Welcome to the World, Max & Harper! Here is your Birth Story (Part 1)

My babies are 9 days old today and what a whirlwind it has been. I expected to be busy and expected to not have time for everyday tasks...but I am still so surprised at how little time I have.

Relaxing showers are a thing of the past. Blogging? Who has the time?

Instead, I fill my days with baby snuggles, cuddle time, feedings, changings, and then repeat it all again every 3 hours. I am on CLOUD NINE!!

 I still have a hard time believing they are mine. I definitely have been suffering with what they call "Baby Blues" except I don't feel blue. I do cry uncontrollably...sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for hours, or in the case of Thursday all freaking day long. I cry because I worry about doing everything right. I cry because my heart is so filled with love for my angels that tears are the only way to cope. I cry when they cry because I want to make their pain go away. I cry when in the middle of the night, I can't get Max to burp and am so exhausted (by the way, getting a baby to burp is the most frustrating thing at 3am).

Now onto the story...

PART 1
Wednesday, July 10: This was my last doctor's appointment. I knew this because I had visited Labor and Delivery 5 out of the previous 7 days for my hypertension. My blood pressure would skyrocket, I had swelling everywhere, nausea, headaches, etc. I was so sick that they scheduled an induction date of Wednesday, July 17. I was thrilled to have an end date in sight.

That night I was having pretty severe contractions. However, I was having maybe 4-5 in an hour...not enough to go in. They weren't regular either. Around 11pm, the contractions just stopped. So, defeated...we both went to bed.

About 3-4 times throughout the night I would get the worst stabbing menstrual pain. It would last about 90 seconds and go away. Then I wouldn't get another until an hour or two later. Again, not in labor.

Thursday, July 11: Jeremy woke up around 7am to get ready for work and to feed our animals. I got up and went to the bathroom. I then walked towards the kitchen but before I could get there, my water broke in our hallway. I didn't know what to think at first. My first thought was "Oh great, I peed my pants!" I went into our hall bath as fluid continued to pour out. I knew this was it! I yelled for Jeremy and showed him the mess. He smiled and said, "Yes, it is go time!"

He brought me my cell phone as I cleaned myself up and put on new clothes and a pad. I called Labor and Delivery to tell them my water broke and we would be there in 20-30 minutes. We live close but had to pack the car and such.

We arrived at the hospital at 7:45am where I was greeted by one of my favorite nurses, Katie. I was taken directly to a delivery suite. (I knew we wouldn't deliver there since twins are delivered in the OR). I was quickly checked (5cm as I was the day before), hooked up to monitors, and epidural was ordered. My contractions were getting close together and stronger.

By 9am, I had the epidural. It made me a different person. I no longer felt any of those contractions. My doctor was not on call so another doctor in the practice, Dr. Driskoll, showed up to check on me. She knew I would go quick and they already had called in the forces necessary to cover a twin delivery. She was initially concerned that I wanted to do a vaginal birth. She went over the concerns but I had already discussed this with my doctor. I did not want a C-section! I was positive about that.

Dr. Driskoll came back around 10:15am to check me. I was at a 8cm. She said that she would be back to recheck me in 15 minutes. She told Jeremy to suit up in his OR gear.

 I was shocked that it was moving so fast. Dr. Driskoll was back in the room 5 minutes later saying that she couldn't wait because she was so excited. In that short 5 minutes, I was now at 10cm and ready to be wheeled to the OR.

They didn't waste time either. I was whisked away to a very bright room.

(Part 2 coming shortly)

A Late Announcement: Max & Harper are here!!

I am hoping to have the time to write their birth story shortly. But Max and Harper were born last Thursday, July 11!!


It was a crazy day that didn't go to plan but we don't care now!

Maxwell was born at 11:31am at 6 pounds 10 oz, 19 inches long.

Harper was born at 11:42am at 5 pounds 9 oz, 18.5 inches long.

They are healthy. We got to come home Sunday, July 14.

Here are some pictures to hold you over until I update their story.

 

 

-Lisa-

 

 

Are We There Yet?

I am over 36 weeks now! And...HUGE! I had only gained 55 pounds until last week when I gained 14 pounds of fluid in one week! Now I am a swollen, Michelin man-like preggo! Luckily I am back on bed rest because if I went out in public, I would be a spectacle. People just stop and stare at my largeness.

I have to remind myself that there are TWO over six-pound human beings in there! However, this post is going to be an honest post about what it is really like carrying twins. Although, I am truly ELATED over the impending births...carrying twins is not easy.

I don't want you to think I would take any of this away.

I had such an easy pregnancy up until the pre-term scare at 31 and a half weeks. Since then, I think I and everyone else has expected these babies to appear earlier than expected.

Bed rest has really sucked. I was on strict bed rest from 31.5 weeks-34.5 weeks. Then I was doing great! I was able to get out of the house. Clean the house, do the laundry, etc. Last Tuesday, that all stopped again.

I felt so nauseous and dizzy on Tuesday. I ran to CVS and checked my blood pressure. It was really high! I called Labor & Delivery and they had me come in. They were extremely concerned about pre-eclampsia. However, they got my bp under control, lab work came back okay, and there was just a trace of protein in my urine. What did happen Tuesday night...I dilated from a 4cm to a 5cm! I thought for sure I was going to go into labor or they would keep me to induce. NOPE! I was sent home.

I had a scheduled appointment the next day. This is where we found out the 14 pounds of fluid gain. I still had high blood pressure so was escorted to L & D again! Again, bp slowly went down with resting on my left side. More lab work was done and came back okay. I had to schedule another appointment for Friday.

Friday came and surprise, surprise...I had protein in urine and high blood pressure! L & D...here I come (again!). I was there for most of the morning. They mentioned a 24 hour urine collection that could help them make the decision whether to induce right away or wait a bit.

Throughout the 24 hour collection on Friday, Jeremy kept begging for protein so we could get this show on the road. However, on Saturday's visit to L & D (again), there was just below what was needed to be considered severe enough to induce labor.

I do not have pre-eclampsia (which is good) but I am on modified bed rest for gestational hypertension. I have to monitor bp, protein in urine, and fluid gain. I still get wicked headaches, dizziness, and nausea but as long as it doesn't get worse...I am okay.

So the last week has pretty much made me more miserable than I was before. I literally have cried every night just praying to not be pregnant anymore.

1. It hurts to move. Either the belly is sore or the pelvic pressure is so bad.
2. I have to pee every 30 minutes thanks to the babies dropping.
3. Sleep. What is that? I sleep at max 40 minutes at a time.
4. Headaches. Awful headaches like I have never had before.
5. Anxiety. I have no idea when they are coming or how...the fear of the unknown scares me.
6. Disgusting things like: hemorrhoids, mucus plugs, etc.

All worth it to see those babes in a week or two!

Doctor is supposed to schedule the induction date when I go in on Wednesday. I am hoping she takes the specialist's advice and induces me this coming weekend. We shall see!

-Lisa-