30+ Weeks, Updates

So the past few weeks have been quite busy for us, between moving, the arrival of a new niece, and lots of doctors' appointments for Mina. We will try to keep it all together!

So far, Mina herself is in good health. Her contractions have slowed down. She was having a bad reaction to the Procardia she was on, so her cardiologist switched her to a different medication called Cardizem. It was a little rough for a couple of days, where the contractions picked back up, but now everything has settled down again. She passed her gestational diabetes testing, she is gaining weight appropriately, and aside from typical aches and pains associated with pregnancy, she's doing well.

The boys are both growing appropriately. They are both over 3 pounds each, and effectively making mom unable to breathe in certain positions :) It's hard to imagine how big Mina is going to get in the coming weeks.

Now for Charlie's update. According to the echo today, most of his heart function looks great. However, there is an opening which is present in fetuses, called the foramen ovale, which closes after birth. Unfortunately, Charlie is going to need his to stay open after birth. Even more unfortunate, it is starting to close already on its own. Beginning next week, Mina will be having bi-weekly biophysical profiles and non-stress tests to check on his wellbeing. Along with that, it is now being recommended that Mina deliver at Children's Hospital so that immediately after delivery, Charlie can be taken for cardiac catheterization where his foramen ovale will be reopened. It is not customary to deliver at Children's; in fact, there will be a lot of paperwork involved in this process. However, it is felt that it will give Charlie the best chance possible.

So for right now, Mina will be at Washington Hospital Center 2-3 times per week monitoring the babies until delivery. C-section is tentatively being set for May 6th, at Children's Hospital, so long as Mina does not go into labor before then, and so long as both children continue to grow as they should.

Please, lots of prayers for Charlie and Noah, and that we can make it just 7 more weeks and they will grow as much as they possibly can. We are keeping as positive as possible, and trying to remember that everything happens for a reason, and that we can make it through this. Thanks!