Perfectly Normal

We had our first trimester screen yesterday and the news was good.  Or, as I keep repeating in my head, the perinatologist told us that everything was "perfectly normal."  

I love perfectly normal.  I have absolutely no interest in "perfect" alone.  It's an impossible goal and statistically unrealistic.  We don't live in Lake Woebegone;  most children are "average". In my world, average is not only good, it's wonderful.  

So yes, heart rates for both twins at 160 something.  I was 11 weeks 5 days yesterday and they were measuring 11w6d and 12w0d. Their nuchal folds are thin.  Perfectly normal.  

I also had a wonderful conversation with our perinatologist, a man whom I now consider the best doctor I have.  As a research scientist, I don't expect doctors 1) to be up to date on the research, much less 2) able to effectively critique it.  Indeed, when I brought my OB a copy of Dr. Luke's research on the effectiveness of her nutritional program from a top peer reviewed journal, I attached my own critique of the study's strengths and weaknesses.  (Overall, my critique is that the effect sizes are so large that her program should be given serious consideration for mothers of twins) Anyhoo, my perinatologist was able to use his knowledge of the research to logically convince me that I can go off the Lovenox at the end of the first trimester (Saturday) without harming the babies.  He also said he would support me if I decided to stay on the meds, but there is no research based reason to do so---because I do not have a diagnosed thrombophilia problem.  

I'm not sure all my doctors understand how much I know about evaluating and interpreting research, but I do think that he understands research better than my other doctors.  

So things are moving apace.  I thought everything was going to be ok with the twins, because I am HUNGRY a lot of the day.  And I am TIRED the rest of the time.  I've never been this hungry or tired, so it seemed like all was going the way it should.  

We're off for a family vacation next week.  Happy New Year to everyone!  May we all have an easy year reaching our dreams.

Still Here

We're at 9 1/2 weeks now.  Although it sounds like it ought to be an especially tawdry time of the pregnancy, I am just starting to get fat and am moving into maternity clothes.  The bottom of my belly, where my uterus should be, isn't showing, but my waist has expanded, which is apparently what should be happening.  

I go for my second OB appointment tomorrow and am (hopefully not obnoxiously) bringing a research article on the benefits of Dr. Luke's diet, so that they will not give me grief for gaining 5 lbs already.  That is the bottom of Dr. Luke's range of what I should have gained by 10 weeks.  

In any case, if they don't want me to gain as much weight as Dr. Luke recommends for twins (40-65 lbs), they are going to have to show me the research, not just state their opinions.

Do you see why I worry that I could come off as obnoxious?  I don't want to be obno, but I am probably a bit more informed than the average patient.  And if I can help other MOMs (mothers of multiples) in the practice, why wouldn't I?

It's almost time for my next snack.  And yes, I am getting hungry for it, less than 2 hours after I've had breakfast!  

Eating for Three

The spotting has gone away:  Hooray!

Now I'm focusing on having a healthy pregnancy and carrying these twins to term.  Has anybody else started following Dr. Luke's book "When you're expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads?" I'm on day 2 of the feeding frenzy and wondering how every one else is doing.

I have never eaten so much food in my entire life.  But her research shows that gaining a boatload of weight early on reduces NICU, preterm labor, preterm delivery and preeclampsia (all the bad pre stuff).

Anyhoo, any of you other twinners following her advice?  Can we commiserate on how much food 3500 nutritious calories really represents?

Spotting

Despite reassuring everyone that spotting is completely normal in IVF procedures and telling them not to worry, my spotting has gotten worse and freaked me out.  I've been spotting, slightly, about every day in the last week.  

Today, however, the spotting turned into bright red bleeding for about 30 minues.  It stopped after that and is now back to the brown blood which indicates that things are "resolved."

Nonetheless, I finally broke down and called the OB to get an ultrasound.  I'm heading out in about 30 minutes and then heading to work after that.  

All I really want to do is nap.  I think everything is ok.  I know I'm not shedding my lining because my HCG is nowhere near 0.  Nonetheless, I have looked up the vanishing twin synrdome and freaked myself out.  

I'm hoping this is just a problem with my fluffy estrogen induced uterus and using Lovenox.  I really just want to take a nap.

UPDATE

The ultrasound went really well.  Both babies have great heartrates:  151 and 156, which indicates a 3% miscarriage rate at 7w4d.   I am also happy that they are going to go ahead and keep my u/s appt on Friday.  So more looks at the babies, then, too.