Quick update on last ultrasound

I talked to my OB's office yesterday, and after he reviewed my ultrasound, he's decided to just repeat it in a few weeks (March 4). He's not concerned at this point with the size difference of just one week and doesn't seem to be worried about any complications that could arise with identicals sharing one amnion or one placenta. I'm looking forward to seeing the girls again and confirming they are both in fact girls!

Two more girls!!

I just got home from my ultrasound and it looks like we're getting two more girls! We are so excited!!

Emma, Charlotte, and my good friend, Julie, were with me during the ultrasound because Chris couldn't be here. He commutes to Anderson on Wednesdays. We're both very sorry he missed it because it was so amazing to see their two little bodies swimming around. I was also disappointed because the new ultrasound equipment doesn't make videotapes so all I have are a few still pictures.

The tech started out by locating both babies. Baby A was lying head down close to the middle of my belly, and Baby B was curled up transversly on my right side. I jokingly asked her, "Are you sure there are only two?" She did a quick sweep of my uterus and confirmed, "Just two." Whew!

Baby A's heart rate was 156 beats per minute and everything looks great! She was a little wiggly worm but clearly made her sex known. I was able to feel her movements and see her moving around on the screen, which was really cool. Baby B was curled up seemingly to protect herself from Baby A who was kicking her. Her heart rate was 168 beats per minute, and she measured only 16 weeks; whereas, A measured 17 weeks. She had a foot partially blocking what the tech was "pretty sure" were girl parts, so there is still a slight chance Emma is right and one baby is a boy. I'm sure we'll clear up the matter definitively in one of my later ultrasounds. Apparently I could have them as frequently as once a month from here on out.

I am 17 weeks pregnant, so A is right on target and B is a little small. This could be cause for concern, the difference in their sizes, because the tech was not able to locate a dividing membrane or more than one placenta. If the twins are identical and have only one placenta, one baby could take more nutrients from the other baby. The tech said my doctor would call me after he reviews the pictures. In my 8 week ultrasound, there was clearly a dividing membrane, so I'm confident the tech was just not able to locate it because of the equipment she was using. I suspect I will be sent to a perinatologist (prenatal specialist) to confirm whether the girls are in one sac or two and how many placentas there actually are. It's possible that there are two placentas but they're fused or very close together. We'll just have to wait and see what my doctor says.

Now the fun of picking names really begins! We'll keep you posted!

Baby Noah is home!

We got the wonderful news yesterday that Baby Noah has been released finally more than a month after his birth. Please continue to pray for his family as they make the adjustment to having their sweet son at home after such a long time in the hospital. Pray also that he will begin nursing better--he's gotten used to the bottle. Many thanks for your prayers and concern for the Picketts. God is good!

16 weeks, Ultrasound next week!!

16 weeks with twins

20 weeks with Emma

21 weeks with Charlotte

I had my 16 week prenatal appointment yesterday and everything is going well. I got to hear two strong heartbeats, each in the 140s. My uterus is measuring about 22 weeks, which means the babies are growing nicely. It also explains why I look bigger than I did when I was 21 weeks with Emma and finding out she was a girl. I haven't gained any weight but the doctor doesn't seem concerned at this point. And the best news--I'm getting an ultrasound next week!! Hopefully, by 2:30pm next Wednesday we'll know for sure if we've been blessed with two more sweet girls, boys, or one of each. You have until noon next Wednesday to submit your predictions. :)