Had my twin boys at 32w 2d!! (long)

cutebride73 · August 2012

I just wanted to let you ladies know that I had my twin boys very suddenly last Tuesday August 14th. Samuel Joseph weighed 4 lbs. 5 oz. and Luca Vincent weighed 4 lbs. 10 oz. They were both 18.5 inces long. So far they are doing really well, all things considered.

On Monday I had a friend come and visit in the afternoon and after she left I started having some braxton hicks - pretty typical though, as I was having them every day or so. I had them on and off throughout the evening, but they always stopped when I laid down. I even asked DH to time them at one point, just because I was feeling slightly more uncomfortable than usual, but still nothing significant. And even though my DD was born years and years ago - I still vey clearly remember her labor and it was nothing like this. When DH timed them they were very irregular - not progressing at all. They woul dbe 6 min. apart, 14 min apart, 6 min. 20 min, etc... Then I drank a lot of water and they seemed to stop completely. We went to bed and since I had an OB appt the next afternoon, I figured I would ask her about the discomfort I had felt a few times then.

I got up several times throughout the night to go to the bathroom and whenever I got up I had maybe one braxton hick and then once I got back into bed I had nothing. I got up at 4:45am to use the bathroom and at that point I noticed I had some brown spotting in my liner. Now, I had brown spotting 2 weeks before and was checked in L&D and sent home, so I wasn't immediately concerned. Then I wiped (sorry TMI) and there was brown and red blood (not a lot, but still) - so I immediately called the OB on call and he called me back within minutes. He told me to head over to L&D to get checked, but he later told me he hadn't really been worried and didn't think I was in labor when I talked to him on the phone. So we got to the hospital pretty fast and I was upstairs by 5:20am or so. They hooked me up to the monitors and I heard both heartbeats right away and so I was relieved. They were also really great hb's - no distress. A nurse came in to do a cervix check and as soon as she did it she left the room. I asked if I was dialated and another nurse said she thought so. Then a 3rd nurse came in and said she was going to check me. I said someone else already did and she said she was going to just double check. I guess that should have clued me in that things weren't good, but it didn't.

She checked me and told me that I was 4-5 cm and that she felt a foot and that I would be having the babies - that day. I was like - what?!?! Mind you - I wasn't really feeling many contractions and they certainly weren't painful - just a little crampy. Then I kept saying that I had to be transferred to the other hospital. The hospital where my OB's deliver does not have a level III NICU, so the protocol was always - call OB, get checked at the hospital they are at and then if needed get transferred to the hospital where my MFM's are - if it was before 36 weeks. After 36 weeks I would deliever with my OB. The nurse said we had to wait until the OB got there to check me before they made a decision. In the meantime I got a shot to slow the contractions, plus a mag drip and a steroid shot for the babies lungs. Then the anesthesiologist came in. Again, I guess I should have clued in, but I was still in denial that this was happening. He started talking about getting me ready for a c-section and I was like, no, no - I am getting transferred to the other hospital. The OB got there about 6:00am and he checked me and he told me that I was already 8-9 cm. I was in shock!!!

I asked about going to the other hospital and he said it was too late for that. I asked how I could possibly have gone from 4-5 cm to 8-9 cm in a half an hour with NO PAIN. He told me not to worry about that. So DH was on the phone calling DD and my mom (he had already talked to them both once) and then they were throwing scrubs at him and wheeling me down the hall. The NICU unit was on the way from the other hospital. They got me in the OR - I was scared to death - and gave me a spinal. DH was brought in and the boys were born at 6:22 and 6:23am. The were intibated right away and the NICU team arrived. Even when they were done sewing me up and they took the curtain down I couldn't see the babies because they were surrounded by so many doctors and nurses. They had to give the boys a shot to mature their lungs. I got to kiss one of them and saw them both in the incubator and then they were life-flighted to the other hospital. I was put in recovery and I was just a mess. I was so upset. I couldn't believe that my babies had just been born - I had only been at the hospital for an hour. DH was great though - so sweet and supportive - I couldn't have asked for more from him.

My mom and DD got there right as they babies took off in the helicopter. They had to wait in the waiting room until I was out of recovery. I was put in a post part. room and another one of my OB's fought All.Day.Long. with my insurance company to get me transferred to the other hospital. They denied it at first. The dr had it peer reviewed, it was denied again and finally at 6:00pm she got them to give in. DH went over to be with boys after I was settled in my room in the morning. It was so hard to be without him and without the boys. At least he was allowed to be in their rooms with them. The NICU they are at has 6 "pods" or rooms with 6 babies max per room. When they admit a baby they don't ever admit 2 babies to the same room - so the boys were in different pods.

They were on vents the first day, then weaned to cpap machines, then to nose cannula's and now they are finally off oxygen. They lost some weight, which is normal, but they are starting to gain a little back. They are now on feeding tubes and they are getting both formula and breast milk - Luca is almost up to an ounce every 3 hours and Samuel is at about 1/2 an ounce. They had phototherapy for a couple of days for jaundice, but they are both off of that now. They are also in the same room now and that is really great! I was discharged on Friday and we are now getting used to our new life and routine of going to the NICU every day. They haven't given us any idea of when the boys will be released yet, but they do seem to be doing really well. I am hoping that it will be a month or less. There is just no way to be certain at this point.

I have gotten to hold them both and have kangeroo care time with them. Having them in my arns is the best feeling in the world.

13pickle · August 2012

welcome to the world Samuel and Luca

zschick4ever · August 2012

Congrats!

HazelEyes730 · August 2012

Congrats! Glad they are both doing good. I hope their NICU stay is short.

CGoldman96 · August 2012

Oh my gosh! Sorry you had to go through that scary stuff, but so glad the babies and you are doing well! FX for a short NICU stay and congrats!

xoexpat · August 2012

Wow! That really hit home for me...tomorrow I will be 32w 2 d...

Congratulations on your babies and for staying strong during the whole ordeal! GL to you all!

Mrs. Alice · August 2012

Congrats! What a scary and exciting birth story. It sounds like you have an awesome OB who fought for you. Wishing them a safe and short NICU stay.

Venus04d · August 2012

How scary! I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Congrats on your boys and I hope they continue to thrive and can come home with their loving mother soon!

ej708 · August 2012

Congrats! I very rarely post anymore, and you probably don't remember me, but I recognize you from TTCAL.

So glad to hear they are doing well, and congrats again!

thetwinkies&Vivi · August 2012

Congrats on your guys! I hope they continue to do well and are home soon.

Missa_g · August 2012

Congrats! I "know" you from TTCAL and PGAL. We spent two months in the NICU with our boys so if you need anyone to talk to feel free to PM me. The preemie board is also awesome.

LaineyPaney · August 2012

I can only imagine how terrified you must have been.

Congratulations on their arrival!

ColleenS629 · August 2012

Congrats! What a whirlwind! I'm glad the boys are doing well!

SoldiersGreenBean · August 2012

Congratulations! I hope your NICU stay is short and sweet!

tarajayne · August 2012

Congrats, and glad they are doing well! That had to be so scary and so hard to be away from them. Hopefully the NICU stay will be short and you'll be able to snuggle them at home soon!

nghithy · August 2012

Wow that is scary. I'm glad everything turned out ok. I'm 33 weeks 2 days and have a schedule c-section for 36 weeks. Did you have any signs or symptoms before? I was put on bed rest at 28 weeks and trip to LD at 29 weeks for contraction. They put me on procardia to stop my contractions. Now every time I get close to my next dose I can feel my contractions more regular. My ob tell me to stop taking my med at 34 weeks and if I go into labor she's gonna to deliver. I'm so scared about delivering early. I have to be back at work in 6 weeks after delivery so I'm trying to avoid NICU as much as possible.

lmydogally · August 2012

Welcome babies! Those are some good weights for 32 weeks, that's what my girls weighed at 36 weeks. Hope their stay in the NICU is short.

neckrcx2 · August 2012

Congrats on your baby boys!! I know this is a very scary time and it is so hard to leave your babies in the NICU over night!

i had my boys in March and they were also 32weeks 2days. I was lucky enough to get transfered to the right hospital before i delievered and I also was able to hold of until i had the 2 steroid shots for the babies lungs. My boys were in the NICU for 18 days and are now 5.5 months and doing so well. they were born at 4lbs 1oz and 4lbs 5oz and they are both now close to 15lbs. I know this is a rough time for you right now but just know that it does get better... alot better! GL

amh04 · August 2012

Congratulations!! I hope they have a short stay in the NICU and I hope you have a fast recovery!

cutebride73 · August 2012

nghithy:
Wow that is scary. I'm glad everything turned out ok. I'm 33 weeks 2 days and have a schedule c-section for 36 weeks. Did you have any signs or symptoms before? I was put on bed rest at 28 weeks and trip to LD at 29 weeks for contraction. They put me on procardia to stop my contractions. Now every time I get close to my next dose I can feel my contractions more regular. My ob tell me to stop taking my med at 34 weeks and if I go into labor she's gonna to deliver. I'm so scared about delivering early. I have to be back at work in 6 weeks after delivery so I'm trying to avoid NICU as much as possible.

It's hard for me to say. I wasn't put on bed rest at all and I had 1 L&D trip 2 weeks prior where I was having a lot of contractions and they had to give me 2 shots to stop them. I really think my OB's weren't taking a lot of what was going on with me seriously. I told them how I could hardly go anywhere or do anything for more than 10-15 minutes (walking, standing, etc...) without getting lots of braxton hicks and needing to sit down. They kept acting like everything was fine though.

Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and I wish I would have called and gone in the night before when things were the slightest bit different than my usual braxton hicks, but things seemed no where like labor to me so I really didn't think that was what was happening.

Why does your OB want you to go off the meds at 34 weeks? Is there a risk to keep taking them? I would be more comfortable closer to 35 weeks. Why is your scheduled C at 36 weeks? They didn't want to push it to 37? Honestly, I really got to the point that I believed I wouldn't deliver before 36 weeks, I was starting to think I would make it to 38 weeks and need induced. I guess my body was just done though.

jessican08 · August 2012

I'm sorry it was such a scary experience for you but I'm so glad both boys are doing so well Smile

I hope they'll be hope with you sooner rather than later.

Congratulations on your little boys!! Can't wait to see some pics of them!

Eriksgal · August 2012

congrats on your boys! What a birth story! I hope their nicu stay is short...mine were born right before 33 weeks and were in there a month so not too bad.

dgancz · August 2012

Congrats I hope they come home soon.

projectbaby2012 · August 2012

Congratulations. Even though it must have been so hard, I'm glad to hear that the boys were immediately taken to a hospital at which they'll receive the specialized care they require (I had a friend's baby girls not be moved to a level 3 immediately and one of them didn't make it as a result). I hope their NICU stay is short.

nghithy · August 2012

I was having a lot of cramps when I stand or walk (like i have to go to the bathroom). When they check my cervix it was really short so they put me on bed rest. My ob was really careful. She wanted me to be on bed rest the minute I told her about the cramping. My twins shared the same placenta. Apparently there's a study saying increase mortality for my case towards the end of the pregnancy so they want to deliver early. I was not comfortable but spoke to 3 doctors and all say the same thing. My girls were measured yesterday at 4 lb 8 oz. so hopefully 3 more weeks will add another pound for them. Hope all is well you guys.