Luke & Savannah are here!

I went in for a non-stress test on March 3, because I hadn't felt Luke move very much that day. As soon as they put the monitors on, both babies started squirming like usual. I was relieved and was expecting the nurse to come back in and send me home any minute. My doc happened to be there right then and asked the nurse to check me while I was there. I was dilated to 3 cm. She said, "By the way, you are having contractions every 2 minutes, so you'll have to stay at least another hour, so we can make sure you aren't in labor." After an hour I was dilated to 4+cm, so my doc came to talk to me. He said that they may be able to slow or stop my labor, but that it would be quite likely that I'd end up back there later that night, and then we'd have to do an emergency c-section. He said he'd prefer to just work out all of the logistics and get all the people we needed there, and have the c-section in an hour or two. I was in complete shock! I started to freak out, because I knew the babies weren't ready, and I wasn't ready. We went ahead with it though, and the babies are here!

After so many weeks of wishing I wouldn't have to be pregnant much longer, I was suddenly wishing for the opposite (be careful what you wish for right?!?). My babies both had a hard time breathing initially (even though I'd had steroid shots). Luke started to improve a lot the next day, and was taken off oxygen. Savannah struggled for the next couple of days, until they decided they needed to send her by ambulance to a hospital an hour away (Our hospital only had a level 2 nursery). That was so incredibly hard! I stayed with Luke, because my doc didn't want to release me yet, and Luke had started nursing pretty well, so I didn't want to leave. My Mom and husband went with Savannah to the NICU. They stayed with her until I could get there on a couple of days later. It was an overwhelming, whirlwind week of traveling back and forth between hospitals and home to see my other to boys.

Savannah is home now. She stayed in the NICU about another week, mostly learning to nurse. She is still on a little bit of oxygen, but mostly as a precaution because we took her up about 3500 feet in elevation when we brought her home. Luke regressed and quit eating, so he is still in the hospital as a grower/feeder. I hope he'll be able to come home some time this week.

Whatever you do, don't wish away those last few weeks of pregnancy (even though you are miserable!). Leaving your babies in the hospital is so heartbreaking! Just take it easy and keep those babies in the oven for as long as possible. I keep thinking if I'd quit trying to do everything I normally would, that maybe they'd still be inside growing stronger instead of struggling outside.

They are both so adorable! I already love them so much!
Savannah was 4 lbs 13 oz & 17 inches long
Luke was 4 lbs 11 oz & 18 inches long
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Congratulations on your babies! They are beautiful!! I'm glad they're both home with you now. One of my boys also had to be shipped off to a NICU and that was so hard! I also struggled with those same feelings of regret that I didn't do more to keep them in, but it all worked out in the end! I'm glad everything is going well for you now! Congratulations again!!

 

Congratulations Momma!! Welcome Savannah and Luke! :wub: I'm glad to hear you are all doing good. :hug:

 

Congrats! The NICU experience is so hard and even more so when the hospital is far away. Hope Luke gets back to eating ASAP! My "whimpy white boys" were really tough to get to eat. They just wanted to sleep. Hang in there!

 

CONGRATULATIONS!!! They are adorable! Hang in there the worst is behind you. :grouphug:

 

They are beautiful! Congratulations Momma! I hope Luke comes home very soon!

 

Congratulations! x

 

Congratulations!! They are adorable!

 

Congratulations on your babies! :Clap: I hope Luke comes home real soon. :hug: Please visit the NICU forum for any support you need during his stay.

 

Congratulations Momma and Welcome to the First year!! :yahoo: I am glad to hear that everyone is doing great. I also could not agree with you more about being careful what you wish for, the NICU is an incredibly hard thing to have to deal with! I hope Luke gets to come home with you soon!!

 

:birthday: Luke and Savannah! They are so small and precious. Just like you said about not wishing away the last part of pregnancy, don't wish away the newborn months. They really fly by (in retrospect, at least!) and you'll treasure each time you get to look in those tiny faces.

It's OK to wish away the sleepless nights, though

 

Congrats momma they are beautiful !! the nicu is hard i had the same thing with my boys but your little one will be home soon

 

Congratulations on your beautiful babies! Glad things are going well. Please keep us posted and let us know the updates!

 

Congratulation, moma!!

 

[SIZE=12pt]Congratulations!!!! They are gorgeous, hopefully little Luke will be able to come home soon [/SIZE]

 

:clapping: CONGRATULATIONS! :woohoo:

 

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

 

Congrats!! They are adorable. Visit us in the NICU forum if you need any support during their stay.

 

CONGRATULATIONS!!! :yahoo: Your little ones are just adorable :wub: :wub:

 

Congrats on your beautiful babies!

 

Congrats on your beautiful babies!

 

:welcome: Luke & Savannah!
They are beautiful and Luke will be home with you soon. Take care and don't beat yourself up, you did a good job and your babes are going to be just fine.

CONGRATULATIONS MOMMA!

 

Congrats on your two gorgeous babies!