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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Birth Story

The twins arrived on Monday, May 13.  It was a scheduled induction and we arrived at the hospital at 7:30a.m.  After a little bit of miscommunication (our nurse didn't know we were in the waiting area and we were told to wait in that area until our nurse got the room all situated), we were in the labor and delivery room at 8am. 

I was already 6 cm dilated and the nurse and my doctor didn't think it would take very long for the pitocin to work and get me to 10 cm and fully effaced.  Well, that wasn't quite the case.  I ended up having to push a little bit in the L&D room to get my cervix to fully dilate and thin out.  That was different than with Jocelyn.  I knew I wouldn't be delivering in the L&D room and I'd have to go to the Operating Room for that just in case something happened and they had to take one or both babies by C-section.   I had the epidural with no problems.  I pushed quite a bit in the L&D room until I was at the point where they took me back to the OR.  Liam's head was turned sideways and he needed to be facing down, so the nurse had to help turn him a bit.  We got that taken care of before heading to the OR.  I pushed one time in the OR and was told to stop because Liam was on the way out and we had to wait for the doctor.

A couple of pushes in the OR and Liam was out.  They cleaned him off and put him on my chest and he was so beautiful.  That was 4:52pm.  But a few minutes later it was time to push again for Lizzie and I had to ask the nurses to take Liam so I could push (there was no way I could do it with a baby on my chest).  Lizzie decided she wanted to try and come hands first (make a diving entry into the world) so the doctor had to get her to put her hands to the side.  I pushed a little bit more and at 5:02pm Lizzie made her way out.  What an experience.  The epidural was a little different than with Jocelyn where I could not feel contractions but could pretty much feel everything else and could move my legs.  I asked for a bit more of the juice before the sewing began because I knew that would be quite painful.  I do not handle anesthesia very well and I began to shake a lot and couldn't hold my babies.  The shaking got pretty bad where it was painful and uncontrollable and they had to give me some medicine to help it subside, which ended up putting me to sleep.  I was pretty much out of it for the rest of the night.  Little did I know that Liam would be staying in the NICU because of some fast breathing and then some reflux issues.  Lizzie was brought to us in the middle of the night and stayed with us for the rest of our stay.  Liam had to stay in the NICU so the doctors could do more testing on the reflux issue and rule out any obstructions.  Turns out he has pretty bad reflux and they began him on medication.  He also has to sleep at an incline and stay incline for at least 1 hour after eating. 

John, Lizzie and I came home on Wednesday, May 15th and Liam had to stay.  At that point we didn't know for how long.  Nothing really seemed to be wrong, they just had to complete some testing.

We finally got to bring Liam home on Friday, May 17th...after a bit of a fiasco getting his prescriptions filled. 

The babies have been doing great at home and we are working on getting them to put on some weight.  Liam was born 5lbs 14 oz and came home at 5 lbs 11 oz.  Lizzie was born at 5 lbs 12 oz and came home at 5lbs 3 oz.  They've both put on some weight since birth and we hope they have put on much more by our next doctor visit this coming Wednesday.  They are so sweet and we are so in love.  Jocelyn loves her baby brother and sister and wants to give them kisses all the time and when they cry she'll go to them and say "don't worry, big sister is here." 


 
 



 
 


Friday, May 10, 2013

36 Weeks...almost there!

I had my final appointment with my OB today before the babies come!  This past week I had 2 days of non-stress testing at the hospital.  Monday and Thursday I was hooked up to monitors to make sure the babies heart rates were good and were rising with fetal movement.  Everything went great and babies are just perfect.  Today, my doctor checked my cervix and I'm 4 cm dilated.  My fundal height is 48 cm, which roughly translates into measuring 48 weeks pregnant...I'm huge!  We decided that Monday was the day (just shy of 37 weeks). At my last ultrasound they were both head down so first thing on Monday will be an ultrasound to make sure they've stayed that way (really just Lizzie, we know Liam is still head down). If so, then we're going or a vaginal delivery and I'm really praying it all goes smoothly.  These babies mean the world to me and I want to do whatever is in their best interest.

I can't believe it's almost time. I can't wait to meet these precious babies and hold them in my arms.  Hopefully my next post will include pictures of 2 newborn babies! Stay tuned.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

35 Week Update

Well, I've made it to 35 weeks and I feel very fortunate to have made it this far.  Still no sign of the babies making their appearance and I'll find out more tomorrow at my doctors appointments (yes, 2 appointments tomorrow...one with regular OB/GYN and another with my perinatologist) when they want to take the babies out if they haven't already come sooner.  I'm hoping it's sooner than later, but we'll see.

I'm ready.  I'm ready. I'm ready.  I don't need anyone else to tell me to try and enjoy this time since I'll be so busy once they get here.  I'm ready to be busy.  I'm tired of being lazy.  I'm tired of not being able to walk more than a few feet before I get short of breath.  I'm tired of my hips and back hurting when I walk.   I'm ready to have my hands full.  I'm ready to be on my feet.  I'm ready for middle of the night feedings.  I'm ready to change diapers.  I'm ready to snuggle with my babies.

Today is my last day at the office and I'll be home for the remainder of the pregnancy...however long that will be.  I'll update this post after my appointments tomorrow. 

Update - at my Friday, May 3rd appointment, the ultrasound showed that Liam is about 6 lbs 6 oz and Lizzie is 5 lbs and 14 oz.  Wow...that's over 12 pounds of baby and we still have a few weeks to go.  Liam's fluid level is a little low so the doctor wanted me to be monitored at the hospital that afternoon and then twice the following week.  My Friday monitoring went fine, babies moving well and heartbeats are good. 
Next Friday (May 10), I have another appointment with my OB/GYN and I'm hoping we set a date for when these babies will come out.