birth story...it's a long one! :)

Born on 2/23/07
36 weeks, 3 days no NICU time
Lennon Nate Hammond – 5 pounds 4 ounces 19 inches 11:58 a.m.
Noelle Fantine Hammond – 4 pounds 3 ounces 18 ½ inches 11:59 a.m.

Here is my detailed and LONG birth story. I want to start out by saying that I never realized that I could love something so much, so fast. These babies are amazing. DH and I are in awe.

here is a link to first day pics:

http://www.anthemwebdesign.com/twins/

I have a very LOW tolerance for pain, so please know that while reading this! My c-section was scheduled for 11:30. I was so anxious, but everyone was terrific and wanted to help soothe my nerves. When I was getting prepped for the surgery, my bp was high. The next reading was lower. In fact, it seems that every time they have taken my blood pressure in the hospital, the second reading is quite a bit lower. I try to go to my “happy place†and think of a tropical setting in order to relax. The nurse gave me the IV, which didn’t hurt. It was just uncomfortable. I got to the OR room around 11:45 and there were 13 people in there. The anesthesiologist was great. First, I felt a little needle that stung just a tad to numb the area for the long spinal needle. I wasn’t really curled up enough for the spinal to take correctly, so he had me put my feet up on a little stool and I was hugging my doctor to get to a better position. The best way to describe the spinal is digging/kneading your knuckle into your back. They moved me over to a different bed, and I started to feel lots of tingling. I didn’t feel the catheter being put in. I was afraid I wasn’t numb enough for the surgery though. The anesthesiologist assured me that my doctor wouldn’t start until she knew I was numb. I guess they put this large clamp on my skin, and I could barely feel it, so she began cutting. The cutting was the easiest part…I really couldn’t feel it. Then, the tugging began. It didn’t hurt, but it was a strange feeling. Once they showed me Lennon, I was overjoyed, but didn’t want to react too much because I was afraid that I’d cry and shake or something. I tried to stay calm. One minute later, Noelle was born. My doctor began stitching me up. She was so fast. In fact, the anesthesiologist and nurses said not only do I have a great doctor, but she is also extremely efficient. They said she was the second fastest doctor they’ve worked with. The whole c-section didn’t take longer than 25-30 minutes. Both of my babies received Apgar scores of 9. They got to stay in the recovery room with me. A lot of that time is a blur. I felt a bit nauseous, a little shaky, a little bit of a headache; but once I mentioned all of this to the anesthesiologist, he fixed it all. He gave me Demerol and who knows what else, but I loved him for it! The first 24 hours in my IV, I received Toridal (spelling?) every six hours and Morphine every two hours. I actually was feeling pretty darn good. They took out the IV and catheter 24 hours after the surgery. I never thought I’d actually still want a catheter in, but with it in, I didn’t have to get up. ïÂÅ  Now, my c-section was in the afternoon, so I thought that I was going to be on the mend by day 3. However, day 2 and 3 were equally difficult. Every four hours I take Percoset and every six hours I take Toridal orally. Toridal was a bit stronger than the 3 Motrin. I had a lot of trapped gas, and was feeling puffy and tight. My incision would burn when I would walk, but walking was the best thing for the gas according to everyone, and to be on the road to recovery. The morning of day 4 I was feeling great. I walked the entire hallway in the morning. The nurse took out my staples and I thought it would hurt. It didn’t hurt a bit. What did sting a bit was the removal of the tape over the staples because I had blisters underneath. TMI ahead…I still hadn’t had a BM, but I do have IBS, so that wasn’t surprising. I started cramping up and wasn’t sure if it was menstrual cramps or diarrhea cramps. Needless to say, I had a lot of diarrhea. They gave me Tums for it…lol…like Tums helps that. I've had diarrhea for 2 days on and off and have taken Immodium AD which has helped, but not healed.

Both babies are breastfeeding. I didn’t think I’d be able to do this. My milk hasn’t come in yet and we are also supplementing. They lost a little weight, but gained a little last night, and Noelle is a little over her birth weight now.

DH was extremely helpful. He changed my pads and everything. He has changed the babies’ diapers and is already such a great dad.

Here is my advice to those who are at all concerned about having a c-section. I was probably just as anxious (if not more) than the most anxious person reading this. It wasn’t THAT bad. I am a wimp. The anxiety about the surgery was worse than the surgery itself. It was hard for my body being on bed rest for the 6 weeks prior, and I was weaker than I had thought.

Walk as soon as you are able. The doctors and nurses all encouraged that. I thought it felt impossible at times.

Use the bathroom every 2-3 hours. I didn’t do this, and my uterus got crampy and it became difficult to get out of bed.

Take deep breaths as often as possible. I also had to cough, but didn’t stay on that like I should have.

Staying on liquids (especially if you have a sensitive stomach) is not all that bad. Looking back, I would have stayed on liquids for about 48 hours, rather than the 18 or so I was on them for.

Keep drinking water. I was shocked that I became so swollen because of the IV fluids. I really wasn’t swollen at all during my pregnancy.

Take the pain meds on time. I've made the mistake of trying to "tough it out" and wean myself from the Percoset...not a good idea this early.

I missed not being on the message board. There was no usable Internet connection at the hospital. I hope to catch up on everyone's stories soon. Best of luck to everyone here and thank you so much for your support!

 

Congratulations! I am amazed Noelle is over birthweight already, that is fantastic!!

Try to get some rest and don't forget to take care of yourself too!!

 

Congrats on your new arrivals. Thanks for sharing your birth story, very interesting and informative.

Juli

 

Great story! Thanks so much for sharing, its comforting reading even the little details. I find comfort in information... bring it on! The babies are adorable and I am so glad they are doing so well. Take it as easy as possible, and post more pics later. Congrats!!!

Caleb 6/30/04
Aidan 2/22/06

 

Your babies are gorgeous! Mom and Dad are too! What a beautiful family you have! Congratulations!

Annette

 

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And thank you for posting the details of your c-section (it helps those of us who are getting prematurely anxious about the process!).

 

Congrats on your new arrivals!! Glad everything went so well for you!!

 

Congratulations! Your family is so beautiful. I really appreciate all the details of the c-section. It definitely helps to hear it all from start to finish. I'm actually feeling ok about having one if I need to. I wish you and your family the very best!

Reyna

 

Congrats on the birth! They are beautiful. And hooray for bfing!

 

Congratulations on your new arrivals - they are dolls! Thank you for the c-section info. I am a bit trepidatious about the possibility and appreciate your insight.

Enjoy these days and please take of yourself as well.

Amy

 

CONGRATS! They're gorgeous!!

 

Congratulations! Thanks for posting your birth story. I am terrified about a c-section and getting more nervous by the day so it helps to hear about a successful/non-scary one.

 

Oh my what a great story!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for being so honest about everything, this really puts my mind at ease regarding the possible c-section.
The best to you and Noelle and Lennon!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Congratulations! They are beautiful!

 

Congrats on your sweeties! You look great and I love their names!

 

congratulations, it sounds like everything went perfect. Enjoy your little ones.

 

Congratulations! You have a beautiful family!
I love the babies names : )

Feel better soon and welcome to FY board!

 

Congrats on such beautiful babies! Thanks for sharing your story as well!

 

Congratulations! That is fantastic that they are doing well and that you are healing. I too had a rough go of things with recovery. So my heart goes out to you! And your DH sounds awesome!!! We will never forget being in the hospital and DH having to help me take off my underwear/pads so that I could shower. That was definitely a low.

 

Congrats!! I wouldn't call you a wimp, you did awesome. And like you said go potty every two to three hours or else you REALLY have to go. Nothing like rushing to the bathroom with a huge incision!

 

and congratulations on the birth of Lennon and Noelle! So glad that you are all doing well!!!!

 

Congrats on the birth of Lennon and Noelle. They are so precious and I am glad everyone is doing well. Make sure you come visit us in the FY forum.

 

Congrats!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for the detailed birth story! Reading yours makes us all feel like we can do it!!!!!!!!!1

 

Congratulations! I'm glad everything turned out to be easier than you expected and that the babies are doing wonderfully. Congrats again!

 

Congratulations!

 

Wow are they cute and perfectly chubby! You look pretty great heading to the ER. Nervous smile??

Congratulations to the entire family!! \

Merijo

 

Congratulations!

 

thank you all so much for your posts. things are going well here, besides the lack of sleep for me.

to all of the c-section ladies out there - don't overdo it when you get home...you will want to, especially if you were on bed rest while pregnant. take it easy. in the morning time, i usually feel really good, and get some stuff done; but by the late afternoon, i feel kind of crappy. oh, and for those of you that are on percoset at home, try to space them out (i got 30 and have been home since tuesday afternoon). i am down to 2 left and am freaking out a bit. i've really tried to wean myself off of them, but hello, i was just cut open and am taking care of two babies. motrin doesn't really do much in my opinion.

good luck to everyone, and thanks again for your responses!

 

Congratulations. They are totally cute. Love the photos.

 

Congratulations x

 

Congratulations on your new little babies!

 

Lennon and Noelle! Glad that your section went so well! Mine did as well and I was so glad... cauz the first time was awful! Congrats again and to FY!!!

 

Congratulations!!