Ultrasound 9/2/15

Had our biweekley ultrasound yesterday.  Actually have some details to share.  To start, everything is fine and coming along as expected.  Twin A is measuring 2lbs 1oz, Twin B is at 1lb 14oz a discordance of 9%.  This is a little higher than the 6% we had 2 weeks ago, but well within the ideal range of <15%.  This also puts them with a Gestation Age of 26 weeks 0 days and 25 weeks 2 days respectively.  Teri is technically at 27 weeks today which puts the girls at about 1 week behind a singleton pregnancy.

The Dr stressed that this 1 week lag is perfectly normal, but this led into a discussion as to what we should be expecting going forward.  This is an indicator as to when, exactly, we are going to deliver. The Dr explained to us that being mono-di twins, their development will plateau.  It'll slow down more and more and eventually stop.  Once they stop developing inside, further development, if necessary will have to happen outside.  As of right now, we are still in a "best case" scenario and will deliver at 36 weeks.  We will not be going later than 36 weeks.  This is a little different than what we were understanding in the past.  Not sure where Teri and I picked it up wrong, but we were under the impression that best case was 38 weeks.   If the babies stop growing sooner than that, we will have to go sooner at 35 or 34 weeks.  He also told us that the typically accepted ideal age for safe delivery is at 32 weeks 4 days.  However, he and his 12 colleagues that compose the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist team at the Cleveland Clinic and have set their own standard at 34 weeks.  He said there is no way he would ever deliver at 32 weeks unless it was absolutely necessary.

So, long story short, we will know for sure at our 34 week appointment when the happy day will be.  We don't currently have an appointment scheduled that day, but it is Oct 22.  Not sure if we will have a 33 week exam and another one for 34, but at the latest, the girls will be here by November 5th.  We've been told that it could be a same-day decision.  The possibility exists that we could walk into the office Oct 22 and deliver that day.

As for post-delivery.  If we do continue on our best-case path and deliver at 36 weeks, the girls would most likely be coming home with Teri when she is discharged 3 or so days later.  However, if things go sooner, the girls will need to spend some time in the NICU.  At 34 weeks, that would likely be 1, maybe 2 weeks.

Unfortunately, I still don't have any pictures to share.  The girls just aren't cooperating with the photography.  The ultrasound tech did a great job trying for us, but they just weren't going to give.  But since you probably want to see something, enjoy our family picture from our recent vacation to the Outer Banks.