24 weeks: clips and snips

FDA panel supports new sterilization method for women
Fri, Dec 14, 2007 (HealthDay) — A new method for sterilizing women — which would provide an alternative to tubal ligation — should be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an advisory panel to the agency recommended Thursday.

This new approach, which takes about 15 minutes to accomplish, involves the use of radio signals to create a lesion inside the fallopian tube, the Associated Press reported. Doctors use a catheter to place a soft material — smaller than a grain of rice — into the fallopian tube. Healthy tissue grows on and around the material and blocks the tube.

The product, called Adiana, is made by Hologic Inc. of Bedford, Mass, which promotes it as a low-risk procedure that can be performed in a doctor's office. According to study data in FDA documents, the efficacy rate for Adiana is 98.9 percent, the AP reported.

By a 10-3 vote, the FDA's Obstetrics and Gynecology Devices Panel recommended that Adiana be approved for use in the United States. But the panel attached certain conditions, including follow-up of patients treated with Adiana. The FDA isn't required to follow the advice of its advisory panels, but usually does.

24 weeks: no names

I am huge... exhausted... unable to flip. They are kicking and moving and I can't last out of bed more than a couple of hours. Pathetic they are sucking me dry... these no named kids.

23 weeks: doctor visit

We had our doctor visit today. The ultrasound pictures were disappointing but the kids look great. They are getting bigger by the day and I am feeling it in every way. The boy is 1 lbs 1 oz and the girl is 1 lbs. 2 oz. and my uterus now measures 28 inches. We saw the boys face, as in non-skeleton and he has my lips, he has a strong looking chin, and looks like my nose. As for the girl, the boy kicked her in the head when we were looking at her and she was busy hitting him back to pay attention to us. Doctor Reed is very pleased with their progress and the growth rate. The fact I have gained so little over the first part of the pregnancy is good as well. I will most likely gain more than 11 lbs over the second part, which I am actually supposed to gain 24 more pounds but I don't see that happening.

We discussed a lot about the pregnancy during this visit. We selected the pediatrician for Houston and she gave nothing but praise about our choice. We still have not managed to make it to the hospital to finish the pre-registering, so that is still on the infamous to-do-list that we are so known for. Besides that we have scheduled the Gestational Diabetes test for Jan 8th at 9:30am. That is sure to be fun and joyous. After that test I get my lovely green card which I must carry around with me at all times. Other than that we talked about cord blood... it is very expensive and each cord will be an individual cost but they might offer twin discounts, as of right now that is not in Jeramie or my budget even though I would like to store it for possible use for Leo or any other family member that might need it. We also talked about exercise. I am to not over do it... this is a high risk pregnancy but I can still continue exercising lightly. Walking being pretty much the only activity she suggested. As of lately I couldn't handle much more than that anyways. We also discussed Braxton hicks contractions... since I am at risk of preterm labor we talked about the symptoms to look for and she showed me on my stomach what to look for due to preterm labor sometimes having no painful contractions associated with it and I have already experienced these types of contractions... which is normal in twin pregnancy at this stage. Then the lovely talk about delivery. Vaginal if it can happen. 1st kid has to be head down to do vaginally, the 2nd kid can be head down, if breech she will still delivery vaginally and if need be (this is where I was freaking and looking at her like she was insane) she can reach up inside me and turn the baby as long as this baby is the smaller of the two and can be sure it can travel through the birth canal. Okay ummm it is official... can you say COW. They do this to cows and I look the size of one right now and it is only getting worse by the day. I saw a lady pregnant with twins... she was huge. I am a little freaked.

Anyways I am tired must lay down... update more later and pics to be added soon.

23 weeks: ultrasound pictures

As Requested: Ultrasound Pictures: 23w2d
Note: Click image to view larger.

Baby A: Boy - Face

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Baby B: Girl - Getting kicked in the head and getting ready to hit back

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22 weeks: the dreaded day has occurred

The dreaded day has occurred… it is official: the belly has surpassed the boobs… and there is no sucking in to save my life.

I have the strange occurrence of being addressed constantly by a variety of strangers asking when I am due and the awe inspiring comments such as, "wow you look like you are going to pop any day now"…. I am 5 months pregnant and I have 3 and a half to 4 months to go… but it is true… I look and feel as if 8 months have passed - twins. What I love most is when random people feel it is okay to touch me… umm it is not okay under any circumstance to go up to a complete stranger and ask to touch their stomach. It is just awkward. It is like dealing with those creepy guys with pregnancy fetishes. You just want to umm run.

So, I sit here reflecting the last few weeks as the next doctor visit approaches, all the changes in life and in body. In life, well people have proven themselves one way or another and there have been sad moments where different directions in life forces you to lose certain people and things but there is nothing in this decision or my current direction I will ever regret… losing things or dealing with change is just a part of life. Life is all about adapting to changes and over coming challenges. Besides that I have been doing endless research and readings on all things babies. Buyers guides, safety regulations, what a new born needs, best things to get for twins. In all the research there are very few resources for twin and multiple babies. Most information out there written about twins are very negative involving the potential issues with high-risk twin pregnancy, as if any mother needs to be force fed the issues that might occur instead of addressing them if they occur. As for body changes, in the last 4 weeks I have gained around 4 pounds for a grand total of still being 6 to 7 pounds lighter than I started. The only blessing of morning sickness. I have been around Jeramie often this month, so the restaurant food is mostly to blame for most of the weight gain in both of us. I blame his kitchen still be under construction as well. I will be going home to mom and her home cooking soon… better dietary choices in Austin! Besides that I have had a large growth rate in the stomach and chest region. The belly is firm and the babies are pushing to make room. Sleeping and well, getting up, is becoming more and more difficult and the coming months are nothing but a big scare. Nightmares are continuous but they have always been. I have continued having morning sickness as I approach the 6th month. I am beginning to give up hope that this will not stretch the full duration of the pregnancy. The backaches have not been that bad… just the slip of the hips due to the hips spreading suck. There have been a couple of times I didn’t know if I could get up or walk. Fatigue is still a major issue… I am falling apart and they are sucking the life out of me… they are doing great though… so that is all that matters.

We are still in search of names, getting registries in order, and collecting addresses for invites and announcements and researching non-stop. These have been more strenuous than dealing with pregnancy issues thus far.

Well fatigue is taking over again so I am going to go rest up.

22 weeks: only 15 to 17 weeks remain

sleep while you can

22 weeks: baby check list

We need to figure out what we have, what we need, and what we need to put on registries.

Baby check list

21 weeks: buying guides

Transportation

Buying guide for car seats

Buying guide for baby carriers

Buying guide for baby strollers



Nursery

Buying guide for nursey furniture

Buying guide for Crib Mattresses and Sleep Positioners

Buying guide for baby monitors



Feeding

Buying guide for breast feeding supplies

Buying guide for bottle feeding

Buying guide for high chair



Play

Buying guide for baby toys

Buying guide for playyards



Baby Proofing

Buying guide for baby proofing

Buying guide for baby proofing gates

21 weeks: product reviews

"This is the mercedes-benz of breast pumps"
  The Philips AVENT ISIS iQ DUO Twin Electronic Breast Pump

21 weeks: twin necessities

Thinking of registry...
what do newborns need and what needs to be doubled for two?

I grabbed some info from online... parents let me know what we actually need.

furniture/nursery:
crib (2)
changing table
high chair (2)
play pen
baby monitor

car/outing's:
car seat (2)
twin stroller or single
diaper bag (2)

bedding/feeding:
fitted sheets (3-4)
light weight blankets (5-7)
burping cloths (10-15)
breast feeding pillow
breast pump (twin or single?)
bottles (10)
bib (4)

clothes:
onesies (5-10)
sleepers (5-7)
baby socks (5-7)
newborn hats (1-2)

diapers/bathing items:
changing table covers (3)
diaper pail
diapers (4 packs)
baby wipes (2 packs)
diaper cream
baby powder
cotton balls
q-tips
baby nail clippers/file
digital thermometer
baby bathtub
baby wash clothes (6-10)
Hooded towels (3-4)
baby wash/shampoo

entertainment:
bouncy seat(2)
pacifiers


This blog entry will change and be updated with feedback.

21 weeks: things to think about...

Cord blood to do or not to do.... could help Leo.
Cord Blood Information

Kids Names
There are so many names in the world and all of them seem to be taken... So that leaves so many out there but so few that we can choose from. Here are some of the names in the air thus far:

Boy
Jacob
Ashby
Ardon
Shilah
Artis
Eoin
Nathaniel
Morrison

Girl
Taylor
Synnove
Cameron
Chloe
Edie
Dakota
Indie

Then there's combo names like:
Jones Dash Fletcher
Gibson and Taylor Fletcher

ok somewhat kidding, I have no clue about the names thus far. I am open to suggestions for consideration.... just comment the blog people.

So Far it is: Jacob Todd Fletcher and Taylor Magee Fletcher

no matter what we name them they are going to hate us for it anyways... might as well be cool.

I'm tired... i'll get back to this later...