@highsteaks These are awesome updates to wake up too!! So excited you are so close to meeting your babies!! You are doing amazing and I can't wait see the babies!!
Love reading all these updates! Your babies are going to be here so soon!!
Me: 34 DH: 34 Married 10/28/17 Our TTC Journey
TTC #1 February '18 Team Green turned TeamBlue 10/15/18
TTC #2 January '21 BFP June '21 MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C July '21 Jan '22 - started IF testing BFP Jan '22 MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C Feb '22 BFP May '22
Reading your updates made the terrible pregnancy insomnia suck quite a bit less! I hope things are progressing well and the babies make their arrival soon!
sorry for the delay. but in my defense, i had a couple babies in the meanwhile!
was woken up at 6:30am by the midwife looking to do another dilation check. i have no idea how, but while i was sleeping from 5:45-6:30, i had dilated from 5cm to 10cm! midwife asked if i was ready to have some babies and i asked her to pinch me to make sure i wasn’t dreaming.
between the two nicu teams, my nurses, the obgyn, the midwife, and me and dh, there were 18 people in the room while i delivered!
baby a, elise, was born at 6:59am. she was 4lbs7oz and 17.4 inches long. baby b, emilia, was born at 7:16am. she was 4lbs even and 16.5 inches long.
ladies, after a long looong induction, and a super quick vaginal delivery of both, they each came out crying and looking great. i even got to hold each of them for a little while, then eventually both of them at the same time, after they were checked in-room and swaddled. it was a much better experience than the immediate postpartum experience with dd1.
after they left for the nicu, everyone else left too for shift change. after the sudden craziness, it felt so weirdly quiet with just one nurse left who i had just met. i ordered breakfast, ate, then promptly threw everything up. i think that ended up buying me an extra hour to recover at l&d.
after l&d, we stopped in to visit the girls in the nicu. they looked very cozy bundled up in their separate isolettes. they don’t require extra breathing help as of right now, but they do have feeding tubes and a few other monitors and wires.
eventually, i was moved into the maternity ward for the rest of my recovery. it’s been pretty low key for the most part because it’s just me (who’s doing fine), so not as many nurse/tech check-ins. i took a zofran for my nausea (the dissolving kind—or is dissolving the only kind?) and it was so gross tasting i almost threw up again. i’ve pumped twice so far. the first time i got only 4 drops out, but the second time i have about 5x that. i was really skeptical i’d get anything at all, so i’m pleased.
dh and i will be back to visit the girls again at 4:30pm during their next rousing for checks. nicu staff likes to do everything at once so they’re not constantly waking the girls up. we may get a chance to hold them then.
in the meanwhile, i’m going to shower and eat again. btw, no tearing so no stiches needed. tbh, the girls came out really easily.
if you read this whole thread, thanks for the support! i’m so grateful for all the happy thoughts and well wishes. if anything major changes in the health of the girls, i’ll post more updates here too. but as of now, they seem to be doing pretty great.
and, of course the pics you’ve been waiting for: pip *poof*
Awwww!!! Congrats! They are so precious you did such good work momma!
BFP 3/21/2020! OMG We're having TWINS! 4/17/2020 -------------------------------- LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby! -------------------------------- Me: 33 | DH: 41 Married: March 2016 TTC #1/IUD out January 2017 PCOS dx January 2018 Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018 BFP 3/10/2018! -------------------------------
TTGP December Siggy Co-Winner: Favorite Moments from Holiday Movies/TV
Congratulations Momma! Beautiful little girls. Loved all of the updates too, great view into the induction process for first time moms. Having to get up and pee while hooked up to so many things is def one of the worst parts haha
Great work lady! Congrats on your girls! I hope you get to snuggle them later today, they are just beautiful!
Me: 34 DH: 34 Married 10/28/17 Our TTC Journey
TTC #1 February '18 Team Green turned TeamBlue 10/15/18
TTC #2 January '21 BFP June '21 MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C July '21 Jan '22 - started IF testing BFP Jan '22 MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C Feb '22 BFP May '22
Congratulations! Elise and Emilia are so adorable and I'm so happy for you that things went smoothly. How wonderful they don't need any breathing help just yet. Such strong girls!
Gah, I have tears in my eyes!! I'm so proud of you!! Way to go, mama! They are so beautiful and I pray they have short NICU stays. I'm so glad they don't need any breathing help. You got yourself a pair of strong willed girls! I'm gald you are doing well and that your milk seems to be working sooner than expected. You will be a pro in no time!
Plus one for tears!!! All the feels!! I’m so happy you dilated so fast and had a good birth! I love their names and they are gorgeous!!!!!! They do have zofran pills, that’s what I take cause I agree the dissolvable is nasty! I’m so glad you got to hold them!!! Congrats momma you rocked that out!!!
Congratulations!!! What beauties! I am glad the birth ended up going so smoothly. I hope you get lots of cuddles and the NICU stay is short. And lots and lots of sleep
Ahh, I am so excited for you! Congratulations and Welcome to the world Elise & Emilia!!! Your birth updates really helped to calm my nerves for when I go in. I'm so glad you had a good experience and your girls came out perfect
updates— apologies in advance because i’m so groggy lately, that i’m only partially understanding everything going on, and i certainly doubt i’m relaying it accurately.
i think the last time i updated i said that the girls were offered a bottle. i think the most progress they’ve made has been on the eating front. formula at first and my breastmilk as it became available. they still use their feeding tubes, but i think that a bunch of their feedings have successfully been from a bottle too. i have been able to practice latching with both of them about once a day. it’s going just ok but honestly better than expected. the longest one of them has stayed on and actively suckled has been 5 minutes. i’ve been in pumping hell lately trying to get my supply up to their intake amounts. i think i’ve gotten there in the last day and a half. they’ve each been eating about an ounce every 3 hours the last two days. dh was with them two nights ago and fed them. he said that elise downed her bottle in something like 3 minutes— the nurse was shocked. she is definitely the daddy’s girl.
health wise— they each developed jaundice but only had the bilirubin lights for a couple days. the lights were turned off yesterday, and their levels are being checked to make sure they’re processing the excess bilirubin acceptably for their age. so far so good. they also had ivs that had to be redone, and we had to witness that once. but yesterday their ivs were removed because they didn’t need them anymore. it’s wonderful to see one less tube on them. both of them have “spells” (which i think is the nonscary word the nurses use to imply concerning medical event) every so often. usually it’s that their heart rate and/or oxygen levels decline rapidly. nurses reiterate that it’s normal for their age and they think that these spells are likely because their brains are still working on remembering to breathe when they are in deep sleep. they were both given caffeine to help, but emilia was also eventually given an oxygen tube to wear as well. as far as their growth, some days they gain and some they lose weight; they are both still below birthweight as of last night. the nurse mentioned that they are able to add some extra calories to my breastmilk if they think that it’ll be beneficial.
happy thoughts: the nicu nurses are AMAZING. every one we’ve met has been so friendly, reassuring, and bend over backwards to help dh and me. and the way they chit chat with the babies is so adorable. i know the girls are in good hands. the trip from our house to the hospital is about an hour, so it takes a good chunk of the day to go there and spend a decent amount of time with the girls. dh and i have been able to be there to help during both of the girls’ baths. we’ve already changed a fair amount of poopy diapers. we’re able to hold them during a tube feeding while they sleep peacefully in our arms. they spend 98% of the time we’re there sleeping. it’s actually very quiet in the nicu except for all of the beeping noises from machines. some of the nurses have turned on the tv for ambient sound, and so the girls have been “watching” family friendly halloween movies like hocus pocus and monsters, inc., etc.. i love this for my october babies.
not so happy thoughts: the day i was discharged, we stopped by the nicu to say goodbye for the night and when we left i was a bawling mess. i’m not normally one to cry, but god it hurt so bad to leave without them. the day they were admitted was also the day that the nicu put up extra restrictions because of a rare infection they diagnosed in one of the other nicu patients. since then, no visitors other than the parents have been allowed back, so dd1 has not met them yet. they may lift the restrictions this afternoon, but dd1 had a cold monday and still sounds less than ideal, so we’re thinking she shouldn’t go this afternoon. we’re racing against the clock because they could also put up their cold/flu season permenant restrictions any day now, and if that happens before dd1 gets to meet them, she won’t get to see them until they eventually come home, and that may be awhile. in addition to visitor restrictions, everyone also has to wear medical gloves and gowns over their clothes before entering the room. wearing gloves means i and dh haven’t actually touched our daughters with our bare hands yet.
me: it’s been hard taking it easy to fully recover. i’m pumping a lot of the time including motn, trying to spend time playing with dd1 when i’m home and not pumping, and driving back and forth to the nicu to spend a few hours bonding with the babies. i’m still a bit sore in the lower abdomen and hips. i have a ton of retained fluid and swelling in my legs, ankles, and feet; they’re so swollen that i couldn’t even put on compression socks in the next size up. shoving my feet in closed shoes now that it’s chilly is a challenge. i’m moving around, but it’s because i must. i am so so tired.
ending on a happy note: i’ve become quite fond of the hospital cafeteria chocolate pudding parfait, so it’s something that i always indulge in when i go down for meals. it’s the little things. i also like to rationalize that it is helping my supply. i should try to write them off during tax time as a medical expense. just kidding.
and, lastly, a picture from monday as a reward for reading all of that! pip *poof*
I love the picture, you look great! I'm so glad to hear the nurses are amazing. I hope big sister gets over her cold quickly so she can meet the babies before flu restrictions begin. The nurses are right those spells while very scary to moms and dads are very normal for their age and the caffeine should help. Thinking of you
*TW*
Me:35 DH:35 Dx: PCOS DS1 born 11/2014 DS2 born 11/2018 3 previous losses Rainbow babydue 12/2021 - Team Green
You look downright peaceful in that pic. They look really good! I'm glad you get to hold them while they eat and it's amazing they get to practice latching already! #jealous I say indulge in the chocolate parfait, because you need to find joy in something from the crap hand. Our NICU is already on flu restrictions so ds can't see his brother at all. I hope your DD is able to meet them before they close up for flu.
Re: Induction and Birth Updates
Married 10/28/17
Our TTC Journey
Team Green turned Team Blue 10/15/18
TTC #2 January '21
BFP June '21
MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C July '21
Jan '22 - started IF testing
BFP Jan '22
MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C Feb '22
BFP May '22
(eta spelling error)
ETA: Only kidding, take your time!
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
was woken up at 6:30am by the midwife looking to do another dilation check. i have no idea how, but while i was sleeping from 5:45-6:30, i had dilated from 5cm to 10cm! midwife asked if i was ready to have some babies and i asked her to pinch me to make sure i wasn’t dreaming.
between the two nicu teams, my nurses, the obgyn, the midwife, and me and dh, there were 18 people in the room while i delivered!
baby a, elise, was born at 6:59am. she was 4lbs7oz and 17.4 inches long. baby b, emilia, was born at 7:16am. she was 4lbs even and 16.5 inches long.
ladies, after a long looong induction, and a super quick vaginal delivery of both, they each came out crying and looking great. i even got to hold each of them for a little while, then eventually both of them at the same time, after they were checked in-room and swaddled. it was a much better experience than the immediate postpartum experience with dd1.
after they left for the nicu, everyone else left too for shift change. after the sudden craziness, it felt so weirdly quiet with just one nurse left who i had just met. i ordered breakfast, ate, then promptly threw everything up. i think that ended up buying me an extra hour to recover at l&d.
after l&d, we stopped in to visit the girls in the nicu. they looked very cozy bundled up in their separate isolettes. they don’t require extra breathing help as of right now, but they do have feeding tubes and a few other monitors and wires.
eventually, i was moved into the maternity ward for the rest of my recovery. it’s been pretty low key for the most part because it’s just me (who’s doing fine), so not as many nurse/tech check-ins. i took a zofran for my nausea (the dissolving kind—or is dissolving the only kind?) and it was so gross tasting i almost threw up again. i’ve pumped twice so far. the first time i got only 4 drops out, but the second time i have about 5x that. i was really skeptical i’d get anything at all, so i’m pleased.
dh and i will be back to visit the girls again at 4:30pm during their next rousing for checks. nicu staff likes to do everything at once so they’re not constantly waking the girls up. we may get a chance to hold them then.
in the meanwhile, i’m going to shower and eat again. btw, no tearing so no stiches needed. tbh, the girls came out really easily.
if you read this whole thread, thanks for the support! i’m so grateful for all the happy thoughts and well wishes. if anything major changes in the health of the girls, i’ll post more updates here too. but as of now, they seem to be doing pretty great.
and, of course the pics you’ve been waiting for:
pip *poof*
● IUI #2: BFP - early M/C
● IUI #3: BFN
● IUI #4: BFN
● IVF/FET #1 (2 transferred): BFP! TWINS!
● FET #2 (1 transferred): BFP! BOY #3!
● Natural #1: BFP - M/C @ 8 weeks
● Natural #2: BFP - M/C @ 5w5d
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
--------------------------------
LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby!
--------------------------------
Me: 33 | DH: 41
Married: March 2016
TTC #1/IUD out January 2017
PCOS dx January 2018
Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018
BFP 3/10/2018!
-------------------------------
Married 10/28/17
Our TTC Journey
Team Green turned Team Blue 10/15/18
TTC #2 January '21
BFP June '21
MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C July '21
Jan '22 - started IF testing
BFP Jan '22
MMC/Blighted Ovum that led to D&C Feb '22
BFP May '22
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
Two Furbabies: Mika (american eskimo) and Gypsy (wire-haired terrier, dachshund mix)
Twins: Kaiden and Zara born 10/2018 conceived after 6 years of infertility via a medicated IUI
apologies in advance because i’m so groggy lately, that i’m only partially understanding everything going on, and i certainly doubt i’m relaying it accurately.
i think the last time i updated i said that the girls were offered a bottle. i think the most progress they’ve made has been on the eating front. formula at first and my breastmilk as it became available. they still use their feeding tubes, but i think that a bunch of their feedings have successfully been from a bottle too. i have been able to practice latching with both of them about once a day. it’s going just ok but honestly better than expected. the longest one of them has stayed on and actively suckled has been 5 minutes. i’ve been in pumping hell lately trying to get my supply up to their intake amounts. i think i’ve gotten there in the last day and a half. they’ve each been eating about an ounce every 3 hours the last two days. dh was with them two nights ago and fed them. he said that elise downed her bottle in something like 3 minutes— the nurse was shocked. she is definitely the daddy’s girl.
health wise— they each developed jaundice but only had the bilirubin lights for a couple days. the lights were turned off yesterday, and their levels are being checked to make sure they’re processing the excess bilirubin acceptably for their age. so far so good. they also had ivs that had to be redone, and we had to witness that once. but yesterday their ivs were removed because they didn’t need them anymore. it’s wonderful to see one less tube on them. both of them have “spells” (which i think is the nonscary word the nurses use to imply concerning medical event) every so often. usually it’s that their heart rate and/or oxygen levels decline rapidly. nurses reiterate that it’s normal for their age and they think that these spells are likely because their brains are still working on remembering to breathe when they are in deep sleep. they were both given caffeine to help, but emilia was also eventually given an oxygen tube to wear as well. as far as their growth, some days they gain and some they lose weight; they are both still below birthweight as of last night. the nurse mentioned that they are able to add some extra calories to my breastmilk if they think that it’ll be beneficial.
happy thoughts: the nicu nurses are AMAZING. every one we’ve met has been so friendly, reassuring, and bend over backwards to help dh and me. and the way they chit chat with the babies is so adorable. i know the girls are in good hands. the trip from our house to the hospital is about an hour, so it takes a good chunk of the day to go there and spend a decent amount of time with the girls. dh and i have been able to be there to help during both of the girls’ baths. we’ve already changed a fair amount of poopy diapers. we’re able to hold them during a tube feeding while they sleep peacefully in our arms. they spend 98% of the time we’re there sleeping. it’s actually very quiet in the nicu except for all of the beeping noises from machines. some of the nurses have turned on the tv for ambient sound, and so the girls have been “watching” family friendly halloween movies like hocus pocus and monsters, inc., etc.. i love this for my october babies.
not so happy thoughts: the day i was discharged, we stopped by the nicu to say goodbye for the night and when we left i was a bawling mess. i’m not normally one to cry, but god it hurt so bad to leave without them. the day they were admitted was also the day that the nicu put up extra restrictions because of a rare infection they diagnosed in one of the other nicu patients. since then, no visitors other than the parents have been allowed back, so dd1 has not met them yet. they may lift the restrictions this afternoon, but dd1 had a cold monday and still sounds less than ideal, so we’re thinking she shouldn’t go this afternoon. we’re racing against the clock because they could also put up their cold/flu season permenant restrictions any day now, and if that happens before dd1 gets to meet them, she won’t get to see them until they eventually come home, and that may be awhile. in addition to visitor restrictions, everyone also has to wear medical gloves and gowns over their clothes before entering the room. wearing gloves means i and dh haven’t actually touched our daughters with our bare hands yet.
me: it’s been hard taking it easy to fully recover. i’m pumping a lot of the time including motn, trying to spend time playing with dd1 when i’m home and not pumping, and driving back and forth to the nicu to spend a few hours bonding with the babies. i’m still a bit sore in the lower abdomen and hips. i have a ton of retained fluid and swelling in my legs, ankles, and feet; they’re so swollen that i couldn’t even put on compression socks in the next size up. shoving my feet in closed shoes now that it’s chilly is a challenge. i’m moving around, but it’s because i must. i am so so tired.
ending on a happy note: i’ve become quite fond of the hospital cafeteria chocolate pudding parfait, so it’s something that i always indulge in when i go down for meals. it’s the little things. i also like to rationalize that it is helping my supply. i should try to write them off during tax time as a medical expense. just kidding.
and, lastly, a picture from monday as a reward for reading all of that!
pip *poof*
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
I say indulge in the chocolate parfait, because you need to find joy in something from the crap hand. Our NICU is already on flu restrictions so ds can't see his brother at all. I hope your DD is able to meet them before they close up for flu.