25 Weeks: Grow, Baby, Grow!

Week 25 is finally here! My usual morning snooze was cut short due to a morning doctor's appointment--no worries as the rest of the day and night is there for the snoozing! Every few weeks they measure the babies body parts to establish their weight. It has been five weeks since we last did this and we're anxious to see how baby C is doing since she has been the littlest. Below is a fetus comparison chart from the ultrasound. From the weights, the computer generates their adjusted age (even though we know what their age is, 25 weeks) and estimated due date (even though they will all get the same delivery date). AUA = Adjusted Ultrasound Age; EDD = Estimated Delivery Date; EFW = Estimated fetal weight. EFW Ratio and Discordance are based off of Baby D since he is the closest to being 25 weeks old.

Baby C is determined to poke along at her own pace. Because she is one of the monochorionic twins and at risk for TTTS, this could have greater implications. She is 21% smaller than twin B (a sign of TTTS) however, her fluid levels are similar to baby B and well within normal range. At this point it does not look like her slow growth is due to TTTS. She is in the 3rd percentile and this is a worry. After examining her measurements and blood flow, the doctor is 98% sure that she is genetically programmed to be smaller (verses a chromosomal abnormality or TTTS). Over the next three weeks we will monitor her. If she does not grow at all we may face the possibility of delivering all of the babies at 28 weeks for her sake. This of course puts everyone at risk for health and survival issues, so keep the prayers going on her behalf! Grow baby Grow!!!

The cervix continues to shrink and is now just 1.1cm, down from 1.5cm the week before and still below the 2cm minimum. It is scary to see baby A's head so close to the outside world! Each week I am monitored for uterine contractions which are influential in shortening the cervix and promoting preterm labor. This week they found the uterus to be "cranky" and "irritated" so I am now taking Nifedipine in addition to Motrin in an effort to quiet it down. All four babies are still under 2 lbs and we're praying for more time to grow them in an effort to increase their chance of survival and lower the risk of life long disabilities. In the meantime, the sweet little babies are looking like cavemen in the 3D imaging. Good luck finding their faces. Check out how baby D continues to have his knee in his face, a position we've seen him in several times now!

Baby A trying to find some room

Baby B  Pressed in on every side

Baby C with her hand on her nose and eye 

Baby D taking a nap

My mom took this of me getting monitored.  It has been great having her here!
PS Thanks for the shirt Silvia!