EVI and ELSA ARE HERE - Long birth story!

Wow - what a week and a half it has been! I've was holding off a little on our birth story - and feel like I should put a small disclaimer out there . It was a wild delivery but the outcome was truly a miracle! I just don't want anyone to read the following and get discouraged or scared. I had several complications all along with my twin pregnancy so we knew my delivery might be interesting.

Evelyn Carole (Evi) 5 # 4 oz 5:26 AM 1/15/07
Elsie Hope (Elsa) 2 # 12.5 oz 5:27 AM 1/15/07 IUGR baby
Born at 35 weeks 3 days Emergency c section


Where do I begin....Last Sunday I posted about waking up in the morning with Bell's Palsy - a condition where facial paralysis occurs in half of the face. It was such a shocker and we called the hospital right away, as I had been in L&D the last two days for monitoring and I was basically getting preeclampsia. They told me to come in. Had an MRI to rule out a stroke (I'm telling you - it was a crazy day!) and then sat around while everyone tried to tell me that I needed a major procedure to correct the damaged nerves (The University of Iowa Hospitals has the top ENT program in the country, so there lots of people talking to me about this aggressive procedure. It was totally the LAST thing on my mind!) I just wanted to rest. In the meantime, a winter blizzard is brewing up outside (our first this winter) and I am feeling conractions here and there. My MFM doc pops in on his day off and suggests I be admitted so they can monitor the 24 hour urine collection for preeclampsia and then I would already be there in the AM for the other appointemnts they were setting up with ENT and Neurology. He said I could go home if I really wanted to, but I decided to just stay because I was tired.

Flash forward to 4:30 AM - I am in the Mother/Baby ward as there was an open room there. I had been waking up periodically throughout the night, watching the National Geographic special on Multiples and feeling contractions again. But these were different. Instead of a contraction that basically encompassed my entire belly, these were quite a bit lower in my abdomen, almost idenitcal to severe menstrual cramps. They were about 5 minutes apart and then stopped. So I kinda forgot about them again. Then, out of nowhere - my water broke - everywhere! It was the craziest thing! Called the nurse who started to literally have a heart attack. Called the husband who had gone home for the night with the 3 year old. The nurse came in in a frenzy - as it turned out, there was a critical case happening that very moment on the floor (a code) and there were no doctors available. But I was calm b/c I thought that I had a little time here - I mean, my water had JUST broke and I was already at the hospital! Imagine the luck! Moments passed and a couple med students and Residents came in and took me to a pre op room as we knew it was going to be a c section (Evi was breech). They explained the severity of the critical case already taking place on the floor and that the doctors would be available soon. I asked that they check my cervix right away b/c I had been 3.5 cm dilated for a few days already and I went FAST with my first born. So the 1st year resident got ready for that - in the meantime, it was pretty chaotic everywhere else. I'll never forget the the next thing that took place - the resident who was checking my cervix, stopped, looked up at me and said "OK - we need to remain calm, but your cord is presenting and you and I are going to be connected like this for the next who knows how long. This is called cord prolapse. I need to hold this cord away from the baby and we need to do a section NOW!" I think I might have went into shock. It was then that she jumped on the gurney with me and the remaining students and nurses shoved us trough hallways, hitting walls, knocking over anything in the way. I felt like I was on an episode of ER or something. The rest is a blur - I had to go under general anesthesia (sp?) as there was no time for anything else. Doctors got there, nurses and everyone else were called from other departments throughout the hospital. My husband had made it through the blizzard and to the hospital but couldn't be in the OR with me. Things just happened too quickly. Those amazing doctors and students and residents and nurses, especially my Guardian Angel who saved the life of Baby A (Evi)by manually holding the cord, did an amazing job. I just am so thankful for what they did. How do you repay something like that?

The funny thing about it all is that, if I wouldn't have gone into the hospital that morning with the Bell's Palsy - Evi would not have made it. We wouldn't have made it to the hospital in time after my water broke. So as I have said a zillion times in the last week and a half - God works in mysterious ways. Despite complications along the way, everything fell into place with the birth of these two beautiful creatures!

Now for the great news - Evi was in the NICU for about an hour or two and then went to the nursery. She is doing great and is home with us now. She is still a little under her birth weight, which they aren't concerned with, as I am trying to get the old pipes working again! Between all the Magnesium, meds, etc, I think it just took a little longer for my milk to hit. Then again, maybe she is giving Elsa a chance to 'catch up'!

Elsa is just surprising us daily! She went to the NICU right away and then went up a level within a few hours. She is a PEANUT but so strong! She had the CPAP for about 6 hours and they removed the nasal canula after one week. She is on room air now and it is amazing how much she has grown! She was born at 2#12.5oz, lost a few ounces at first, and is now 3#4oz after 1.5 weeks. She had severe IUGR which was most likely the result of a poor placenta/cord. I'm telling you - she is making up for lost time! I can't wait to bring her home. I know the sisters miss each other terribly!

A sincere thank you to all of you who have been so WONDERFUL with your kind words, advice, prayers...I really don't know what I would have done without this website and the encouragement from everyone. I feel like I have found friends for life and only hope that I can offer such graciousness and support for all of you as we begin this journey with twins!
I'll post pictures as soon as I figure that out!

See you in FY!

 

Wow - what a week and a half it has been! I've was holding off a little on our birth story - and feel like I should put a small disclaimer out there . It was a wild delivery but the outcome was truly a miracle! I just don't want anyone to read the following and get discouraged or scared. I had several complications all along with my twin pregnancy so we knew my delivery might be interesting.

Evelyn Carole (Evi) 5 # 4 oz 5:26 AM 1/15/07
Elsie Hope (Elsa) 2 # 12.5 oz 5:27 AM 1/15/07 IUGR baby
Born at 35 weeks 3 days Emergency c section


Where do I begin....Last Sunday I posted about waking up in the morning with Bell's Palsy - a condition where facial paralysis occurs in half of the face. It was such a shocker and we called the hospital right away, as I had been in L&D the last two days for monitoring and I was basically getting preeclampsia. They told me to come in. Had an MRI to rule out a stroke (I'm telling you - it was a crazy day!) and then sat around while everyone tried to tell me that I needed a major procedure to correct the damaged nerves (The University of Iowa Hospitals has the top ENT program in the country, so there lots of people talking to me about this aggressive procedure. It was totally the LAST thing on my mind!) I just wanted to rest. In the meantime, a winter blizzard is brewing up outside (our first this winter) and I am feeling conractions here and there. My MFM doc pops in on his day off and suggests I be admitted so they can monitor the 24 hour urine collection for preeclampsia and then I would already be there in the AM for the other appointemnts they were setting up with ENT and Neurology. He said I could go home if I really wanted to, but I decided to just stay because I was tired.

Flash forward to 4:30 AM - I am in the Mother/Baby ward as there was an open room there. I had been waking up periodically throughout the night, watching the National Geographic special on Multiples and feeling contractions again. But these were different. Instead of a contraction that basically encompassed my entire belly, these were quite a bit lower in my abdomen, almost idenitcal to severe menstrual cramps. They were about 5 minutes apart and then stopped. So I kinda forgot about them again. Then, out of nowhere - my water broke - everywhere! It was the craziest thing! Called the nurse who started to literally have a heart attack. Called the husband who had gone home for the night with the 3 year old. The nurse came in in a frenzy - as it turned out, there was a critical case happening that very moment on the floor (a code) and there were no doctors available. But I was calm b/c I thought that I had a little time here - I mean, my water had JUST broke and I was already at the hospital! Imagine the luck! Moments passed and a couple med students and Residents came in and took me to a pre op room as we knew it was going to be a c section (Evi was breech). They explained the severity of the critical case already taking place on the floor and that the doctors would be available soon. I asked that they check my cervix right away b/c I had been 3.5 cm dilated for a few days already and I went FAST with my first born. So the 1st year resident got ready for that - in the meantime, it was pretty chaotic everywhere else. I'll never forget the the next thing that took place - the resident who was checking my cervix, stopped, looked up at me and said "OK - we need to remain calm, but your cord is presenting and you and I are going to be connected like this for the next who knows how long. This is called cord prolapse. I need to hold this cord away from the baby and we need to do a section NOW!" I think I might have went into shock. It was then that she jumped on the gurney with me and the remaining students and nurses shoved us trough hallways, hitting walls, knocking over anything in the way. I felt like I was on an episode of ER or something. The rest is a blur - I had to go under general anesthesia (sp?) as there was no time for anything else. Doctors got there, nurses and everyone else were called from other departments throughout the hospital. My husband had made it through the blizzard and to the hospital but couldn't be in the OR with me. Things just happened too quickly. Those amazing doctors and students and residents and nurses, especially my Guardian Angel who saved the life of Baby A (Evi)by manually holding the cord, did an amazing job. I just am so thankful for what they did. How do you repay something like that?

The funny thing about it all is that, if I wouldn't have gone into the hospital that morning with the Bell's Palsy - Evi would not have made it. We wouldn't have made it to the hospital in time after my water broke. So as I have said a zillion times in the last week and a half - God works in mysterious ways. Despite complications along the way, everything fell into place with the birth of these two beautiful creatures!

Now for the great news - Evi was in the NICU for about an hour or two and then went to the nursery. She is doing great and is home with us now. She is still a little under her birth weight, which they aren't concerned with, as I am trying to get the old pipes working again! Between all the Magnesium, meds, etc, I think it just took a little longer for my milk to hit. Then again, maybe she is giving Elsa a chance to 'catch up'!

Elsa is just surprising us daily! She went to the NICU right away and then went up a level within a few hours. She is a PEANUT but so strong! She had the CPAP for about 6 hours and they removed the nasal canula after one week. She is on room air now and it is amazing how much she has grown! She was born at 2#12.5oz, lost a few ounces at first, and is now 3#4oz after 1.5 weeks. She had severe IUGR which was most likely the result of a poor placenta/cord. I'm telling you - she is making up for lost time! I can't wait to bring her home. I know the sisters miss each other terribly!

A sincere thank you to all of you who have been so WONDERFUL with your kind words, advice, prayers...I really don't know what I would have done without this website and the encouragement from everyone. I feel like I have found friends for life and only hope that I can offer such graciousness and support for all of you as we begin this journey with twins!
I'll post pictures as soon as I figure that out!

See you in FY!

 

Wow! What a story!

Looks like you were definitely being looked out for. Glad the babies are doing good and thank goodness for all the little things that happened to get you there, have them notice the cord, etc.

I had an emergency c/s with my son and I remember things being crazy and just feeling like I was on an episode of ER. I had the general anestesia too, it was a bit weird not really "being" there for the birth and even now what I remember is really blurry.

Make sure you right everything you remember down now, its the closest you will get, because as the years slip away, I look at pics and don't remember even the first time I saw my baby.

Congrats~~~

 

I am getting all teary reading your birth story! It really IS a miracle that things played out the way they did. I'm so happy for you, and I know you will NEVER forget the crazy day you had your beautiful girls. I hope you're all together at home soon!

Reyna

 

Wow- that is one great birth story to share with the girls when they are older! I was in between crying (about how serious) and laughing (at the picture of a resident jumping on the gurney like an extension of you). That was SUCH a miracle to be at the right place, the right time, with the right people!

Mine are transverse so I am so scared of the cord prolapse if my water breaks. From what I have heard you have to get your head in the floor and hips high. Can you imagine trying to ride to the hospital like that (not that you would have known you were having that complication). You'd snap your neck if the car stopped too quick!.

 

WOW!!!!!!!! Praise God! I'm so happy things really worked out so "well" for you!! COngrats on the birth of your little girls!! What an amazing story!!!

 

Congratulations! I'm so glad that everything had a happy ending. Can't wait to see pics.

 

congratulations!!!

 

Congratulations!!!! I am so happy to hear a happy ending to your incredible birth story

 

Thanks be to God that your two little ones arrived safely and are doing remarkably well!! Reading your story put tears in my eyes as well. Our ds was delivered by emergency c-section as his cord also presented itself and prolapsed following the vaginal birth of his sister. What a joy that you have your two little ones safe and healthy!!

 

Wow - how amazing! Sounds like everyone is doing well now though! COngratulations and welcome to the FY!

 

Elsa is almost just like Jessy except Jessy had to have less O2. Jessy weighted enough by 25 days to go home(she weighted 2lbs 13oz at 34+1).

 

All I can say is WOW! I got a little teary-eyed reading your story, but I'm so happy everything turned out so well! Again, WOW!

Evi!! Elsa!!
to FY, mommy!

 

Wow! What a story! It looks like your little girl is really meant to be here. I agree with you, God works in mysterious ways and everything has a purpose. Congrats on the birth of your little girls !It sounds like for the most part things are going well.

 

Can't think of anythig else to say but WOW!!
Glad you and the babies are doing well after your amazing birth!
Alyson

 

That is truly an amazing birth story!! Thanks so much for sharing and Congratulations!!!

 

Wow what a crazy and amazing delivery! Congratulations! I hope you little girl can come home soon.

 

oh my goodness!!! that is an amazing story!!! you are right God works in mysterious ways...

 

Oh my goodness! That is one of the most dramatic stories I've read! I'm so glad everything worked out and you're all okay.

Congrats on your little babies; I hope you can reunite them soon. When you get Elsa home, look out! My little IUGR baby, Annika, is a VORACIOUS eater who is hungry 24/7. It's like she's saying, "I was starving for 9 months, now FEED ME!"

Congrats again and keep us updated when you can!

 

THat is an amazing story! When I had my emergent C-section- there were 2 others that night with similar issues- so it was a very busy time! Congrats on your new babies

 

What an incredible story! God works in mysterious ways doesnt he?

 

So glad that everyone is doing well! What a rollercoaster!! And I bet that that resident won't forget you and your girls either! Love on those babies for us!!

 

Congratulations! I am soo happy for you that things worked out the way they did! Glad to hear everyone is doing well. I hope you are all together real soon!

We had a resident we adored, we took pictures of her with each of the babies. We had seen her a few different times during the end of my pregnancy and she truly understood how my body was working when others didn't. (Some of the nurses were talking behind her back about how she was not handling things correctly when she really was and was right on top of me). We got her address and sent her cards periodically although I do have to say we have lost touch over the last couple of years, I did put her pics in K&K's photo albums and we will always remember what she did for us!

 

Congratulations! I'm glad everything worked out so wonderfully and it sounds like the girls are doing great. Go Elsa!

 

WOW! WOW! WOW! What an amazing story!!!! I'm sooooooooo glad to hear that everything turned out so wonderfully!!!

What guardian angels you had!

Sending you BIG HUGS!

 

Wow, that's an incredible story! I'm glad everything turned out OK in the end; it must've been scary, though. How are you doing? Was the Bells Palsy related to the pregnancy?

Happy Birthday, Evi and Elsa!

 

Crying tears of joy for your blessed outcome! CONGRATULATIONS on your 2 baby girls!!

 

quote:
I was in between crying (about how serious) and laughing (at the picture of a resident jumping on the gurney like an extension of you).


This was me as well. I have kleenexes everywhere. What a fantastic story and what a powerful woman you are Oh there I go crying again. Dang these hormones and your beautiful story

 

OMG!!! I am GUSHING here reading your beautiful birth story. What little miracles you have. You are truly blessed!!!! Congratulations.

 

What an amazing birth story. I am so glad that every1 is ok and doing well. What an eventfull night you had! I bet that resident will not forget you in a while! But seriously (sp?)im glad that every1 is doing well X

 

what a wild ride, glad to read it with the "happy ending"

welcome to the FY board and love the names.
Miriam

 

GOD IS GREAT!!!! I am so glad that everyone is ok!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! sweet girls!!!!

see you in First year!!!!

 

Congratulations! Evi & Elsa

 

What a birth story! Praise God! You were definitely at the best place in the state to be for your babies births. I spent 5 days in the pediatric unit this past summer with our son. What a great hospital and professional staff. I'd call this a beautiful miracle.

Rose

 

What a crazy ride and what wonderful news that everything worked out perfectly! Yes, someone was definitely watching out for y'all. Feeling that has been the best days of this pregnancy so far. Thank you for sharing the description of how the contractions changed. It's the kind of concrete detail that makes me feel less nervous about THE DAY. Especially also that you are so positive and that seems to help you and the babies to THRIVE! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!! (and thank you for sharing).