Recorder & Our Dec 27 Dr Appt.

My parents got us a video camera for Christmas! Yay!! We have been wanting one since we found out about the twins. Since Christmas Eve, when we officially opened presents and received this wonderful device, Jeff has recoreded just about everything, from Christmas morning to our Dr appt on the 27th, Fishing for his brothers cats, and his job this evening. I was able to see how absolutely boring 911 can be, although Im sure if it werent boring that would mean plenty of people could be having the worst day of their life and also he wouldnt have had the time to record. Im always thankful when his job is slow. I am looking forward to our next Dr's appt tomorrow morning. We will be talking with Axline more about which hospital and then from their I will hopefully be meeting with either the Peri/MFM at Lewisville Medical or the other OB and MFM's I will be seeing at the other hospital. Hopefully I can get an "official" confirmation on Jan. 19 as inpatient, so far its only been a "unofficial" confirmation. I could use some solid info. I feel like everything has been in limbo since we found out about the Monoamniotic diagnosis. Wishing a Merry Monday to All! And hopefully some good news for us!


Dr Appt 12-27-08

MFM & umbilical cord knot

I saw a different MFM than I normally have been seeing, and he was absolutely wonderful!! We decided on Lewisville Medical as opposed to Baylor Grapevine for inpatient... and then apparently my OB had brought up the possibility of Medical City Dallas for inpatient. I dont know how I feel about this. Obviously I want the best care possible, right? I dont think my quality of life at Medical City will be the same as Lewisville. First off Medical City is alot farther away than Lewisville. I wont see my family nearly as much. Addi will be left without a mother for up to 10 weeks, which absolutely breaks my heart. And then on top of that I will have to drive every day to Medical City to see my babies. Frustrating. And then there is the part of me that knows I have no control over this, no matter which hospital I choose God is totally in control. They could live or die according to His Will at either hospital. So do I take the chance and stay close to home knowing God will take care of us and have His Will in our lives or do I decide for the other hospital and use the most control I have over the situation? Is it irresponsible? I dont know if I feel good with the Medical City decision? I dont know if it sets right. And then I have to decide do I feel that way because that's what I've been planning on or because I have intuition? Either way for sure inpatient Jan 19, unless something happens and I have to go earlier. Happy Holidays to everyone!

Some days.

So this pregnancy I've been mostly positive, considering Im a worrier. Today was not one of those days. I had a mini-cry session (I never cry) & disagreement with Jeff at the Dr appt even though both of our boys look Great! Its hard for me to watch our boys on the screen knowing they are doing so well and wonder if they will still be doing well at the next sono. They are measuring almost the same size and weight. Roughly about 1/2 lb. and 8"-9" long each. There was much less room than there seemed to be 2 weeks ago. I cant believe how they've grown in just a short amount of time. My Dr got a new suggestion from my Specialist which recommends 23-24weeks gestation for inpatient, up from the original 24-26weeks. Im not sure what this means now but hopefully I can get more answers on Friday. Making it to inpatient will be somewhat of a relief. Atleast I know they will be monitored multiple times a day and can possibly come into the world if something goes wrong. Right now there is nothing we can do but trust God's ultimate plan whichever way that may take us.

Cord Complications

wanted to give everyone an idea of what goes on inside the womb of a Monoamniotic Pregnancy. Keep in mind most babies born with knots in their cords are not born alive. This happens every time with a MoMo pregnancy.

 

Compliments of Kate. She has two beautiful MoMo twin girls, born at 32 wks 5 days. This mass was detected at 28 weeks on ultrasound.
Amazing

Recent Pics of our Boys

 

Baby B Face

 

Profile.
You can see Jeff's jaw line on the boys in this picture.

 

Baby A Face

So far, from what we can tell, the boys will look nothing like me and everything like Jeff. Atleast I get to be Mom!

What are Monoamniotic Twins?

Monoamniotic Twins are identical twins which develop inside the same sac, share the same placenta and have their own umbilical cords. The egg splits late in this case and there is no membrane to divide the sac into two seperate compartments. This may sound like typical identical twins, but almost always with any twin pregnancy there is a membrane between the babies. Monoamniotic Twinning occurs 1 in 35,000 to 1 in 60,000 pregnancies. Monoamniotic Twins occur in 1% of Identical Twins.

Monoamniotic Twins are at a high risk for health complications as the can become entangled in their cords and can compress their own and each others cords as well, endangering their oxygen and food supply. The survival rate was once thought to be 50% for Monoamniotic Twins but with new technology and inpatient monitoring at 24 weeks the survival rate is now 60% to 70% or higher. Upon diagnosis some doctors will actually suggest termination, this however is ridiculous, any time spent with these beautiful babies whether it still be in utero is a blessing from God.

All Monoamniotic Twins are born premature, typically between 32 and 34 weeks but some surviving as early as 23-24 weeks. Medical professionals feel that the risk for cord entanglement and cord compression becomes to great after 32-34 weeks. Monoamniotic Twins are always delivered by cesarean section.

Also it is thought that 75% of Monoamniotic Twins are girls. Ours are boys!

Monoamniotic Twins Support Site

Beginning of our Adventure

Jeff and I met at Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant in May 2008, but had actually met in April. Jeff does not recall this meeting, ask him why.

We immediately knew it was "IT". I knew God had sent me him, there was no other and we would be together "as long as we both shall live". We were married by a Justice of the Peace on July 24, 2008.

I became with child on August 13, 2008.

We had our first OB appt and sonogram when I was 8 weeks, Oct. 2, and found out we were having twins! My Dr told us that there was a possibility we were going to be having Monoamniotic "Mo-Mo" Twins. I now realize how wonderful my OB is, he never once suggested termination with this pregnancy, as I have read many Dr's do suggest this.

I had a follow up OB appt at 10 weeks, and the Dr confirmed the Monoamniotic diagnosis.

I was sent to a MFM/perinatal specialist at 12 weeks and the diagnosis was confirmed.

I am currently 17 weeks and seeing my OB every 2 weeks. I have sonograms everytime I go in and it is wonderful to see both of my boys doing well.

I plan on going inpatient at Lewisville Medical Center at 24 weeks, Jan 19. The plan is to keep the babies in there as long as possible with multiple daily monitoring and sonograms atleast once a week, up to 32 weeks.

I have been blessed truly. How God sees me fit to be a mother again and of two more, at the same time! I could not ask for more!