The End - The Beginning

Well, today is the end of the pregnancy and the beginning of three new lives outside my belly. As I sit and type that, it still amazes me.

Lots of people have been asking us about the babies and NICU. We've learned that the babies will be going to NICU once they are born. It's the hospital's policy that all babies born before 35 weeks go to NICU, even if it's for a short time.

It will probably be a few days before we have another post to the site. We'll get it updated as soon as possible and hope to have some photos to add too.

Happy Birth Day to the triplets!!!

Only One More Day

Has it really been 34 weeks? Where has time gone? I'm so thankful to be at this point.

Scheduled

I've been scheduled for a c-section. It's this Wednesday. I have the last non-stress test tomorrow. We also have an anesthesia meeting after the test. Then it will be time to head back home and get my luggage in the car for the hospital visit the next day.

When I was at the non-stress test on Friday, they performed a measurement ultrasound. The sizes of the babies amazed me. They were 4lbs 12 oz, 4lbs 10 oz and 3lbs 14oz. Those are great sizes for triplets.

Father Friday - "Firsts"

I've been thinking about the first time we'll get to do things with the kids. Here's a short list of a few of the "firsts" I'm looking forward to.

• The first time we take them for ice cream
• The first time I can sit and play my guitar and we sing songs together
• The first time we get to blow soap bubbles
• The first time we go to church together
• The first time we get to run in the rain
• The first time we get to jump in mud puddles
• The first time we pull them in the little red wagon I had as a child
• The first time we look at a rainbow and discuss the meaning
• The first time we just sit and laugh
• The first time I get to sit and hold all of them on my lap
• The day we bring all of them home

It won't be very long until we start working on that list.

No News Is...Not What I Expected

The visit to the doctor yesterday was not what I expected. The measurement ultrasound - it didn't happen. The sonographer that usually scans multiples wasn't in the office. The date for the C-section - it won't be decided on until Friday when I go for the non-stress test. They have tentatively said it will be performed next Tuesday or Wednesday, but we have to wait to get a definite date and time. They've also decided to perform the measurement ultrasound on Friday after the non-stress test. All they did at the doctor's office yesterday was listen to the heartbeats of the babies and answer some questions I had.

Faster and Faster

Yesterday was the fastest non-stress test yet. All three babies finished between 30 and 40 minutes. I was amazed how little time it took this visit. Each test has taken less time to complete.

Today is also the day I find out about scheduling the C-section. It's a big day.

Another Day, Another Test

It's back to the hospital again today for another NST and then a steroid injection. I received the first steroid injection yesterday. Only two will be administered, so today will be the last one. I get to celebrate a little more today because I've reached 33 weeks.

I'll be glad when I get back home today and can possibly take a nap. It was another sleepless night. It seems like I have one good night of sleep (translation - 5-6 hours of sleep) and then a couple of sleepless nights. That's really starting to wear me down.

Goals

I seem to be making it through the pregnancy easier now that I have 2 goals in front of me. The first one is this Wednesday. That's when I make the appointment for the C-section during the 34th week. The second goal will be the day of the scheduled C-section.

Misinformation

I was informed yesterday that I received incorrect information about the steroid injections. The doctor that told me I wouldn't need the injections after week 32 was the doctor I see most of the time if my regular doctor isn't available. Yesterday I was informed by my regular doctor that the injections would be beneficial up to week 34. I was also informed that I get to start taking them on Monday.

No Sleep - No Post

I've been up almost all night feeling the babies move around. No news to report today.

Two Weeks Notice

Here's the big news - the babies could be arriving within two weeks! That's the latest information from the doctor.

Based on the discussion we had with the doctor, they are still aiming for 34 weeks. If I make it to that point, they will schedule a C-section. If I go into labor before then, they'll just deliver the babies. I would prefer to make it to 34 weeks so we could schedule it. That way I would get my regular doctor rather than the doctor on call at the hospital. Who wouldn't want their regular doctor to perform the procedure?

My big concern was that they would want me to deliver the babies vaginally. I was told that with three babies, the most logical choice was a C-section, unless I want to try and deliver vaginally. (No thank you, I'll take the C-section.) The doctor said that delivering more than two without a C-section was a bit risky. They have to monitor all the babies during the delivery and it's a bit more difficult when there are more than two. They said I could start vaginally and then have to have a C-section for the other two. The way the babies are positioned now rules out anything other than a C-section anyway. Based on all of that, it sure sounds like a C-section is the smartest choice - safer for me and the babies.

We were told that I probably wouldn't need steroid injections for the babies. The doctor said they would only be given up through week 32. They would have to give them to me this week and they haven't decided to do that. They said the effects would be minimal after 32 weeks and the possible side effects wouldn't be worth the minor benefits that would be seen at this point.

The test at the hospital looked good again and they were very happy with the results. I'll still continue those twice a week until the babies are born.

Back from the doctor and back to the hospital

Yesterday was another doctor visit. They did a quick ultrasound to check the heartrates. All of them were good. The babies have moved though. Up until now, all of the babies had been in almost the same position each week. It was easy to keep up with A (the boy) and B and C. Now it seems like they have been playing Twister in there. The boy has now moved to the bottom and is in a horizontal position. The girls are head down, but blocked from exiting by the boy.

They were still happy with my progress and hope that I'll be able to make it to 34 weeks. I just count each day as a victory now because I've reached 32 weeks. Thirty-four weeks seems like a long way off even though it's only 2 more weeks.

Today I go back to the hospital for another NST.

Last Friday's Monitoring

It was time for monitoring at the hospital again last Friday. According to the doctor, everything looked great concerning the heartrates of the babies. The only thing that concerned the doctor was the contractions. They were really strong. Based on all the contraction monitoring they have been doing, these were about four times stronger than any other contractions they had detected. After the monitoring, the doctor performed a cervix check and there were minimal changes - only 20% effaced. It seems like I'm having all the fun of contractions without any of the normal results.

In addition to the contractions, I've been dealing with round ligament pain and what seems to be the weight of the babies as they start to move further down. They are putting a lot of pressure on my lower abdomen. Because of all these symptoms, I go back to the doctor today. This will be in addition to the twice-a-week monitoring at the hospital.

Father Friday - Seat Checks

Yesterday was a big step toward the arrival of the babies. I took our car, with the three infant seats in it, for an inspection at a location approved by SeatCheck. For more information about this service, read what their website has to say.



I'm one of the few men that actually read instruction manuals, so I felt reasonably comfortable about installing the seats. Of course, why should I pass up an opportunity to have the seats inspected by a professional? They were very helpful. It's their job to look at the way you have the seats installed, remove them and then work with you to install them again. At each step of the process, they were offering helpful tips and information. I had the seats installed correctly, but they showed me some safety checks that I hadn't thought about it. They even demonstrated the proper way to place the babies in the seats and make sure their belts fit correctly. They told me once we change vehicles, car seats or just remove the seats and have a question about reinstalling them, that I shouldn't hesitate to stop back by. I highly recommend this service to everyone that has a child still in a car seat.

In case anyone is wondering, we have the seats installed in the back seat of a Toyota Camry. Yes, all three fit in there.

Three Minutes

That's how long the longest contraction was yesterday. They're still coming at irregular intervals. One hour I might have 4 and then only one, or even none, the next hour. I never know when, how many or how severe they will be. I just have to keep a check on them and make sure they don't reach the criteria for going back to the hospital. I go back there tomorrow for another NST.

One Test Completed

I finished the first nonstress test (NST) yesterday. The doctor reviewed the results and was happy with them. He said all 3 babies passed the test. They finished the test in order of size - Baby A, Baby B and then Baby C. I still have to go back on Friday and twice next week for more of the same.

During the test, they were able to monitor the heartrates of the babies, their movement and the contractions I'm having. I learned something interesting yesterday. According to the doctor once a uterus gets to the size that it considers a full term pregnancy, it starts contracting. That's where I am now due to the 3 babies seeming like a full term pregnancy. He said that if the cervix didn't react to the contractions, it could provide more time for the babies to stay in. He said at some point the contractions could lessen slightly, therefore allowing more time for the uterus to grow and get larger as the babies grow more too. The human body is amazing.

More Testing

The doctor has decided I need to have more tests performed. I will now be going twice a week to the hospital for monitoring. During that time they will be checking the heartrates of the babies and monitoring the contractions.

Why are they doing this? They want to have a better understanding of how often the contractions are, how strong they are and how they are affecting the babies. They want to make sure the babies are handling the stress of the contractions, especially the smallest baby. They also want to make sure there aren't any problems with the placentas. This could be the reason the smallest baby is growing slower than the others.

What does this mean? If it looks bad for the babies, they could schedule a c-section. If things aren't that bad, but they think I need to go ahead and have a c-section in a few days, they will probably admit me to the hospital, give me some steroid injections to speed the development of the lungs of the babies and then perform a c-section in a few days. If things look good, I'll just continue on. The doctor is now saying he would like me to go to 33 or 34 weeks, if possible. Each time I talk to him he increases the amount of time by one week.

Contractions

It's been an interesting weekend. We were at the hospital on Saturday night for about 6 hours while they monitored my contractions. They started on Saturday during the day and became more regular and closer as the day progressed. I called the doctor's office and they told me to keep monitoring them. If they didn't go away in one hour from the phone call, I was to go to the hospital. They didn't stop so that's where we went.

At first, I wasn't sure if they were true contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions. Once we arrived at the hospital and they started monitoring me, it was confirmed that they were real.

My belly has been so tight for so long, I must have missed the really minor contractions when they started. These were called moderate by the nurses at the hospital.

When I arrived, the contractions were about 7 or 8 minutes apart. By the time I left the hospital, they were about 15 - 20 minutes apart. While I was there, they checked my cervix twice and it was still closed both times. They were very happy with that and so was I.

They seem to think that my uterus is just so large that it has started contractions because it thinks it's time to deliver the babies. They said I could continue to have contractions from now until the babies are born. They have actually been happening off and on since I left the hospital. I just have to keep a check on them and if they start to increase in severity or get really close to each other (about 1 or 2 minutes apart), then I have to head to the hospital again.

Father Friday - Parental lessons learned from "The Dirty Dozen"

It's time once again for another Father Friday. But first, here's some news about the mother.

The swelling in the legs and feet has become horrible. It's painful to stand and walk. The doctor said he could prescribe medicine to reduce the amount of fluid, but he's hesitant to do so. He said he would be more inclined to do it if it was a single pregnancy, but he doesn't like the idea of using the meds with multiples. Also, a rash has started appearing on the mother's legs. It's really itchy. The doctor said it was common during pregnancy and has prescribed an ointment that should help it.

Now another "tongue-in-cheek" Father Friday post. I was watching one of my favorite movies recently - "The Dirty Dozen". I've read articles and books on parenting multiples and how it can be difficult at times - much more difficult than a singleton (what a surprise). As I watched this movie, I thought maybe I could apply some of the lessons from the movie to being a parent of multiples. If you've seen the movie, you'll certainly know what I'm talking about. So here are the parental lessons I gleaned from the movie.

The children aren't always as bad as they appear to be.
Sometimes it's best to let them sort out their differences without getting involved.
Don't ever lose faith in them or give up on them.
You'll always be amazed at what they can accomplish.
Even if it sometimes doesn't seem like it, they really do care for each other.
In the end, they'll be there for each other.
Children are very resourceful.
Set a good example and they'll follow your lead.

Baby "Crafts"

I like "crafty" things. It's a nice feeling to be able to make something and get the enjoyment of having done it all yourself. That's why I enjoyed finding this website - Jan Andrea: at home on the web. She has some really good information on creating baby carriers, nursing pillows, grocery cart seat covers, etc. I think creating my own items is a good cost-saving venture, especially when needing items for 3. I just don't know if I'll have any free time to actually make any of the items.

Doctor Update

I had another doctor visit yesterday. The heartrates for the babies were good. They were extremely happy with my progress. The doctor said "You know, you've made it past the biggest hurdles now. We just need to keep the babies in as long as possible now so they'll be as healthy as possible when they are born". It was nice to hear that. I can only say it's an answer to prayers. I go back next week for another ultrasound measurement. That's when they'll be checking on the one girl that had slowed slightly in her growth. I have to say at least one of them, if not all, are growing because I've gained 5 pounds in one week.