For me, when the risk of keeping the babies inside outweigh the benefits to taking them out is when I want to deliver. There aren’t a lot of studies done on momo pregnancies because they are so rare. Standard care in the US is going inpatient between 24-28 weeks and delivering between 32-34 weeks. It’s a very personal choice. We have wanted a 32 week delivery for at least 12 weeks and are sticking to it.
From my research it’s clear that delivering 32 week premies is less risky than keeping babies inside past 32 weeks and risking cord compression (it’s tight quarters for these babies now). When we went to UCSF in San Francisco at 19 weeks pregnant for our second opinion they said that delivery time with momo’s is a grey area. I can see why, it’s a bit of a gamble. Of course, everyone wants to do the right thing and the best thing for these special babies. Seems like half of the perinatologists think a 32 week delivery is best and half think a 34 week delivery (if possible) is best. From my understanding, most 32 weekers do great in the Nicu and can be developmentally as capable as 34 weekers. Also, after a few meetings with Nicu doctors and nurses some 32 weekers do better than 34 weekers it just depends on the baby.
For my entire inpatient stay (4 weeks today) and even today, babies are showing little decels (heart decelerations) for 30 seconds to a minute. It’s very unnerving to watch the monitor and witness your babies’s heartrate go from 135 down to 65 and then shoot back up to 180. Usually, a sure sign of cord compression when it changes that much and overshoots their normal heart rate. The tough part is that all babies have decels while in utero but it’s whether or not the babies’ heart rates go back up or recover quickly on their own.
Part of my care plan while inpatient has been in the 5 minute range. Meaning within 2 minutes of a decel, I get rolled and put on oxygen (the two things I can do to try and help babies recover), then I get an IV, doctors get called and within 5 minutes I’ll be rolled to “the back” (operating room) for my emergency c section. Cord accidents are extremely high during a momo pregnancy and especially now as both babies get bigger.
This momo pregnancy is a lot like life-just trying to do the best job we can with the information and resources that we have.
Here’s to 3 more days! Hoping my baby girls stay mellow and be nice to each other for the next 3 days!
Tags: Momo twins
5 Comments
I’m so excited for you baby! The girls will be just fine in NICU. Shea didgreat in there as have all the babies I’ve know who were early. The nerve racking part is trying to keep them healthy for the first year
! Good luck sweet girl. XOXO
Sweet girl and mama you are! Those girls are going to “make it” and, along with Kai, will bear the fruits of your and Sean’s love. You have made the “best” decisions, and you will continually to do so! Keep that trust and confidence always. They are your guides, your angels!
What a beautiful Mom you are! I’ll be thinking and praying for your family these next three days.
Chris aka Parisgirl
Thinking of you and the girls. I know they can do it! I love reading up on the world you are going through and so great for everyone to learn about the mo-mo world through your words. I’m proud of you and thinking of you all!
Thanks Mirka! I’m hoping that another momo mom can one day get strength and ideas from my momo journey.