This week began with my long Monday appointment at the maternal fetal specialist. The boys’ non-stress tests (NSTs) were excellent, but there was some concern regarding the ultrasounds. Gabriel’s Dopplers were a little elevated and he still weighs a significant amount less than his brother. Zeke is 3 pounds, 13 ounces, and Gabriel is 3 pounds, 1 ounce.
However, Gabriel scored perfect on his biophysical profile (BPP), but Zeke scored a 6 out of 8 because he was snoozing and didn’t feel like practicing breathing. None of this was cause for freakin’ out (yet), says the doc. Regardless, my mother-in-law Judy and I left the three-hour round of testing feeling somewhat concerned and drained. Oh, and did I mention that the twins have switched sides again, returning to their original positions in the womb (Gabriel is on my left and Zeke is on my right)? I do believe their going to be hyper just like their big brother.
 
On Tuesday, the twins had their final echocardiograms, since the cardiologist says both boys’ hearts are looking great!
Wednesday started with a trip to Houston’s pediatrician for a wellness check-up. He weighs 30 1/2 pounds and is 34 1/2″ long, and his head is 19 1/8″ around. Yes, he is quite the big boy, donning 2T clothes and a size 7 shoe.
I had an afternoon appointment that same day with my OB. Dr. Stringer and I discussed Monday’s findings, and he explained the pros and cons of keeping the babies inside of my increasingly fragile placenta for as long as possible vs. having them delivered early to stay in the NICU, and induction for a vaginal delivery vs. having a c-section. He offered me guidance, but said that these vital decisions were ultimately up to Stephen and me and that no decision is a wrong decision. With the semi-negative findings from Monday in conjunction with Dr. Stringer’s input, I left this appointment feeling as if I might be having these babies sooner rather than later.
 
Today’s ultrasound showed that Gabriel’s head is still really far down, well below my panty line. He seems to be knocking on the cervical “gate,” but the doors remain closed for the time being. Zeke, whose head is right on top of Gabriel’s noggin, is stretched out across the right side of my tummy and his foot firmly pressed up into my rib cage. Ah, the joys of motherhood!
We also had another round of NSTs, Dopplers and BPPs today, and the boys passed all of these tests with flying colors. Dr. Mertz said that in her professional opinion, my placenta is currently providing Gabriel and Zeke all the blood and nutrients they need. Therefore, we are going to continue prolonging this high-risk pregnancy for as long as possible, reevaluating my placental health (and thus, the twins in-uterine health) from appointment to appointment. I now have two specialist and one OB appointment a week, so any anomaly would hopefully be discovered quickly, and then a swift and appropriate course of action would immediately follow.
Houston is loving having play dates with Dixie and Gracie, heading to the park, Target or Pet Smart with Gramsey, or staying back at the house with Granny when my father-in-law Clarence takes me to my many prenatal appointments. Our outdoor boy is spending tons of time in the yard now that the beautiful fall weather is in full swing. Click the above photo of Houston helping Daddy wash his motorcycle to see some of his latest pics.
