32 Weeks

On Tuesday we had our usual scan - the babies are both fine, the boy gunning for my cervix in that head-down kind of way, the girl well and truly snuggled in amongst my lungs, and as they're completely out of space in there it looks like they'll stay that way.  Both babies are coming in at around 4 pounds 2 ounces, and they are very large babies-95th percentile.  Neither Aidan nor I are short, shrinking violets ourselves, and it looks like we're having hearty babies, too, both with whopping long legs. 

I'll continue on antibiotics for the rest of the pregnancy, which the consultant has tentatively listed as 38 weeks.  So that's about 6 weeks to go.  I can make 6 weeks, right?  6 more weeks? 

As far as how we've been planning things: since the boy is cephalic (head down) we're going to try for a regular birth, not a C-section.  The consultant believes that once the boy is out the breech little girl has a good chance of turning on her own and since Aidan and I worry about their breathing and a vaginal birth has the best odds for their lungs, we're going to try that route.

But I'm taking drugs for the birth.

Anything and everything the pharmacy will give me.

Fuckit, I'll take the paracetamol, the cough syrup and the Preparation-H if need be.  Call me Miss Epidural.  I heard the women screaming on the delivery ward.  I won't be going there.

My breasts were leaking colostrum for a little while, which shocked the shit out of me, as I had a radical breast reduction years ago.  I was told by my smirking blond plastic surgeon that I would never breast feed, ever, so when I started dripping yellow fluid I was shocked.

(Actually, the first time I felt the fluid I kept looking up at the ceiling, convinced the roof was leaking.  But once I figured out the leaking was coming from my breasts, then I was shocked.)

Aidan is very keen on breastfeeding.

I am really freaked out by it.

I completely accept it's best for baby, and I fully support any woman in her decision to breast or bottle feed, I think it's up to the mother to assess. I tend to err on the side of "Seriously Stressed Out" most of the time, and the idea of breast feeding sent me over the top. I had never considered it before.  It was always a non-option.  I'm having twins.  Of course they'll be bottle fed.

Aidan and I were heading for an argument.

But then the midwife told us that colostrum likely came from a small duct still intact behind my nipples, which would have survived the surgery.  Since my nipples were removed and re-sized, she said that although there was a chance a few tubes grew back to access milk, there was no way I'd be feeding one baby completely, let alone two.  She recommended we not even try to breast feed, that the colostrum would dry up, too (it has).

Cue relief.

So here we are...waiting.  The boy, who was already quite low, has dropped today I believe.  I had some cramping, and it now feels like there's something in my pelvis, taking up space and threatening to come out.  The bladder issues are worse, and it feels very heavy and uncomfortable low inside.  Since I'm out of space, the girl continues to hang out and make breathing hard.  Contractions come much more often, very mild but noticeable, a long smooth tightening of the stomach.

I wonder if the babies are thinking of coming on their own instead of being induced at 38 weeks.

Only time will tell.

(Apologies-this post, she is not funny.  But I haven't been sleeping so well, and with no sleep means no funny.)

Comments

[donna]

Yeah, even if you could and were inclined it must be so hard to nurse twins. Not impossible I know, but yikes. I remember those first two weeks at home trying to nurse one. Wow.

[caltechgirl]

of course it's not funny. Not today. Someday it will be. I swear.

[jen]

Breastfeeding is much harder than they tell you. I can't imagine trying to feed twins. Yeah, it's best, but formula is just fine, too.

Good news about their growth - they're doing great! I've said it before - hand in there. You'll make it.

[sara]

You can make it!! 6 weeks to go isn't too terrible!

[Veronica]

Good luck!

Pethadine is great, I love the pethadine. Ask for a shot of anti-nausea stuff with pethadine though or it can make you ill.

Take the labour as it comes. If you need an epidural, have an epidural. The thing that matters most is that you have healthy babies at the end of it!

[Minawolf]

I went through something similar after about 34 weeks. Still, I went to 38 weeks and I was induced. My uterus was contracting so badly that I had a hard time walking much at 35 to 36 weeks.

[Lut C.]

I'm glad you've managed to steer clear of the breastfeeding discussion with your husband. If it's so unlikely to work, why set yourself up for frustration.

[Amanda]

My mother gave birth (30 years ago) naturally to me and my twin brother at 34 weeks. Now I won't go so far as to say we're "normal" but we're physically sound! Haha! And he was down and head-first. Me? I was a brat! As soon as he was out I started stretching out...which wasn't too hard since I was alredy sideways. They managed to turn me around and I was out 5 minutes after him! Piece of cake!

Good luck!