My Baby Can Beat Up Your Baby

Sorry about the silence - my family's been visiting, along with Aidan's kids.  It does not for easy blogging make. 

Things progress as usual here.  I'm in a real state, though - sleep has become something that one reminisces about, along with binge drinking and wearing size 8 clothes.  Over a 48 hour period I averaged 6 hours of sleep, and those 6 hours were constantly interrupted by contractions, trips to the toilet, and aches and pains - I can only sleep in one position now (on my right side, as there's a baby's head on the left that's poking out and if I lie on it it bangs painfully into my ribcage) and I'm not happy about it.  And although the doctors think I have lost my mucus plug, I've gained a new one in my head, so that when I sleep I'm something akin to Mr. Snuffleupagus. I have found comfort in the arms of one of my true lovers, a man I call Vick (last name Vap-o-Rub).  He's the man for me. 

On Sunday I had contractions every 4 minutes, for almost 24 hours.  At one point in the night (that point would be 3 am.  Not like I didn't notice that bastard sneak up on me or anything) I had contractions so painful I was trying to keep from vomiting.  I didn't go to the hospital because I didn't think I was in labor and sure enough, I wasn't (I know this as I haven't given birth yet, even though I want to.  That, and the contractions have slowed down.) 

Yeah, Sunday kinda' sucked.

We had our antenatal check today.  I'm going to be hauled in to the hospital every few days now as my blood pressure is much too high.  Pre-pregnancy my blood pressure was on the other side of dead it was so low.  Today I chalked up 140/93 and 160/85, both personal highs for me.  Blood tests last week showed my kidneys straining to handle both me and the twins, and a blood test today showed the uric acid levels a wee (ha!) bit higher still. 

But the babies are in fighting form.  Last week they were monitored and today they were monitored, and both times they were ruled "the most active babies the midwives had seen in some time".  Our daughter appears to be the firecest of the two, she takes some kind of personal exception to being monitored and gets a bit over-energized.  A midwife today proposed she's a bit sensitive to noise, which makes her rather like her mother, I think. 

The consultant today wanted us to consider a C-section, so we're considering it.  I don't mind having one, actually - it's the recovery time that I am worried about if I do have one, as I don't want to leave Aidan holding the bag, so to speak.  But we're in discussions here.

The consultant also said that he's confident I will go into labor soon, and if I don't he'll induce by 37 weeks.  Inductions seem to be hit and miss - last week we saw a female consultant and she said she'd induce around 38 weeks and a couple of days.  I like 37 weeks more.  I want 37 weeks.  My thoughts went something like this:

Consultant: I think that based on your blood pressure and the fact that the babies won't be growing very much more, and that they wouldn't need time in special care if born now, that we should induce you at 37 weeks.

Me: Don't fuck with me, doc.  Don't give me false hope.  I haven't slept since shoulder pads were still in fashion, don't even think about leading me down paths you have no hope of clearing.  If you say you'll induce me at 37 weeks, my gratitude will be huge.  I'll give you a baby, how's that?  That's fair.

I know I should be one of those who is all stomach-hugging, pregnancy-as-miracle-of-life type of women (because I am a vegetarian and a liberal, that is.  So obviously I must wear sandals and clothes made of hemp, right?).  I should be, but I'm not.  The babies are healthy.  If they are born now they will be ok.  So let's evict those suckers and get a move on with life, I can't take much more of this.  Constant infections, kidney problems, breathing problems, now sleep problems and massive contractions combined with blood pressure so high I see fucking stars?  Yeah.  Evict the babies. I'm mighty grateful my IVF cycle worked.  Now let's get on with things.

In the meantime, I'm on bedrest and lots of fluids.

You know, because asking a pregnant woman to get out of bed quickly is a real source of amusement.

PS-if I'm quiet, you can usually find me at my other site.  I can reach that one using my non-work PDA sometimes, so I'm more likely to update over there.

Comments

[jen]

Breathe Right strips will help with the congestion. I lived in those things for the last few weeks.

I've only had the c-section, but don't worry too much about the recovery time. The first week is the hardest, but take your pain meds and take it as easy as you can getting in/out of bed and up/down stairs and you'll be fine.

[Margi]

I've said it over there, so I don't want to be duplicative. Just know I'm still rooting for you!

And as tough as things have been on you, it sounds to me like you have the just the right attitude - but remember - they are your FEELINGS. No one can tell you they are or are not real. They are because they're yours. And by God, you are entitled to every one!

I'm glad the babies are fine but there's a line - the line where their health and yours become a concern - and it seems like you are really close to it. Keep in touch with that cautious doctor. I like him.

P.S. C-section? Not so bad. Really. I had two vaginally but as you'll recall, things got squirelly for me at the end, too. So they yanked my Babylove out the window. It's a longer recovery period, sure. But you'll be so concerned over your wee ones that you'll hardly see it. Trust me. I got yelled at by my nurses - they could NOT BELIEVE that I was out of bed in an hour and being wheeled to the NICU. *I* could not believe they were shocked! I wanted my baby! I was wheeled by my darling hubby several times to see him, but when he wasn't there, I would grab that wheelchair and walk behind it. I'm sure that you'll recover nicely and be up and around before you know it. Seriously.

Whatever it is: you can do it. Just hang tough, my sweetie.

xoxo

[Jen(aside)]

Wow, a step forward! ;) Eh, they found you anyway, right?

[caltechgirl]

Put your feet up, watch some silly TV and try to get through the next couple of weeks as easily as you can. I know you can make it.

It's going to be great. Eventually. And give A as big of a hug as you can from me, he deserves it.

[erica]

I had a c-section with my twins, and the recovery wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I stayed in the hospital for 4 days, and once I came home I was totally capable of pulling my weight with the babies.

I could change, feed, carry etc. Going up and down the stairs for just the first week I had my DH carry the kids, but besides that, I was pretty much able to do anything he was.

Hang in there! The lemonheads are almost here!

[Emma B]

The knee surgery I had two weeks ago was much, much worse than the CS. I didn't have a difficult recovery at all, but of course every woman is different. I hope you heal quickly if that's the route you wind up taking.

I remember how miserable these last couple weeks were, and I know how you're feeling right now. The only thing to hold out for is that if you're planning to breastfeed, it will be easier if they are born a little bit older. Sucking reflex can be a problem with babies at 34 weeks, and the closer they get to term the better they will do.

You're so close to the end now!

[Bea]

See, I felt sure the next update was going to be an arrivals announcement, the way things were going. Hang in there.

Bea

[Veronica]

Yay, glad to hear from you.

From the sounds of it, you and the babies will all be better off once they are out.

Good Luck

[Minawolf]

My blood pressure has always been on the low side of normal as well. The last two or three weeks before I had the baby, I had higher then normal blood pressure too. Of course, I had the fairly constant contractions like you have too. I think that's probably what caused it.

[Lut C.]

I think the most stalwart pregnant-stomach-loving women would crumble under all the severe discomfort you've been having. I'm amazed you didn't grab that consultant by the collar and demanded he put it in writing.

The recovery period after a c-section is what I'm worrying about as well. My friend had one and urged me to book into the hospital for the max they'll keep you (7 days). Even after that week, she said she had a bit of difficulty doing all the baby lifting.
I guess it depends from woman to woman. Perhaps the fact that she had a c-section after labour and not a planned one made it worse.