moment that they are safely in their parents' arms.

Sara arrived Thursday and we had a non stress test, ultrasound and OB appointment on Friday. Everything looked great, babies are thriving and cord blood flow looked good. They did not do measurements on babies because it had only been 2 weeks since the last time.

Jon's flight in today was canceled because of the weather so hopefully he can fly in tomorrow. 

We have plans to meet Jon's parents on Friday evening, my oldest daughter's birthday party is Saturday, and we have pictures planned for Sunday- so hopefully  the babies know they are to stay in for one more week for sure :-)

I am feeling good, my feet are really starting to swell by the end of the day, but other than that, I can't complain. 

35 Weeks

Down to 3 weeks before these babies make their grand entrance into the world. I feel good, trying to enjoy my last days of pregnancy. 

At my appointment on Friday both babies  passed the non-stress test with flying colors. Baby girl passed first this time, she's usually the more relaxed baby. Maybe having flipped to a head-down position has given her the leg room she needed to really get moving. 

I am 2cm dilated and 70% effaced so when the time comes we will not be wasting any time getting to the hospital. 

Sara comes on Thursday so she can be at the ultrasound Friday morning. Jon will be here on Monday, they will stay from this point until the babies are born. I told Sara that I will feel so much better when they get here, I know I'm not in control of this, but I would feel awful if they weren't here for the birth.

No signs of labor at this point, a little water retention but nothing major. 

34 Weeks

Eeek! One month from today (possibly sooner) we get to see what these two little peanuts look like! As I mentioned this weekend, Baby B flipped and is now in a head down position. This was great news, twins who are head down can be delivered naturally. I realize this isn't a sure thing, the babies still have time to change positions before labor and Baby B still may change positions after her brother has been delivered. If Baby B changes positions after delivery they will try to turn her externally and/or internally. As long as she tolerates this, we can proceed with a vaginal delivery for her as well. There is a chance that I would need a c-section with the second baby, but the odds have gone down for that as long as she stays head down.

I have had 3 un-medicated births with my own children and would love to be able to do this again with the twins. My reason for wanting an un-medicated birth include;
1. The babies won't have a chance of suffering side effects of the drugs.
2. There's less of a chance for an unnecessary c-section (sometimes epidurals cause the person in labor's blood pressure and/or heart rate to fluctuate in an unhealthy way and sometimes the babies don't tolerate the epidural well with fluctuating heart-rates)
3. Not having an epidural means the woman in labor can be mobile...laying on your back can cause labor to stop progressing. Changing positions, walking around and being in the tub helped my first 3 labors to go quickly and smoothly with no complications.

I don't have anything against epidurals, in fact, I have said for all 3 labors that I have already been through, that I would be open to one if I felt like I couldn't manage my pain and if labor lasted longer than I felt I could handle. I would never judge anyone else for getting an epidural, just as I wouldn't expect to be judged for not getting one.

I also hope and pray for a vaginal delivery because of the benefits for the babies.
1. When babies are born vaginally they have less chance for respiratory problems because the pressure expels the amniotic fluid in the babies' lungs.
2.  When babies are born vaginally they pick up a protective bacteria that they ingest. This bacteria colonizes in their intestines and forms a balanced immune system as they develop from childhood into adulthood. (americanpregnancy.org)

Also there is a lower rate of maternal mortality and less recovery time- both sound good to me :-)


We found out that the babies are just under 4lb each (3lb 12oz and 3lb 14oz), these measurements are approximate, based on the ultrasound, they have grown nearly one pound in the last 4 weeks. The perinatologist said that this was perfectly fine growth and based on genetics they just might not be very big babies. I'm hoping to keep them growing for at least a few more weeks and get them up to 5 pounds a piece. I am hoping they can avoid NICU time and be ready to go home soon after their birth. Only time will tell when these two will make their grand entrance!

She flipped!!!

I can't wait for Monday to post...we had our ultrasound yesterday and both babies are now head down! I had a hunch, but wasn't positive. This is great news because now we have an excellent chance at a safe natural delivery. 

Will post more on Monday, hopefully this snow doesn't ruin our plans with Sara today, but keeping the babies off of nasty winter roads is probably the better choice. 

Check out this gorgeous picture...two little heads side by side.