28 Weeks, 3 Days

When it comes to gestation, we humans don't have it that bad.  (as a male I can actually say I have it pretty good)  Elephants carry their young for 22 months, the longest of any land dwelling animal.  Today we hit 28 weeks and 3 days, a period of time that would make an elephant roll it's eyes, but seems infinitely long to my wife and I .  If my wife was actually to carry to full term, 40 weeks for humans, she'd have 81 days to go.  With twins however, it's very unlikely.  On average, twins are delivered at 36 weeks.  That might not sound like a terribly large difference in time, but a lot of growth actually takes place during that last month.  The longer they can stay in there, the better.

At our last ultrasound, just a few days ago, the tech once again completed several detailed measurements.  They use femur length as well as skull and stomach circumference, to determine the babies' growth.  We are well within acceptable parameters.  Actually, the twins measured in the 60th and 80th percentile, 50th obviously being the average.  That put them at about 2.5 and 2.7 pounds.  Ideally they'll be up in the 5 pound range when they make their debut.  We were also informed of their orientation.  Twin A, the label given to the fetus closest to the cervix, is head down (vertex), whereas twin B is way up high and lying transverse.  That means she's lying horizontally and in the perfect position to donkey kick my wife in the ribs (one of her favorite games to play).  With multiples the best orientation for birth is vertex/vertex.  When a woman learns that her multiples are in any other orientation, she has a decision to make, natural or cesarean birth.  Unlike a singleton, which is delivered in the "Delivery Room", multiples are always delivered in the "Operating Room" (or in the backseat of a cab on the way to the hospital).  The reason for this, is that should a woman choose to give birth naturally, complications can arise with the second delivery, making an emergency cesarean necessary.  When we first were married (actually we discussed it long before that but whatever) my wife told me that she would not have children until the Star Trek transporter was invented and they could beam the baby out of her and directly into the crib.  Just as a side note, she probably said Star Wars instead of Star Trek (she's seen neither), nor would she have used the word beam, but instead would have made the Wayne's World flashback noise to indicate teleporter operation...  Anyway, it's a tough choice for women to make.  I've had big poops that made me cry, so natural child birth can't be a lot of fun.  And in our prenatal class we watched a video of a multiple cesarean birth.  The doctor just kept reaching in and pulling out babies like a magician pulling rabbits out of a hat.  I'm pretty sure he presented each one with a flourish and shouted "taa daaa" as well.  And though that scenario sounds like it could be a lot of fun, the recovery time after a cesarean is much longer than with natural child birth (not considering any additional complications).  Even if a mom of multiples chooses a natural birth, complications with twin B often require an emergency intervention, so you end up delivering the first naturally, and the second through cesarean...the best of both worlds!

My wife, all pregnant women for that matter, are brave, far braver than me certainly.  Regardless of which path a woman chooses for delivery, it's going to involve pain.  They know that before they get pregnant, and yet they still propagate our species.  I understand (theoretically) what my wife is facing to expand our family, and though I can't really face it with her, I'm going to do everything I can to make it as easy as possible for her.  I am so very proud of her...