17. 28 week scan

I regularly have a moment of "I can't believe we are having triplets! Triplets???" I also often feel incredibly frustrated being unable to do the simplest of things now. James is doing the babies bedroom, and I would love to help. There's doors that need painting and things I still need to sort out. But I can no longer do these things without being in a huge amount of discomfort or pain. 

But then I think about the babies. And it blows my mind! Pregnancy is mind blowing full stop. A human body putting a few cells together, which, over the months start to develop into little humans, with a beating heart, functioning kidneys, working lungs, muscles which move their little limbs and digits, working eyes and ears, and even hair, teeth and nails. It's just incredible. And I am doing 3 in 1!!! I am growing 3 more beating hearts, 3 more little brains, and all of the other things that make a small human being. Then they will grow outside my body! They will learn to move their limbs and build their muscles so they can pick things up, eat, walk, talk, and who knows what else! 

So this frustration and the fact that I'm starting to feel more and more tired each day, is to be expected. 

Scan

Another information filled scan appointment today. The trio are continuing to thrive in there, which is just brilliant! I had a fairly bad few days last week, struggling to sleep and unable to get comfortable, so it's great to hear that they are at least benefiting from my discomfort. I've had a couple of better nights sleep thankfully so I'm feeling a bit more myself at the moment thankfully. 

At each appointment I provide a sample of urine which is tested there and then for a few things. 2 weeks ago it showed my protein levels were not where they wanted them to be, so it was sent off to the lab. Last Monday I got a notification for an appointment the following day. I assumed it was regarding the lab results and I would need to be monitored. Caroline explained that the protein can be an early indicator of pre eclampsia, but not always. The condition is talked about a lot as it can become very dangerous and result in stroke or heart attack. If my protein levels are wrong, I would be sent to have my blood pressure monitored and I'm assuming, some other tests. 

I went on my own on Tuesday assuming I might be there for a long time. I will admit to being a little concerned. I knew I was thinking about the worst case scenario, but I was worried I would need to stay in hospital to be monitored. A good friend of mine was in hospital for a few weeks being monitored because her blood pressure wasn't stable. 

I was overreacting. I went to reception and checked in and asked what the appointment was for. She told me its a scan. I told her I wasn't expecting a scan because I had only had one the week before and told her about the protein results and could it be about that? She went to speak to Justine and said she would see me in a few minutes. 

Basically, I had been booked in as an error but I was feeling pretty crummy, so they did another urine test and my BP. I told her I was probably reading into it a bit much, but my heart rate races in the morning about an hour after I've eaten, and it had done it after I had a sweet drink that week. It did it all the way through my pregnancy with Jack, and during my first few weeks of the pregnancy that we lost last year. It's the strangest feeling. I can be sitting doing nothing but my heart races like I've just walked at speed to the top of the hill. It's horrible! But it usually passes in 10-20 minutes. When I'm not feeling well, it happens a lot more and it felt a bit like it when I got into her office. She did  BP test but it was fine. My urine then came back with my protein fine, but ++on my glucose levels. This means blood tests. 

She asked me what I had eaten that morning. Toast, peanut butter, banana, bran flakes and crunchy nut cornflakes. She said crunchy nut sets off the glucose every time! I was tested around 38 weeks with Jack as he was measuring big, but all was normal. Hopefully, it will be the same this time too and no further treatment is needed. 

I don't quite understand why I'm getting higher readings, but it's something along the lines of my kidneys processing everything for the babies, so excess sugar is just going straight through and not being processed properly.

Not sure what it means, but she said that even if gestational diabetes is detected, it doesnt necessarily mean I will have type 2 diabetes for life. I didn't even know it could lead on to life long conditions. 

Time will tell!

I needed to fast from 9pm last night, go and have my blood's taken at 8.30 this morning then given a sugary drink. Followed by my scan, then back for my second glucose bloods at 10.30 combined with my standard bloods, urine and clinician/midwife appointment. Then I could finally eat! I thought I would be feeling so poorly having not eaten, but I wasn't too bad. Drained, but OK.  

The scan went really well again. All looking normal and the babies are getting chunky! They are 2.12lb, 2.10lb and 2.12lb, all with nice big tummys, blood flowing well through their brain and cord, and wriggling so much, they kicked the doppler out of the way more than once. 

We asked again about the Monochorionic or Dichorionic thing. She explained that if there are 2 placentas, it would mean twins and a single. However, placentas can often look like there may be a bump, indicating a possible fusion of 2. If they sit away from each other, it's obvious, but if there are 2 next to each other it's difficult to see if the bump is just a bump, or of its the joining of 2 placentas. She is still swaying towards identical due to the membranes being so thin. 

Last night I realised a way I can describe the lung crushing breathlessness. I lay down on the sofa and felt it. You know when you get a bear hug that's too tight and you sort of wheeze while you breathe? It's exactly that feeling until things relocate a bit. 

The songraphers usually start with a quick scan over to see where they are all located. She told me that TC is right up underneath my ribs now. I've been getting something hooking under my ribs on my right side, an ankle or toes or something. She commented on how my lungs must be being squashed at the moment. How right she is! 

The scan took nearly an hour and by the end, I struggled to move my legs to get up. My pelvis has started to become quite painful these last couple of days and that's what the problem was. I need to roll onto my side to get up now but I couldn't even raise my knees to roll over, I nearly had to ask James to lift my legs. Haha! But ouch! I managed.

We were also told another little fact. With IVF in this country, they implant only 1 or 2 eggs now, they don't do three any more apparently. It's one of these eggs that decides to split, creating triplets. IVF increases the chances of eggs splitting. Interesting! 

Caroline went through all the numbers and measurements with us today and said a few times how amazingly well they are doing, and kept telling me I was doing such an incredible job. It actually made me tear up! It was while I was trying to keep it together she asked "and how is your mental health?" Hahaha! Right now I'm about to ball my eyes out because of you! But I'm fine, honestly, fine fine!

She also then went on to tell the student doctor that I am the textbook triplet mum you would want. Size, health, fitness etc. Both her and the sonographer said I'm genuinely looking extremely well and my bump isn't looking huge yet. I'm not sure if I can handle all these compliments! 

Cesarean date set!

We have been booked in for our baby removal date! Tuesday 19th of March. 7 weeks from today at 35.1 weeks. There are a whole bunch of reasons why they may arrive before then. Their growth, their health, my health, all manner of medical complications with one or more of the 4 of us, or, of course, me going into labour. I think Caroline and Justine were more excited about the date than we were! Caroline even joked that she will be getting her hair, toenails and eyebrows done for the occasion. Haha! They have booked us in for the Tuesday with the hope that they will both be part of the 20+ medical team that will be looking after us all. They said people are always desperate to be in on a triplet birth. I've asked if someone can film it, but due to having to sign consent forms for every single person, it's too complicated, but loads and loads of photos can be taken. 

7 weeks feels like a very long time from now, but it will go so quickly! 

If they do last until then, they could need little to no extra care, meaning we could all be home within a couple of days! Gosh, wouldn't that be amazing! Terrifying but amazing! I've always had in my head that they would be in NICU for at least some time and that I wouldn't be able to feed them immediately and that I would need to spend time establishing my supply with a pump. It hadn't crossed my mind that they might stay in my belly so long. I had better start thinking about that as a posibility now! It just blows my mind that there is a chance that my body can actually do this! 32 weeks has always been in my head as a hopeful goal. Even that is creeping very close now!