Sunday, May 30, 2010

The birth day

May 26, 2010, such a great day!

It started with me getting a whopping 2 hours of sleep the night before. My mind was going crazy thinking about the induction and the unknown, and I was staring at the clock most of the night hoping I wouldn't miss my alarm. I was scheduled to be at the hospital at 7:30am and I was to call in an hour before to confirm. I called about 6:15 and was told to call back at 6:45 since the charge nurse was not there yet and she needed to check the staffing for the day. I called back and was told to show up at 9am, no need to call back. About 45 minutes later the hospital called me and said they are really full and they aren't sure if I will be able to get in today. I should show up at 9am anyway and they will re-evaluate and give me an NST to check the babies. I was bummed. I was so ready. I just hoped if I couldn't be induced today, they could get me in tomorrow and not next week.

Hubby and I showed up at 9am and was immediately whisked back to my labor room. I was so happy!! I found out later they had labor rooms, but the postpartum rooms were the full ones. They went around and rushed some women out who were planning to leave later in the afternoon.

Anyway, I was brought into the labor room and changed into the super sexy gown. I kept waiting for my nerves to kick in, but they never really did. I just kind of rolled with the flow. The only two things I was nervous about was getting the IV and the epidural. Getting the IV did suck, but it wasn't that bad I guess. She started me off on just some fluids. The pitocin would come after my water broke. I was also strapped with the fetal monitors. I was having some mild contractions, but nothing major. I was checked and was still 3cm dialated and now 75% effaced. Noon rolls around and Dr. M showed up to break my water. Ew. That was so gross. I was already uncomfortable from having a man's hands jammed up there (by the way, my woman nurse was so much more gentle), but they the sudden gush of warm water was disgusting. I felt like I peed a gallon and every time I moved it gushed a little more. Eck.

I also had a fetal monitor attached to baby A's head, since the monitor on my belly kept sliding around and we kept loosing the heart beat. I had a contraction monitor inserted too. The internal contraction monitor measured not only the contractions, but the strength of them. The belly one just measured whether I had one or not.

After my water was broken they hooked up the pitocin to get things going. At first it was nothin, just a little stronger contractions, but not bad. Then it started to get bad. I asked about the anesthesiologist and how long it would take for him to get here. The nurse asked when I wanted the epidural, and I said now. I had no idea how long it would take for him to get there and how long it would take for the meds to kick in. I didn't want the contractions to get that much stronger. It actually didn't take him long at all to come in. We chatted for a minute and then he got to work. Man was I nervous! I had to keep being reminded to relax my shoulders and hunch over...which is hard to do when your tense. I was shaking. I'm guessing it was the combination of the contractions and my nerves, but my legs were shaking. The nurse was so sweet rubbing my arms and using her legs to try to still mine.

Ya...epidurals suck. As he was trying to get it placed it hit every bone on the way down. Ouch. I was trying to stay cool, but I felt the tears coming. Then I'm informed he needed to move up a little, this one didn't work. Boo! He started attempt number two, once again hitting some spine on the way down. Hubby was able to stay during the procedure, which I was surprised about. He got me some tissue for my tears, because by this point I wouldn't hold back the water works. I was also reminding myself to breathe, but also had to make sure I didn't make myself hyperventilate. Finally it was placed and I felt the zing down my left leg that it was working. I was so happy it was over!

Pretty much from that point to when they whisked me away to the OR to deliver is a blur. The contractions go stronger and stronger and by 4:30 I was feeling major pressure. By 5pm I wanted to start pushing. Well "want" isn't the right word. I NEEDED to start pushing. It's amazing the so-called "urge" sounds so mild, but really the "urge" is something basically uncontrollable. At first I was told to try not to push...ya...right. It's next to impossible.

So at 5pm, I was wheeled away and they used a hoist to move me from my bed to the OR bed since I couldn't use my legs and I was MEGA uncomfortable. I was just moaning and sweating and gripping the side of the bed. The next thing I know I'm in position and told to start pushing. In three pushes Baby A (K) was out. She was taken right over to the isolette to get cleaned up. Listening to her cry was just amazing!

After A was out I couldn't feel my contractions anymore. I was told when I was having one and told to push. At that point I couldn't tell if I was pushing either. Apparently I was doing it right, because only two pushes later Baby B was out. She was a little more lethargic and she too was brought right over to her isolette. After a minute or two they got her crying too.

I ended up having a second degree tear so I had to be stitched up. They had turned off my epidural when I started pushing and it must have started to wear off quick because I felt the doc stitching me. I had to be injected with some Lidocaine. While he was working on my the babies were passed over to me and I got to hold them both. Such sweet girls!! We were able to get some good pictures the nurses took our first family pics!

Recovery has actually been pretty good. I feel so much better not being pregnant anymore. I still have some pelvic pain, but it's getting better. I'm sure it just needs time to heal. My tear is healing fine I think. I've taken a little pain meds to help with minor pain from that and my back ached from the epidural.

My milk should have come in on Saturday (at least I was told it would). I was pumping consistently, but still I wasn't getting anything. I quit pumping Saturday night. Last night, well technically this morning, I was rolling over in bed and realized my shirt was wet. Well, whaduya know it was my milk. I got about 3.5 oz from the first pump. Since then it has only amounted to about an ounce and a half. Not nearly enough to satisfy my babes who are chowing down on up to 3oz a feeding, but it is better than nothing I guess. I hope I can build up my supply, we'll see.

Well, since I've been working on this post on and off for the last three days, I suppose I'll post it now. I know there are things I'm forgetting, but oh well...

Saturday, May 29, 2010

We're home!!


Natalie Danielle - 4 days old



Kaitlyn Renee - 4 days old


Birth story later. Stay tuned...

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Babies are here! Born May 26, K 7.1 at 5:31pm and N 6.7 at 5:41, both vaginally. Mom and girls are doing great. Planning to be home tomorrow!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Tomorrow is birth day!!

I had a NST and a doctor appointment today. The NST was pretty normal. Poor baby A had to be buzzed again because she just wouldn't wake up. After she was buzzed though, she was upset for a long time. It took her a while to settle down. Poor widdle girl! Of course baby B is a show off and she passed the test in less than 10 minutes. I'll be curious if their temperament inside will be the same outside. My blood pressure was high when was having the test done. I think it was 155/90.

Then I went to my doctor appointment. BP was still up there, but it was better. I think it was 140/??. The doc had me lay down for a bit and tried it again. I think it went down to 136/??. I can never remember the lower number.

The babies were measured and my fluid was checked. Baby A was about 7 lbs 12oz, up from 7 lbs 3oz two weeks ago. Baby B actually measured less than two weeks ago. I think she was 7 lbs 5oz before and today she was like 6 lbs 14oz or something. Fluid looked good. I still had some good sized pockets.

Because of my bp and the growth issue with baby B, the doc decided to induce me. When I was at the hospital earlier for the NST I was talking to the nurse about induction and she checked the schedule for me and said tomorrow was a good day. I told the doc that, so he called and scheduled me to come in tomorrow.

He also checked my cervix. I'm 3cm dilated, 60% effaced and a +1. Nobody told me how uncomfortable being "checked" is. Ouch and holy crap!

The plan tomorrow is to hook me up to some pitocin in the morning. The doc said he'll probably see me around noon to break my water then we'll go from there. I'm planning to do a vaginal delivery since both babies are head down. I'm don't have my heart set on it, so I'm up for a c-section if it comes to it. I'd just rather recover from a vaginal one instead of the surgery, and obviously I'll do whatever is best for the babes.

I do have to say though, after the doc checked my cervix around 2pm or so today I've been having a lot of menstrual cramps and some bleeding (he told me that would happen). It's now 5pm and I'm still cramping and still having some bleeding. I wonder if him checking me and messing around in my biz-ness set anything off. I guess we'll see!

Bags are packed, car seats and stroller are in the car. I guess we're as ready as we'll ever be. I can't wait to see them tomorrow. I can't even imagine what they will look like. Eeek!!

I'll leave you with one last belly pic I just took...37w5d.



Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Email test

Okay, now I'm seeing if I can post of my email account. I've had this blog for a really long time. I can't believe I never figured out the text and email thing before. Geesh.






The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with Hotmail. Get busy.
Yay, I figured out how to post from my cell phone. Now I can keep ya'll updated from the hospital...when the time comes...

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

36w5d

I'm still here. I haven't felt like blogging much...obviously. I'm reading blogs everyday, but just haven't felt like posting.

I had an appt yesterday to check my fluid and it still looks good. I had NSTs on Friday and today. Fridays was fine. Today baby A had some dips in her heart rate, and Dr. M was actually at the hospital and came to look at the strip and he decided things were still fine. I go back for another NST on Friday. I was really hoping today was going to be the day. I am so done. I emotionally exhausted and physically uncomfortable.

The pelvic pain I've complained about since probably the early 20's has never left. It has gradually gotten worse. I went to two grocery stores yesterday and it completely kicked my butt. I can hardly do anything around the house anymore. Bending over is pretty much out of the question so getting clothes out of the dryer is interesting. I can't do dishes at the sink because my belly is in the way. I don't know how many times I've almost burned my belly on the stove trying to cook. Yesterday Dr. M measured my belly at 48 cm. That is approximately the size of a belly at 48 weeks!!! Yeck.

I still sleep like crap, waking up every hour to hour and a half to pee. I wake up to roll over. I can only stay in bed for so long before my hips bother me. I've slept out in the recliner a few times lately.

I hate asking for help, but I don't have much choice anymore. Hubby does a lot for me, like getting me water, helping me up, and doing the driving when we go somewhere, but he is not a good housekeeper. I feel like a nag asking him to do stuff all the time. I don't think he understands that I'd like the house clean when we leave for the hospital. I've quit asking. I think he knows if he doesn't do it, the grandmas will take care of it while I'm in the hospital. Urg! I could go on and on about this...but I'll spare you.

Okay, I've worked myself into being pissy and teary eyed, so I'll leave you now. Hopefully I can post on here soon that we are on our way to the hospital or that the babies arrived!!

P.S. Sorry to be such a downer, I just really want these little girls to get here already!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

36 week (almost) appt

I had an appointment this morning. I'm 35w5d. I thought I was just going in to have my cervix checked, but the babies ended up being measured and he swabbed (or more like scraped) me to test for Strep B. No cervix check.

I had to have hubby drive me this morning because my pelvic pain was so bad I could barely walk, much less drive. Yesterday UPS stopped at the house and I opened the door and two of my three dogs were trying to escape. I was using my feet to try to push them in, but apparently my pubic bone didn't like the movement. Afterward I was in so much pain. I could hardly stand up without crying out. Walking was torture. I couldn't roll over in bed without major pain. I ended up sleeping in the recliner in the living room for a couple of hours. Thankfully it is finally feeling a little better now. I'm still in a lot of pain, but standing is better and walking isn't so torturous.

Anyway, Hubby drove me in to the appointment. We got to see our little piggies and they got measured. They are both a estimated to be a little over 7lbs each!!! Both are head down and both have their feet lodged in my ribs on the left side.

It is so uncomfortable now to lay on the exam table. I used to really enjoy having the u/s's done and I wished the doc would go slower so I could stare at them, but now I'm hoping he gets it over with quick so I can sit up. I had to have help getting my feet in the stirrups for the "scraping". I had to have Hubby help me sit up too. I can't wait to have my body back.

I asked the doc about induction. From what I've read in books and online the general consensus is that twins don't go past 38 weeks because the placentas tend to wear out. We'll apparently my doc doesn't think so. He said that I'd be induced if I got to my due date...of 40 WEEKS!!! I can't imagine having to be pregnant for another 4 weeks. He also said since they are both head down we could try for a vaginal delivery, but it's up to me what I want to do. I never thought I'd have a choice. I just assumed I'd end up having to do a c-section. Of course I will do whatever is best for the babies, but I'm nervous if I push one out the other is going to have some sort of distress or something and I'll have to have a c-section for the other. I really, REALLY, don't want to do both. I think I'll just wait and see what the situation is what it happens and decide from there.

Now I'm going in to see the doc once a week so he can check my amniotic fluid and I'll also be going to the hospital twice a week for NST's. My first NST is Friday. I'm really looking forward to it. I loved listening to them when I had my last one.

Well, I think that was about the gist of my appointment. I go back to see him on Monday.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Sad day

I found out this morning my grandma died.

She went in for gallbladder surgery three days ago. She didn't wake up from surgery until the next day and they found her kidneys were having a hard time working and her breathing was really labored. Last night the doctors said her kidneys had failed and they started taking her off all the meds she was hooked up to and they gave her some other drugs to make her comfortable. This morning her breathing was harder for her.

Thankfully she was surrounded by her kids when she took her last breath. She wasn't awake either and I heard she went very peacefully.

My grandma used to live near me up until about six or seven years ago. Since then I've only seen her twice. She moved back to WI to be near more of her family (she has nine kids and most of them live in WI). I wish so bad that I could be there to say goodbye and be at her service. There is no way I can fly right now...I could go into labor at anytime...

I believe in my head that God has a plan and things happen for a reason, but I'm starting to lose faith in my heart. The timing of events in my life over the past nine months or so have just sucked...I just don't see the reason...

Thursday, May 6, 2010

35 weeks

Wow. 35 weeks. The end is so close!

I have really gotten uncomfortable in the last week or so. Last Thursday when I went up to Seattle for the NST and BP check I think was the turning point. My pelvis hurt so bad when I got home from being in the car for probably 3 hours total and spending hours sitting at the doc's office. I had a lot of contractions that day. I'm sure it was from dehydration. The contractions have improved a little, but in the evenings and at night I still get quite a few. They aren't painful at all, just uncomfortable because my belly gets so tight. I have started to feel some cramping, like menstrual cramps off and on, but nothing consistent or too uncomfortable.

On Monday I was helping hubby pick up the house and I had bent over a lot picking up dog toys, etc. so Hubby could vacuum...bad idea. Holy crap by back hurt so bad later that night and the next day. I'm sure it's because I've been so lazy for months and of course all the weight I have hanging on the front of me. I didn't go to work on Tuesday because my back hurt so bad. There was no way I was going to be able to sit in a chair for any amount of time at all.

I had decided last week that this Friday was going to be my last day at work. I've just gotten so uncomfortable and I figured I could use some time to rest up and relax, because those days are definitely numbered!! Well after the back issues on Tuesday, I went to work Wednesday and said I wanted to be done now. I think they anticipated that because they were not shocked and told me to finish up and head home. They didn't even want me to stay the whole 4 hours. So now, I'm officially done with work until at least July 6. I'm a little worried that if these babies don't show up soon I'm wasting my leave time not spending it with them. I'm sure though I can work something out with my office if the time comes and I decide to need more time with the babies. My boss told me just to email her every once in a while with how I'm doing. I'm so thankful to have a female boss...even though she doesn't have kids of her own. I think she is more understanding than a man would be. I know it sounds silly, but I feel guilty not being at work while I'm still pregnant. I have already checked my emails a couple of times...I can't help it - lol.

Last weekend my feet decided to start swelling. They have off and on, but mostly it happened when I would eat salty food. Now though it doesn't matter what I eat, I'm puffy. The swelling mostly goes down during the night, but it's still a little there in the morning. My fingers have been slightly puffy,but I've still been able to wear my wedding ring...even thought it's a little snug.

I don't think there is anything else we need to do to get ready for these babies. The nursery is ready. I took all the toys off the bed last night and also took the comforter off and draped it over the side since they won't be able to sleep under it for a while. There are just a few sheets and blankets I need to be washed, but all the clothes are washed and put away. The changing station is stocked, my bag is packed. The forms for their birth certificates and SSNs are as filled out as they can be right now. The car seats are in the car and the car has gas in it.

We are now just waiting. I'm being asked a thousand times from e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e how I'm feeling. that is another bonus to being gone from work...I couldn't walk anywhere without being harassed. I know everyone means well, but ugh, it is annoying...or maybe I'm just more irritable these days...

I talked to my mom the other day, I had to tell her to chill out. She's been OVERLY excited for these girls to arrive. We went from talking to each other on the phone once a week or less to now she calls me almost everyday asking how I'm doing, if anything has changed, then I have to listen to her disappointment that the babies are sticking around for a while. I've tried DRILLING into her that the longer they are in the better. My twin "due date" isn't until next week. We want them to stay in there as long as possible so they can be as healthy as possible. Ugh, she is so selfish. I called her for something the other day and she was almost squealing when she answered the phone, then when she realized I wasn't calling to tell her I was at the hospital she didn't bother hiding her disappointment. Sadly, I roll my eyes when I see her calling. I'm a little nervous about how she is going to be at the hospital. Okay, I could go on, but I guess I should stop...

Okay, I have more thoughts in this brain to blog about, but I think this is enough for now. My next appointment isn't until next Tuesday...I'll keep you posted!