I am at 32 weeks today, so I have begun counting down (something like 6 more weeks!!!) The longer I can keep these little ones in, the better, however with twin pregnancies, something like 50% have naturally ended by the end of week 36. The rest of them would be best ended by 38 weeks in order to avoid placenta problems or low amniotic fluid. This means that I really have 4-6 weeks to go. I would rather not be off giving birth on Thanksgiving, which also happens to be my oldest daughter's birthday. My amazing husband is hoping for a December 17th birth (that is 38 weeks 1 day) because that is his birthday. I told him that is an odd way to choose to spend your birthday.
I know it has been a long time, but that is not my fault because I simply have had no news. Up until last week, I had no doctors appointments since my last blog post. We had some scheduling issues with my doctors office, so I was a couple of weeks late getting my gestational diabetes screening in. My sugar was a little high for the one hour test, so I was very concerned. Everything has been so text book perfect for this pregnancy that I guess I was waiting for the shoe to drop that ruined the smooth journey we have had so far. I explained what this meant to my IPs and they are just as calm as ever. I have can't help but feel just so LUCKY that Tina matched me with these IPs. I cannot give much information on them as they are shy and do not wish to be part of the blog, but I can sum them up as sweet, grateful, patient, and kind. I have been hearing other stories of IPs who get a little lost towards the end. These other IPs are gearing up for a life change but they have no control over the actual catalyst for the change. My IPs are not like that at all. They have asked me questions such as what they will need to bring for the hospital and what they will need to take care of the babies while they are here. I am at a loss sometimes because I have never dealt with twins. The most beautiful moments are sometimes just small things. My IM said meeting me was very lucky for them. It was just very touching because most days I feel like all I am doing is being a little more lazy (resting more), and other days I have symptoms that are bearable. It is life changing for them but really is not that big of a change for me, and my change is short term. Either way, their constant calm demeanor keeps me calm as we near the end of the journey. I was concerned that if I failed the 3 hour glucose test I would cause problems for their babies. I admit I also worried because this journey has been such a wonderful experience that I would hate for GD to take away my chances to be a surrogate again someday. My first 3 hour glucose test was a complete bust because I drank the sugary nastiness, the babies went absolutely sugar rush crazy in my stomach, and I got sick before I hit even 30 minutes. I was sent home that day. The second time, my doctor prescribed me some anti nausea meds. I still felt yucky the whole time, but I kept the stuff down. My levels came up in the normal range so we are clear on the gestational diabetes. My IPs were happy, but had been unconcerned from the beginning. At my last ultrasound (last week) we discovered that both babies are now facing head down and ready to go. Assuming they don't squirm enough to flip around again, we are primed for that vaginal birth I am hoping for. The babies are within a good weight range and looking overall quite healthy. Baby boy is 3 lbs 9 oz, and baby girls is 3 lbs 7 oz. My only complaint is that both sets of feet are now up in my ribs, so when they babies stretch out I feel like my ribs are being expanded a little. It is not the most comfortable feeling. Baby boy's head near my bladder can sometimes cause a bit of discomfort as well. Other than that, my only symptoms worth mentioning are constipation and heartburn. Unfortunately, the medicine for the heartburn can make constipation worse. Of course. I am not sleeping wonderfully due to the heartburn so I have been trying to drink extra water all day, then I can take my Tums at night without too much trouble. At least the babies will be getting plenty of calcium. Where I am now: Well, I think you would call it nesting, though I have no nest to build. I have been overtaken with the urge to take on creative projects. I am a special effects make up artist for a local haunted house, so that helped me be quite creative, but we just ended the season there. I decided I wanted to learn air brush make up and went out to buy a beginning airbrush set to practice with. I keep making new patterns and designs on a styrofoam head. I have also started crocheting things, though I am kind of bad at that. Basically, I feel like my normal nesting energy is going into full throttle, but I have no direction to point it in, so I am all over the place with crafts and fun things. Looking to the future: Yes, I am definitely considering being a surrogate again. This has been a beautiful experience for me. I have met so many people through this who have struggles with infertility. The other day I had a lady I had just met start asking questions about my pregnancy. I have a 3 question limit. If they keep asking questions after that, that is when I decide to tell them that I am carrying for a surrogacy. This is mostly because people react the same whether they think I am about to have 5 children of my own or they know I am giving these twins back to their parents. Either way it is against the norm, so I prefer the truth as early as possible. So at question number 4, I told this woman that I was actually a surrogate and she just HUGGED me. Not even a little hug: a bonafide HUG. She shared with me that she was unable to carry her own children so she just 'adopted' some grandchildren that she helped out with and spent her time with. This is actually not that unusual. More people struggle with infertility than I ever imagined, and more people understand surrogacy than I had previously thought. Without fail, they think I am this amazing person dong an amazing thing. Since I have enjoyed the journey so much, I feel that credit is undeserved. It can't be that amazing if it's simply what I was made for, right? So I will base my final decision on how the actual birth goes and my healing time afterwards, but as of right now, I very much want to do this again. In the meantime, I am very happy to get to pump for three months for the twins I am currently carrying. After that, I will probably begin milk donation to a preemie milk bank or similar until my body is ready to go.
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