Doctors and yet another scan 20/01/2012

This morning we are all heading down to have an appointment with my obstetrician.  This is the first chance we have had to actually speak to a medical professional since finding out we having triplets 4 days ago.  We went in expecting to to get more information and care options, and maybe to touch on the risks involved.  Instead it feels like a lecture.  We are told all about the high amount of risks involved with a HOM (higher order multiples) pregnancy including:

• premature babies born before 28 weeks,
• high risk of having children with mental and physical disablitlies,
• 90% risk of gestational diabetes
• and also the scary fact that we could loose all of these babies at any stage in the pregnancy.

Again it is discussed with us about considering using selective reduction to reduce the risks involved.  She also referred us to see a Maternal Foetal Health Specialist from the Women's and Children's hospital at another ultrasound place for that afternoon.  We both leave feeling really deflated and scared. 

Having suffered the emotional and physical pain of miscarriage last year at 12 weeks we don't feel that this is an option that we can consider.  Especially given this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a true miracle we have been incredibly blessed with.

So later that afternoon we head off for yet another scan which reconfirms that there are in fact 3 placentas and 3 amniotic sacs (trichorionic, triamniotic.)
  We are told that this is the best case scenario and makes it less complicated than pregnancies where the babies share a placenta or amniotic sacs.  When we talk to the Maternal Foetal Health Specialist we are once again talked to about the risks although this time we feel much more at ease with the risks involved and potential complications.  We hear that

• most triplets are born between 30-34 weeks
• they generally weigh around 2 kilos each
• the risk with the most complications is if the babies are born before 28 weeks
• I am also told I am likely going to be needed to be admitted to hospital for a few weeks at some stage later in the pregnancy and I will be on modified activities

We are also told that if we do choose selective reduction there is a chance that we could loose all 3 babies.  We are also told that the bubs are most likely to be identical.  As with our embryo transfer we only had the one embryo transferred which somehow managed to split a lot.  We both leave feeling comfortable with our decision and knowing that we have lots of support from our family and friends we are going to embrace these miracles with everything we have.