Information or Misinformation?

The more monitoring these kids get, the more convinced I am that the tests are really inconclusive or quite possibly, inaccurate. I was originally scheduled only for an NST and a cervical check U/S today, so we didn't expect to see the babies. However, Apple's heart rate looked flat on the strip today. She wasn't having decelerations or anything bad like that, but she wasn't showing accelerations either.  Banana had a bunch of accelerations where his heart rate would jump up for short periods of time.  This is a sign that he is healthy and happy in my ute.

Because Apple wasn't quite as reactive, the doctor decided we'd better do a BPP (biophysical profile) to check her out. And while we were in there, the sonographer did one for Banana as well. Here's what it showed:

Miss Apple:

• Moving around great
• Practice breathing
• Heart rate fine
• Fluid looked pretty good (one pocket at 5cm)
• Blood flow through cord okay from what I gathered (although they didn't really say)
• Weighs about 4 pounds 7 ounces, at the 18th percentile on the growth chart

Mr. Banana:

• Good movement
• Practice breathing
• Heart rate fine
• Fluid looked good (I think I saw a 6cm measurement on the screen when she was measuring a pocket)
• Blood flow through cord okay (again, they didn't say otherwise)
• Weighs about 4 pounds 9 ounces, at the 25th percentile on growth chart
• His testicles have descended!  (yes, Daddy is proud)

So if today's measurements AND last Wednesday's measurements are to be believed, Apple grew a whole pound in 5 days and Banana didn't grow at all.  Not likely.  The doctor said it is possible that Apple could have had a growth spurt and grew about half a pound in that time, but not really a whole pound.   It could be that the measurements on Wednesday were a little stingy while today's where on the generous side.  They were done by different people using different U/S machines, so it is really difficult to truly know what has happened.  It is also possible that Banana didn't grow much as they can grow in spurts and then have short periods where they don't grow much at all.  Last Wednesday the babies had a growth difference of 24% and today they are considered to not really have any difference.  So who knows what to make of any of it?  This is why they don't generally do growth scans any closer than two weeks apart.

Because Apple's BPP looked good, they aren't concerned about her non-reactive NST.  They generally look for accelerations on the NST to show that the baby's heart rate increases with activity, so it is an indication that the baby is moving around.  Healthy babies move a lot.  However, some babies move around a lot, but their heart rate stays steady and doesn't increase.  This is just fine too, but when seen only on an NST, there is no reassurance that the baby is active enough.  You can't rely on kick counts with twins because it is often difficult to tell which twin is moving.  So the BPP is a better indication.  We have another NST scheduled for Thursday and if we run into the same problem, they will do another BPP.  If that does happen, we might skip the NST's altogether and just do BPP's twice a week.  I would much rather have ultrasounds anyway instead of the NST's where I'm hooked up to the monitors.

So what does all of this mean?  As of today, they didn't see anything concerning, but who knows how accurate the measurements are.  At least they are both moving around a lot and have better fluid levels.  The OB did say if the peri wanted to delivery early based on what they are seeing now, she would question the suggestion and argue against it.  This is my main concern-that we will be pushed to make a decision based on misinformation.  It is just difficult to tell which information is good and which is not.  As of today, we are keeping everything the same unless something with me changes (less fetal movement or worse contractions).  At the next appointment on Thursday, I'll be 34 weeks, which is another milestone.

The OB said today that they may not want me to go past 36 weeks (or maybe 37) with the fluid and discordant growth issues.  December 18 is 36 weeks, so place your bets now!

As far as mom goes (meaning me, of course), everything is going well.  Blood pressure is still low and I'm not showing any signs of pre-eclampsia.  My weight gain has continued slow and steady (up about 31 or 32 pounds now).  My belly now measures 40cm.  And I haven't had much swelling.  I do have a bit of swelling in my lower abdomen which the OB said was normal.  She also commented on how little I complain, which my mom and I both thought was funny.  I told the OB she is lucky she isn't at home with me!

My stretch marks continue to itch like mad.  I've tried lotion, cocoa butter, medicated lotion and bio oil, none of which seems to do anything for the itch.  The OB told me to try hydracortisone cream or bena.dryl cream (or even oral be.nadryl), so we'll see if that does anything.  I have my doubts.  Here's my take on the scientific equation:  Skin stretching to ridiculous dimensions in short period of time + dry climate + winter + little limbs constantly poking out = many loud exclamations of "someonemakethisitchgoawayfortheloveofgod!!!!"

I also have some new pains that have popped up in the last couple of days.  The nail on my big right toe somehow seems to be bruised, although I don't remember stubbing it or hitting it on anything (which in no way means that I didn't actually stub it or hit it and just can't recall).  The more annoying pain is in a couple of fingers on my left hand.  Any type of movement that requires the fingers to bend is painful.  The OB said it is likely fluid retention in the joints and that even a tiny amount of fluid can produce pain and stiffness.  She said she would assume it is pregnancy related unless it doesn't go away after the pregnancy.  If it continues to get worse, I might have to start dictating my posts B or my mom!  (just add it to the hundreds of other things they do for me every day).  Other than that, I'm just as uncomfortable as ever and getting antsy every so often.  Still having trouble getting comfortable on the couch or in bed and still having some lovely pelvic pain every time I move.  Nothing new there.

I'm definitely carrying lower now.  Baby B was lower on the ultrasound today and one of the nurses commented on how low the babies are.  This really isn't any indication of when I'll go into labor, so it doesn't really matter.  Although I'm trying not to sit up too much because my belly rests on my thighs which is a really uncomfortable feeling.  Weird.  I'm not supposed to be sitting up anyway, but sometimes a girl's gotta cheat.

In other household news, B bought a ceiling fan/light fixture for the nursery this week and it will be installed sometime next week.  Good thing as there currently isn't a light in the room.  We continue to get other little odds and ends done for baby stuff.  The christmukah tree is officially up and decorated (with the help of my parents and B, while I sat on the couch and put hooks into ornaments).  We got a good 8 inches or so of snow over the weekend, so it really started to feel like winter.  Although it is 50 degrees today and melting quickly.  We also got a cabinet guy out last weekend to give us an estimate for doing a built in for the tv niche in the family room.  We've been wanting to do this for 2 years now (since we moved into this house), and it feels great to have that finally in the works.  It should be ready for installation the week of December 15th though, so we might need to postpone a bit depending on what these babies decide to do.

That's all for now.  We did get two U/S pictures from today, so I'll post later once we get them scanned.

*ETA*

Forgot to mention, my cervix measured 2.7cm today.  On Wed. the peri got two different measurements at 2.5 and 3.0, but she documented the 3.0 in my chart.  So, on paper, it has shortened a tad since Wednesday.