28 Weeks Pregnant and another "scare!"

At 28 weeks pregnant, I pray I am still on target to be induced no earlier than Week 37. Afterall, I'm not nearly as prepared as I would like to be. However, after today's appointment, I realized that things are getting much more serious and much more surreal and that I truly have no control over when these babies decide to enter this world.

The babies are growing great and the amniotic fluid levels are perfect, but now mommy has had a "scare". I'm still unsure if the scare is real or NOT. My doctor told me today that the length of my cervix has decreased from 4cm to 2.8 cm. A cervix length of 2.5 cm or lower causes a mommy to be a strong candidate for premature labor. So today, along with my glucose testing, my normal sonogram, my Rogham shot, and a regularly scheduled check up with my doctor, I had to have a "fetal fibronectic test" done. It's one of those lovely vaginal exams. This test is a non-invasive test that measures my level of fetal fibronectic. With this test, my doctor will be able to tell if my body may be getting ready for labor, even before I feel any of the symptoms. Fetal fibronectic is the "glue" that my body makes to hold the babies inside of their uterus. When my body is getting ready to give birth, the glue begins breaking down and will leak into the vagina.

Anyhow, I will receive the results of the test today: positive or negative. If the test produces a negative result, I am 99.2% assured to not deliver in the next 2 weeks, so I will then be able to avoid unnecessary interventions. If the test produces a positive result, it is a possible sign that my body is "leaking" fetal fibronectic. This means that there is a possibility for an increased chance that the babies are trying to arrive early and my doctor may need to restrict me and give this pregnancy some extra attention. NOT EVERYONE who receives a positive result delivers early though.

I have been placed on workout restriction for the rest of the week, but after these results and a 3 day break from working out, he may allow me to start back up next week. I was a bit bummed, but my doctor said, "Well, you can be bummed and deal with a 3 days break or you can have LOTS of time to workout while your babies live in the NICU." That shut me up REALLY quickly.

Please pray.

On a lighter note, I have NOT gained 1 pound in two weeks. My doctor is fine with that being I have gained enough weight throughout the entire pregnancy. He said, "Your babies are like parasites. They are going to take from you no matter how much weight you gain!"

Look out for the update on the results today, but in the meantime, enjoy a CHUCKLE while viewing the hideous belly shots, as I humble myself and show that my girlish figure no longer exists.