Visit to High Risk Specialist (24 Weeks)

Wednesday's appointment with the high risk specialist was a milestone event for a couple of reasons. First, at 24 weeks, our babies now have a 50% chance survival rate outside the womb (not high, but better than five weeks ago). Second, at our last visit, the doctor said that if my cervix hadn't shortened more and my fetal fibronectin (FFN) test (indicator of risk for preterm labor in next 1-2 wks) was negative, that he would consider lifting some of my restrictions (i.e., let me sit up). At our visit today, I had my cervix measured, another FFN test performed, and the babies were measured for the first time since the first trimester.

Unfortunately, my cervix shortened more than the doctor would have liked -- it is now down to 2.0 cm. The FFN test came back negative, which means I only have a 10-15% chance of preterm labor within the next several weeks. If it had come back positive, my chance of preterm labor would have been 60%. On the babies' measurements, Baby A (boy) is about 1 lb 11 oz and Baby B (girl) is about 1 lb 8 oz. This puts Baby B in the 50th percentile (average) and Baby A in the 65th percentile (above avg) for this stage of gestation. Personally, I've gained 20 lb. I also learned that the boy is on the left side of my abdomen and the girl is on the right, so now I know who I'm rubbing and talking to.

So even though I didn't get any restrictions lifted, John and I were relieved to know that the babies are doing well and I at least have a slight amount of cervix left. I have another appointment with the specialist in a couple of weeks.