Eviction Notices And All-You-Can Eat Buffets

Randi returned to the perinatalogist today for our regularly scheduled appointment. We did not get great news. I'll try to break everything down, baby-by-baby.

Eviction Notices: First and foremost, Pooh has already slipped back into reverse end diastolic flow within a day of Randi receiving IV fluids at Labor and Delivery. Apparently there are bad patches on the umbilical artery that are not working effectively or efficiently. There are spots of reverse end, absent end, and slight diastolic flow depending on where a sample is taken. Also, he only gained 1 ounce in the last two weeks. We believe that the placenta has hit a wall and has grown all that it will grow. He is now topping off at 1 pound, 11 ounces. For Pooh, he is sending us a lot of signs that he is ready to get out of his current location into a bigger, brighter world. On the bright side, Pooh was very active today, moving and interacting with Tigger. His heart rate scans were also very positive. Randi is returning to Labor and Delivery tomorrow for more fluids and, finally, steroid shots to stimulate lung development in preparation for delivery. Although this new is daunting, delivery is not necessarily imminent. These shots are effective for two weeks as we continue to administer fluids and monitor extremely closely.

All-You-Can-Eat Buffet: Tigger, on the other hand, thinks that he is at a carnival and doesn't show any signs of wanting to leave. He is having too much fun on the "Tilt-A-Whirl" and spending a lot of time at the snack bar. He gained 13 ounces in the last two weeks and rounds out (pun intended) at 3 pounds, 10 ounces. He has obviously been benefiting from all the Ensure drinks Randi has had to endure. He has no idea that the party is about to end. His heart rate scans and Doppler are looking great, and he seems to receive great pleasure from kicking and punching at Pooh.

The Long And The Short Of It: Pooh is at risk of brain bleeds because his body has been shunting vital blood to the brain and starving the rest of his body for the last 8 weeks. Likely, since he has been under such stress and has been preparing himself to leave the womb, we are praying his lungs will be in better shape, and he will not need to be on the ventilator very long. Also, he is at an increased risk for N.E.C. due to the fact that his bowels have been starved of blood flow and are the consistency of rice paper. It will be very important that the neonatologists do not try to feed him too soon.

Tigger is oblivious to what is about to happen. With steroids, we are hoping to give him a knock at the door before we burst in. The more he can see coming, metaphorically, the better off he will be outside the womb. He will most likely be on the ventilators longer but with less risk for severe brain bleeds and almost no risk of N.E.C.

So, this is where we stand, more IV fluids tomorrow, our first round of steroid shots, Randi stays over in the hospital tomorrow night for close monitoring, another steroid shot Thursday morning, and return to the perinatalogist Thursday afternoon. We will also most likely also attend our standing appointment with his office on Friday. By Friday, we (or Randi) will have spent every day this week either in the hospital or at the doctor's office. By definition, we are taking it day-to-day.