30 weeks

I've read the average for twin births are around 35 weeks.  My doctor will induce at 38 weeks if we haven't delivered.  And to be honest once I found out it was twins I never thought I'd make it out of August without delivering (puts me right over 35 weeks) and just hoped I'd be able to keep these little boys in long enough that they would be born healthy. 

Twins, you just never know..(quoting my idiot first OB who I'm glad moved practices and led me to my new wonderful positive encouraging OB).

Anyway, now that I'm 30 weeks I've got to say I'm doing pretty great and let's just say this isn't something you do on your own, this is something you do as a family and I have one AMAZING family.  We've taken on a little extra help at home and I definitely have days where laying down wears me out but overall I'm healthy and happy.  And if these kicks and moves and hiccups are any indication these babies are doing just fine also:)  I'm still working full time and just can't imagine where the time has gone.

I'm also still not anywhere near that I just want this over with part of pregnancy where delivering babies out your whooha seems like a better idea them carrying around safe and sound inside of you:)

I've had some people ask me if I would be a surrogate again.  My answer has always been we will see how the last part of a twin pregnancy goes (assuming bed rest, misery, complications).  I've never had this experience before and I have been very nervous about not knowing what to expect and how it would impact our family.  But most of the fear has seem to have gone.  The happiness of bringing these bundles of joy to their parents has always been here and just gets better the closer it gets for us.  So I'm not really sure what the answer is, and of course our family will determine the best course for itself but it doesn't seem like it is out of the question for the reasons I thought would be the most obvious. 

However, I am 39 so that may be its own deciding factor!!  Either way we would never trade this experience for anything.

Contraction Action

This weekend I did as little as possible.  I figured it was time to catch up, take a nap, relax.  So Sunday we finally go to a movie at noon.  Once I settle in my chair the contractions start.  They aren't painful but they are consistent and some take my breath away.  I drank a 32 oz cup of water.  Still contractions.  We nix the shopping, go home and I drink another 32 oz cup of water then lay down.  Still contractions.  These things would just not go away and they were coming every few minutes.  Finally in the evening, worried about twins and not knowing what to worry about I head to L & D.  The machine did pick up the contractions although they weren't strong so the doctor on call decided to give me a shot of Terbutaline.  This did the trick and they sent me home.  Since my doctor appointment was Monday morning I felt comfortable with this. 

I'm seeing a new OB since mine moved shortly before the surrogacy process started.  He is very nice however he is constantly saying things like "with twins you just never know".  The problem is he never really explains all the doom and gloom of why and what is different with twins.  I know the basic concern is pre-term labor, but he also hasn't really addressed what he plans to look for or what I need to do.  Since I'm only 18 weeks I have thought at my previous appointments that the info would come as I got further along.  However, after Sunday's scare his comment after I asked what should I look for, should I have gone in was "well, if you are concerned it is good to go in".  Not the worse answer but was hoping more would follow, or he could expand upon something..really anything at this point.  I think since I see the MFM once a month he is just kind of relying on that to handle issues.  But if that is the case why am I even seeing my OB.

He did ask if I have a support person in place for when I have to give my babies up.  I explain how we are excited to be giving 'back' the babies to their parents and are looking forward to watching them together.  He says "well, your head may tell you that but your heart is a different story".  This is the doctors first experience with a surrogate so I'm not sure what he is referencing to know that I will have a breakdown and how I will feel when I give away 'my' babies?????   

I don't mind questions about surrogacy at all and part of being a surrogate I've found out is educating others around me because most people around here haven't really heard of it.  But what I didn't like is the doctor telling me how I would feel instead of asking me.  Big difference.  Tolerable from my cleaning lady who is concerned about me but not from my health care professional who is going to be delivering these babies.  UGH>  The parents come once a month for my MFM appointments but haven't yet met the OB.  I'm not sure if this attitude will change when he meets them or if we are heading in a bad direction. 

Anyway, with my first pregnancy I had a cerclage put in place because of some thinning issues early on.  My second I had one done as a precautionary measure.  After that I have had normal pregnancies but this is a Twin pregnancy and you "just never know".  My previous pregnancies braxton hicks contractions were also usually triggered by being worn out at the end of the day and go away in an hour or two.  So Sunday was a completely different experience and had me worried.  Because of this I guess at the end of my appointment after taking my blood pressure and listening to the heartbeats my doctor says I'm "doing great".  WHA???  He spent more time asking how my kids were handling this than having any concern if those contractions had any impact on my cervix.  For someone who is Mr. Doom and Gloom about twins he sure isn't doing anything about it.  And for the record my kids are very proud that we are helping another family.  (My doctor should be so smart).

I called back later and had my 20 week ultrasound moved up to this Thursday so I could get some peace of mind with my cervix.  They thought it was a good idea.  Next appointment I'm going in with a list of questions and keeping my ears open.  My hope is he will have an answer for my questions and be more comfortable with the surrogacy.  If not then I really need to change doctors I guess.  How frustrating. 

Everything else is great :)