The Babies Are Here! (Birth Story)

Well, 3 weeks and 3 days into Abigail and James' lives, I am finally able to update the blog. That's right, I said Abigail and James - we had a GIRL and a BOY! I was shocked, and Jim was right - he called it. And he even predicted that Baby A was a girl and Baby B was a boy! Now I just need him to predict the lotto numbers!

Anyway - here is the birth story. I am mostly posting it so that I don't forgot what happened, so feel free to skip over this post and look for future ones that involve non-stop baby details! I went in on Monday, August 23 for a growth ultrasound follow-up. After the ultrasound, my doctor told me to stop by the labor and delivery until at the hospital to do (my last!) NST. During the NST, my blood pressure was high - no surprise there, and after seeing Dr. D (who was on call that day), it was determined that they were going to start my induction that day!! Wooohoo - only one day early, but I was excited about the possibility of MY doctor delivering our babies! So... I hoped that the babies would be born before Tuesday morning at 7am...otherwise it wouldn't be my doctor.

Jim was working until 2pm that day, so after they admitted me, I spent the next couple hours visiting with my parents (who luckily flew in the day before) and waiting for Jim to finish his last shift. Jim made it in and we took our last photo of just the two of us. Awwwww... After checking me, they determined I was still 3cm dilated and 70% effaced (just like last week at my last appointment in the office). So Pitocin was started just after 2pm. And the waiting began.
Here we are...waiting and waiting... I never really felt any major contractions or pain for A LONG TIME! I don't even think at this point that I really was in any real pain. I guess that is a good thing.... Check out the contraction monitor...that's pretty much what it looked like all day/night/morning...nothing major at all, no consistent contractions and not too much pain!

I spent all day and night on Pitocin with the hope that it would start to make my contractions more regular and strong. I was on Pitocin all night and by 6am, things still weren't really progressing so they kept upping my dose. Jim and I sent our families home to nap around 6am on Tuesday, August 24th since nothing was happening at that point.

*Somewhere in the night hours - not sure when (things are a little hazy), the doctors decided to break my water. They thought that if the broke "Baby A's" water it would help speed the labor process along. Well, when the resident attempted to do so, she said that it looked like my water had already broken at some point. Uh, what?! I had no sensation at any point in the last couple days and/or throughout the night that would come with my water breaking. Hmmm.... so we wait some more.

On Tuesday morning, I decided to get an epidural with the thought that I would be able to relax more (at that point I had about an hour or two of bad back pain, but still didn't really have much pain from the contractions) and my body would be relaxed enough to continue to progress with the labor. After the epidural, I napped for a bit and said goodbye to my doctor, whose call shift ended at 7am. I was quite disappointed that Dr. D wasn't able to deliver the babies, but there was nothing I could do at that point.

So after a couple more hours on pitocin and waiting, waiting, waiting for something to happen, they came back in to check me. I was only at 5cm and 90% effaced. OMG - what was taking so long?!!? My body was apparently not ready for labor and the babies were super comfy were they were.

In the early afternoon, the doctors and nurses became concerned about my slowly increasing blood pressure. I was constantly being monitored to make sure it wasn't getting too high. But after awhile, the doctors (both the Doctor on call, Dr. Palfey, and the residents) came in to discuss the blood pressure issue with us. Basically, my bp was becoming too high and I had the option to continue laboring with the hope of getting to 10 cm (OMG - it was taking forever) and starting Magnesium so that I wouldn't have a seizure from the high bp, or to go ahead with a c-section. Jim and I decided that the best bet is to have the c-section. We didn't know how long I would be in labor and since my bp was already high, they wanted to start me on magnesium, which I heard had horrible side effects. Given that we weren't even guaranteed that I wouldn't need a c-section later, or even after a successful vaginal delivery of baby A, I may need one for Baby B - so we decided to do the c-section.

I was an emotional wreck at that point and felt like I failed in my attempt to do a natural, vaginal delivery of the babies, but I now realize that was an illogical thought and we needed to do what was best, and safest for all of us.

As soon as we decided to do the c-section, things started happening quickly! People swarmed the room with forms to sign, drugs to take and details to be had. The gave Jim a quick sandwich to eat (so not to pass out I guess) and some scrubs to wear while I was signing permission slips (is that what they are called?) and started medication through the IV. They started some drugs through my IV, which made the left side of my face feel completely tingly and numb. When I expressed this sensation to the anesthesiologist, he seemed slightly concerned and everyone agreed to move me to the operating room prior to giving me any more drugs. I was a nervous wreck at that point and though I was going to die. (A little extreme, I know - but who's face goes numb, weird, right?!) On the way to the operating room, I started to the feeling that I was going to be sick - aka: toss my cookies (though it would be tossing my jello and chicken broth!). It was the worst since I could really do anything about it - they gave me a little pan to throw up in - but thankfully I didn't need it.

Once in the operating room, they moved me to the table, put up the curtain and continued to give me some drus (I have no idea what). Jim wasn't in the room yet at that point. I remember when they went to test my belly's numbness, I felt it! Ugh - not pain, just a weird feeling. So I heard them say, "let's wait a few more minutes." Uh, yeah, probably a good idea! Finally, I heard one of the nurses say, "bring in the Dad." Woohoo - things were starting! Jim mentioned to me after the fact that when they escorted him in the room, they had already started the procedure. I thought for sure they would wait to start until he was by my side, but I guess not.

From there on out, things are a little fuzzy, mostly I think because things happened so quickly! I remember feeling sick to my stomach most of the time and constantly fighting the urge to throw up. I also couldn't stop shaking - I don't know if it was adreneline, fear, nerves or a side effect from the drugs. Who knows, all I know is that the shaking was pretty bad!

After only a few minutes, I remember the doctors saying I was going to feel "a ton of pressure" because "Baby A" was almost out! AHHHH! Baby A came into this world at 3:12pm on Tuesday August 24. Dr. Palfely held HER up and showed HER to Jim and Jim was able to make the gender announcement himself. He said, "It's a GIRL!" I was overjoyed and shocked. I thought for sure that I was having two boys! I am sure my smile was a big as can be! I don't remember if they showed her to me, but Jim said the Pediatrician did, prior to taking her over to be weighed, measured and checked out.

Welcome "Baby A:"

Abigail Grace 6lbs., 9oz, and 20 inches

Happy Birthday Abby!

Then 2 short minutes later, though I had no idea the timing at that point, Dr. Palfely said "Baby B" was about to make an appearance. Jim stood up slightly and was able to announce to me that "Baby B" was a BOY! Our little boy made his appearance at 3:14pm. OMG - we had a girl and a boy! I remember hearing a slight cry at that point and was ecstatic! My little BOY was saying hello to us! I do remember the pediatrician showing HIM to me prior to taking him over to be check out. He was a stunning baby!

Welcome "Baby B:"

James Robert Jr. 5lbs., 11oz and 19 inches

Happy Birthday Jimmy!

From then on, everything moved fairly quickly. I sent Jim away to meet the babies and take tons of pictures. I was still fighting off the urge to throw up and had horrible shakes, but otherwise was overjoyed and so excited to meet the babies! Here are our first couple family pictures! I am so in love!

 

37 Week Update & Eviction Notice Served!

We had what we thought to be our last growth ultrasound on Monday, August 16. Babies are super smushed in there so the measurements were hard for the tech to get on their bellies. The babies are still measuring slightly ahead with their head and leg measurements, but their bellies are measuring small. I think it is because the tech wasn't able to get good pictures of their bellies since they are so smushed. Otherwise, our babies are going to have big heads and super long legs, but barely any stomachs. A slight fear of mine. Anyway, babies were estimated at weighing: 6lbs 8.5oz and 6lbs., 3oz. :-)
When we left the ultrasound appointment we were under the impression that Baby B's fluid was low. Which got me and Jim thinking that maybe we would go in to our regularly schedule OB appointment on Tuesday and be sent to the hospital to start an induction. Well, nope, that didn't happen. Apparently, the U/S tech was mistaken when she said Baby B's fluid was low and instead it looks fine, it is just less than Baby As. Everything else was fine with both babies and Dr. D isn't concerned at all about their stomach measurements. So we didn't get sent to the hospital for induction, even though that is kind of what we were hoping for (or at least what this uncomfortable mom-to-be was hoping for).
Well, they finally checked me out to see if I was making any progress towards labor... and to everyones surprise, I am (or was) 3cm dilated, 70% effaced with baby at -1 station.
YAHOOO! Which I thought meant that labor was going to happen within a day or so. Again, nope, still here, waiting and waiting and waiting. Uncomfortably might I add again. I haven't really been feeling any contractions, or anything that would signal me to start timing things. The random crampiness and lower back pain is very sporadic, nothing even worth timing. So after googling my statistics (3cm, 70%), I learn that I could stay like this for weeks. AHHHHH!!! Noooooo!!
Which leads me to say that our babies eviction date has been officially set. I am scheduled to go to the hospital on August 24th at 6pm to start the induction. But of course, I must call 2 hours before to make sure they have room for me. All those other moms-to-be may be hogging the rooms up because their bodies going into labor on their own.... So as of right now, that's the plan. But truthfully, I am hoping something happens before then, this Sunday would be great. If things happen on their own on Sunday, then it is very likely that Dr. D will be delivering the babies on Monday (when she is on call) and not Dr. M, who is my least favorite doctor in the practice. Ugh - just my luck.
Ok, enough rambling. Here is a picture of the belly today - 37 weeks, 1 day. (Oh and apparently my belly is not measuring small like the babies - too much birthday cake- and instead it is measuring at 40 weeks).

23 Week Update

Yesterday, we went in to see Dr. D for our regular check-up. The ultrasound results were in from last week and everything looks good on Baby B, well, except the "white spot" (aka: echogenic intracardiac focus) is still there. But neither Dr. D nor the ultrasound tech seem too concerned about it. So I am trying not to be either.
So far my weight gain has been good. I am up 18lbs., which I guess is a good thing. It is pretty stressful to see the numbers on the scale, but I am remembering that it is for the babies- and they need all they can get. Dr. D wanted me to gain 24lbs by 24 weeks (next week), but I don't think I am going to make that goal. To be fair, she only just told me about it the last appointment, so technically I had to gain 10lbs within 4 weeks... which I don't think is realistic. Gaining that much weight, that quickly will probably lead to stretch marks (eh!) and I want to do everything I can to prevent that!
I will be scheduling my 1 hour glucose test in 3 weeks - so wish me luck on that! Hopefully, I pass it, but if not, I then go in for a 3 hour glucose test... and if I fail that, well then I will most likely be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Dr. D informed me that because I am carrying multiples, I am higher risk for developing it. (Ah!)
My blood pressure was great at the appointment - 117/76. Woohoo! I am hoping it stays that low - but again I remember that I am at a higher risk for preeclampsia too. My, my... lots of higher risk issues are approaching.
What else - hmmmm... nothing really. We got to see both babies briefly again on ultrasound (we did see that Baby B had the hiccups - how cute!), mostly just so Dr. D could determine their positions to check their heart rates. Baby A's heart beat was easy to find and hear, and was 153 bpm. Baby B's heart beat was hard to find, of course, but each he/she is our stubborn one! After a few minutes of searching, Baby B checked in at 145 bpm.
Dr. D said that they will schedule an induction/c-section (depending on the positions of the babies) no later that August 25th (which is 38 weeks). So there you have it - these babies will definitely be making their appearance by then - if not sooner. I am really hoping they stay put that long so that the NICU time is minimal if not non-existent! We will see!