There is something about hearing your baby's heartbeat for the first time. With the girls, I never cried. I was happy and excited and smiled, relieved, but that little pitter patter on the doppler never brought me to tears.
Then, you have triplets. And every day you wonder if there are still three. So when the ultrasound tech shows you their beating hearts on the giant screen, you smile. Then, you listen to their heartbeat and actually see your little baby up there, wiggling around...that's enough to bring you to tears. Three times. I am sure the tech thought maybe I was a little off as I fought them back and gently wiped my eyes while no one was looking. But the range of emotions that come from expecting triplets is overwhelming in itself.
Hearing a heartbeat for the very first time makes it very real....and no longer a dream I've felt I have been living in for a few weeks.
So, after our ultrasound, we met with our MFM (Maternal-Fetal medicine doctor). I was confused about his role in all of this, especially since we had just met with our new OB on Monday. He told us that we could either continue to see both of them, or elect to only see him. Because I had no loyalty with the new OB, we opted to see only him. It didn't make sense to continue care with two doctors when it wasn't needed, and it wasn't like I was attached to this OB like I was my midwife. It was going to make our lives easier, and since the OB wasn't supportive of a vaginal birth, it served no purpose.
He told me that if he could pick anyone from a lineup for triplets, it would be me. I've been told by many people I am a baby making machine. I'm tall with lots of room for baby (or babies) to grow, and both our girls were full term, and healthy. With this fact, he is hoping to get us to 36 weeks, but at that point he will want to deliver because he says the risk of still birth goes up tremendously.
When I told him how the idea of a c-section terrified me, and that I had my care with our girls through my midwife and had natural births, he told me matter of factly that we would be having a c-section. According to him, no where in the country would anyone be willing to deliver triplets vaginally (wrong.) and that while singletons are fine until 39 weeks (wrong...pregnancy is 40 weeks there mister) triplets are fine until 36 weeks and past that we are playing with fire. He assured me that I wouldn't be forced into a c-section for subsequent pregnancies because he would make sure everything was done so I could have a VBAC.
When I told him I wanted to let my body go into labor naturally, he said the only benefit to that would be letting my body do what it wants. (Well, yeah, duh...not to mention every day inside the womb is less time in the NICU!) But, at this point he did tell me that he can't force me to do anything I don't want to do, and that all he can do is be an advisor. He asked who my midwife was, and told me that he remember her when she was a nurse, and suggested I keep in contact with her. He told me that obviously I trust her and could seek her out for advice if I needed it. He recognizes he can't offer me the care she did, and this will be a rough transition for me.
We discussed having my tubes tied, and he noted my hesitation and told me that I am still young and circumstances chance (after a quick joke about 5 kids at 23 none the less.) and that I still had 20 years of fertility ahead of me. He told me he could do it, but I got the impression he knew I'm not ready, despite my certainty I am done having children (who knows, maybe in 5 years I will beg my husband for just one more, hehe). Right now, my sentiments are I will opt for an IUD and if that changes in the next couple months we will handle it then. But I have so many other things on my mind, that is the least of my concerns.
Not to mention, I am playing all this information by ear. I wasn't about to argue with him that Northwestern in Chicago has a 40% vaginal birth rate of triplets. Or that there ARE OB's in this country who will support a vaginal birth, and listed off some names for him. I don't want to butt head with my doctor this early, because for all I know, these babies could all sit sideways with no desire to move. The only way a vaginal birth will be attempted is if Baby A is head down. Not to mention, things could go very wrong, and we could need to get these babies out immediately, leaving no time for inductions or waiting for labor. I've learned all too well in my discussion with other MoM's and my reading that things could change in a matter of hours.
The doctor said this was not a birth plan birth, and I can certainly at the very least agree with that sentiment. But if the time comes, babies look good, and I could be a candidate for a vaginal birth, I will argue with him all day long. I fully intend to have my facts and research ready and waiting!
I know that some of you may be shaking your head at me. "Such a rebel"..."You don't have to be super woman here"...but the fact remains. This is not your body, these are not your babies. I will go into more detail about vaginal vs. c-section in a later post.
We will leave it at this. I will not put my babies health or well being at risk, nor will I risk my own health as I have to be here for my children. However, I do know what is best for me, and will make that decision as the time approaches.
So there you have it. Our doctor update. We have our next appointment in 3 weeks, putting us around 11 weeks. Soon I will update with belly pictures, once these little one's start deciding to make their existence more known. (Not that they don't do that by making mommy very sick and very tired.)
Then, you have triplets. And every day you wonder if there are still three. So when the ultrasound tech shows you their beating hearts on the giant screen, you smile. Then, you listen to their heartbeat and actually see your little baby up there, wiggling around...that's enough to bring you to tears. Three times. I am sure the tech thought maybe I was a little off as I fought them back and gently wiped my eyes while no one was looking. But the range of emotions that come from expecting triplets is overwhelming in itself.
Hearing a heartbeat for the very first time makes it very real....and no longer a dream I've felt I have been living in for a few weeks.
Baby A, Heart rate 168
Baby B, Heart rate 169
Baby C, Heart rate 170
We also confirmed that the babies are tri/tri, which means each baby has it's own gestational sac and amniotic sac. The babies do not share placenta's, so it decreases our risks a lot. They could still grow differently based on blood flow through each placenta, but they won't be stealing nutrients from each other which is a sigh of relief. This also means that they are fraternal and not identical.
So, after our ultrasound, we met with our MFM (Maternal-Fetal medicine doctor). I was confused about his role in all of this, especially since we had just met with our new OB on Monday. He told us that we could either continue to see both of them, or elect to only see him. Because I had no loyalty with the new OB, we opted to see only him. It didn't make sense to continue care with two doctors when it wasn't needed, and it wasn't like I was attached to this OB like I was my midwife. It was going to make our lives easier, and since the OB wasn't supportive of a vaginal birth, it served no purpose.
He told me that if he could pick anyone from a lineup for triplets, it would be me. I've been told by many people I am a baby making machine. I'm tall with lots of room for baby (or babies) to grow, and both our girls were full term, and healthy. With this fact, he is hoping to get us to 36 weeks, but at that point he will want to deliver because he says the risk of still birth goes up tremendously.
When I told him how the idea of a c-section terrified me, and that I had my care with our girls through my midwife and had natural births, he told me matter of factly that we would be having a c-section. According to him, no where in the country would anyone be willing to deliver triplets vaginally (wrong.) and that while singletons are fine until 39 weeks (wrong...pregnancy is 40 weeks there mister) triplets are fine until 36 weeks and past that we are playing with fire. He assured me that I wouldn't be forced into a c-section for subsequent pregnancies because he would make sure everything was done so I could have a VBAC.
When I told him I wanted to let my body go into labor naturally, he said the only benefit to that would be letting my body do what it wants. (Well, yeah, duh...not to mention every day inside the womb is less time in the NICU!) But, at this point he did tell me that he can't force me to do anything I don't want to do, and that all he can do is be an advisor. He asked who my midwife was, and told me that he remember her when she was a nurse, and suggested I keep in contact with her. He told me that obviously I trust her and could seek her out for advice if I needed it. He recognizes he can't offer me the care she did, and this will be a rough transition for me.
We discussed having my tubes tied, and he noted my hesitation and told me that I am still young and circumstances chance (after a quick joke about 5 kids at 23 none the less.) and that I still had 20 years of fertility ahead of me. He told me he could do it, but I got the impression he knew I'm not ready, despite my certainty I am done having children (who knows, maybe in 5 years I will beg my husband for just one more, hehe). Right now, my sentiments are I will opt for an IUD and if that changes in the next couple months we will handle it then. But I have so many other things on my mind, that is the least of my concerns.
Not to mention, I am playing all this information by ear. I wasn't about to argue with him that Northwestern in Chicago has a 40% vaginal birth rate of triplets. Or that there ARE OB's in this country who will support a vaginal birth, and listed off some names for him. I don't want to butt head with my doctor this early, because for all I know, these babies could all sit sideways with no desire to move. The only way a vaginal birth will be attempted is if Baby A is head down. Not to mention, things could go very wrong, and we could need to get these babies out immediately, leaving no time for inductions or waiting for labor. I've learned all too well in my discussion with other MoM's and my reading that things could change in a matter of hours.
The doctor said this was not a birth plan birth, and I can certainly at the very least agree with that sentiment. But if the time comes, babies look good, and I could be a candidate for a vaginal birth, I will argue with him all day long. I fully intend to have my facts and research ready and waiting!
I know that some of you may be shaking your head at me. "Such a rebel"..."You don't have to be super woman here"...but the fact remains. This is not your body, these are not your babies. I will go into more detail about vaginal vs. c-section in a later post.
We will leave it at this. I will not put my babies health or well being at risk, nor will I risk my own health as I have to be here for my children. However, I do know what is best for me, and will make that decision as the time approaches.
So there you have it. Our doctor update. We have our next appointment in 3 weeks, putting us around 11 weeks. Soon I will update with belly pictures, once these little one's start deciding to make their existence more known. (Not that they don't do that by making mommy very sick and very tired.)
I love how much you know about this already. Knowing you, you researched having triplets as soon as you got home from that ultrasound, showing those 3 precious babes. <3
ReplyDeletewait... you are only 23? omg! You have 20 years of fertility!!! I am almost 35 and 2 kids make me dig my own grave!
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly well ahead of your age in so many ways. And they are all in good ways though! You are amazing!
ReplyDeleteBy the way this is Jackie H! lol!!
ReplyDelete