starting last Tuesday evening. I woke up Wednesday non-itchy, no ankle
pain, could breathe, my bladder felt great, and had an urge to clean
house and pack my suitcase. I cooked dinner and told Duane that if the
next few weeks felt like this, I would be great!
I felt the same way Thursday, and that evening told Duane I was
worried I was going into labor, that I felt like I was "nesting".
That night I awoke from a dream where I was in labor. I woke up and my
lower back hurt, so I went to pee, and when I came back it still hurt.
I changed positions and it kept hurting. I sat up and it hurt. I
checked my uterus and noticed it was tightening when I felt the pain.
I called the RN on call and they called the OB and called and said for
me to head over to Piedmont. It was 3 a.m. and I had only climbed into
bed to sleep at 12:30! I woke up Duane and apologised to him for going
in for a "False alarm" but told him it was best that we be responsible.
At Piedmont I walked up to the second floor, walked to the room, sat
down and told the nurse to check me so I could go home. Well, on the
monitor I was having contractions every two minutes! And, I was
effaced and dilated 1 cm. Based on having had my cervix monitored only
three days before and having the measurments etc, they told me I would
be having the babies THAT DAY. I told them I was NOT, I was going home!
I wanted them to let me just keep going, but, because of the boys last
u/s, they felt that I might pose him risks if we waited around to see
if the contractions stopped. Like, when we first arrived and my
contractions had been harder, his heart rate had dropped for a minute.
So, we called the peri and his recommendation was to proceed with the
c-section that morning.
I can't tell you how shocked and upset I was. I kept asking what I
had done wrong. The fact is the boy had been engaged for over three
weeks and my cervix had been rapidly changing...
The c-section was done with a spinal *and* epidurel. The spinal for
the procedure, then they add the eidurel medicine and allow you to
stay numb for 24 hours.
Lucas Cristiano was born at 11:32 weighing in at 4 pounds 12 ounces
and apgar scores of 8 and 9.
Matilda Bronwyn was born at 11:33 weighing in at 4 pounds 14 ounces
and apgar scores of 9 and 9.
Duane WATCHED the entire thing. He is so funny! He loved watching the
surgery. Grossed me out!
Lucas was in NICU for 6 hours while they watched him breathe as he was
born grunting, but after 6 hours he went to "step down" with Matilda.
They have been there all week. :-( They had to see them take in ALL
their meal within 30 minutes for 8 meals in a row and both of them
keep missing ONE meal every day! So, while they aren't in NICU, they
are still in the hospital in what you might call "transitional" nursery,
or "step down", or "intermediate" nursery. Its been so lonely not
having them home, but they have to eat!
Whats really hard is everyone keeps congratulating me on carrying my
twins for 35 weeks and 2 days, and I feel like I failed them. I
thought I would make it to 38 weeks.
Lucas looks just like Duane right now, and Matilda doesn't look like
anyone I know, but she sure is gorgeous! Lucas has the sweetest little
face and is so patient and gentle. Matilda has a bad temper and
furrows up her brow anytime she doesn't get her way! They are snuggled
up in the same crib and love to be right beside one another.
Here are some pictures, too.
About my recovery- right after my c-section they wanted me to see my
abdomen. Did any of you have this??? Have you ever seen or owned a
sweater that you wore so often that it had "breasts" in it when you
weren't wearing it? Because the sweater was so snug on you? Well, my
stomach had that! After birth I had indentions on each side in the
shape of the babies! I said "whats wrong with my stomach?!?!?!" And
they told me it was the impressions of the babies but that it would go
away.
Because of being on heparin, I can't take motrin and they put me on
percocet. I went off of it three days later and since 4 days post op
haven't taken anything for pain. WHY? Because the percocet made my
ankles swell to the size of my calves, constipated me so bad that I
required two ducolzx suppositores and an enema within 15 hours, and
made my stomach bloat up to 8 months pregnant again! Taking zero pain
killer is better than that one!
My waist is down 9 inches since wearing an abdominal binder. MAN do I
recomend this! They used to be standard with c-sections. My OB said I
didn't need it, they were for obese patients. Well, I couldn't get
myself out of bed. I tried an ace bandage around my stomach and
instantly had support, and Duane bought me the belt. As soon as I put
it on, all my pain went away, and my waist is down to a 29 one week
post op. Its the belt! It feels so snug and cozy and it stops all the
"jiggle" feeling after birth. I LOVE it.
I am a breast feeding flunkie. NO, I didn't get engorged after
childbirth like everyone said I would. Apparently not experiencing
breast changes during pregnancy is a risk factor for not coming into
milk. I have seen three lactation consultants and with their help I
get one ounce from 8 pumping sessions. ONE ounce total. :-( We are
going to try fenugreek over the weekend and if it doesn't increase my
supply we are going to get the reglan Monday (I hope) from my OB. The
consultants all say my form is right, and I should have milk... I am very disappointed because after being indifferent to breastfeeding, after seeing and holding my babies I have wanted to give them breastmilk sooooo bad. They mix my teesny one ounce in with their evening bottles. One ounce! Ack! I met other
risk factors for not getting milk as well- not experiencing breast
changes during puberty (It was a year later before I started to get
breasts), carrying preemies.
I LOVE my babies. Never ever did I think I possessed such love to
give. I keep looking at them and saying "I made that!". It is so
shocking and surprising to me to marvel at these little people who are
apart of Duane and I. They smell so good and they feel so warm and
they are the cutest things ever. EVERYONE should be a parent. I can't
wait for Wendy to get her baby. I thought of her almost instantly, and
started wishing she would get news of a match soon. I want every woman
to feel the way I do.
OK, I am going to check out bellypics, then go pump.
Lucas and Matilda~ one week old today!
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