15w0d - Whirlwind peri appointment

Nothing like doing the following in 30 minutes. It was like Grand Central:

- Blood pressure, weight check (nurse)

- Discussion about how I'm doing in general (another nurse)

- Cervical check (midwife with 3rd nurse assisting)

- Providing u.rine sample (it's all me. haha.)

- Fast ultrasound check on heartbeats only (ultrasound technician)

- Consent forms and discussion about ruling out maternal cell contamination on CVS test results for Baby girl B (genetic counselor)

- Blood draw to double check CVS results (4th nurse)

- Discussion about no result on Baby C and next steps (new perinatologist)

Good news: everything is normal so far. My cervix is long and closed, which I'm utterly relieved about. It's the first-ever check after becoming pregnant, so I had no idea what to expect. Let's hope my cervix of steel holds out as this pregnancy progresses, because I'm determined to try and carry them to 32+ weeks. Maybe coming right out and saying that my goal is to carry them to 35-36 weeks is just way too ambitious, but a girl can hope.

After meeting a woman in person who is more slender than I am, about the same height, and who reached 36 weeks with her trio of 5 lb babies (who went home with her within a week!), I'm convinced it can be done.

The baby's heartbeats are 149, 153, and 142 bpm, so they're doing great too.

On the weight gain front, their records show I've only gained 7 lbs, but the midwife, who often sees triplet moms, says it will shoot up after week 20 and not to worry. She is not concerned and said as long as I'm eating healthy, eating whenever I'm hungry, and drinking enough water, I can relax!

This is such a relief, because I've been beating myself up about reaching Dr. Barbara Luke's 35lb weight gain goal by 20 weeks. It just seems impossible, regardless of how hard I try. I've been eating MUCH more than usual, and much more frequently, and some days I'm a pound or two heavier on the scale, only to get on the next morning and realize I've lost it all again. The kiddos are munching! I'm seeing the nutritionist in two weeks, and hopefully she'll help me with some additional tips too.

I've started drinking smoothies and protein shakes, but can't stand the syrupy sweet taste of the shakes. It makes me gag, but I've persisted. What have you tried and what do you recommend? I've tried Ensure, and Special K's shakes.

Our level 2 anatomy scan is scheduled for around 19 weeks, and we're hoping to find out more about our elusive Baby C then. Incidentally, I've been feeling Baby C more than the other two, and I'm just convinced he's a boy. Maybe it's just because we want a little boy in our "mix" so badly. It's as if he keeps telling me he's okay in there.

We've decided not do an amnio on Baby C between 16 to 18 weeks. With two healthy girls, a normal nuchal fold measurement on Baby C, no other risk factors aside from my age, and no family history, we don't want to risk all of their lives for yet another invasive test. It was an excruciating decision, but since an amnio and selective reduction would place all of our babies at risk (and we just can't imagine going through with a SR in the first place), there really is no point.

What would you have done if you were in my shoes?

7w4d ultrasound: it's all good

I started bleeding the night before the ultrasound and was nervous that something had gone horribly wrong with the triplets. We waited longer than usual in the waiting room. Torture. The nurse eventually called me in for the blood pressure check.

I undressed for the u/s, as instructed, only to be told 10 minutes later that they'd prefer to see me in the room with the newer ultrasound equipment. So I happily dressed, moved to the other room, and waited another 30 minutes. By that time, I had to use the bathroom. So I got dressed again, went to the bathroom, and undressed again. Hopefully three time's a charm!

Finally... the Nurse Practitioner came in to do the u/s. For the first time ever, we saw all three embryos on the screen simultaneously. "Family photo!" the NP said. I could see all three heartbeats clearly flickering on the screen and the relief was instantaneous.

All three are indeed doing great. She isolated each baby's heartbeat so we could hear them individually. Strong heartbeats: two at 162, and one at 165 bpm. It was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.

They are all measuring exactly on target. Their Crown Rump Lengths (CRL) are 1.52, 1.42, and 1.38 centimeters, perfect for their gestational age. We are so relieved and excited to know they're all doing well so far.

We graduated and when my RE came into the examination room to bid us a fond farewell, he had his palms together, his head bowed, a sheepish expression on his face and then said, "Guys, please forgive me!!" It was so funny. My RE is one of the most compassionate people I know, and I will surely miss his professionalism, optimism, and sense of humor.

Thank you all for your beautiful, supportive, encouraging, and funny comments. They make me proud to be a part of this amazing, caring community.

6w5d with triplets... Houston, we have heartbeats!

Today's long-awaited ultrasound was a sight to behold. For a realistic infertile, seeing the heartbeats is like the holy grail of realization. This is the moment it all becomes real.

I've read that a baby's heart starts beating around the 20th day after conception, but that usually only becomes visible on va.ginal u/s during the 6th week.

We purposefully scheduled the heartbeat u/s for late in the 6th week, to have the best possible chance of seeing all three heartbeats.

A young but experienced Nurse Practitioner performed the scan. She saw the first heartbeat instantly and didn't hold out on us. (Pointing to a flickering on the grainy black and white image:) There is the baby's heartbeat right there.

She moved the wand to position it so we could see our second baby. "I definitely see the second heartbeat. There."

Then it took some careful scanning to look at baby number 3, who is significantly smaller. "I see the yolk sac and a fetal pole, but no heartbeat... yet." It may not continue to develop, or we might see it next week." I was calm, because I had a feeling that baby 3 is okay, but just a little slower.

She scanned upwards to take another look at the first two and measure them. Then she went back to baby number 3 and there it was. "Oh look! Now I see the heartbeat on baby number 3."

Tears stream down my face. Relief. Hubby grins from ear to ear and squeezes my hand tightly. After all the waiting, this right here is the most amazing, life-changing moment. Three heartbeats. Three live babies. All doing fine so far. How can anyone be so blessed after infertility?

I feel guilty for feeling such overwhelming joy in the face of all my friends who are still in the trenches, fighting Endo, unexplained fertility, male factor, etc. etc. I want a happy ending for everyone.