Monday, August 11
I worked a half-day and had more or less decided at that point that I needed to start maternity leave. I had a non-stress test later that day as well as an OB appointment, but I was 35 weeks pregnant at that point. Between the heat, and the size of my growing belly, the physical demands of a twin pregnancy were taking the toll. I literally had enough energy every day to go to work, and maybe pick Noah up from school. It was difficult to walk, stand, and do much of anything. I figured I would wait and see what Dr. Carter had to say and then make things official later in the day.
At my appointment with Dr. Carter, my blood pressure was a little high and he told me that I was 3 centimeters dilated, 50% effaced, and he stripped my membranes hoping that would start something. I also begged him to put me out of my misery and delivery these girls. He told me that he doesn't like to induce before 37 weeks without reason, but he wants to keep and eye on my symptoms (specifically my blood pressure) and see what happens. He also told me to come back on Thursday, August 14 at 9am. A day that he's on call. When he said that, I started to think that maybe we'd be having these babies soon.
Thursday, August 14
Per Dr. Carter, I went for a non-stress test at 7:30 a.m. I made Dan come with me, and Noah went to my parent's house since we (re. I) was hoping/praying to be induced. I even packed my bag and brought it in the car. I was so excited about the possibility of being induced that I couldn't fathom that it might not happen. . . that I might have to wait a few more days. To say I was anxious was an understatement. I really thought I was going to lose it if a decision was not made to deliver the girls.
Per Dr. Carter, I went for a non-stress test at 7:30 a.m. I made Dan come with me, and Noah went to my parent's house since we (re. I) was hoping/praying to be induced. I even packed my bag and brought it in the car. I was so excited about the possibility of being induced that I couldn't fathom that it might not happen. . . that I might have to wait a few more days. To say I was anxious was an understatement. I really thought I was going to lose it if a decision was not made to deliver the girls.
The NST was fine and when we went to the office at 9am there were big pads draped over the exam table which made me think that today was the day. Maybe my water was about to be broken? Dr. Carter examined me, said that he was still concerned about my blood pressure, and told us to proceed over to the hospital for an induction. To say I felt relief was an understatement. We talked about the risks involved and, according to Dr. Carter, the risk to my health of staying pregnant outweighed the benefits to the baby. In addition to the swelling of my feet and hands, he was concerned about me developing toxemia or pre-eclampsia. At this point, we giddily made our way back over to the hospital. We also called our parents and let them know what was going on.
Got to the hospital around 10-10:30. We were quickly whisked into a room and the fun got started with pitocin. But there were a few snags along the way.
The IV: It REALLY hurt when it went in, it was not very comfortable in my hand. Because I had so much swelling in my hands the nurse was worried that she might have perforated the vein. We left the IV where it was but she told me that if my hand/arm started to swell they would have to move it. Well, about two hours into the induction my hand started to burn and it was determined that the IV needed to be moved. Once it was moved I was fine.
Monitoring/breaking of the water: When you have twins you have to get two babies on the monitor, which is hard considering how much they move around. And if you're on pitocin they absolutely have to be monitored in case there are complications. Problem was that we couldn't get both babies on the monitor. They kept moving me into different positions and by the time they got the babies on the monitor I was in such an awkward position that they wouldn't stay on the monitor. The nurses wanted to put an internal monitor on Baby A, but to do so meant breaking my water. It was about 1:30pm and Dr. Carter didn't want to break my water until after office hours were over (5'ish) because "he wanted to see what I could do on my own." I think he was hoping that by waiting it would break on it's own. After some back and forth between his office and the nurses, another doctor at the hospital came in to break my water so we could monitor the babies. I was told that it would feel like "an aggressive internal exam." I don't know what it feels like to be sexually violated (thankfully) but I have to think it feels similar to having your bag of water broken. Let's just say that "aggressive" is a polite term and leave it at that."
The Epidural: I made it crystal clear to Dr. Carter and the nurses that I did NOT want to feel anything with this labor. I wanted the maximum amount of drugs allowable by the State of Arizona and I wanted them administered in the parking lot, if possible. I felt pain delivering Noah. And I didn't feel like I need to relive the experience this time around. The way I see it, whether you have drugs or not, the reward is still the same: a healthy baby. You don't get a gold star for being a martyr and doing it drug free.
My contractions at this point are not very painful (or noticeable) but contractions tend to pick up in terms of frequency and intensity once your water is broken. So Dr. Lu, the anesthesiologist was summoned shortly after my water was broken. Here's the thing, I personally think that THE WORST PART OF GIVING BIRTH is getting the epidural. I know that might scare some people, but the epidural freaks me out more than the idea of pushing out a baby. Perhaps it's the fact you're in pain and they are putting a large needle into my spine while at the same time saying "don't move!" Anyway, Dr. L came, put the epidural in, and it didn't take. They kept asking me if my legs felt warm and I wasn't sure how to answer them. Dr. Lu offered to repeat the epidural and I declined thinking that it would magically kick in. Well, we waited and waited (all of 30 minutes) and to make a long story short we had to repeat the epidural. I guess they did it twice because I was having twins, right? That's the bad news. The good news was that it worked well enough the first time that it didn't hurt nearly as badly the second time. Once it was in, I understood what they meant about feeling warm. My entire lower body was numb and warm. Not a bad feeling. At this point I was having regular contractions and not feeling anything. My idea of labor.
By about 4:30-5pm things were great. I couldn't feel any of the contractions, which were getting stronger and more regular, I had Internet access in the room, and Dan and I just relaxed and watched TV. Around dinner time Dr. Carter came to check me (YEAH!) and I was about 6cm dilated. He then left to go have dinner with his wife (a pediatrician also on call. I asked if I could get two Dr. Carter's for the price of one). My parents came by with Noah and I was thrilled to get to visit with them. Everyone then left for dinner and then I had some quiet time to myself.
I should mention here that the only thing I was allowed to eat during this process was ice chips. Which was fine, except for the fact that I was craving water. When you're thirsty, which I was was despite the constant IV fluid drip, all you want it a big gulp of water. And looking at the jumbo bottle of water from Costco sitting on the table was making me crazy. Seriously, I have never wanted water so badly in my life. Around dinnertime I was offered a small cup of apple juice because my blood sugar was dipping, but even then I was told to sip, not guzzle. And when those 8 ounces were gone I wasn't allowed more.
Dan's mom arrived from California around 7pm and she was just happy to have have made it before the babies, as we had called her that morning when we were on our way to the hospital. Eventually, Dan and I settled in with our mom's for the evening. And because I was the one in labor I got to hold the remote so we watched the Olympics (gymnastics, women's all-around. Under-age Chinese girl with tacky blue eye shadow). The nurse checked me at 9:45 p.m. and told me I was 9 cm and said she would be back in hour to check me again. Now I started getting excited. Progress! Well, progress comes with a price because during this time my beloved epidural from Dr. Wu also started to wear off on my left side which meant I was now feeling the contractions. I was able to give myself a few extra jolts of medicine from the pump next to my bed but it still hurt. As a result, I starting watching the clock WAITING for someone to come check me.
At 11:15 I was checked (finally!) and I was 10cm. Now this is when things started getting really interesting. The next 15 minutes were filled with doctors and nurses getting me ready for the operating room (in case there were complications Dr. Carter wanted to be able to get the babies out as fast as possible, which is why I delivered in the OR instead of in my room). Dr. Carter came and talked me (about what I don't remember) and there was just a lot of buzzing around me. I do remember one conversation: because it was so close to midnight Dr. Carter wanted to know if we were aware of the fact that the babies MIGHT have two different birthday's depending on when they were born. He asked if we had a preference one way or another and Dan and I were adamant that they be born on the same day. I envisioned spending the next 18 years explaining to people that yes, we have twins, but they have different birthdays. Ummm, no thank you.
Around 11:30 p.m. I was wheeled into the OR. The trip to the OR was exciting. The process of being moved from the bed to the operating table bordered on humiliating. What little modesty I had left was gone, I can't move anything from the waist down, and physically, I am HUGE. It took a small army of people to move me. Although the medical staff could have cared less, I was mortified. I literally closed my eyes and waiting for the humiliation to end. Dan told me it wasn't a big deal at all, but I was embarrassed nonetheless.
Dan was next to me in scrubs and I remember that there was really good music playing in the OR (classic rock). Major props to whomever made that selection. Everyone was busy doing their thing and before I knew it I was told to push. A side note, I pushed for two hours with Noah and was determined not to repeat that again. When I was told to push this time, I pushed like there was no tomorrow. Literally MINUTES later, Hannah Eve arrived at 11:54 p.m. and weighing in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces. I remember pushing, and then feeling her body slip underneath my pelvis and then out my body. It was surreal and the rest of the delivery went by in a blur. Within minutes I was being told to push again, and again I pushed like no tomorrow. By this point it was dangerously close to midnight and I was determined that both girls to have the same birthday. As with Hannah, I felt something slip underneath my pelvis and then out my body. This time it was Abigail (Abbie) Eden at 11:59 p.m., weighing in at 6 pounds, 7 ounces.
No wonder I was so miserable being pregnant, I had over 13 pounds of baby inside of me!
Each girl had their own team of pediatricians and there was a neonatologist in the middle going between the two. I don't remember his name, but Dan said he was really nice. It was like something from the Discovery Channel, with each baby being whisked away by a separate team. I delivered the placentas (I'll spare you the pictures but if you're interested let me know) soon after and then in a blink of an eye it was over. I had a bit of tearing (not unexpected) and then we just waited for the babies to get checked and cleaned up. Dr. Carter at this point did something which I thought was very cool. Since he had finished things up on his end, he took the camera from Dan and started taking pictures of us with the newest members of the family. In hindsight I am so grateful that he did this because now I have pictures of myself with the girls and Dan too.
Once we got the "all clear" that the girls were okay I was wheeled back into the room where my mom and Dan's mom were waiting. Dr. Carter was still behind the camera so I commented that it was like being chased by the paprazzi. When we got back to the room all of the doctors and nurses said the same thing. That they could not believe I delivered twins naturally (no c-section) and that I did it so quickly. In the end, I pushed for about 10 minutes, and this includes the break we took in between Hannah and Abbie. Apparently the idea of having twins with two different birthday's was a strong motivator. We got settled back into the room with everyone fussing over the babies (our mom's were LITERALLY tickled pink). The nurses got me settled and two things happened. I got to guzzle an entire bottle of water and I got to eat a much earned midnight snack (hot dog and salad with more water).
And that my friends, is how Hannah Eve and Abigail Eden came into the world.
At 11:15 I was checked (finally!) and I was 10cm. Now this is when things started getting really interesting. The next 15 minutes were filled with doctors and nurses getting me ready for the operating room (in case there were complications Dr. Carter wanted to be able to get the babies out as fast as possible, which is why I delivered in the OR instead of in my room). Dr. Carter came and talked me (about what I don't remember) and there was just a lot of buzzing around me. I do remember one conversation: because it was so close to midnight Dr. Carter wanted to know if we were aware of the fact that the babies MIGHT have two different birthday's depending on when they were born. He asked if we had a preference one way or another and Dan and I were adamant that they be born on the same day. I envisioned spending the next 18 years explaining to people that yes, we have twins, but they have different birthdays. Ummm, no thank you.
Around 11:30 p.m. I was wheeled into the OR. The trip to the OR was exciting. The process of being moved from the bed to the operating table bordered on humiliating. What little modesty I had left was gone, I can't move anything from the waist down, and physically, I am HUGE. It took a small army of people to move me. Although the medical staff could have cared less, I was mortified. I literally closed my eyes and waiting for the humiliation to end. Dan told me it wasn't a big deal at all, but I was embarrassed nonetheless.
Dan was next to me in scrubs and I remember that there was really good music playing in the OR (classic rock). Major props to whomever made that selection. Everyone was busy doing their thing and before I knew it I was told to push. A side note, I pushed for two hours with Noah and was determined not to repeat that again. When I was told to push this time, I pushed like there was no tomorrow. Literally MINUTES later, Hannah Eve arrived at 11:54 p.m. and weighing in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces. I remember pushing, and then feeling her body slip underneath my pelvis and then out my body. It was surreal and the rest of the delivery went by in a blur. Within minutes I was being told to push again, and again I pushed like no tomorrow. By this point it was dangerously close to midnight and I was determined that both girls to have the same birthday. As with Hannah, I felt something slip underneath my pelvis and then out my body. This time it was Abigail (Abbie) Eden at 11:59 p.m., weighing in at 6 pounds, 7 ounces.
No wonder I was so miserable being pregnant, I had over 13 pounds of baby inside of me!
Each girl had their own team of pediatricians and there was a neonatologist in the middle going between the two. I don't remember his name, but Dan said he was really nice. It was like something from the Discovery Channel, with each baby being whisked away by a separate team. I delivered the placentas (I'll spare you the pictures but if you're interested let me know) soon after and then in a blink of an eye it was over. I had a bit of tearing (not unexpected) and then we just waited for the babies to get checked and cleaned up. Dr. Carter at this point did something which I thought was very cool. Since he had finished things up on his end, he took the camera from Dan and started taking pictures of us with the newest members of the family. In hindsight I am so grateful that he did this because now I have pictures of myself with the girls and Dan too.
Once we got the "all clear" that the girls were okay I was wheeled back into the room where my mom and Dan's mom were waiting. Dr. Carter was still behind the camera so I commented that it was like being chased by the paprazzi. When we got back to the room all of the doctors and nurses said the same thing. That they could not believe I delivered twins naturally (no c-section) and that I did it so quickly. In the end, I pushed for about 10 minutes, and this includes the break we took in between Hannah and Abbie. Apparently the idea of having twins with two different birthday's was a strong motivator. We got settled back into the room with everyone fussing over the babies (our mom's were LITERALLY tickled pink). The nurses got me settled and two things happened. I got to guzzle an entire bottle of water and I got to eat a much earned midnight snack (hot dog and salad with more water).
And that my friends, is how Hannah Eve and Abigail Eden came into the world.
Before
Before, side view
9 cms.
Hannah Eve
Abigail Eden
Dan and the girls
Me and my water
2 comments:
So now I know why you have that big grin on your face in the pic with the water bottle. It has nothing to do with having just delivered two daughters and everything to do with being allowed to drink! ;-)
Great job girl! Congrats again.
Post a Comment