What I realized while talking to him, my mom and friends is that I want more than anything for these boys to be safe and sound and sound and born at a healthy, 30+ week gestation, and I also want to be with my family. I felt like I had to choose between these two things yesterday, and obviously am being as cautious as can be with the boys. My husband and I both decided I'd have to stay put unless Dr. P suggested that there was no need for it at this point.
I was so excited to talk to her this morning, but she ended up doing rounds late this afternoon instead. When she came in I was ready to communicate clearly with her, and get her opinion. It went something like this:
Me: Okay, I really want to be cautious and make sure they stay in as long as I can, but am I any safer here?
Dr. P: Not right now. Your contractions have been SO few the last couple days, and your cervix is stable. In fact (takes me off toco monitor) you don't need to be monitored anymore unless you feel a lot of contractions.
Me: So is it reasonable to measure my cervix again on Friday and do an fFN and if all looks the same I can go on strict bed rest at home?
Dr. P: Yes. If it is the same, and the fFN is negative, I will discharge you. You will have to be on more strict rest- no trips up and down the stairs, no walking around. Having you here is being extra cautious, which is fine, but it is not really necessary right now. I will check your cervix twice/week and if it shortens at all, you'll be readmitted.
Me: (Trying to be as explicit as I can) If all is okay on Friday and I head home, I am not in anymore danger of delivering early if I follow the rules and take my meds?
Dr. P: (Looking at me like I am kind of slow) That is right. I will schedule your U/S and fFN for Friday. We'll talk then. You should get to have your baby shower at home now!
Me: (Sniff, sniff.) THANK YOU! We should talk like this more often! (Not really, but that is what I was thinking.)
Who has a big grin on their face? ME! It was awesome to be reassured by her that I was not risking anyone's life by sleeping in a different bed. I will be taking the same meds and resting as much. I asked about home monitoring for contractions and she said since I've demonstrated that I know when I am having them, it is better to just call and be seen.
I feel so much better today! Now I know that if I have to stay (due to more contracting or a shorter cervix on Friday) that it will be necessary and if all is the same, I can rest at home, hopefully preserving a shred of my sanity.
The boys and I at 25 weeks. They have grown!
The physical therapist just came in and talked with me about the wonderful affects of losing muscle mass while bed resting and how to do some simple exercises. She also told me Kegel exercises can help strengthen the cervix and prevent shortening! True or not, I will be doing mine religiously now.
YAY Carrie, that's wonderful news! I pray for a lenthened cervix and a discharge on friday! Just think, even if you do have to be admitted again, it's for the safety of the boys and there really isn't much time left before you'll be having those guys. I'm 3 weeks ahead of you (with one) and you'll still have those babies before me.
ReplyDeleteI'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best for you and those boys.
Hey You!
ReplyDeleteSorry I didn't comment on your last post! Wifi is spotty so I can read but commenting is tough.
I'm sorry you had a rough day yesterday! I wish I could be there to give you a huge hug and tell you all will be well. I love your play by play of your conversations with your dr. Especially that he looked at you like you are "kind of slow." LOL!!! Humor in darkness is the best medicine. That and apparently Kegels. ;)
Much love and comfort to you my friend. XOXO
I'm so glad that you had a good conversation with your Dr. today. Here's hoping that Friday brings you being discharged and home with your family... :)
ReplyDelete**hugs**
Yaaay! That is some great update! I am praying for some more great update on Friday! Lots os warm Hugs your way!
ReplyDeleteHoping you get to go home on Friday! Do those kegels! :)
ReplyDeleteWOnderful news...I hope you can enjoy your shower at home!!! ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteYou are so amazing. I just sit here in wonder that you are carrying three THREE babies and you have a little one at home and you care so much about everyone and still manage to be so calm!!
ReplyDeleteSo happy you get to go home.
EB
You are not bi-polar, you are PREGNANT! Which has many of the same symptoms. :) I'm glad you had a productive talk with the doc, and you feel comfortable about the plan. That's what is important!
ReplyDeleteI've been following your blog for a few weeks now. We just found out last week that we are also having three boys (two identical). They were a result of IVF. I am 18 weeks and I can totally relate when it comes to being as safe as possible so that the little guys are kept in for as long as possible. Good luck to you and I'll be checking in to see how it is all going!
ReplyDeleteWow - I check out for a few days and lots happens! Well I am glad you room is nice but even happier that you will hopefully be able to go back home on Friday. So happy for you but completely understand your OCDness. i am the same way. Hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you had a good talk with your doctor and that you will hopefully get to home on Friday! It must be reassuring to hear that as long as you follow the bed rest rules, (and I am sure you will) that you will still be okay for while.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I read your updates and you have a positive outlook, it raises my hopes for my pregnancy-so thank you! It's nice to be checking in with someone who is so close to where I am and see that you are continuing on so well! Thanks for crossing all your appendages for me-just don't hurt yourself while doing that! :)
I will think good thoughts for you this week and on Friday especially. Hopefully you'll be in your own bed this weekend!
Good for you! I'm so happy you get to go home!! Now, be a good girl and follow those instructions - STRICT BED REST young lady! :)
ReplyDeleteHi. I just wanted to let you know that I'm reading your blog. I'm a mommy to twin boys born at 30 weeks. I can't believe they will be 2 next month!
ReplyDeleteI just want to say that you are doing awesome! Hang in there and keep those babies cookin' for many more weeks to come.
You just crack me up!:) It is hard to balance all the needs of your children and you are doing such a GREAT job! Just keep in mind, that in the grand scheme of things any time you HAVE to spend in the hospital is relatively short (for a HUGE pay-off) and A is so incredibly wonderful and I know misses you so much, but this time will quickly be replaced with Mommy at home and three baby brothers to be besotted over - at least until they can get into her room and "mess" it up! :)
ReplyDeleteHang in there and let me know if you want something divinely delicous from Purple before the week is up!
Yay!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for a nice, LONG cervix and no contractions from now until Friday.
What a beautiful belly! :)
Kegels -- is there anything they can't do???
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you got some reassurance. What is so hard about so much of this stuff is how to separate what is truly physically making a difference versus what is not. It sounds like you got some clarity on this front. I'm sending lots of good thoughts for a good ultrasound and fFN on Friday!
Awesome news, Carrie! I'm sending "long cervix thoughts" your way right now! And no contractions, and a neg. fFN! I completely forgot to tell you that Diane (K teacher) got her adopted baby on Sat...birth mom gave birth at your hospital! I should have told her to come pay you a visit! They're home now, so I'll fill you in on the long story some other time. It's a good one! Hugs to you and that gorgeous belly of yours! XO
ReplyDeleteAnna
Great news! So glad you are doing so well contraction wise and feeling more certain about where you should be right now! I hope that your fFn comes back negative on friday and everything else goes as planned and you get to be at home for your baby shower! :) Praying for you every day! HUGS!
ReplyDeleteOh, the wonderful physical therapist. Blah, Blah, Blah. I run marathons and was annoyed because she said if I didn't do my exercises (rolling my neck, wrists, ankles, etc. since I wasn't allowed to get out of bed) it would take forever to get back into shape and I would be a wreck. Low and beyond, because of my two months of trips back and forth to the NICU after they were born I resumed marathon training when given the okay 6 weeks after delivery. I did lose a significant amount of muscle mass, but I was too stubborn.
ReplyDeleteI remember how hard it was to be away from Mark and the boys. My heart goes out to you. You are in a good place, but it is incredibly hard to have to set aside everything else in your life. If being in the hospital really helps you to rest more and have fewer contractions, tell your doctors. I remember that the docs were getting ready to send me home before my water broke and I was not sure what to do. I knew that at home, I could not rest as much as at the hospital, but at the same time I really wanted to be with my sons. After my water broke, it was clear that I would have to stay at the hospital for the rest of my pregnancy. Knowing that I had to stay was probably just as hard as not knowing. I hope that your cervix is stable and you can go home...but do whatever you need to do to relax that uterus and grow those babies!
ReplyDeleteFanfreakingtastic, mama! I am so glad you get to park your tushie at home with your little girl instead of in the hossy. Lots of prayers going up that your cervix lengthens. <3
ReplyDeleteThis is great news! I can't wait to see those beautiful boys! Not yet though, of course :)
ReplyDeleteYAY! Take is E.A.S.Y at home! Im so glad you get to go home for awhile. Mentally that will be so much healthier. You will relax more if you can be with A. BUT...With that said, NO NOT heitate to go back in if you need too. All that matters in the long run is healthy babies, not where you were sleeping while they were growing. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah! What great news. I can't imagaine being away from our little one(s). What an impossibly difficult situation! You are so strong and an inspiration to all of us! Your tummy is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYAY!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's great news!!!!!!!! :)))
ReplyDeleteLove your bump!
Take easy and enjoy the time at home!!
Hi there! First of all I wanted to say congratulations on your getting a straight and confident answer from the doc- that's not always an easy thing to do! And I'm so glad you are likely going home on Friday.
ReplyDeleteI saw your comment on my blog and wanted to quick introduce myself. When I first found out I was having Triplets I googled everything I could of course and your blog is the first thing I came across. I spent a good 2 hours reading the whole thing. I know I'm a bit neurotic but as I'm sure you know when you first get a shocker like "There's three babies in there" you want to know every possible thing you can about how this is or could play out and what to expect. So anyways, thank you. I have learned a lot from reading about your experiences and had a few good chuckles at some of your more lighthearted posts.
I have and will continue to be praying for the health and continued growth of your babies. I enjoy checking back often for updates on you guys and I look forward to seeing happy healthy babies on your blog soon (But hopefully not until Ocotber!!).
*Pregnancy Hug*
Saying lots of prayers everything is well enough for you to go home! I was in the hospital for 4 weeks before I delivered & while I knew I was in the best place possible it was ROUGH!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to you!!!!!!!!!! Wishing you good fortune and joy! Mhttp://romancingthestone1.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteSuch good news, Carrie! I'm hoping you get to head home on Friday and wait out the remainder of your time with the boys inside in the comfort of your home with your family nearby.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a roller coaster isn't it? I'm glad you're on an upswing. Sounds like you have a good plan in place.
ReplyDeleteYou can do this!
You look great! I am so happy for you to be going home! That is wonderful news.
ReplyDeleteNow, make sure you follow those rules! No out of bed except to pee!!! :) It's so much easier to do a little something when you are at home... I know you will be extra diligent!
I am tickled pink (well, blue!) for you! This is awesome news!
You and the boys are doing such a great job. I think you are holding up remarkably well considering the circumstances. I am hoping that all goes well and you are able to go home! (((hugs)))
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