The Most Asked Questions...Answered!

So...the number one question, well questions, I get is where will the babies be born, who will deliver them and what about bed rest. Great questions...no answer, ok just kidding. So, at one of my many appointments I did ask Dr. S (specialist) if she would deliver and she said no my regular OB would deliver, Dr. H. Well, Dr. H only has delivering privileges at Piedmont in Rock Hill and they are not equipped to care for 3 babies, they have a NICU, but it's only to get the baby stable and transferred somewhere else, which they normally send to Richland in Columbia (remember, Jackson was born at Piedmont and transferred that same night). I did ask Dr. S if she could deliver if I was downtown and she said she has privileges at CMC Main, but I would have to switch practices, which doesn't sound very appealing since I've been at Rock Hill for so long! So...right now my thinking (and hoping) is that I can keep these babies in me as long as possible and deliver downtown at CMC Main. Whoever their on-call Dr. is will deliver, but it's not like he'll be alone since they'll be at least 3 neonatologist (NICU docs), NICU nurses, probably some NICU RT's, me, Joseph, delivery nurses, my parents, Joseph's parents, who knows...maybe even a freaking TV crew-HA! And, the great thing about the babies going to the NICU at CMC is the wonderful nursing staff I've already got lined up (that's you Allison, Laurie and Carol, in case you didn't know!). I'm very comfortable with the NICU there and have no worries about the babies going there.

As for bed rest...well that's a tricky question. Many books suggest going on bed rest at 24 weeks...ummmm, not a reality for Joseph and I. My job does not pay for maternity leave, though I will be covered under FMLA for 12 weeks, and I'm looking into short term disability (but that only goes into effect after I've used all my sick days and I've been unpaid for 10 days, and I may have to be in the hospital). So, there are lots of things to worry about, think about, plan for, pray for, hope for...bring on the keep the babies in my belly as long as possible prayers! I did ask Dr. S (she gets a lot of questions, we're good friends, I'll be seeing her every two weeks starting at 20 weeks) if she thought I'd have to go on bed rest and she said every case is different. Here's a big shocker now...not to my advantage, my height (I know, shocking). However, to my advantage is/was carrying Jackson full term and getting VERY LARGE, so my short body can grow like you wouldn't believe! Now...a little bit bothersome is the fact that I've already had to go on a mini bed rest last week when I had some bleeding. But it has since stopped and I need to learn not to push myself too hard.

Alright...that's all for this time around. Oh...well maybe a little bit of a teaser to end with. Yesterday we got back chromosome results for Baby C (all by his/herself) and Baby C is perfect...no Downs, no trisomy 13 or 18, no Turners-NOTHING! And we do know if it's a boy or a girl, but we're not telling, well, not quite yet anyway. Thanks for the love, support and prayers...keep them coming! As always, please Remember Jackson!

Nichole and Babies