hopingforit
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I've wanted to write a birth story for quite a while now but just never get around to it as I am busy with the babies. So, here it goes...
I was pregnant with twins and due February 23rd but as is the case with most twins, my Drs were planning on delivering me early on February 11th. The babies and my body had other plans though. I had been to L&D a few times, the first at 22 weeks. They found out I was having contractions and put me on bed rest, which I was on up until I delivered. On January 22nd at 35+3, I went to my twice weekly NST. The nurse who was doing it took my BP and found that it was slightly elevated at around 140/85 and my reflexes worried her because just a little tap and my legs would jump, which is not normal. Up until this point, my BP had been normal and at my weekly appointment the Friday before, it was still normal. The nurse wasn't concerned at first because she thought it could have been the way I was laying but after several repeated measurements about 15 minutes apart, she thought it would be best if I was sent to L&D for monitoring. They took my BP every 15 minutes, took bloodwork, and a urine sample. I told my DH not to come because he was at work and I knew I would be sent home just like the other times. I even told him that I would stop at McDonalds on the way home because I was craving a cheeseburger. Lol. After being monitored for 5 hours and wondering what was going on, my Dr finally came in at 7pm to tell me that they were admitting me for the night because my bp still wasn't going down and my urine test came back with almost 300 protein (anything over 300 is considered pre-eclampsia). They told me I would be doing a 24 hour urine test and when the results came back, they would decide what to do. The next morning the MFM came in to talk to me. He told me if my protein was over 300, they would deliver the babies by the weekend. He wanted me to get to 36 weeks because at my hospital, all babies under 36 weeks automatically go to the NICU. So, I told my DH that I would likely be delivering that weekend but I was still doing the 24 hour urine test and my BP was still being taken every 15 minutes and it continued to be high. Everything was going normally so they moved me up to the long-term floor (expecting me not to deliver until the weekend I am sure) but it sort of went down hill after that. While I was still down in L&D, I noticed that I wasn't that hungry for lunch. After I got up to the long-term floor (1pm), I started getting a headache and seeing spots. This continued until around 5 when I started getting very nauseous. They brought my dinner and the sight of it just completely turned me off. I felt like I was in first-tri again. Around 8pm, the nurses convinced me to drink some ginger ale and eat a few crackers just so I had something in my stomach so I did. My 24 hour urine test was over by then and I was told that it would take 30 minutes to get the results but they still weren't back yet. My DH had come after work earlier in the day and was on his way back to see me again when I started feeling really very sick. I felt like I had the flu without the fever. I was shaking and had chills and was still very nauseous. The nurse took my BP and found it to be 210/110. Luckily, my Dr came in shortly after with the results of the 24 hour urine test. My Dr consulted with the MFM (drs at that hospital can't make the decision to deliver before 37 weeks - the MFM makes the decision) and they told me they would be delivering me that night because my protein was nearing 1000 and I was having pre-seizure symptoms. This came as quite a shock because I was convinced that I was going to go the whole way to my c-section (both babies were breech). Now, I really wished I hadn't had the ginger ale and crackers because the anesthesiologist refused to do my epidural until I had nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours because she didn't want me throwing up and needing to be put under during the section. So, at 10pm, I was moved back down to L&D and prepped for my c-section, which took a lot longer than I thought it would. They had told me I would be going in at 4:30am. I had to be put on magnesium sulfate because of the pre-eclampsia. Magnesium sulfate is a medicine that is used to help stop contractions in pre-term labor. The interesting thing is, while I was on the mag, I started having contractions every 2-3 minutes. I think this was their way of telling me that they needed to come out. I felt bad for the nurse who took care of me. She seemed to like me and even requested to have me the next day when she came on but I just wouldn't shut up. I don't know if it was the nerves or what but I just wouldn't stop talking to her. The entire time she was prepping me (from 11pm-230am) I just kept talking non-stop. I'm usually not a talker and I know my DH thought I was crazy but I just couldn't help it. I was feeling terrible from the pre-e and the mag was making me a bit loopy so maybe it was just a combination of all of that. Anyway, at around 445am, I was wheeled down to the OR while DH got dressed into his scrubs and waited for me to get the epidural before coming in. I loved the Dr who did my section. The one who was supposed to do it had terrible bedside manner. I didn't like her at all. There are several different drs from the practice I go to and it's sort of you get stuck with whoever is on call that day at the hospital. The Dr I got held my hands during the epidural because I was nervous and shaking. She was very kind and just kept trying to calm me down. They strapped me down to the table which I wasn't happy about. I had a running gag with my DH during my pregnancy that he had better cry after the babies were born or I was going to hit him in a very sensitive part to make him cry because the babies being born were a beautiful thing. He told me that they must've known my plans so they saved him by strapping me down.
The whole c-section experience was really surreal. I remember getting nauseous and just looking at the clock waiting for them to announce that the babies had been born. Finally at 5:30am, my daughter was born at 4lb 11oz and 18" long. They held her up over the curtain for a minute then she was taken to be checked out by the nurses/NICU team. My son was born at 5:32am weighing 4lb 10oz and 18 1/2" long and the same happened with him. I remember freaking out because my daughter didn't cry right away but I breathed a sigh of relief when she finally started. Luckily neither of them had any breathing troubles but because I was 35+5, they still had to be taken to the NICU but first each one was brought over for my DH to hold and to be shown to me. I don't remember this part well as I was completely out of it at the time. It is all a blur really. I even had people in the NICU that the babies were transferred to tell me that they were there for the birth and I didn't even know it because I was so out of it. Then, I was stitched up and taken to recovery for an hour. They were hopeful that I could hold the babies for a few minutes in recovery before being taken to the NICU but that didn't happen. DH went down and took pictures/video for me so I could see them. I got put back on the mag and was taken back to L&D. Unfortunately, because of the mag, I wasn't allowed to see the babies until I was off it. DH went down the first day for every feed and to take pictures for me. The mag made me very loopy and I was completely out if it. I would doze off to sleep for a minute and wake back up. This continued the whole night though I did manage a couple hours of sleep because they gave me a sleeping pill. Finally, I was taken off the mag at 5:30am and at around 8am, I was finally allowed to be wheeled down to the NICU to see the babies. They both had feeding tubes in their nose because they wouldn't eat, which is what led to them being in the NICU longer than I had expected. I was still very out of it so I couldn't hold them long. When I went back up to the room, the nurse who did my NST was there. She came over to the hospital (the buildings are connected) to check on me when she found out that my Friday NST had been cancelled. She told me that she knew I would be delivered soon because of my symptoms and I just thought...gee you couldn't have told me? Lol. I regret not getting more sleep while I was at the hospital but I just needed to be with my babies so I went to every feed from 6am-9pm...not a smart thing to do when you are trying to recover from a c-section but not being with them was really hard on me. I was in the hospital for 4 days after my section. They actually ended up letting me stay 2 more days as a boarder (not admitted but staying in the room - my dr who did the section arranged this) until the ward filled up then I stayed 1 night down in the NICU (they have rooms but you have to be out of them in the morning, which I didn't have to do in the other room). One of the Drs down in the NICU helped get the babies transferred to the NICU closer to my house when she found out I refused to leave the babies(20 minutes from the other hospital but no parking fees and I didn't have to stay there as it was only 5 minutes from my house). It was really hard on my DH driving back and forth from our house also, which he did twice a day so the transfer was great. The babies ended up staying in the NICU for 10 days (my son) and 13 days (my daughter) until they could eat properly. The babies are now 10 weeks old and doing great. At their 2 month check-up, my son weighed 8lb 14oz and my daughter weighed 8lb 5oz, which the Dr is very pleased with. My DH is great and helps so much during the night and when he is at home. They are just wonderful babies and although it's hard with two, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Sorry for the extremely long story and thank you for reading it if you made it this far. Here are a few pictures of them taken recently.
I was pregnant with twins and due February 23rd but as is the case with most twins, my Drs were planning on delivering me early on February 11th. The babies and my body had other plans though. I had been to L&D a few times, the first at 22 weeks. They found out I was having contractions and put me on bed rest, which I was on up until I delivered. On January 22nd at 35+3, I went to my twice weekly NST. The nurse who was doing it took my BP and found that it was slightly elevated at around 140/85 and my reflexes worried her because just a little tap and my legs would jump, which is not normal. Up until this point, my BP had been normal and at my weekly appointment the Friday before, it was still normal. The nurse wasn't concerned at first because she thought it could have been the way I was laying but after several repeated measurements about 15 minutes apart, she thought it would be best if I was sent to L&D for monitoring. They took my BP every 15 minutes, took bloodwork, and a urine sample. I told my DH not to come because he was at work and I knew I would be sent home just like the other times. I even told him that I would stop at McDonalds on the way home because I was craving a cheeseburger. Lol. After being monitored for 5 hours and wondering what was going on, my Dr finally came in at 7pm to tell me that they were admitting me for the night because my bp still wasn't going down and my urine test came back with almost 300 protein (anything over 300 is considered pre-eclampsia). They told me I would be doing a 24 hour urine test and when the results came back, they would decide what to do. The next morning the MFM came in to talk to me. He told me if my protein was over 300, they would deliver the babies by the weekend. He wanted me to get to 36 weeks because at my hospital, all babies under 36 weeks automatically go to the NICU. So, I told my DH that I would likely be delivering that weekend but I was still doing the 24 hour urine test and my BP was still being taken every 15 minutes and it continued to be high. Everything was going normally so they moved me up to the long-term floor (expecting me not to deliver until the weekend I am sure) but it sort of went down hill after that. While I was still down in L&D, I noticed that I wasn't that hungry for lunch. After I got up to the long-term floor (1pm), I started getting a headache and seeing spots. This continued until around 5 when I started getting very nauseous. They brought my dinner and the sight of it just completely turned me off. I felt like I was in first-tri again. Around 8pm, the nurses convinced me to drink some ginger ale and eat a few crackers just so I had something in my stomach so I did. My 24 hour urine test was over by then and I was told that it would take 30 minutes to get the results but they still weren't back yet. My DH had come after work earlier in the day and was on his way back to see me again when I started feeling really very sick. I felt like I had the flu without the fever. I was shaking and had chills and was still very nauseous. The nurse took my BP and found it to be 210/110. Luckily, my Dr came in shortly after with the results of the 24 hour urine test. My Dr consulted with the MFM (drs at that hospital can't make the decision to deliver before 37 weeks - the MFM makes the decision) and they told me they would be delivering me that night because my protein was nearing 1000 and I was having pre-seizure symptoms. This came as quite a shock because I was convinced that I was going to go the whole way to my c-section (both babies were breech). Now, I really wished I hadn't had the ginger ale and crackers because the anesthesiologist refused to do my epidural until I had nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours because she didn't want me throwing up and needing to be put under during the section. So, at 10pm, I was moved back down to L&D and prepped for my c-section, which took a lot longer than I thought it would. They had told me I would be going in at 4:30am. I had to be put on magnesium sulfate because of the pre-eclampsia. Magnesium sulfate is a medicine that is used to help stop contractions in pre-term labor. The interesting thing is, while I was on the mag, I started having contractions every 2-3 minutes. I think this was their way of telling me that they needed to come out. I felt bad for the nurse who took care of me. She seemed to like me and even requested to have me the next day when she came on but I just wouldn't shut up. I don't know if it was the nerves or what but I just wouldn't stop talking to her. The entire time she was prepping me (from 11pm-230am) I just kept talking non-stop. I'm usually not a talker and I know my DH thought I was crazy but I just couldn't help it. I was feeling terrible from the pre-e and the mag was making me a bit loopy so maybe it was just a combination of all of that. Anyway, at around 445am, I was wheeled down to the OR while DH got dressed into his scrubs and waited for me to get the epidural before coming in. I loved the Dr who did my section. The one who was supposed to do it had terrible bedside manner. I didn't like her at all. There are several different drs from the practice I go to and it's sort of you get stuck with whoever is on call that day at the hospital. The Dr I got held my hands during the epidural because I was nervous and shaking. She was very kind and just kept trying to calm me down. They strapped me down to the table which I wasn't happy about. I had a running gag with my DH during my pregnancy that he had better cry after the babies were born or I was going to hit him in a very sensitive part to make him cry because the babies being born were a beautiful thing. He told me that they must've known my plans so they saved him by strapping me down.
The whole c-section experience was really surreal. I remember getting nauseous and just looking at the clock waiting for them to announce that the babies had been born. Finally at 5:30am, my daughter was born at 4lb 11oz and 18" long. They held her up over the curtain for a minute then she was taken to be checked out by the nurses/NICU team. My son was born at 5:32am weighing 4lb 10oz and 18 1/2" long and the same happened with him. I remember freaking out because my daughter didn't cry right away but I breathed a sigh of relief when she finally started. Luckily neither of them had any breathing troubles but because I was 35+5, they still had to be taken to the NICU but first each one was brought over for my DH to hold and to be shown to me. I don't remember this part well as I was completely out of it at the time. It is all a blur really. I even had people in the NICU that the babies were transferred to tell me that they were there for the birth and I didn't even know it because I was so out of it. Then, I was stitched up and taken to recovery for an hour. They were hopeful that I could hold the babies for a few minutes in recovery before being taken to the NICU but that didn't happen. DH went down and took pictures/video for me so I could see them. I got put back on the mag and was taken back to L&D. Unfortunately, because of the mag, I wasn't allowed to see the babies until I was off it. DH went down the first day for every feed and to take pictures for me. The mag made me very loopy and I was completely out if it. I would doze off to sleep for a minute and wake back up. This continued the whole night though I did manage a couple hours of sleep because they gave me a sleeping pill. Finally, I was taken off the mag at 5:30am and at around 8am, I was finally allowed to be wheeled down to the NICU to see the babies. They both had feeding tubes in their nose because they wouldn't eat, which is what led to them being in the NICU longer than I had expected. I was still very out of it so I couldn't hold them long. When I went back up to the room, the nurse who did my NST was there. She came over to the hospital (the buildings are connected) to check on me when she found out that my Friday NST had been cancelled. She told me that she knew I would be delivered soon because of my symptoms and I just thought...gee you couldn't have told me? Lol. I regret not getting more sleep while I was at the hospital but I just needed to be with my babies so I went to every feed from 6am-9pm...not a smart thing to do when you are trying to recover from a c-section but not being with them was really hard on me. I was in the hospital for 4 days after my section. They actually ended up letting me stay 2 more days as a boarder (not admitted but staying in the room - my dr who did the section arranged this) until the ward filled up then I stayed 1 night down in the NICU (they have rooms but you have to be out of them in the morning, which I didn't have to do in the other room). One of the Drs down in the NICU helped get the babies transferred to the NICU closer to my house when she found out I refused to leave the babies(20 minutes from the other hospital but no parking fees and I didn't have to stay there as it was only 5 minutes from my house). It was really hard on my DH driving back and forth from our house also, which he did twice a day so the transfer was great. The babies ended up staying in the NICU for 10 days (my son) and 13 days (my daughter) until they could eat properly. The babies are now 10 weeks old and doing great. At their 2 month check-up, my son weighed 8lb 14oz and my daughter weighed 8lb 5oz, which the Dr is very pleased with. My DH is great and helps so much during the night and when he is at home. They are just wonderful babies and although it's hard with two, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Sorry for the extremely long story and thank you for reading it if you made it this far. Here are a few pictures of them taken recently.
