What we know for sure...

Let's review what we know for sure!

Because of carrying triplets, our pregnancy is now automatically categorized as a high-risk pregnancy, so  we have been referred to a perinatologist.  Essentially, a perinatologist is a doctor that specializes in high-risk pregnancies.  Dr. Cueto does focus on high-risk deliveries, so we're in good hands there as well (we already have another appointment scheduled with him on June 6th).  The referral was put in on late Friday afternoon, so we should be getting a call from the perinatologist's office early this week.  The expectation is that we will be seen by the perinatologist within the next 2 weeks.  We were forewarned (!) that the appointment would be a pretty intensive one, with much more in-depth questioning and diagnostic work to be completed at that time.  On the positive side, we'll also be getting a more in-depth ultrasound as well, which means ultrasound pictures to share!!

At our appointment with Dr. Cueto, we asked if it was possible to hear any heartbeats.  While we were able to see the babies moving a little and actually SEE heartbeats, I needed to hear them as well.  Jason and I were able to hear one heartbeat for sure, but of course we don't know which of the three munchkins it came from.  My hope is that will be something that we can expand upon at the perinatologist's appointment.  Because apparently now I feel that it is okay to be demanding of God and insist on 3 heartbeats between 120-160 beats per minute!  :)

Another detail that we know for sure is that this automatically puts us in the C-section category as it is absolutely the safest for the babies.  I had previously been wondering how we were going to handle pain control during labor, as I've never had any surgeries and my usual form of pain control prior to pregnancy was to take 2 tylenol and a nap (not sure if "napping" constitutes a good birth plan!).  I had wanted to try to use as little pain medications as possible to protect the baby and deliver naturally, but Jason had been insisting that he wanted me to be as comfortable as possible.

But now because it is a given that we will deliver the babies via C-section, I don't have to worry about the pain control options because there really aren't many options at all!  I know I want to be as alert as possible for the munchkin's arrival, and I want Jason to be in the operating room with me and the little peanuts.  So I guess we've now got our birth plan pretty much figured out- keep both Jason and Brittany as alert as possible and get the babies out as safely as possible.  Check!

The other detail that is essentially a given is that these babies will be coming early.  HOW early is definitely unknown.  Dr. Cueto told us that if we made it to 36 weeks, we "will be popping open champagne and celebrating".  Our original due date was November 30th, which was the 40 week mark and the goal for most pregnancies.  At this point, I'm planning (at least in my head) on September babies.  The average triplet pregnancy lasts about 31-32 weeks (sometime in September).  The goal we've been given so far is to try for 35-36 weeks (sometime in October).  If anyone is saying prayers for us, please start requesting at least a 36 week pregnancy for us  (once again, I guess I am feeling like it is okay to just be specific in telling God what I want!).  The longer we can safely keep the babies in, the better chance they have of being healthy and getting to a safe stage of development and surviving/thriving outside the womb.

At this point, I've kind of exhausted the so-called knowns.  Here's just a short list of the unknowns and "to be decided" that I can think of right now...
-how early these babies are going to arrive
-how Jason and Brittany are going to keep their sanity
-health issues that the babies will arrive with
-how much help we're going to need after the babies are born
-how long I'll be able to work during this pregnancy
-if I'll have to go on bedrest
-whether the babies are actually fraternal or identical
-the babies' genders

I think I may have forgotten to highlight one of the definite knowns earlier and it is this- there is no one else in this world that I would want to be going through this with except Jason.  The last 48 hours have obviously thrown us into a mental/emotional/spiritual/physical tailspin, and I am so proud of how well he is handling everything.  That man has been my rock and my support for almost 6 years (May 28th is our 6 year anniversary!) and it provides me with such peace to know that he has not tried to pack a bag (yet!) and run away from this.  Instead, he has already been online researching stroller options for triplets and trying to find out how we'll fit 3 little peanuts in our cars.  He continues to touch my belly and talk to the babies and tell them to behave (they better be listening!).  He continues to hold my hand and wipe my tears and tell me that everything is going to be okay and we'll make it through this together.

I'm not quite sure what I did to deserve this man, but I'm thinking I was either Mother Theresa in a former lifetime or I'm going to have to be Mother Theresa in the next.  Either way, I am blessed with an amazing partner and we're being blessed with three little mini-me's.  I hope they are all just like him...