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Twins Birth - 1 year later

parkit2010parkit2010 member
in Birth Stories

Amy:

I thought I would share the boys? birth story since it?s been nearly 365 whole days since their arrival to this great world! On the boys? birthday, October 15, 2010 we had a scheduled induction, and we were instructed to arrive at the hospital at 6:30 that morning. I cannot even explain to you how nervous and excited I was. I slept for maybe two hours that night, due to my high levels of anxiety. Little did I know it would be my last chance at a full night?s sleep for 18 weeks ? wait, who am I kidding, I hadn?t slept the night through in the 18 previous weeks! But we were up early, so I could enjoy my last leisurely shower and take some final belly pictures. Since the hospital is about 40 minutes away, we left the house around 5:30 to ensure we had plenty of time.

Upon our arrival to the hospital my heart rate was probably near 200 beats per minute (ok, that?s an exaggeration). I was more nervous than I can explain. I told Brad, ?what would they do if we just didn?t show up, maybe we should go home and do this another day.? But being my calm rock, Brad convinced me that we had better go to the OB/delivery floor and check ourselves in.

So we made it to our destination, and they put us in a huge labor room. Huge! It also had a great view of the University of Iowa campus. They had me change into the hospital garb, hooked me up to all the fetal monitors and got me settled. Around 9:00 am the nurse began my pitocin drip to bring on labor. My parents and sister and best friend showed up mid morning and we just watched tv and chitchatted while my contractions started. Brad?s parents arrived, and I was still doing pretty well. The fetal monitors were pretty uncomfortable since they were jabbing into my belly, and I mainly felt the contractions in my back. I could still talk to our families throughout them all morning. Since the UI Hospitals policy is that all mothers carrying multiples receive an epidural in case emergent surgery is required, I knew I?d be heading down that road soon. Around noon the nurse warned me that the anesthesiologist was just coming out of a c-section, and was scheduled for another in a bit, so my window of opportunity was narrow if I wanted to receive my epidural within the next few hours. I figured that since I was getting an epidural whether I needed one or not ? and since the discomfort was resembling pain more and more, I?d have the procedure when the anesthesiologist was next available.

Around 1 o?clock the anesthesiologist arrived and gave me the epidural. I was very apprehensive about the procedure, but it went off flawlessly! The doctor even allowed my sister, who is a nurse, and had never seen the procedure before, to stay in the room with us and he explained the whole thing to her. A great teaching hospital! A great epidural! I could still feel and move my legs and feet, but the area from my belly button down was moderately numbed.

I was dilated at about 2.5 cm when I came into the hospital and by 4pm I was 8 cm. Thank goodness the pitocin did its job, because I know for a lot of women, it brings on labor fast and hard or is ineffective. By 5pm I was fully dilated and they prepared Brad and I for the trip down the hall to the surgical suite, in case of an emergent c-section. We said goodbye to our family and they wheeled me down the hall. I was able to move myself onto the surgical table, for which I was very proud, being numb from the waist down and all! While we were getting settled into our new, less beautiful, more sterile surroundings, I counted the number of medical professionals; doctors, nurses and students in the room to share one of my most intimate moments ? 18! 20 people with Brad and me, I was astounded!

Well the contractions distracted me from all of that, because even though I had the epidural, it was turned way down, so I could feel the urge to push those boys out. I remember telling the nurses, ?You know, I don?t really know how to push, my labor class was scheduled for today!? They assured me that all would be fine, and I would surely know what to do. And they were right. Between my OB, the residents, nurses, and most importantly, Brad, I had quite the cheering and counting squad for all my pushing. I quietly and studiously attended to the task, and after 60 minutes of pushing, Elijah Kent was born at 6:00pm.

Eli was born quietly, and was taken directly to the incubator and medical team they had waiting for his arrival. He finally gave out a squeal ? his first of many, and I was able to breathe easy again. Brad went to watch over him while the medical team gave him oxygen though a cpap. I remained on the surgical table.

The doctor performed an ultrasound on my to ensure baby ?B? was still doing well and positioned appropriately for his arrival to this controlled chaos. Thankfully he was, and Brad returned to my side to witness the birth of our second son. After just 12 more minutes of pushing Charles Warren was born at 6:12pm. He gave out a squeal immediately, and was given to me to hold momentarily. What a miraculous moment! I remember my OB saying, ?All of that work and worry was worth it, wasn?t it!? Amen! An hour and 12 minutes of pushing, and our family had doubled in size! Charlie was also taken to his incubator and given oxygen via nasal canula.

Brad went with the boys as they were taken to NICU. I was blessed to have had a textbook delivery of twins without a single complication. While things finished up with me, Brad and the boys were on the NICU floor.

Brad:

The NICU had several levels of care.  Eli needed additional help to develop his lungs so he was in bay 2 while Charlie went to bay 1.  I went to see Eli first.  A nurse was there hooking up the sensors that would measure his body temperature, pulse and blood oxygen.  Eli was resting comfortably and the nurse told me he was doing well and could hopefully be able to join his brother in bay 1 later that night.  I went over to bay 1 to check on Charlie.  He was doing well, and also resting comfortably after his eventful evening.  I returned to the birthing suite to check on Amy.  She was doing well, but had orders to wait an hour before being able to leave observation.  She was not pleased with the mandate.  I grabbed the camera and went back to the NICU, hopefully to return with photographic evidence to assuage Amy?s longing to see her boys. After snapping a few shots of each boy, I returned to Amy. 

Amy:

I was furious with that nurse who made me wait to see my boys! I of course know that it wasn?t her fault, or idea to keep me in that room, but I was fuming! Nonetheless, I sent our families down to see the duo. Not everyone should suffer. I finally was able to see the boys around 8:30 pm or so and just cried with joy at the sight of them! They were perfect and well!

After 26 looooong days in the NICU the boys were released from the hospital on November 9th and we finally were able to take them home.

Eli and Charlie born at 33w6d image
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