Hello ladies. Yellowwellies invited me over to check in. I've been too busy to spend much time here but for those who are interested, here's what's going on:
My boys were born 6 weeks ago tomorrow, at 29 weeks. They were 985g and 1190g, born 3 minutes apart with no pain relief apart from paracetamol. They were immediately transferred out of the hospital I was in to somewhere miles away that could look after them properly. A month later they were moved again to within striking distance of us, and her they wil stay til it's time for them to come home. After speaking to doctors last night we've been told to assume this will be in a further 6 weeks, with any time earlier than that being a bonus.
The boys are now both well over 2kg and doing well. They are still in intensive care because they need help with their breathing, but they are being weaned off the machines and it seems to be going well. They also need to master their sucking/swallowing/breathing reflexes, which will allow them to breast feed. They are learning this by spending time on the boob and also by sucking from a tiny straw that ou put in their mouths with a finger. They are drinking my milk exclusively, plus some extra protein and vitamins. I am pumping away and spending as much time with them as possible, but I have an older daughter whose child are arrangements are a disaster at the moment, so I am trying to sort that out as well as do a million other things this week that frankly I could do without having to worry about. Hopefully next week will be calmer and I can dedicate a bit more time to the boys.
I am having a cuddle with the bigger one at the moment. He is strapped to me with a rather loose-fitting boob tube and is using his arm as a pillow. His tiny hand is starfished against my chest and his ear (which has no cartilage yet) is folded over. He had a bath this morning which he loves - getting his ears underwater must remind him of the womb as it makes him go all wide-eyed with wonder and happiness. They are both becoming more and more awake and responsive to me, which is lovely.
Apart from the unfortunate fact that I cannot be in 3 places at once, things are as good as we could hope, given the circumstances. So far there have been no serious problems that aren't entirely usual and overcome with time. There are lots of tests to come, and immunisations, an extra injections to help them ward off some of the nastier winter viruses. DH and I get our whooping cough jabs tomorrow.
No waiting lists etc in France - and today at my 6 week check-up I was prescribed 10 free sessions of physiotherapy to help recondition my pelvic floor. Actually the one good thing that can be said about having twins so early is that I have avoided the physical difficulties of the 3rd trimester almost entirely. I was still bigger than a normal pregnancy when I gave birth but as I was on a strict diet for diabetes I have lost over a stone and a half and feel in much better shape than if I'd gone to term and had the section they promised.
Might check back soon - meanwhile enjoy your final weeks and please please put your feet up.