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Multiples
Our boys are here!
Dominic Xavier and Gregory Atticus, were born at 8:07 and 8:14 pm on Friday, November 15th. I was induced that morning at 38w0d. Because I was already having contractions, my OB expected things to move pretty quickly. I was hooked up to Pitocin and he broke A's bag of waters about two hours later.
I had hoped to have as med-free a birth as possible, but I'd heard so many horror stories about pit-induced contractions that I doubted my ability to go without pain meds. But actually, this labor was much easier and less painful than with my first pregnancy! I even snuck some food from DH when the nurses weren't looking because I was starving. People kept asking me if my contractions were progressing, but while I was dilating and effacing at a steady pace, the contractions just weren't that painful.
At one point my OB examined me and realized that A's head had slid forward and blocked the tear in his amniotic sac, so he broke my water AGAIN, sticking his fingers inside and moving them around A's head to make sure most of it got out this time. (This was positively the worst part of labor. Oh my gosh. I told DH after that I knew what it must feel like to be tortured.) But things continued smoothly. Everyone who took care of me commented on how well labor was going and how well I was dealing with the contractions, how the babies were behaving well and easy to monitor, etc. My OB told the nurses that my pregnancy and labor with these twins couldn't be any better. He stayed a few hours past the end of his shift hoping to deliver the babies, but in the end he left about an hour and a half before they were born.
By that time the contractions had gotten pretty intense. I could tell it would be time to push within the next two hours or so, and was debating whether or not to get an epidural. (I already had the line in place.) Since it was a low dose, I caved and let them hook me up. (I say "caved" because that was how it felt at the time; I was a little disappointed in myself in the moment. No regrets though!) There was a button I could push twice an hour to up the dose, and since the first dose barely did anything for the pain I soon found myself pushing it. Even at the highest dose I could still feel my contractions and knew I'd be able to work with my body.
Less than half an hour later I was ready to push. I pushed for 30-45 minutes in the L&D room before they wheeled me into the OR to deliver. A few more pushes and baby Dominic was born, weighing 5lb6oz.
This is where things get confusing. I wish now I had focused solely on B’s birth. Even at hte time I knew that's what I should've been doing, but as they scanned me to make sure that B was in a good position, I kept straining to try and find A, to see him and hear him and make sure DH was with him. I was vaguely aware that B had gotten into a bad position, that his hand was in the way and the OB was trying to move it; then I heard that his shoulder was engaged, and at that point I was no longer dilated enough for her to continue to manipulate him.
The OB who was delivering finally looked at me and gave me her full attention and said, ”I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to deliver this baby by c-section. I know it’s not what you wanted, but we need to do it.” I knew from her voice that something was up, but I was so disoriented and unfocused up til that point I didn’t know any more than the fact he was trying to come out shoulder first. I said “okay,” because what else are you going to say??
They sent my husband out of the room to prep me and told me they’d let him back in once I was ready.
I am so, so grateful I already had a full dose of epidural, because they had some trouble getting things to where I was anesthetized enough for surgery, and it turned out that every minute counted. As SOON as I was prepped they cut me open without letting my husband back in. I remember one of the doctors answering her phone and telling the person on the other line she was in the middle of an emergency c-section. I realized this was about more than bad positioning, that somehow B’s life was at risk.
The people around me kept reassuring me that I was okay, everything would be fine with me, and it made me so MAD because I knew I was fine, I wanted to know what was wrong with the baby. I asked if he was going to be okay and they wouldn’t answer me. I asked several people to baptize him if he was going to die, which I know is an awkward thing to ask a nurse or anesthesiologist; it was the biggest reason I wanted DH in that room at that moment. No one answered me or acknowledged the fact he might die, even though I could tell it was true.
Finally Gregory was delivered weighing 6lb3oz. Waiting for his birth was the longest 14 minutes of my life. He didn’t cry when he was born, but they let my husband in and he sat with me. In a bit they wheeled him up so we could see him (I really couldn’t from my angle on the guerney), and then brought him down to the NICU because his blood gasses were not good. At that point I still didn’t know what had happened; later on, we had both cord prolapse and a nuchal cord were given to us as reasons for the emergency. After talking to the OB we’re pretty sure it was the latter. Either way, there was a short period of time when he wasn’t receiving oxygen, but he was able to breath one his own when he was born and only needed to spend about ten hours in the NICU.
My own recovery is a whole ‘nuther story. But when the OB who delivered the twins stopped by my room she was really emotional and said she had gone over the birth in her mind wondering if there was anything she could have done differently, and she didn’t think there was. I was so touched by her honesty and how much it mattered to her; all I said to her was “Thank you for saving our baby.” In the end that’s all that matters, and I am so grateful they are both here and well.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Our boys are here!
My A was in respiratory distress, etc and I thought something was very bad with her as they whisked her away so fast I didn't even know she had been delivered (by c/s).. Scariest thing ever. I was so out of it that when they brought B around I realized I had not seen A and started freaking out.. Kind of ruined my first meeting B, but it's understandable.
HUGS!!!! and get as much rest as you can between taking care of those sweet ones!
Congratulations!
Age: 35 TTC since 2005, MFI & DOR
IVF #1 Sep '11 - canceled poor response
IVF #2 Nov '11 8R/8M/4F 3dt x2 - chemical
IVF #3 April '12 11R/6M/4F 3dt x2 - m/c
FET #1 Aug 2012 3dt x2 - BFN
**new RE**
IVF #4 Jan '13 BFN 11R/6M/6F 5dt x2 - BFN
IVF #5 July '13 16R/10M/10F 5dt x2 + 1 frostie
9dp5dt Beta 1 = 344!! 16dp5dt. Beta 2 = 4822 7wk u/s= 2 heartbeats!
Twin girls! 3/6/14
First pregnancy - DS 01-Apr-09;
3rd cycle Clomid/IUI after 2 years TTC
TTC #2 since ~June 2010
IUI #1 & 2 - Clomid/IUI - BFN
IUI #3 &4 - Gonal-F/Ovidrel and IUI -- BFN
IUI #5 - Gonal-F/Ovidrel and IUI -- BFP!!
EDD: March 22, 2013
It's triplets!!
Excited for our newest additions in April/May 2014!!
My sweet boy!! So in love with him.. Owen 03/27/2012
Our twins born and died on August 2, 2010 (at 22w5d) due to Premature birth. They were only in our arms for a little while, but they will be in our hearts forever.
