Oliver and Zoe were born this past Thursday at 36w4d. I had an induction scheduled for 11/20 which would have put me at 38w2d. I've had a completely complication free pregnancy (save for one trip to L&D around 27 weeks for some monitoring due to frequent BH) so the fact that this all happened the other day was really unexpected for me!
On Thursday morning, I went in to my OB's office for my weekly BPP and routine check. During the BPP, it was discovered that Zoe's (baby
fluid levels had dropped significantly from the week before and were half of what Oliver's (baby A) fluids were measuring. My OB got the report from the tech and said "get ready...you're having these babies today." Two hours later, I was checked into the hospital and my induction was started. We checked in around 1 and I was dilated to 2 cm. My doctor broke my water around 2:30 p.m. and they started the pitocin at 3:30 p.m. Things progressed pretty quickly (at least in comparison to being in labor with my son) and by 8:05 they were putting me on the operating table in the OR. Both babies were head down. I started pushing around 8:10 and Oliver was born at 8:34 p.m. Unfortunately, Zoe flipped to transverse just as soon as O came out and my OB could only feel her arms when she was reaching up there. She didn't want to pull her out that way in addition to the fact that Zoe's heart rate was also dropping quickly. Before I knew it, they were getting me ready for a c-section. It was a total zoo in the OR with about 15 people in there so it was hard for me to follow what was going on. I was in tears over Oliver being born and hearing his sweet cry, then I was in tears over needing a c-section. I had an epidural which was great for Oliver...felt pressure, but no pain while he was coming out. However, when my OB did a little test pinch before starting the c section, I could definitely feel it. They were saying Zoe had to come out ASAP and there was no time to wait for a higher dose of the epidural to kick in so they ended up putting me to sleep. The last thing I remember is looking at DH and crying. Neither of us got to see Zoe's birth as they wouldn't let him stay in the OR once I needed to be put under. She was born 13 minutes after her brother at 8:47 p.m.
I started to wake up around 10:15 and I was in a complete state of confusion for a few minutes (as it to be expected). I was crying because my neck hurt (from straining to push) and my throat hurt (from being intubated) and I was nauseous and had no idea where I was (I was no longer in the OR). Luckily, my DH was there when I woke up and could tell me right away that the babies were OK! I hadn't seen either of them at that point. Poor DH must have been really flustered for awhile because he had to be in 3 places at once... in the nursery with Oliver, in the NICU with Zoe and in recovery waiting for me to wake up.
The first night and day post delivery were HELL. Recovering from a vaginal birth and c-section pretty much sucks. If you'd asked me yesterday, I would have told you to elect a c-section no matter what just so that you don't have to go through both. However, today, I'm up, showered and even walking a bit and feeling much better (not read good...but better!) and I honestly think if I had to do it all over again, I would still try for vaginal in hopes it would work and I could get both babies out that way.
Anyway, it's behind me now and I have 2 beautiful and healthy babies which is the only thing that matters! Oliver weighed 6.8 and needed no NICU time. Zoe weighed 4.11 and needed 24 hours in the NICU due to fluid in her lungs and labored breathing. Waiting a day to see her was SO hard on me since I couldn't get up to get to the NICU, but we made it through! We were all really surprised by the nearly 2 lb weight difference though. My last appt with the MFM was at 34w3d and their weights were estimated to be 5.3 (Zoe) and 5.8 (Oliver). She's always measured smaller than him, but not by that much. It seems her measurements were really off since those were taken 2 weeks ago and she ended up being smaller than that anyway.
I would post a picture, but I don't know how! I know there's a lot of ladies that were within a day or two of my due date...hope you're all hanging in there! Just before the u/s tech started my BPP on Thursday, I told her I only had 12 days left to go, but that it felt like an eternity. Little did I know what would be happening a few hours later...
Re: My babies are here!! ...via the dreaded double whammy.
Dx: unexplained IF
clomid x 3 = BFN
clomid/IUI #1 - BFP - EDD 7/13/2012 - missed Ab
clomid/IUI #2 & #3 - BFN
Follistim/IUI #1 (3 juicy follies) - BFP! EDD 12/19/12
aww, congrats on your sweet babies! glad they're safe, even if their method of arrival sucked.
and it goes without saying, i love their names.
How to tell my boys apart
The different types of twins and triplets
Jack, Sydney and Carynne, Annaleigh, JW, Eden...forever in our hearts.
My blog * We made the national news!
PAIF and SAIF welcome. IVF questions welcome, too.
8/08 BFP resulted in m/c
3/09 Polyp removed and dx MTHFR (both copies)
6 Clomid cycles, all BFN
5/09 IUI#1 with Clomid=BFN
6/09 IUI#2 with Clomid=BFN
8/09 IUI#3 with Clomid=BFN
IVF#1 = BFN
IVF#2 = BFN
IVF#3 ET 2 Grade A blasts 11/16/11
Beta #1: 485
Beta #2: 2,495
Congratulations on the birth of your twins!
I am feeling for you - as a fellow double whammy survivor, I know that exact weirdness of waking up disoriented and concerned about your babes. Be kind to yourself both in the recovery and in the processing of what happened - it is a sort of trauma.
Sorry you had to go through all of that but glad everyone is okay. I can't believe how much bigger Oliver ended up being than Zoe - it just goes to show those weight estimates can be way off.
Again, congratulations! I hope we get to see photos!
Congratulations! That's great that you're up and about today. Wishing you a fast recovery.
Love the names! My Oliver was baby A too ; )
Wow! We had very similar births. I had twins via the double whammy as well. Baby A was handed off to the NICU team (she was fine) and the Drs helped position Baby B from transverse to vertex. His cord prolapsed and the epidural that completely numbed my pelvis wasn't strong enought for my abdomen. So I wound up with the stat C Section under general anesthesia. I wish I opted for the section. We both missed our son's birth, and our daughter wound up staying in the NICU for 48 hours due to low blood sugar and temperatures. I didn't really get to touch her until she was 24 hours old and I could make it over to the NICU. These were things I didn't think about when I was pregnant.
I am glad you and your babies are doing well. Rest as much as you can. Recovering from both places is hard!!!
B/G twins born 5/12