Our Birth Story

The quick stats- Birthday 2-5-08
9:41am Addison Elaine(4lbs 6oz.-17 1/2 inches) 9:42am Austin James(3lbs
12oz.- 17 inches)
Gestational Age- 34 weeks 3 days.

To summarize a long and scary story: I went to my Ob appointment with my Mom last Monday morning, while we were there Austin showed cord compression on the fetal monitor. Immediately the nurse ran from the room and came back with a Doctor and three other nurses. I was rolled to my side and an oxygen mask was put on me. They got Austin's heart rate back up and it was decided I was headed to Labor and Delivery, I even rode on a stretcher! My Mom called my dh and I think he broke the speedometer on the car getting to the hospital.

When we got there I was hooked to the fetal monitors again and the testing began, it was quickly determined Austin was perfectly fine. It was also fairly quickly determined I might not be. Throughout the night many blood tests were done along with a multitude of other tests. I did not sleep. At 7am two of my Ob Doctors showed up in my room and told me that I needed an emergency C-section. I asked, "later this afternoon?"
They replied, "no, in an hour or so." I called and told my dh and my Mom.
At that point I started shaking with fear. Apparently overnight the tests indicated a very quick drop out of my maintained pre-emclampsia towards a condition called, HELLP. These two conditions are deadly to the Mother and can flare into an irreversible state within 6 hours. An indicator that I overlooked was a blinding headache that began Superbowl Sunday and did not disappear even after they gave me codeine on Monday at the hospital. I am so thankful my little man Austin squished up his cord and caused me to be admitted to the hospital.

The c-section went well and the babies came out screaming their heads off and both scored nines on their Apgars. The babies were taken to the NICU due to their size. Austin was born at 3lbs.12oz and Addi at 4.6.
I was given a 24 hour magnesium IV that started right when the section began to prevent the seizures that are associated with HELLP. The magnesium drip prohibited me from moving out of my bed for the 24 hours.
This is the reason I was in the hospital for such an extended stay. I had to have follow-up testing and monitoring until yesterday to ensure I am headed back to a safe recovery.

Now the GOOD NEWS, the babies are super strong. They have been without any tubes, IVs or oxygen since a couple hours in the NICU. They are basically in the NICU just to feed and gain weight. This is a blessing after seeing much bigger babies in there with them with such terrible problems. Now, the BEST NEWS, Austin will be coming home this Tuesday and Addison either Wednesday or Thursday.

Here is the website with all the pictures so far...
http://www.imagevent.com/mark99tj

 

Congratulations! I'm glad things worked out in the end! I'm sure those were some scary moments!!

 

So glad you are all ok. You have had quite a ride. The babies are so cute. Congratulations and enjoy your little miracles.

Jen

 

Oh my gosh, they are precious!!! (And I love their names!!) What a scary story! I'm so glad you are all doing well. :banana: Congrats!!

 

Congratulations. It's amazing you happen to be in the hospital at that time. Best wishes to your family!

 

:birthday: babies!!

Congratulations and :sign0016: to the first year!!

They are absolutely precious. So beautiful and so sweet.

 

:clapping: :yahoo: You are my HERO and they are absolutely beautiful!!

 

Congratulations!!!! They are both adorable. Sounds like a very scary time, so glad everything turned out ok

Dianna
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Congratulations!!

 

WOW WOW WOW
1st what a scary situation
2nd glad everything happened for a reason and you and your babies are ok
3rd what adorable babies!!!!!

Elizabeth

 

What a story. Thank God it has a happy ending. Your babies couldn't be more beautiful. I wish you all well, Lisa

 

Congratulations! I am really glad that everything worked out for all of you. Beautiful babies!!!

 

Wow! That must have been so scary. I am glad to hear that the babies are doing well though and I hope to hear that they are home with you soon!

 

Glad everything turned out all right - congratulations!!

Angela

 

Congratulations!! They are gorgeous, i hope their NICU stay is a short and uneventfull one x

 

Congrats. I'm glad everything turned out okay.

 

Congratulations! How great that they will be home soon!

 

Congratulations! They are adorable! I'm glad everything turned out okay!

 

Congratulations!! I'm so glad everything turned out so well. What a scary situation and bless little Austin for letting those doctors know his Mama wasn't quite right!
The photos are so cute - I love the ones of the babies holding Daddy's wedding ring!

 

Congratulations! They are beautiful. And how wonderful that they will be coming home so soon. I, too, developed HELLP with my twin pregnancy....it's scary. Glad you are doing fine now!

 

Congratulations! Glad everyone is ok. They are so cute!

 

Congratulations. They are so precious! :wub:

 

Congratulations!!! Your babies are absolutely beautiful!!!! Good job Mama! I am glad everything worked out well.

 

What wonderful news! It is amazing how your little one helped you out!!!
Erin

 

congrats! they are adorable! very scary birth im glad all is well now

 

Oh what a story! Congratulations. They are absolutely gorgeous! Enjoy this sweet new baby time.

 

Congrats!

QUOTE(trouble squared @ Feb 11 2008, 06:16 PM) [snapback]616922[/snapback]
The quick stats- Birthday 2-5-08
9:41am Addison Elaine(4lbs 6oz.-17 1/2 inches) 9:42am Austin James(3lbs
12oz.- 17 inches)
Gestational Age- 34 weeks 3 days.

To summarize a long and scary story: I went to my Ob appointment with my Mom last Monday morning, while we were there Austin showed cord compression on the fetal monitor. Immediately the nurse ran from the room and came back with a Doctor and three other nurses. I was rolled to my side and an oxygen mask was put on me. They got Austin's heart rate back up and it was decided I was headed to Labor and Delivery, I even rode on a stretcher! My Mom called my dh and I think he broke the speedometer on the car getting to the hospital.

When we got there I was hooked to the fetal monitors again and the testing began, it was quickly determined Austin was perfectly fine. It was also fairly quickly determined I might not be. Throughout the night many blood tests were done along with a multitude of other tests. I did not sleep. At 7am two of my Ob Doctors showed up in my room and told me that I needed an emergency C-section. I asked, "later this afternoon?"
They replied, "no, in an hour or so." I called and told my dh and my Mom.
At that point I started shaking with fear. Apparently overnight the tests indicated a very quick drop out of my maintained pre-emclampsia towards a condition called, HELLP. These two conditions are deadly to the Mother and can flare into an irreversible state within 6 hours. An indicator that I overlooked was a blinding headache that began Superbowl Sunday and did not disappear even after they gave me codeine on Monday at the hospital. I am so thankful my little man Austin squished up his cord and caused me to be admitted to the hospital.

The c-section went well and the babies came out screaming their heads off and both scored nines on their Apgars. The babies were taken to the NICU due to their size. Austin was born at 3lbs.12oz and Addi at 4.6.
I was given a 24 hour magnesium IV that started right when the section began to prevent the seizures that are associated with HELLP. The magnesium drip prohibited me from moving out of my bed for the 24 hours.
This is the reason I was in the hospital for such an extended stay. I had to have follow-up testing and monitoring until yesterday to ensure I am headed back to a safe recovery.

Now the GOOD NEWS, the babies are super strong. They have been without any tubes, IVs or oxygen since a couple hours in the NICU. They are basically in the NICU just to feed and gain weight. This is a blessing after seeing much bigger babies in there with them with such terrible problems. Now, the BEST NEWS, Austin will be coming home this Tuesday and Addison either Wednesday or Thursday.

Here is the website with all the pictures so far...
http://www.imagevent.com/mark99tj

 

Sounds like they're doing great! Congratulations!
My girls were in NICU for 3 wks as growers and feeders. It was hard, but i kept reminding myself of all the serious problems they could have been there for, and that made it easier. I hope they're stay is short.
Congrats again!

 

Congrats on their birth!!!! They are just gorgeous! Glad to hear their stay in the NICU will be short! I'm glad they caught the onset of HELLP so quickly adn were able to get you delivered. That is some nasty stuff and you are lucky! I was being tested for that and man, they move quickly when that's a consideration. Luckily, I didn't have it, but it's scary.

 

Congratulations! I'm glad everything worked out in the end, but what a scary time that must have been! Your babies are beautiful- thanks for sharing their pics!

 

Congratulations! :Clap: I'm sorry the delivery was so sudden but it's great to hear that everyone is doing well. I developed HELLP during labor and I definitely was not a fan of the mag drip. Yuck! It's wonderful that the babies will be home soon. My littlest was also a feeder/grower and came home after 7 days at 3 lbs 11 oz. Make sure you have some preemie clothes ready. One tip, see if the newborn diapers fit before spending the extra money on preemie size. I assumed I'd have to get preemie size but the nurse told me they'd been putting Sierra in newborn all along. So I tried newborn and it fit just fine. That saved a lot of money. Congrats again!

 

I am so happy to read you're ok now and the babies are healthy given their small size. Thanks for sharing your story and pictures...