So the journey begins...........

Brian and I found out on Thursday August 7, that we would be having TWINS!! It was a routine 20 week ultrasound, we were expecting to find out the sex of our child but, found out that I was carrying TWINS!

What is even more exciting about this is.....we are having Identical Twin Girls. Brian and I aren't just having any identical twins, I am caring Monoamniotic Twins. What this means is that Monoamniotic twins are identical twins that develop inside the same amniotic sac (they are swimming in the same pool). These share a placenta within their mother’s uterus, but have two separate umbilical cords for nourishment. Monoamniotic twins are rare, occurring in approximately 1 in 35,000 to 1 in 60,000 pregnancies.

Unfortunately, monoamniotic twins are at great risk for health complications due to the close proximity of the two umbilical cords in the amniotic sac. This makes it particularly easy for the twins to become entangled in each other’s cords, or to compress one another’s cords, endangering their oxygen and food supply.

Because of the risks associated with this type of pregnancy, I will be monitored very closely. I will start by having weekly ultrasounds that will look the blood flow in each of the babies umbilical cords and the size of each baby. What my doctors will be looking for is cord entanglement and cord compression. Most likely, my doctors will be admitting me into the hospital sometime between 26 and 28 weeks and remain there until delivery that will happen sometime between 32 and 34 weeks.

Right now our twins are healthy. Both weigh 11oz and were very active during the ultrasound. I am sure that the Latte that I had right before had nothing to do with that:) The girls are laying transverse (sideways) and head to butt. The girl on top (baby B) has her head to my left and baby A ( on the bottom) has her head to my right. My doctor said that most likely they will stay in this position until birth (b on top and A on the bottom).

I wanted to start this blog to keep family and friends updated on my condition. This is scary for us but with close monitoring, we will deliver 2 baby girls!!!! They will be premature and will spend sometime in the hospital but they will eventually make it home to the Busse Empire!!