Week 18-21: Month Five pt 2

Let’s get into some details about the laser ablation surgery --

Success rate:
80% at least one twin survives
70% both twins survive
20% one twin doesn’t make it
10% both do not survive after surgery
90% mortality of both twins if no intervention is done
*there are different numbers out there, these are specifically for my hospital

The odds are in our favor.
At this point I was asked if I wanted to terminate the pregnancy. Of course I said no; selfish or not, I needed to try to save them both. There were no risks to me, except for the chance of infection, which is a part of any surgery.

I make the decision to move forward with the surgery. In the morning I had a Covid test, attached to the monitoring machines, and brought to the operating room. I was given an epidural (so weird to see your legs and not be able to move them) and more anesthesia, but I was awake during the entire two hour procedure.
After my right side was stitched up, I went to the recovery unit where my best friend was waiting. Companion policies are extremely strict due to Covid, but we managed to have both her and my husband visit.  An hour later my room was ready, and we moved over to the suite where I stayed the night, woken up every six hours to take an antibiotic and medicine to stop contractions (apparently my uterus was not happy about being poked during surgery).
The waiting game is always the worst! If the twins have a heartbeat within 48 hours of the operation, the risk of them not recovering from the surgery significantly drops. All night I hoped and prayed they were okay.

Finally the morning came, I went for my ultrasound, and success! Two tiny heartbeats lit up the screen. They survived. Both of my little babes made it through. Relief, excitement, joy.. I can hardly explain in words how happy I was. Being pregnant is very stressful. 

Now the recovery begins, along with a new set of weekly doctor visits. I was able to walk around for short periods of time, difficult to get in and out of bed or from sitting to standing along. Luckily my husband is still working from home, and my friend is the best ever, so I had help when I needed it. My doctor said most patients are bedridden for a week after, but I refuse to be still (as long as it is not causing any extra stress on the twins). With that, no running for up to four weeks! Crazy. We will see if I can last two weeks. Maybe I will have to do six mile walks..
A week later and my follow up appointments start; first the detailed anatomy ultrasound that was interrupted last week. Great results, both babies have the correct number of fingers and toes. Next I went back to the Children’s Hospital to check in, and had a positive outcome. The twins are small (their growth was “stuck” at around 17 weeks due to the TTTS), however, they started growing at a great pace again and fluid levels are back to normal. Third, another fetal echocardiogram, and another incredible report. Both hearts are recovering, returning back to normal numbers. I am already incredibly proud of these two.
Last, but certainly not least, I have an MRI coming up in a few weeks to look at brain development.
I know these results will be promising.
The twins are tough, they will be okay.

Update:
1. Running: down to 86 miles, I could only run the first two weeks the month
2. Weight: up to 135lbs, and steadily climbing after surgery
3. Nutrition: as much water as I can physically drink in a day (and I still feel thirsty), supplements
Breakfast - two eggs, half avocado, fruit smoothie & overnight chia seed/oat pudding w collagen powder.. Yes all of that, every morning
Lunch - salad or taco bowl or leftovers
Dinner - around 5:00PM I lose my appetite, but I try to snack on fruit, crackers, pasta, rice, granola bars, sushi, soup, any small bites I can get down
Drinks - lots of almond milk, juice, diet soda sometimes
4. Symptoms: great sleep (even with the bathroom breaks), energy levels still up, weight fluctuates and I am noticeably larger at night compared to when I wake up (still wearing my pre pregnancy clothes, except tight shirts), up a full cup size and band size (I can see my ribs on my back, but my rib cage feels larger)
5. Books: Twins 101 by Khanh-Van Le-Bucklin M.D., Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Twins by Marc Weissbluth M.D.

cbxo