We found out Thursday a week ago that Baby B is also a healthy girl! Hubby and I couldn't be happier knowing that we have two healthy girls.
So, our Baby A&B who have been snuggling together on the ultrasounds are indeed both girls. Wow, how amazing is it that I just knew intuitively that they are girls?
It's a bit daunting to think of raising two girls, and to think ahead to the teenage years, but at least we have some time before we get there...
Unfortunately, the chorionic villus sample from Baby C wasn't enough to culture in the lab, and we will not receive any results. Although I have this 6th sense that Baby C is perfectly fine, I'm also disappointed with the lack of information, especially given how painful it was to reach Baby C. It's hard not to feel like that was in vain. Having lived through all the waiting that IVF and pregnancy entails, I probably should have known that there'd be more waiting ahead.
I can't complain, though, we are incredibly fortunate to have three babies after infertility and I'm acutely aware of so many of my friends who continue to fight the IF battle every single day.
Showing posts with label CVS test. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CVS test. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Saturday, June 06, 2009
12w5d - CVS news, part 1
My husband called me at work yesterday to say the genetic counselor called him with news about Baby A. All of the results came back normal, and for once, he knew something before I did. He had the chance to tell me that we're expecting a precious little baby girl! How special is that?
We are so relieved and grateful that our baby girl has no chromosomal abnormalities, and we are obviously beyond excited to know that she's a little girl. It has made this unbelievable pregnancy all the more real. Hubby has been floating on cloud 9.
A pregnant colleague of his told me by email that my husband was "glowing" all day. I thought that was both funny and adorable.
We will have to wait until next week to find out the results for Baby B and Baby C. They had the best sample for Baby A, so it's no surprise that her results came in earlier than the others.
The waiting has been very difficult, but it's comforting to know one set of results already. That will get me through the weekend...
We are so relieved and grateful that our baby girl has no chromosomal abnormalities, and we are obviously beyond excited to know that she's a little girl. It has made this unbelievable pregnancy all the more real. Hubby has been floating on cloud 9.
A pregnant colleague of his told me by email that my husband was "glowing" all day. I thought that was both funny and adorable.
We will have to wait until next week to find out the results for Baby B and Baby C. They had the best sample for Baby A, so it's no surprise that her results came in earlier than the others.
The waiting has been very difficult, but it's comforting to know one set of results already. That will get me through the weekend...
Saturday, May 30, 2009
11w4d - Second perinatologist visit
We had a check-up at my perinatologist 48 hours after the CVS test to see how the trio is doing. The (awesome!) u/s tech did a quick check to establish that all three hearts were still beating (phew!), before listening and measuring each heartbeat individually. She reassured us immediately. I love medical professionals who understand the worry and anxiety, and who do everything in their power to minimize it.
We were too stressed on Wednesday (before the CVS test) to really enjoy the u/s experience and we were grateful to the u/s tech for taking her time on Friday. She pointed out teeny tiny fingers and toes, umbilical cords and other details. We saw our one little baby lying with arms crossed in front of his/her forehead and another lying in what looked like a very chilled position - with the little feet crossed like he/she was on a beach vacation or something! At one point, one of the babies "waved" at us. The little right arm came up and the hand was literally waving. We were mesmerized.
They were bouncing around at times too. I can't get over how fast they spin around and make somersaults. We are expecting fraternal triplets (triamniotic, trichorionic), but since week 5, two of the babies have consistently appeared to be very similar in position, gestational sac size, and with their other measurements. Yesterday, these two, now named Baby A and Baby B, were lying the exact same way.
The tech said she's never seen that before in a triamniotic, trichorionic pregnancy. It is uncanny. She printed an u/s picture for us - which I will scan and post at some point. It reminded me of another tech who commented that it looked like we were having twins and a singleton, even though we all knew at that point that they were from three different eggs and sperm.
I'd like to look back two weeks from now and know if these two kids are the same gender, and years from now, know if they share more facial features and personality traits... and whether Baby C will be the more independent one.
I love how each ultrasound brings us closer to our babies and bonds us with them. Our third perinatologist visit is in three weeks. It's amazing to think we'll know their genders then. Can't wait!
We were too stressed on Wednesday (before the CVS test) to really enjoy the u/s experience and we were grateful to the u/s tech for taking her time on Friday. She pointed out teeny tiny fingers and toes, umbilical cords and other details. We saw our one little baby lying with arms crossed in front of his/her forehead and another lying in what looked like a very chilled position - with the little feet crossed like he/she was on a beach vacation or something! At one point, one of the babies "waved" at us. The little right arm came up and the hand was literally waving. We were mesmerized.
They were bouncing around at times too. I can't get over how fast they spin around and make somersaults. We are expecting fraternal triplets (triamniotic, trichorionic), but since week 5, two of the babies have consistently appeared to be very similar in position, gestational sac size, and with their other measurements. Yesterday, these two, now named Baby A and Baby B, were lying the exact same way.
The tech said she's never seen that before in a triamniotic, trichorionic pregnancy. It is uncanny. She printed an u/s picture for us - which I will scan and post at some point. It reminded me of another tech who commented that it looked like we were having twins and a singleton, even though we all knew at that point that they were from three different eggs and sperm.
I'd like to look back two weeks from now and know if these two kids are the same gender, and years from now, know if they share more facial features and personality traits... and whether Baby C will be the more independent one.
I love how each ultrasound brings us closer to our babies and bonds us with them. Our third perinatologist visit is in three weeks. It's amazing to think we'll know their genders then. Can't wait!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
11w2d - The CVS test experience - not for the fainthearted
The detailed ultrasound scan prior to the CVS test was incredible. We saw all three of them doing acrobatics in utero for the very first time. I always thought that they would move in slow motion through the amniotic fluid, but boy, were they bouncing fast! I promise, I haven't had any caffeine...
The last time we saw them (at 8 weeks), we could see a distinct head and body with limb buds, but no other distinguishable features. This time around, we could see noses, ears, fingers, and toes. Just amazing. My Dh must have whispered, "Wow!" a thousand times. We are in awe.
Here are the (beautiful) vital stats:
Baby A: 4.98 cm, heartbeat: 161 bpm, nuchal fold: 0.007
Baby B: 4.85 cm, heartbeat: 165 bpm, nuchal fold: 0.183
Baby C: 4.74 cm, heartbeat: 165 bpm, nuchal fold: 0.115
Thank you all for your encouraging words about the CVS test. The chorionic villus sampling test is more complex in a triplet pregnancy as the perinatologists obviously need a clear path to access each baby.
If you're having a CVS procedure for a singleton or twins, then there's very little to be concerned about. Like with everything, it's more complex with triplets. We had the u/s technician, and two perinatologists present. The two peris analysed each baby's position on the u/s and worked together in determining the safest route to take for each. Sometimes they can access all three trans-cervically, sometimes all three trans-abdominally, and sometimes they have to use both approaches.
I never luck out in the odds department, so of course they had to use both with me.
They accessed Baby A's placenta through my cervix first, and it was a breeze. I felt no pain whatsoever. It took a little longer than an embryo transfer, but the discomfort was from the spe.culum and my full bladder. I couldn't feel the catheter being threaded through my cervix, or the needle accessing the chorionic villi.
They then had me empty my bladder (phew!) so that they had a better chance of reaching the other two babies.
They accessed Baby B's placenta through my abdomen (no anesthetic, not even topical). The setup for each baby takes about 10-15 minutes as they reconfirm the position of each baby, and plan the best path for the needle. It was quite painful as they have to maneuver the (very long!) needle all the way in, and then move it up and down at least 3 times to get enough of a sample. Baby B's actual procedure was over in about two minutes. If it had gone any longer, I would've bit through my lip.
And then the torture started. They uhmmmed and aahed about how best to access Baby C's placenta. I should've known that this meant trouble. They finally found a safe path, but was nervous that the needle wouldn't be long enough to complete the up-and-down motion to get the sample. (Deep breath.) Some more discussion ensued before they went in. Once the needle went in, there was a long period with lots of incredibly painful maneuvering.
It felt like an eternity. I squeezed my husband's hand to kingdom come while trying to find my happy place as the pain just intensified with each needle movement. I honestly thought it would never end. The nausea crept in, and well, what you don't want to do is throw up with an eight inch needle inside you. And then - thankfully - it was all over. The relief is indescribable. They had me turn on my left side to get the nausea to subside.
After each procedure, the perinatologist uses the syringe to inject the sample into a petri dish, and then they analyse each sample to determine whether they have a sufficient amount of chorionic villi to culture.
The peri who came back to report said they have an excellent sample from Baby A, a great sample from Baby B, and an adequate sample from Baby C. Thank goodness for small miracles, because I sure as hell am not going back for more torture.
It will take the full 14 days to get the results back, so now we wait. Aaah, more waiting! After IVF, we should be good at this, right? Not.
The last time we saw them (at 8 weeks), we could see a distinct head and body with limb buds, but no other distinguishable features. This time around, we could see noses, ears, fingers, and toes. Just amazing. My Dh must have whispered, "Wow!" a thousand times. We are in awe.
Here are the (beautiful) vital stats:
Baby A: 4.98 cm, heartbeat: 161 bpm, nuchal fold: 0.007
Baby B: 4.85 cm, heartbeat: 165 bpm, nuchal fold: 0.183
Baby C: 4.74 cm, heartbeat: 165 bpm, nuchal fold: 0.115
Thank you all for your encouraging words about the CVS test. The chorionic villus sampling test is more complex in a triplet pregnancy as the perinatologists obviously need a clear path to access each baby.
If you're having a CVS procedure for a singleton or twins, then there's very little to be concerned about. Like with everything, it's more complex with triplets. We had the u/s technician, and two perinatologists present. The two peris analysed each baby's position on the u/s and worked together in determining the safest route to take for each. Sometimes they can access all three trans-cervically, sometimes all three trans-abdominally, and sometimes they have to use both approaches.
I never luck out in the odds department, so of course they had to use both with me.
They accessed Baby A's placenta through my cervix first, and it was a breeze. I felt no pain whatsoever. It took a little longer than an embryo transfer, but the discomfort was from the spe.culum and my full bladder. I couldn't feel the catheter being threaded through my cervix, or the needle accessing the chorionic villi.
They then had me empty my bladder (phew!) so that they had a better chance of reaching the other two babies.
They accessed Baby B's placenta through my abdomen (no anesthetic, not even topical). The setup for each baby takes about 10-15 minutes as they reconfirm the position of each baby, and plan the best path for the needle. It was quite painful as they have to maneuver the (very long!) needle all the way in, and then move it up and down at least 3 times to get enough of a sample. Baby B's actual procedure was over in about two minutes. If it had gone any longer, I would've bit through my lip.
And then the torture started. They uhmmmed and aahed about how best to access Baby C's placenta. I should've known that this meant trouble. They finally found a safe path, but was nervous that the needle wouldn't be long enough to complete the up-and-down motion to get the sample. (Deep breath.) Some more discussion ensued before they went in. Once the needle went in, there was a long period with lots of incredibly painful maneuvering.
It felt like an eternity. I squeezed my husband's hand to kingdom come while trying to find my happy place as the pain just intensified with each needle movement. I honestly thought it would never end. The nausea crept in, and well, what you don't want to do is throw up with an eight inch needle inside you. And then - thankfully - it was all over. The relief is indescribable. They had me turn on my left side to get the nausea to subside.
After each procedure, the perinatologist uses the syringe to inject the sample into a petri dish, and then they analyse each sample to determine whether they have a sufficient amount of chorionic villi to culture.
The peri who came back to report said they have an excellent sample from Baby A, a great sample from Baby B, and an adequate sample from Baby C. Thank goodness for small miracles, because I sure as hell am not going back for more torture.
It will take the full 14 days to get the results back, so now we wait. Aaah, more waiting! After IVF, we should be good at this, right? Not.
Monday, May 25, 2009
11w0d - CVS test this week
We've decided to have a Chorionic Villus Sampling test performed this week to check all three babies for chromosomal abnormalities. Since I'm over 35, we would like to know what we're up against.
Although I'm not looking forward to the test at all and I'm nervous about the miscarriage risk, I can't wait to see the babies again. We hope to see them wiggle around on the u/s. Since we last saw them at 8 weeks, they have now almost doubled in size, have elbows and knees, and have developed distinct fingers and toes. In fact, there should be 30 fingers and 30 toes now - no wonder I'm so exhausted!
Aside from receiving the chromosomal analysis results, the upside of this test is that we'll know the gender of all 3 babies in 7-10 days. Given the abundant blessing we've received, I know I'm in no position to ask the universe for any more favors, but having a boy/girl mix would be an absolute dream come true.
Although I'm not looking forward to the test at all and I'm nervous about the miscarriage risk, I can't wait to see the babies again. We hope to see them wiggle around on the u/s. Since we last saw them at 8 weeks, they have now almost doubled in size, have elbows and knees, and have developed distinct fingers and toes. In fact, there should be 30 fingers and 30 toes now - no wonder I'm so exhausted!
Aside from receiving the chromosomal analysis results, the upside of this test is that we'll know the gender of all 3 babies in 7-10 days. Given the abundant blessing we've received, I know I'm in no position to ask the universe for any more favors, but having a boy/girl mix would be an absolute dream come true.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
