Week 25!

We have officially have made it to another milestone-25 weeks! I never imagined we'd be excited to have our babies make it to a seemingly small gestation. But I have faith that this is not going to be the last milestone either. Next is 26 weeks, and their survival statistics go way up to 90% up from this week's 70%. I can't believe we came in with a "less than 15% chance of survival" & now we are already to 70%!

This week has been a whirlwind to say the least, with seemingly more bad news day after day. On Monday we finished the injections for the babies' lungs (I'll get another injection next week). On Tuesday, we had a sonogram to see if the medicine they'd been giving me was strengthening my cervix & check dilation. Unfortunately we didn't get the news we were hoping. My cervix is now thinned out completely with 1 cm dilation. I was scared to death.

The doctor has stopped the medicine since it was not working and it is now just a waiting game. Thankfully I have not been having contracctions & no leaking fluids, so that is what they will be keeping a close eye on. If contractions begin, there are medications they will begin to try and stop labor at that point.

We did find out during the sonogram that our baby girls are identical, both sharing the same placenta. The doctor was "very sure" of this (this was the first time we've heard this for certainty) & proceeded to show some concern over one baby having slightly less fluid than the other. I wrote this off as something small since he did not elaborate at that time. I was much more concerned about my cervix & was scared these babies would fall out of me at any moment. The doctor assured me this would not happen and that I am doing the best thing I can at this moment by just staying horizontal. I left the room pretty hysterical.

The next morning the perionatologist came in & wanted to further discuss the sonogram findings. He first told me to promise him "not get on the internet." (He's quickly learned that I want to know as much info as possible & obviously have too much time on my hands) I agreed & he proceeded to tell me that he strongly suspects that our babies have what is called Twin to Twin Transfusion. Evidently he had known this the day prior but decided I was unable to digest all this bad news at once. For this I am thankful! This was the first time that bad news didn't hit me like a ton of bricks. For some reason I have researched & konwn about this diagnosis from the time we learned we were having twins & I'd all the time instinctively felt we were having identical babies. (Twin to Twin Transfusion only occurs in 5-17% of identical twins) We also know a couple that had the same diagnosis given to their girls & they thrived, overcoming all odds. Although this can be a devastating diagnosis, fortunately our babies have just now begun showing signs of it at 24 weeks & have been very close in size up to this point. The day we came in they measured 1.1 & 1.4 lbs. They should have grown approximately 4 oz this week! The doctor will be closely monitoring their growth twice weekly by sonography to make sure they are safe developing inside the womb.

Friday we had a follow up sonogram & everything was the same as Tuesday-No changes! This was the first time I didn't leave his office shaking violently. Praise the Lord!

Today we had a scare as I was on the contraction monitor, simultaneously monitoring the babies heart rates. As I watched, the flat line began jumping up & back down again, showing contractions every minute of so. The nurses quickly came in & brought the doctor who ordered a digital examination of my cervix to check for dilation. Again, I about lost it. I need to make it a few more weeks at Least! Great news~No dilation! There are various reasons for this to happen evidently-not staying hydrated enough, babies growing, stretching of uterus. After drinking a LOT of water, laying down a while & trying to relax, everything settled down. Tonight everything has looked fabulous! Our girls have also had hiccups all day today on & off for the first time. It was glorious! I just know they are growing stronger each day & are going to be our miracle babies. They already are