Babies at 27 weeks

~*~  THIRD TRIMESTER  ~*~

I cannot believe we are here!  The final stretch, the last third of the pregnancy.  C~R~A~Z~Y!

The babies this week each weigh as much as a head of cauliflower.

This is what babycenter.com has to say about week 27...

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Macy and MJ have been so active this last week!  They are doing some serious gymnastics in there.  I just hope that they are working on flipping head down (they are still transverse).  Also, I have been forgetting to mention that for the last 2 or 3 weeks they have also been getting the hiccups.... but don't worry, these hiccups don't hurt.  In fact, it's actually a good sign because it means that the babies are doing "practice breathing" and getting their lungs all geared up for breathing oxygen once they are born.  

So, last week I mentioned that I had my 1-hour glucose screening to check to see if I might be at risk for GD (gestational diabetes).  Well, my number came back at 142.  Some doctors want your levels under 120, some want it under 130, and some want it under 140.  Well, mine wanted it under 120.... so it was off to the long and dreaded 3-hour test today. 

In the 1-hour test I had to down a drink that was packed full with 50 grams of sugar.  It had to be gone within 5 minutes.  Now, 5 minutes seems like plenty of time to drink just a few ounces of a drink, but believe-you-me... this stuff is horrid!  It is very hard to drink this nasty sweet stuff without tossing your cookies (and you have to drink it after you have been fasting since the night before!).  After the drink is gone, I wait exactly one hour and have my blood drawn.  That blood level was the 142... a little too high.

So, today's test was basically the same, with just a few changes.  I still had to fast from the night before, but this time I first have a baseline blood draw.  Then, I am none-too-thrilled to learn that I will now be drinking the same drink but with TWICE the amount of sugar in the SAME number of ounces.  That's 100 grams of sugar in one very small drink.  So.... I chug.  I chug some more.  I gag.  I gag, a lot.  Chug again, then gag.  Put drink down and do some deep breathing (I really do not want to throw up in the middle of the waiting room!).  I compose myself and start chugging- and gagging- again.  But, eventually (within the 5 minute time limit) get the drink down.  I wait one hour and have my second blood draw.  I start feeling really sick while waiting.  I try to distract myself with my book, but I just feel gross.  Then, after another hour, I have my third blood draw.  I start feeling a little better.  Then after the third and final hour, I have my fourth blood draw.  I have never been so happy to leave that place! 

After a quick snack in the car, then after eating once I get home, I start feeling a little better.  I was told by the "lab lady" (aka: my vampire) that it might be possible to get my results today, but if not then it would be first thing in the morning.  Well, my sweet nurse Ellie made a last minute phone call before leaving the office to give me my results.  And.....

I passed ("with flying colors" according to Ellie). 

So, all is well.  All that torture from the "sugar devil" today was all worth it just to know that the bambinos and I are well and healthy. 

For future reference, or any other surro reading my blog:

50g sugar glucose drink for the 1-hr test:
Baseline- not taken
1 hour- 142

100g sugar glucose drink for the 3-hr test:
Baseline- 60
1st hour- 157
2nd hour- 125
3rd hour- 113

Well, that about sums it up for this week.  Oh... I gained one more pound, for a total of 18 lbs.  Until next time!  :)