XP- Jace and Cale are here! PIP

JocelynB0911

This was taken from my BMB. Its a long one but there are cute pics at the end!

Wow, what a rollercoaster pregnancy! Were trying for just one more baby and were doubly surprised when we learned we were having twins, found a SCH at 12 weeks, found out about a possibility the boys could develop heart block, weekly ultrasounds starting at 17 weeks, random decels with Cale's (baby heart, bedrest starting at 26 weeks, found out about a discordance at 28 weeks, airlifted to a bigger hospital for PTL at 33w, busted out at 35w3d, induced at 36w3d due to an ultrasound showing that Cale only grew one ounce in 2.5 weeks... wow did I miss anything?

Last Friday I met with an OB in Marshall, a town less than 20 minutes from me, as part of what I called a bargin to get my pregnant butt back home where I belonged. I spent 2.5 weeks on hospital bedrest with orders that I could only get up to use the bathroom or take a 15 minute shower. That hospital was 1.5 hours away from us and we have no family or friends in that area so I was on my own and missing the heck out of my husband and two children. It was so hard being away from them, missing them, and just wanting to touch them and knowing I couldnt. I really struggled with wanting to do whats best for my unborn twins and what was best for my mental state. After two full days of tears (and a passage from my devotional) we agreed that if I were to go home I would follow up with the doctor that was closer to my home as they thought that if my water broke I would not be able to make the 1.5 hour drive in the opposite direction to see my OB in Willmar. During that visit I asked to be checked to see if there was any cervical change and the doctor declined. I was fine with that but she also declined to do a growth u/s to see how the discordance was going. The last time it was done was almost 3 weeks prior and it noted that it was increasing. I really felt that this was a big issue as Cale was measuring so dang small. Luckily that afternoon I met with my OB in Willmar whom we adore and went over everything that was done in Sioux Falls as well as the appointment I had earlier that day. He was upset with how they handled my care and felt that given my medical history things should have been looked at closer than what they were. He did a growth u/s and found that Cale only grew one ounce in almost 3 weeks. At that point he was off of the growth chart and measuring in the 17th (I believe) percentile. The decision was made to induce on Wednesday, August 21.

I had been having contractions daily since I was admitted into the hospital in Sioux Falls. They were never terrible but caused my cervix to change. When I was checked the morning of my induction I was 4-5 and 80% effaced. My doctor broke my water and thought that would get things going. It didnt. As a matter of fact my contractions slowed way down. We started the pitocin drip and I went on a walk with my husband. Shortly after things picked up again, I was checked and was a 7 and felt it was time to get an epidural. That was beyond the best decision I ever made! I was able to relax a little before being wheeled into the OR to prep for my vaginal delivery but in case of an emergency c-section we didnt have to run around like chickens with our heads cut off.

I was well aware of the possibility of delivering one vaginally and the other by c-section as Cale went from being vertex to transverse. Once I hit 10cm my doctor told me to push and less than 5 minutes later I had a handsome little man with a full head of hair on my chest! Jace Conrad was born at 12:43pm weighing 6lb and 20in long. In our birth plan and what my OB was comfortable with was to do a breech extraction if possible to avoid a major surgery. That wasnt able to happen. He made a judgement call (and the correct one IMO) that instead of grabbing onto the baby and pulling him out, potentially causing trauma to him, he would get him out by c-section. Cale was just too small that the risk ended up far outweighing the benefit for a vaginal birth. The OR team was quick to put me completely under as Cale's heart rate was dropping but would recover but still alarming at the same time. The anestesiologist and my OB decided that there was no time to flush the epidural medicine out of me and start with a complete spinal block. Out I went and when I awoke I was in a world of pain. Cale, I later found out, was born at 1:08pm weighing 4lb .5oz. and 17in long. Both were on room air, were able to do skin to skin time, and Jace caught on to breastfeeding pretty fast. Aside from needing to spend 24 hours in the critical care nursery (standard procedure here) he is perfect! Cale on the other hand is being quite a stinker. Due to his size his blood sugar is on the lower side. I believe they said they want him to at least 40 (what I dont know) but his labs came back and he was at 39. They syringe fed him some formula (I was still in recovery) and it didnt help. An IV was placed and is now getting the carbs he needs. The peds doc said it was fine for me to attempt nursing with him but due to him being small and my nipples being so huge it could pose a short term issue. I thought the same thing too but was pleasntly surprised that he was able to open his mouth wide enough and had a good, strong latch and suck. I have been pumping every two hours and only after I have had them on the breast first. If we need to do more syringe feeds we will be able to do it with my milk. Cale's HR will dip into the upper 80s at times so they have ordered an EKG to check things out in the morning. After doing skin to skin with me it seemed to stay in the 105bpm range. I am really praying that it is nothing but dont want to dwell on it too much.

Aside from the delivery room drama and their life outside of the womb things are good. I was able to get up and walk for a bit but am also staying on top of my pain meds. I didnt tear or need an episiotomy so I am super happy on that front but now have a different kind of pain to worry about. The peds doc said the boys would be able to come home once they are taking all of their feeds orally. We have not attempted bottle feeding just yet as I want my milk to come in. With my previous pregnancies it didnt take more than two days but I am praying that since I am pumping right away after a feed that it could come in sooner. If anything on Friday we will start on the bottle if need be. My husband was a rockstar today even though at one point I wanted to gouge his eyes out and toss him down the stairs. This was pre epidural but the second it set in I gave him a hug and told him that I was sorry for being so mean!

I suppose now you all want pictures after reading my novel. Well here they are! Baby Jace is the one with the thick hair and Baby Cale is the peanut with those cute little lips. I cant wait until they fill out more as this fresh out of the womb look has always creeped me out They also do not look anymore alike than their siblings do but on the small off chance they could be identical we will find out their blood type and go from there.

Thank you all for the love and support throughout the past few months where we didnt know what would happen. All the prayers that were sent were felt and appreciated. We are just so beyond blessed right now.

Jace- So much dark hair!

 

Cale- Our little peanut baby. I cant wait until he starts to fill out more!

 

yinyang124

Congrats! Both are very cute. I have a Jace also.

carrotcake06

Congrats!!

JocelynB0911

I should have included the update but oh well. Cale's glucose level came up and is stable now. He's eating a lot more formula which I am fine with as my milk hasn't come in fully any his mouth is so small it can't latch well enough. He did awesome on the first day and then it was downhill from there. I am pumping every 2-3 hours around the clock and offer my breast first. I can't wait until more milk comes in!

Both boys are drinking 25-35ml per feeding which is great. We don't have a discharge date and content with just taking it day by day

aliwisewoman

Congratulations! They are gorgeous!

JKGymnast

Congrats to you!! They are adorable!

JennP03

Congratulations!  They are two handsome little dudes.

Mrs.Guz

Congratulations!!

pea-kay

So sweet! Congrats!

babywillmake3

Congrats! They are precious. 

HK123

Congratulations! 

bitsytripmom

Congrats !

TheDairyQueenx3

Aww they are just perfect! Congratulations!!!

CNYBride05

Adorable!! Congrats

raraavis28

Oh my goodness what a story you have!! Your babies are sooo beautiful! I'm so happy to hear that they are healthy and doing well! I hope you have a swift recovery and enjoy every minute with those cuties! Congrats mama!

matthew24

What an ordeal you went through but am happy to hear they are healthy! Congrats!

MrsCali_Bride

Congratulations! They are adorable!