29w0d: Omen

Still in the hospital, we’re all hanging in there. Mostly uneventful except for a resurgence of contractions over the weekend, now back under control. Cervix has actually grown from .5 cm back to .9 cm! They would let me go soon if I wanted, but I’m not ready to leave just yet.

Now for the omen. I received these chips with my hospital lunch.

The “guaranteed fresh until” date is my ideal date to finish helping these babies get “baked,” for several reasons.

It would be 36 weeks, an excellent twin gestation. That is too much to hope for me now, as 36 weeks would be well beyond all doctors’ expectations. But, it sure sounds good.

It is the birthday of my late grandfather, the first birthday since his death.

It is even the birthday of another set of twins in my family.

I can’t think that far ahead — it’s one day at at time, one hour at a time right now. But wouldn’t it be nice? Until then, I’ll just be lying here with my little taters.

27w1d: Bedrest Follies

Preface: I had to reschedule my MFM cervix check, because I slept through the appointment. The 1 p.m. appointment.

Boo: Cervix shortened a little more, to 1.8 cm.

Enh: MFM is not alarmed.

Yay: I don’t have to lie totally on my side all the time. Sometimes I can lie partly on my back, as long as I’m propped up and at a 20 degree angle minimum.

MFM isn’t letting me go anywhere (including birth classes) or sit up for more than 15 minutes at a time. I pointed out to her that the expectations for my 3-hour glucose tolerance test contradict her instructions, since I’ll be required to sit in a waiting room chair for 3 hours. MFM said to ask the OB how we can do the test with me lying down during the waits. I called the OB’s office, and they said this is the first time that anyone has had an issue doing the 3-hour test during bedrest. Really?!? They deliver hundreds of babies a year, and I’m the first one?

Then the nurse consulted the OB and reported to me, “Just do the test as planned. It’s fine.” No, it’s not fine. If they’re not going to help me, I’ll work something out. So, if anyone walks into a blood lab and you see a pregnant lady lying on the floor at a 20 degree angle, you’ll know who it is.

In other news, particularly amusing in light of our discussion of Moose, I received the “diet” I’m supposed to follow for 3 days before my glucose tolerance test. I’m supposed to eat lots of carbs all the time, and in addition to my normal amount of food every day, add:

• 1 can non-diet soda
• 2 extra pieces of bread
• piece of cake
• candy bar

I think they need to invent a new word, because that is no diet.

26w4d: Status Update

Non-substantive status update on pregnancy and bedrest, for anyone who may be wondering. The next post will be more interesting.

Glucose screen positive. 3-hour test next week. I’m not worried. Probably a false positive anyway, but if not, as long as the babies stay put, I will deal with whatever comes. 

fFN negative! Hooray! This is such a relief. This means that I very likely will not go into labor for at least two weeks. 26 weeks and 28 weeks are totally different worlds, prematurity-wise. And, it will hopefully be months longer.

My thrilling plans for the rest of the day:

• Finish reading BBBB book.
• Take a shower. I’m saving this up for a big treat later.
• Do a few hours of work, logistics permitting (Typing while on my side is difficult. I’ve ordered voice recognition software, but any suggestions from bedrest veterans until it arrives?).
• Watch a DVD with DH.
• Continue to remain 100% caught up on my blog-reading and random web-surfing.

I have been considering a field trip upstairs to sit on a different sofa (and see my cat), but I may save that for tomorrow.

Except for the difficult logistics of being sideways at all time, things are great. Especially after the negative fFN, I am thrilled and grateful for each uneventful day that passes.