Update: Growth Scan

I have been so anxious and nervous this entire week. It's felt like a lot to be honest. I had three appointments this week - two were with the Maternal Fetal Medicine and one was with the regular OB. My first appointment was okay and everything was looking fine. As I was waiting to speak with the specialist near the end of that appointment the specialist rushed in and asked me to follow her to the front desk. There had been a cancellation and she wanted me to get that available slot before it went to someone else. This was my first time even meeting this particular specialist and I instantly got nervous with how urgent everything suddenly seemed. After that available appointment became mine (meaning I now had four appointments for the week) we went back to the ultrasound room to talk. She told me that she really wanted me to have that appointment because instead of waiting to do the growth scan next week on the 8th she felt strongly I needed to have it done this week. Depending on how that appointment goes will determine if I'll be having these babies this weekend, next week or if I can stay pregnant even longer. I was already nervous but now even more so. She went on to tell me that the monitoring I've been getting done has all looked great and that were no concerns with the blood cord flow or the fluid pockets so I was confused why so far all of the doctors have been telling me that everything looks okay but that I'll need to deliver early.

It wasn't until my next appointment which was the next day that I was able to get some clarifications on that. I was seeing my OB and he repeated what everyone else has said about the ultrasounds looking good but that he felt like he should be very cautious and that my c section should be scheduled soon. That's when I told him how confused I was because if everything looked good why do they need to be born before term? He explained that the fact that they are measuring small and in the growth restricted range is what's making everyone nervous because no one knows why they are measuring small. It could be nothing and just genetics and the fact that they are just on the smaller side naturally or it could be huge and signs of the placenta giving up which is very dangerous for both babies. He explained that their ultimate goal is to avoid two stillbirths and they just want the babies here healthy and alive. After hearing him explain this to me I finally understood and could see that they just don't want to miss any signs that could lead to fatal outcomes. Of course I also want to end this pregnancy in the best possible outcome for these girls. The doctor told me that if all looks good at my final appointment of the week where I'd get the growth scan done that I could possibly push the delivery date until February 22nd which is just before 35 weeks gestation. Obviously if the girls are still showing small then we're looking at a very soon delivery date. The doctor asked if I'd like to tentatively schedule the C Section already or wait until after I see how the growth scan goes and I opted to wait just a little to see the results.

Today was the day the growth scan day finally came and I was very nervous. I had Danny give me a blessing earlier in the week but I was still feeling very anxious. I was very pleased with how it turned out though. The sonographer was able to get all the measurements she needed and I was feeling calm just from her demeanor about it all. She did tell me that the babies were looking good and that she felt good about their weight. Baby A was now measuring 3 lbs 15 ounces and Baby B was measuring 3 lbs 14 ounces. That's a full pound heavier from when the concerns were first brought up so I was happy to see they have been growing and are almost four pounds each.

The specialist came in and was very happy as well with the results. She told me how excited she was to tell me that the babies went from being in the 8% to 16%. She said they are no longer considered as growth restricted and the fact that both babies progressed is very positive news. She told me that she was fully prepared to tell me that I'd have to deliver these babies tomorrow but now feels like I can make it pregnant into March which has always been my personal goal for these babes. I was really happy to hear that. She told me that she'd like me to still continue getting stress tests done twice a week with weekly ultrasounds but that I could start picturing myself delivering full term twin girls. That was music to my ears. I know I'm not completely out of the woods and that I need to stay prepared for anything but I'm feeling optimistic and want to continue feeling this way.

At 32 weeks my belly is measuring 43!