Birth story--long

Last Monday (at 38 weeks) my DH Tim and I left our house at 4:30 AM, grabbed breakfast, and headed to the hospital for a planned induction. I had been at 3 cm. and 50% effaced for a week, so the dr. thought it would just take breaking my water and a tiny bit of Pitocin. Registration flew by, and soon we were in the room and I had an IV with a pitocin drip started. Our doctor came in and broke my water. Soon, I started to feel labor pains intensify. Staying in the bed was getting kind of uncomfortable, so a very understanding nurse came in and let me sit in the chair for a bit. I felt like this was really starting to get me going. Over the first few hours, I dilated from 3 cm to almost 6--it felt like it was just a matter of time now.

Because I was getting close to the end (so we thought!), our doctor went ahead and ordered the epidural to be put in place. I was kind of disappointed (I wanted to go as all natural as possible—and I hate needles!!!), but I knew that it was important, especially for the health of Elanor in case she decided not to make her descent after Ian came out (he was head down, she had flipped back to being transverse after being head down for a few weeks). Before the epidural, I was following a home birth mom's directions for coping with and breathing with contractions. Right before the epidural, the nurse told me that I would have made a great candidate for a natural birth, that I dealt with the contractions in exactly the right way, and if it weren't for the concern for the twins' health, she would have seen no reason for me to get an epidural. I felt very validated since, already, the birth process wasn't exactly going the way I expected/wanted it to. The epidural was the worse part of the experience, much more painful than I thought it would be, and very unnerving to lose feeling in my legs.

After that, from late afternoon until the evening, I waited and waited to make some progress. The dr. kept upping the dose of Pitocin until she was no longer comfortable with how much I was getting. When it came to 11:30 PM and the babies still weren't coming, and contractions had ceased for about 4 hours to make the labor progress, our very nice doctor let us make the decision about having a c-section. Even though it was clearly the best choice, and it was a terribly difficult (and tearful) decision to make, it made us feel respected to be allowed to make the choice.

From there on, things flew by! A few minutes later, we were heading to the operating room. I didn't feel pain, but I got terrible shakes from the anesthesia and from the unexpectedness of it all. I threw up a couple of times, and by that time, there wasn’t much there to throw up which made it worse! But the procedure flew by, and soon we heard our babies crying. Actually, screaming more than crying--they were very unhappy about being taken from their warm little jacuzzis! We both burst into tears as soon as we heard them. I couldn't see them because of the screen, but they let Tim take some digital pictures of them. As soon as he snapped a couple, he would show me, and take a couple more. The wonders of modern technology!

It seemed only moments before the doctors put Ian into my arms (6 lbs., 7 oz.), and Elanor (6 lbs., 6 oz.) beside my head. They had nearly perfect Apgar scores (9/10 and 8.9/10), and were already pink and beautiful and healthy. I was pretty disappointed at having to have a c-section, but knowing that they were so healthy and happy and active made it worthwhile. They didn't have to spend a minute in NICU, one thing we had been praying about for months

We were all back in the room by 1:30 AM. We spent the rest of the night in shock--here we were with sweet, wonderful babies, and they were OURS!

We stayed in the hospital until Friday morning. My DH was so wonderful—I actually only had to change one diaper over all those days. He just wanted me to rest, snuggle them, and learn to breastfeed. All the nurses wanted him on staff because he was so good with the babies. He became a master swaddler who could get both of them settled within a minute or two.

We put some pictures up on our personal blog: http://timandjo.covblogs.com/archives/024088.html

Can't wait to see everyone in first year!!!!

 

Congratulations, beautiful babies!

 

Oh, Joanna, they are just beautiful. Congrats to you and Tim!

 

Congrats to you and your family!
They are absolutely precious!

 

Sorry you didn't have the birth that you wanted but like you said it is more important that they came quickly (once you went for the c/s) and healthy. WTG mom for cooking them this long and their weights. I veiwed the pics and they are gorgeous! CONGRATS

 

Congratulations!!! The babies are absolutely gorgeous!

 

Congratulations, I hope my baby’s make as far as yours AND are as precious as yours…

 

Congratulations, they are beautiful!! :hug99:

 

Congratulations!! x

 

Congratulations!!!! They are both beautiful


Dianna

 

Congratulations on your babies and thanks for sharing your story. What beautiful babies and great weights! Great job making it to 38 weeks!!!

 

Congratulations, they are precious! Welcome to first year! :wavey:

 

They are adorable! Way to go Mommy!

 

congrats! they are adorable!

 

They are adorable!

 

Sorry things didn't go as planned.
Your babies are beautiful!

 

YAY!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! :birthday: SWEET BABIES!!!!!!

they are beautiful!!

 

I love your pictures - they are so beautiful! What beautiful blonde hair! I'm sure it was all worth it, even it you did have a c/s...
Congratulations and Happy Birthday to your little sweeties!

 

Your babies are so pretty. Congrats mom!

 

Oh My Goodness!! They are so sweet. Thanks for sharing your story and the pictures. I can't wait until it's my turn to share (I still have awhile to do that).

Congrats on your precious babies.

 

Awww, fabulous, huge congratulations! :yahoo:

 

congratulations on your beautiful abies safe arrival, well done on a good job getting so far! What a gorgeous little family...i can't wait for my babies!!!!

 

congrats!!!

 

congratulations!!! they are so adorable!

 

cuties!

 

Congratulations on growing such healthy beautiful babies!