Birth Story (the abridged version)

This is the story of how the twins were born, in a bulleted list.

- Twin A's (baby girl) water broke at about 7 pm on Jan. 6th.  It was after hours and I wasn't really sure that was what had happened so I decided I would call the doctor first thing the next morning.  (I think I need to mention that I had an appt. on Wednesday where I was feeling contractions and not quite right.  Everything looked okay and I was told to call if I had more pain on Thursday, which I had already decided to take off.  I also had another FFN test to see if I might be delivering in the next two weeks.  The test was negative and I figured I was home free.  I guess I'm part of the 10% that gets a false negative.  I was also expecting to get the steroid shot, but since the test was negative there was no need.)

- Jan. 7th: After arriving at work and feeling better than I had in weeks I call the doctor and they tell me to come in at 9:30.  So I scramble to find someone to cover my class, just for the morning (because you know I won't be having my babies at 32 and a half weeks).  Luckily my wonderful principal is game for teaching math.  So I head to the doctor.

-9:30: Doctor takes one look and says, "You've definitely have ruptured membranes."  They do a lung maturity test and a Strep B(?) test and then I am wheeled across the street to the hospital where I am admitted to Labor and Delivery.  Once there I frantically call Paul and my parents who were in town to help me get the house ready for my baby shower that was supposed to be held on Sunday.

- Shortly after I get my first steroid shot to help mature the babies' lungs and I am hooked up to an antibiotic IV to stop infection and I am put on a schedule to take procardia (which I've been taking when I feel contractions but is actually some kind of heart medication) to stop any contractions.  It becomes clear that the goal is to stay pregnant at least for the next 48 hours for the steroids to work and then see how long I can keep them baking after that.

-Jan. 8th: Moved to Women's Care to live until the babies are ready to be born.

-Jan. 9th: Have my baby shower at the hospital.  My out of bed time is limited to 30 minutes and I get to be hooked up to my IV antibiotics.  Not really how I pictured it.

- Jan. 11th:  Moved back to Labor & Delivery because of changes.  I won't go into detail on that one.  I have an ultrasound to check on the babies, they do a lung maturity test and I'm hooked back up to around the clock baby monitors.  I'm allowed to eat liquids only while we wait to see if today will be their birthday.  It is not..

- Jan. 13th:  I get the all clear and I am again moved back to Women's Care.  Later that night (5 pm) I get pain that I guess is bra strap pain?  A slight pain in my shoulder that radiates up my neck.  I recline my bed and try to relax and hope it goes away.  A friend comes by and she helps to distract me from the pain that has moved across the top of my stomach.  At 6 my nurse comes in and I tell her about my pain.  And Paul shows up, my friend leaves.  My blood pressure is taken, it is high, along with my temperature.  I also take my meds which includes my procardia.  She, the nurse, brings in the monitors and she attempts to find both babies while I attempt not to cry from the pain that has now been joined by cramping.  I also decide that if this is anything like labor pains that I will be asking for an epidural.  The lab is called up to take more blood for tests.  The nurse thinks it might be gas pain (I never believed that) so I think I was given something for that.  I'm also given a catheter to test my urine for 12 hours to make sure it isn't preeclampsia.  The catheter causes my bladder to cramp which causes even MORE pain.  It takes way too long (at least 2 hours) and some tears on my part but the doctor finally gives an order for something for the pain and the cramping my bladder.  We wait to hear if we will have the babies today...at 11 pm we find that no, today is not the day. 

- Jan. 14th:  I wake up with a headache that I have pretty much all day.  Other than that the pain from the night before is gone, and my catheter is removed.  I have another ultrasound to have a biophysical profile done.  They get an A, which is a good thing.  At about 5 pm I start feeling like I did the night before.  I thought it related to my procardia wearing off since it was at the same time as the night before.  For some reason it again takes forever to get anything for the pain.  The doctor is called again and it is all a little fuzzy.  (Amanda did they do any tests this night?  I can't remember.)  I think that they waited until the next morning to do more bloodwork.  I sent everyone home and went to sleep.

- Jan. 15th:  After more bloodwork the doctor comes in around 8 am and tells me that today is the day.  I had a low platelet count and I can't remember what other results from the bloodwork.  I had preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome so the babies had to be delivered.  So I frantically called Paul to tell him to get to the hospital and asked if I could please take a shower before surgery.  The rest is a hurry up and wait situation.  I finally walked into the operating room full of about 14 people at about noon.  Emily was born at 12:35 and Sam at 12:36.  Both arrived with cries, which made me cry. 

Well I guess that wasn't so abridged but it include the important information.

Wordless Wednesday

Our new little family. 

33 Weeks

How far along? 33 weeks 3 days (picture to be added later)

Babies' size and stats? Small still but big enough to be born.

Gain? No idea.  I was weighed on Friday when I was checked into the hospital but I'm sure the bed rest is increasing my weight.

Maternity clothes? Yes and hospital gowns

Stretch marks? Yes, and spreading. :-(

Sleep? I've found that I don't sleep well in hospitals.  I have a feeling that this might be normal.  I have discovered the wonders of Ambien.  I think my hospital bed rest would be quite miserable without it.

Foods I am loving? Apple juice with hospital ice but that is about it.

Foods I am hating? No real aversions but I'm still not liking salad.

Best moment this week? This week has been a rough one.  I've had highs and lows pretty much everyday.  We've been told that I can't eat or drink until lab tests are back because we might have to do a c-section about 3 times.  But the best moment(s) are being able to hear the babies heartbeats at least twice everyday.  Also, keeping the babies baking past the important 48 hours mark so the steroids can mature their lungs.

Movement? Yes, and it makes the nurses crazy because they move while they're trying to monitor them.

Symptoms? Well... I've had a lot of different experiences since my water broke last Thursday but I don't think I want to write about them online. 


Gender? One BOY and one GIRL

What I'm looking forward to? Becoming a mom in less than a week.  It is a lot earlier than we hoped it would happen but we are confident that they will thrive.  Also, we know that they will be in good hands here and hopefully they won't have to stay in the hospital too long.

Milestones: Having a date for a scheduled c-section.

Emotions: Worried, excited, scared, anxious...

What I've Learned about Hospitals

Since the beginning of my first ever stay in a hospital on Friday I've learned a few things:
1.  Nurses are the best!  I think being a nurse a little bit like being a teacher.  If you aren't one you can't imagine doing their job.  The nurses are here are great.  They are all very helpful, friendly and attentive.
2.  Hospital beds are a lot better than the couch.  I'm currently on bed rest with bathroom privileges, whoo hoo.  Since the last time I had to spend a few days in bed I was completely miserable after 2 days.  BUT I didn't have a lovely hospital bed.  It is great to be able to adjust yourself with the touch of a button.
3. Not just doctors and nurses work at the hospital.  Since I've been here I have had doctors, nurses, nurses assistants, physical therapists, IV team members, phlebotomists, nutritional services, transportation people and volunteers come to talk to me.
4.  Being able to shower makes a HUGE difference.  I'm allowed a 10 minute sit down shower everyday and I can't imagine not being able to take one.  There is nothing better than getting out of bed and feeling human again.

If...

If I weren't having twins and if I were 40 weeks instead of only 32... I would have an 8 lb. 2 oz. baby.  But since I am having twins and I'm not 40 weeks they are 4 lbs. 10 oz. and 3 lbs. 8 oz.  Our daughter is still much smaller than her brute of a brother.  I think it might have something to do with him being on the top of my stomach and taking up all the space.  :-)

Happy New Years!

I feel like I should do a New Year's post where I reflect on 2010 and make some resolutions but I'm not going to.  Well I will I guess a little bit.  2010 definitely had it's highs and lows and I am more than excited to see what 2011 has in store.  As for resolutions I don't have any, not really.  I would love to say that I want to get back into running/working out as soon as possible and that I'm going to become an amazing cook and make homemade dinners every night BUT that isn't very realistic.  I'm hoping to survive, umm I mean, enjoy the baby stage of being a mom to twins and if that means that I get the dog out every once and a while for a walk or run that would be great.

Oh, I do have just one serious resolution... take a picture everyday to document what an amazing and life changing year this will be.  So far, so good.

Jan. 1, 2011: The breakfast of champions... and what I've been craving lately.

 Jan. 2, 2011: The dog, the main subject of most pictures at our house, at least until the babies come.

 Jan. 3, 2011:  The view from above.  My attempt at getting my belly and Maddy taking out the stuffing of her Christmas toy.

 Jan. 4, 2011:  Yes, she still thinks she is a lap dog and apparently is feeling a little neglected.  She normally only sits on my lap when she is feeling needy.  The end of Winter Break is hard for everyone in the house.