About FFN...

My Mom found some literature on the FFN test... I don't know where it is from, but it sums up what I have been told by ultrasound technicians and my doctors too.

Fetal fibronectin (fFN) is a protein produced by fetal cells and a type of fibronectin. fFN is found at the interface of the chorion and the decidua (between the fetal sack and the uterine lining).
It can be thought of as an adhesive or "biological glue" that binds the fetal sack to the uterine lining.

Fetal fibronectin "leaks" into the vagina if a preterm delivery is likely to occur and can be measured in a diagnostic test.[1]
It is an excellent biological marker of premature (preterm) delivery; a delivery before 37 weeks of gestation.
When the fFN test is considered positive, it is a less conclusive result. It can indicate that a woman will go into preterm labor soon or she may not go into labor for weeks. When the fFN test is negative, the result is a better predictor. It means that there is little if any danger of preterm labour for 7–10 days and can be repeated weekly for women who have a high risk of preterm delivery to gauge if they will definitely NOT deliver this week or if it's a possibility. The test is easily performed. A specimen is collected from the patient using a vaginal swab. The swab is placed in a transport tube and sent to the lab for testing. The lab can easily produce a test result in less than one hour.
A systematic review of the medical literature found that fetal fibronectin is a good predictor of spontaneous preterm birth before cervical dilation.[2] The test may be run on patients between 22 and 35 weeks gestation.
A negative fetal fibronectin test gives a more than 95% likelihood of remaining undelivered for the next 2 weeks. On the other hand, a positive fetal fibronectin test indicates a higher risk of preterm delivery (61% of delivery before 34 weeks)[3]. So, the fetal fibronectin test can't tell you for sure that you are in labor, but it can tell you that you're not.
A false positive fetal fibronectin result can occur if the test is performed after digital examination of the cervix or after having had intercourse. Thus it is important that the swab be taken before a digital cervical exam is performed.

Wow… what a crazy 27 weeks so far!!! As of yesterday, we are officially 27 weeks… Woo Hoo! It was an extra special day, b/c my Mom was able to come for the first time to see the babies during an ultrasound. We were scheduled for an ultrasound to check the babies’ growth and my cervix. Also, since I’m beyond 24 weeks and at risk of preterm labor, they performed a test called Fetal Fibronectin or for short FFN. During the growth scans we got great reports all the while… baby A is 2lbs 6oz, baby B is 2lbs 5oz and baby C is 2lbs 8oz. All the babies came back within 20% of each other… and all within good %s on their own… terrific heartrates too. I was so pleased with the news! We were only able to get pictures of babies B and C, b/c baby A had her face towards my back. I’m so proud of my babies already… this pregnancy has been such a pleasant experience. We have all come so far!!! After the ultrasounds were complete… we sat down with the doctor for our consult… Thank GOD that the babies are all doing great, but Mommy isn’t doing so fabulous… the doctor informed us that in a little less than 4 weeks my cervix went from 5 cm to 1 to 2 cm and he was not happy! A plan was set that he would send the FFN test out to see if it came back positive or negative and call us with instructions. We decided not to make the trip all the way back home, until we heard from the doctor, so we were going to BRU and then off to see Chuck’s grandpop. The doctor called before we could even finish at BRU… saying the results came back positive and to report to the hospital. The first thing they did was give me the first of 2 steroid shots to help the babies develop… especially their lungs. Next, I was hooked up on the monitors to track the babies’ heartrates and to look for contractions. The babies looked good… except I was having contraction here and there… and baby A is so low that it was affecting her heartrate at times, but not every time (which is good). They started me on IV fluids to try to stop the contractions… which helped, but didn’t make them stop. I barely slept between getting up to urinate and having them come in to check the monitor or take my sugars. I’m still very tired now… and hoping tonight will be some what better. Anyway, come the morning… when they were monitoring the babies again… they saw that I was contracting more frequently… about every 6 minutes and it was still affecting baby A… so my fabulous DR decided to start me on a medicine commonly used to lower high blood pressure… called procardia… I am probably spelling that terribly wrong. The medicine works at relaxing the smooth muscles and the uterus is a smooth muscle, so that has helped. They are also thinking about putting me on progesterone… which is used to keep the cervix closed… and hopefully me pregnant a lot longer… :) I’m sorry this is a rambling mess… I just wanted to let everyone know what is going on… we are all okay… babies are fantastic. This evening has been an improvement over last night… I received my second shot of steroids. Chuck came up to see us this evening… and I’m so glad, b/c I was starting to get a little emotional… with each nurse’s comments… nothing bad necessarily, but I’m just trying to think about getting back home and I had one nurse that said I should try to get comfortable, b/c I probably wasn’t going home any time soon. Which would be okay… if that was what the DR was saying, but he was giving me hope and she was taking it away. I was getting a little emotional to think that the holidays are coming… and missing my puggies… and having my hubby and family just so far away… ahhh. Chuck was getting ready to head home tonight… and I talked him into crawling into bed with me to cuddle… and I just started to break down for a few minutes… and of course my poor DR walked in on my tear-fest (it is probably hard to believe, but this was my first break down, since being pregnant). The DR had pretty promising news… he still thinks once the specialist figures out what to do with my medicines… that I should be able to go home tomorrow, b/c they are helping with the contractions… I will just be on modified bedrest… which means I can really only care for myself… bathroom, shower and couch or bed. He was honest and said I should prepare myself for a permanent hospital stay in the near future and try to make the most out of being home while I can… so I definitely plan to do that!!! I pray to stay home healthy with my PEAS cooking as long as possible… and pray that they don’t want or need to make an appearance at least for another 5 weeks or longer. Okay folks, I must say good night! Thanks to everyone that has been praying for us and please continue to do so… God is GREAT!!! And he has truly blessed us with these miracle babies… and of course all of you too!!! XoXo

~ Mommy-2-3-PEAS

Mommy & Daddy at Baby Shower...

This is at 26 weeks!!!

Baby Shower... November 7, 2009... :) :) :)

On November 7, 2009, my Mom held a Baby Shower for myself, Chuck and the 3 peas. My Mom and Dad put the perfect invitation together for the event. My family had the house decorated beautifully… with a diaper cake and diaper baby (that she made), 3 babies in a pea pod… balloons and flowers… pea pod candy favors. My brother, Rob, prepared a slideshow presentation for us of all the ultrasound pictures and pictures of myself and Chuck throughout the pregnancy too. There was plenty of yummy food for everyone to enjoy… my mother-in-law made delicious pasta salads and dips, and my grandmother made my favorite potato salad… we had cold sandwiches and fresh fruit and veggies… and the most delicious cake… oh my! We had Amish Beer (7 up and Apple Concentrate)… lol… coffee, sweet tea and water to drink!!! We had lots of family and friends make it to the celebration… others that couldn’t make it, but they were missed! My Mom had a Diaper Raffle… that was very successful… Chuck is still working on the actual count of diapers and wipes we received at the shower. My Mom and I had made a terrific basket for the winner… and Stephanie won the prize! There was also a baby word scramble… that Aunt Gina won! Chuck ran around all afternoon… helping me open gifts. We actually had to take a break while opening. We received more than we could ever imagine. With my Mom and Chuck’s help… we have completed 8 loads of laundry…. still trying to find places to put things away… and we still have much more to purchase. Chuck has been busy almost every evening since the shower putting some baby related item together. :) It was a very joyous day on all accounts!!! I wish it didn’t have to end… the day reminded me a lot of our wedding… time just flew by… you don’t get to talk or see everyone for as long as you would like… and so on. The day exceeded any and all expectations that someone could have for such a celebration. We are so thankful to everyone for their love, support and generosity. XoXo

~ Mommy-2-3-Peas

It's Official; Our Peas have names!!!

Picking names was really difficult. We knew, even before getting pregnant, that we would name our first born son, Charles Henry (after me, my father, & my grandfather). However we were stumped on a name if we ended up being pregnant with a girl. Now here we are having to pick not one girls name, but two. We had a list of about a dozen names, but settled on Julianna Grace and Lilianna Grace. Now we just have to figure out which girl gets which name!

Mommy & Daddy at 25 weeks...

Celebrating for Pop Pop's 59th Birthday!!!

Update at 25 weeks...

I took a couple weeks off from updating. Chuck likes it when I do the updates… but I keep telling him… okay honey I think it is your turn now… so maybe next time! Week 24 was pretty uneventful. I applied and lucky qualified for WIC benefits, b/c we are having multiple gestations. We are grateful for the help! We will need all the help we can get in the coming months… and years. I had a little tumble during that week too, which caused me to go to the doctor earlier in the week then planned… everything checked out okay though!!! The doctor was able to listen to the heartbeats through the Doppler, instead of having to use an ultrasound machine… b/c the babies were finally large enough. I’m still experiencing some discomfort in my pelvis, but I think at this point it is from Baby A being low in my pelvis and transverse. Chuck and I had a nice weekend that week too… we took the pugs for a long car ride (probably one of their last for some time to come) to my in-laws for a visit, while Chuck and I had a nice shopping trip and dinner out. We also celebrated our baby girl, Cami’s birthday with a mini cupcake for each of the pugs.

And now, here we are… Week 25!!! Hooray!!! We are very thankful that I have made it this far! Healthy and Happy!!! This past week we met with the specialist to go over my gestational diabetes. He spoke to us about the risks and treatment. He prescribed me Glyburide 2.5mg twice a day… once a half hour before breakfast and once a half hour before dinner. I didn’t think I would be put on medicine so soon after being diagnosed, but whatever it takes. I am having good and bad days sugar-wise. The doctor said we will be adjusting the medicine along the way… and although they are hoping to keep me on the Glyburide… it looks like Insulin might not be avoidable by the end of the pregnancy. I also had my wellness check this week too. I don’t know how it is possible, but I lost a pound, which the doctor wasn’t happy about. Everything else checked out wonderfully… and he said to keep up the great work. Baby A and B’s heartbeats were 138 and Baby C heartbeat was 144. I also received the swine flu vaccine from my OB. It pinched, but didn’t hurt and I haven’t felt possible side effects… just feel like me. With my family… Chuck and I celebrated my Dad’s 59th Birthday! We had a great time! It is a little hard to believe that next year he will be 60 and have 3 grandbabies… :) I’m finding it more and more difficult to not draw attention whenever I go out. A lot of people are guessing, after they find out I’m due in February that I might be having multiples… it is funny to act shocked when they ask if I’m having twins... and then say… no, I’m having Triplets! I feel amazing to be 25 weeks and to not be on any modified rest. Although, I regulate myself pretty well… I try to rest as much as I exert. I try to help out here and there around the house and do this and that for myself, but it is really hard when I have to say to Chuck or my Mom… I can’t, can you!

What’s to come during week 26… well, it should be a lot of fun and work! Chuck and I have our first multiples class this Tuesday, which we are really looking forward too. Chuck doesn’t have any classes this week, so I plan on having him help me put some final touches on the babies’ room and some other chores around the house… that I have trouble doing all by myself these days. And I hear my Mom is having a baby shower for me this coming Saturday… so I’m really excited about seeing and celebrating these babies to be with all of my loved ones!!! Here’s to a fabulous week 26… :) :) :)

~ Mommy-2-3-Peas