Well, the kiddos have made it to viability! So I checked in with Will this morning to the labor and delivery unit. I have a suite and have room service. Nice! I have my computer set up with web cam so if anyone has G chat or skype let me know :) The docs recommend i spend most of the time resting but I am able to go out and about the hospital every once in awhile. Will and I can order in from local restaurants on the weekends.
The plan- Fetal heart rate monitored for 30-60 min 3 times a day. I will have doppler ultrasound every other day. Growth Ultrasound every three weeks. We are still aiming for 34 weeks at Thanksgiving! They will be delivered by C- section.
Seems like I get spotty cell phone reception here. Its like Merrill Lynch for those who are in the know. I have figured out a way to call through the computer so I will try to check messages and get back to people. The best way to contact me is email. kimsilvdmd@gmail.com
As far as visiting- I welcome visitors, but let me know you are coming ahead of time. I will provide better directions than google maps, map quest or GPS. Parking can get expensive- max of $16 after 3 hours. Only Will can get the spouse discount. Carpool helps :)
I'll try to keep all posted.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
26 1/2 week update
The kids flipped places! I don't know how but now A is on the left and B is on the right. B is breech again. But this is all good news because they are not kinking their blood supply now. So their acrobatics have paid off. No growth measurement since i was just there last week.
The plan now is to be admitted Oct 12 at 9am. They will run some tests that day and I guess I will get settled.
When I got home the midwife called and said my glucose tolerance test was elevated so now I have to do the three hour test. They actually attempted to get my regular OB to do that test. I laughed and said they treat me like a ten foot pole patient- good luck. I tried to persuade them to let me take it when I am admitted, but they said they want it sooner. So now I have to sit in Lab Corp for over three hours. Yuck!!! Hopefully it will turn out better this time. Although I think my diet would be more controlled in the hospital.
The plan now is to be admitted Oct 12 at 9am. They will run some tests that day and I guess I will get settled.
When I got home the midwife called and said my glucose tolerance test was elevated so now I have to do the three hour test. They actually attempted to get my regular OB to do that test. I laughed and said they treat me like a ten foot pole patient- good luck. I tried to persuade them to let me take it when I am admitted, but they said they want it sooner. So now I have to sit in Lab Corp for over three hours. Yuck!!! Hopefully it will turn out better this time. Although I think my diet would be more controlled in the hospital.
Friday, September 24, 2010
25 1/2 week update
Today was not an easy day at CHOP. I'll start with the good news. Both kids are growing. In fact B is catching up to A and they are both head down. A weighs 1 pound 14 oz (up 6 oz) and B is 1 pound 12 oz (up 8 oz). In general blood flow is still OK. The cords get more tangled by the week. Now the problem- every once in awhile one kid pulls on the cord and the blood flow stops and reverses. It happens intermittently and flow is restored. I get scared because it is not like it is going to get better in the coming weeks. They would like to see me next week to check on them again.
We met with a NICU doctor to explain what to expect at different levels of prematurity. Based upon different expected outcomes with have decided with stick with the plan to not even think about delivery before 28 weeks. At that point the baby with normal anatomy has an excellent chance of survival. The baby with one lung does not have a chance of survival before that point. Of course the ultimate goal would be to have them be delivered at 34-35 weeks as the two do not show signs of distress. Even if we make it to that point, the baby with the pulmonary defect with most likely have to remain in the hospital for quite awhile. One of the possibilities is the baby may be sent home with a tracheotomy, breathing tube placed in the neck directly into the trachea. Many of these babies have this placed for up to two years of their life. If this is the case we may have to arrange for around the clock monitoring for the babies. In other words someone must have eyes on the baby at all time not just sleep in the same room. At this point it is all speculation. We cannot be sure of more likely outcome until they are born. I'm not scared of the risk of scoliosis, asthma, reflux or even the tracheotomy. I worry about having lack of oxygen leading to brain injury. After working at Kuser for even a short time- thinking my child could live a life of some of those I see is heartbreaking.
We toured the NICU and some other parts of the hospital. We saw another couple that had one twin in the NICU and the healthier twin in the stroller. Looks like most of my day is free to do whatever I want. They really will only be monitoring me once a day. There is laundry facility which is nice. I'm sure I will watch every Disney movie in the library. Hopefully the time won't pass too slowly. I know not many can visit, but calls and emails will brighten my day.
We met with a NICU doctor to explain what to expect at different levels of prematurity. Based upon different expected outcomes with have decided with stick with the plan to not even think about delivery before 28 weeks. At that point the baby with normal anatomy has an excellent chance of survival. The baby with one lung does not have a chance of survival before that point. Of course the ultimate goal would be to have them be delivered at 34-35 weeks as the two do not show signs of distress. Even if we make it to that point, the baby with the pulmonary defect with most likely have to remain in the hospital for quite awhile. One of the possibilities is the baby may be sent home with a tracheotomy, breathing tube placed in the neck directly into the trachea. Many of these babies have this placed for up to two years of their life. If this is the case we may have to arrange for around the clock monitoring for the babies. In other words someone must have eyes on the baby at all time not just sleep in the same room. At this point it is all speculation. We cannot be sure of more likely outcome until they are born. I'm not scared of the risk of scoliosis, asthma, reflux or even the tracheotomy. I worry about having lack of oxygen leading to brain injury. After working at Kuser for even a short time- thinking my child could live a life of some of those I see is heartbreaking.
We toured the NICU and some other parts of the hospital. We saw another couple that had one twin in the NICU and the healthier twin in the stroller. Looks like most of my day is free to do whatever I want. They really will only be monitoring me once a day. There is laundry facility which is nice. I'm sure I will watch every Disney movie in the library. Hopefully the time won't pass too slowly. I know not many can visit, but calls and emails will brighten my day.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
24 week update
Today is 24 weeks! Some of the maternity leave activities include signing the boys up for daycare! I found a wonderful small school right in East Windsor that seems just perfect. I have also found a yahoo group called "one lung wonders" and have read some encouraging stories. One woman has a ten month old that has exactly what little B has. The heart occupies the entire left side of the chest and only has a right lung. So far the little girl has been doing well. She had a surgery at birth to relieve some pressure that the aorta was pressing on her trachea. She has some minor vertbrae issues and some gastric issues but is crawling around and most of the time mom can't believe she isn't 100%. Another encouraging story I read was an 18 year old girl who is capt of her high school cheering squad. Now that takes some lung power!
Friday was our "transfer of care" visit. First we had our biweekly ultrasound. The little guys are growing! Baby A was 15 oz two weeks ago and was up to one pound 8 oz. Baby B was 13 oz and was up to one pound 4 oz. The babies are at a 25% weight difference but I was told it is more important that they are both growing well. The cords are more tangled but the blood flow is still there. So they are as good as can be expected. They are kicking me like crazy. I feel A more than B but they said that may be due to my anatomy.
Next we met with the midwife to see where I would be staying when I am admitted in about 4 weeks. There are two rooms in which moms can stay if they need to be monitored before the babies are born. There is one room if mom is brought in when baby is born. One operating room and one room where they bring the little guys for assesment after birth. The actual NICU is downstairs from the "maternity" area. It was empty and sooooo quiet when we were there. Labor and delivery is not the norm in this hospital. The room that I will be staying in is nice. It is a private room with fold out couch and private bath. I guess the good news is that I am allowed visitored 24-7. The bad news is that I am so far away from everyone. Once the babies are born, Will and I are allowed to see them anytime we want. The babies may only have 2 orther visitors at time until 8pm.
We will be returning to CHOP Friday September 24. They say we will see the NICU and meet with some other staff besides our usual ultrasound.
Around the house, we have cleaned out the babies' room. The car seats, stroller and twin pack and play have come in. We have ordered the furniture for the room. Only one crib for now. They probably can share for awile. So we are trying to firm up what we can around the house before I go to the hospital. Trying to see people before I go in. Life is going to change in about 10 weeks!!!! The most memorable Thanksgiving ever :)
Friday was our "transfer of care" visit. First we had our biweekly ultrasound. The little guys are growing! Baby A was 15 oz two weeks ago and was up to one pound 8 oz. Baby B was 13 oz and was up to one pound 4 oz. The babies are at a 25% weight difference but I was told it is more important that they are both growing well. The cords are more tangled but the blood flow is still there. So they are as good as can be expected. They are kicking me like crazy. I feel A more than B but they said that may be due to my anatomy.
Next we met with the midwife to see where I would be staying when I am admitted in about 4 weeks. There are two rooms in which moms can stay if they need to be monitored before the babies are born. There is one room if mom is brought in when baby is born. One operating room and one room where they bring the little guys for assesment after birth. The actual NICU is downstairs from the "maternity" area. It was empty and sooooo quiet when we were there. Labor and delivery is not the norm in this hospital. The room that I will be staying in is nice. It is a private room with fold out couch and private bath. I guess the good news is that I am allowed visitored 24-7. The bad news is that I am so far away from everyone. Once the babies are born, Will and I are allowed to see them anytime we want. The babies may only have 2 orther visitors at time until 8pm.
We will be returning to CHOP Friday September 24. They say we will see the NICU and meet with some other staff besides our usual ultrasound.
Around the house, we have cleaned out the babies' room. The car seats, stroller and twin pack and play have come in. We have ordered the furniture for the room. Only one crib for now. They probably can share for awile. So we are trying to firm up what we can around the house before I go to the hospital. Trying to see people before I go in. Life is going to change in about 10 weeks!!!! The most memorable Thanksgiving ever :)
Friday, August 27, 2010
And it's good!
Good visit at CHOP today. The babies are getting big! 13oz and 15oz which is only 8% difference. They look to have within a 20% difference. Good blood flow through the cords. We will return in two weeks to finalize hospital plans.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Oy Vey Genetics!
I just received a call from the maternal fetal medicine nurse at St. Peter's. Turns out that I am a carrier for a "Jewish" genetic disease. It is an abnormality of the 9th chromosome. Leads to what is called Riley Day Syndrome. There looks to a good explanation on this web page http://healthguide.howstuffworks.com/riley-day-syndrome-dictionary.htm
So now Will is tested to see if he is a carrier as well. Never thought I would be so over joyed I did not marry a jewish man ;) Apparently it is very rare in the general population. Let us all keep our fingers crossed!
So now Will is tested to see if he is a carrier as well. Never thought I would be so over joyed I did not marry a jewish man ;) Apparently it is very rare in the general population. Let us all keep our fingers crossed!
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