34 week update

Hey y'all! I just got back from our OBGYN appointment. Everything, as usual (PRAISE THE LORD!), looked wonderful! My doctor even said I should get a twin pregnancy award. Ha ha. :o) It was a tough ultrasound today because they are so big and all up in each others business. Both babies are technically head down. Jack Henry way lower (butt up & left) and Harrison is under Jack Henry's tummy (butt up &right). Jack Henry is approx 5 lb 14oz and Harrison is approx 6 lb 8 oz. They are some big boys and I love it! Each of them gained about 1 lb in the past 2 weeks, and if they continue that trend, they will be approx 6 lbs 14 oz and 7 lbs 8 oz at 36 weeks. That is stellar! Even if they are born and have the weights they have now, they'd have excellent birth weights.

They used the ultrasound to measure my cervix. Mine is still in good condition, but my Dr. did say that when it gets to the size mine is, typically the baby(ies) come in 2 weeks. His money is on 36 weeks, and I'm fully supportive of that. Granted, keeping them in longer would be ideal b/c they'd have more time to bake, but 36 is full term for twins and I'm just rooting for at least 36 weeks so they have a greater chance of lung development and staying out of the NICU. (Please, Lord!)

Next week, I am scheduled for a NST (non-stress test) where I will rest on my left side and they will monitor my contractions (I've yet to have a real one that actually hurts, but plenty of braxton hicks, which is normal) as well as the babies' movements and heart rates. It measures the reactivity of the babies' heart rates to their movement. Everything is ok. Apparently it is just something they do for different types of pregnancies, including, but not limited to, overdue and high risk (twins are high risk). Afterward, I'll move upstairs for an ultrasound and regular 35 week checkup where the Dr. said he will check me to see if I'm progressing. The plan is to let me go as long as possible granted I haven't progressed a certain amount each week when he checks.

I asked the Dr. what would make him say "ok, it's time" and he said if he checked me and I was 3 cm and was having real contractions (I have not had any at this point). I am so glad to know that we are on the same page. We are not going to take these babies out JUST because I make it to 36 weeks. If there's nothing wrong and I haven't progressed a certain amount, there is no reason to deliver them yet.

I guess that is about it! They will be here very soon and we're definitely trying to figure out everything that needs to get accomplished before they get here. Quite technically, there is nothing left to do that couldn't be done after they are born.... however, there's a short list of things that need to be done to make our life easier if they don't have to be done after the babies come.

Hope y'all are doing well. I'm off to write a paper for class. We did have an ultrasound today, but she did not send us home with any pictures. There weren't any good ones due to the fact that the babies were so squished together.