Thursday, October 30, 2008

Riverside Hospital: Day 13


We've hit a huge point in the pregnancy. I am 28 weeks along today! Over the past two weeks, the survival rate for premies jumped fro 85% to 95%. This is a huge difference, and I think we are all breathing a sigh of relief. There is still a moderate chance of long term disabilities, but we are certainly headed in the right direction.


During my Monday group meetings they hand out a sheet with facts about the N.I.C.U. should the babies be born that week. I find this interesting and helpful. It also lets us know what to expect. Some of the basics for this upcoming week are:


  • babies will be on a ventilator or CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), and come off when they are stable.

  • This one makes me laugh...Infant may need a medication called "Caffeine" for apnea of prematurity...I wonder if they use coffee or soda? Welcome to the world little ones!

  • babies will be on catheters for lab draws and IV fluids.

  • breast milk will be given as tolerated through an IV or tube feedings.

  • various ultrasounds will be performed to check for problems.

  • most likely, the babies will stay in the hospital until close to their due date.

  • possible blood transfusion.

  • eye and hearing screenings will be performed.

I will give periodic updates on this as things change. We really are counting by day and weeks here. So many changes occur during this last trimester of pregnancy. Every single day is a gigantic step forward. We're getting there.


It is also worth noting that Charlie and Liv are getting quite the reputation among the nurses. Apparently they are abnormally rowdy and not very good listeners! :) It is always harder to monitor the heartbeats of twins, but these two seem to be among the best of the best at avoiding this. The second they find the heart beat (if they even can), they change position and off the monitor they go. I'm not sure what they are doing in there. They could be running marathons or doing some gymnastics, but they are definitely tricksters. And they tag team. During one monitoring session, Liv might evade the monitor. But during the next, Charlie takes his turn. Oh dear, what will they be like when they get more room to move around?! We might just have our hands full with these two.

I had to go back and edit this post by adding this poem my mom left under "comments." It was just too good to pass up.

Week 28, ain't it great!

Week 29 will be sublime.

Week number 30,

whether you're clean or you're dirty

(and even if you're feeling

kind of flirty),

Will flow right in to Week 31,

and that's gonna be

a barrel of fun!

By week 32, we'll all give thanks

that the twins have almost joined

the ranks

of all the others who made it to term (or nearly),

and Charlie and Liv will be loved

very

dearly.

nrb 10/30/08

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Week 28, ain't it great!
Week 29 will be sublime.
Week number 30,
whether you're clean or
you're dirty
(and even if you're feeling
kind of flirty),
Will flow right in to Week 31,
and that's gonna be
a barrel of fun!
By week 32, we'll all give thanks
that the twins have almost joined
the ranks
of all the others who made it to term (or nearly),
and Charlie and Liv will be loved
very
dearly.

Eli Bowman said...

Charlie and Liv are fighters...they'll make it to at LEAST 32. It looks as though they're having too much fun in there to want to leave anyway.

...like me when I walk into a sporting goods store.


...maybe Charles thinks he's in one right now.

The Katzbox said...

Ahhhhhh....these two!!!! What fun they already are, I just can't wait until they're on the other side of the belly button....well, I CAN wait, I'm just saying it will be fun. I'm looking forward to getting there and hugging the big kids and holding the little ones...the very very little ones...

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