Our Birth Story
- Our twin daughters were born almost 2 months early, the story of their miraculous birth is below. Want to know more about preemies? Click Here
How their new lives began
For those of you who followed my pregnancy journal, you are aware of the complications that began around 22 weeks into my pregnancy. Baby A's fluid was extremely low and we were having ultrasounds performed every 2 weeks to monitor the situation by a Perintologist (about 2 hours away). As time progressed, things actually started looking more positive. Baby A's fluid did not get substantially lower. Our last, out of town (level 2), ultrasound was scheduled when I was almost 32 weeks along. If things had been okay at that visit our local OB/GYN would be taking over over pregnancy once again & I would've been scheduled to deliver in our hometown. We had been so confident in the outcome that we *almost* didn't pack my bags in case I was hospitalized. Well, needless to say, things did not turn out as planned. I was indeed hospitalized because Baby A's fluid had become lower -- matter fact, they were having a difficult time finding any! DH & myself were in a panic when the perintologist informed us that (I quote) "you won't be going home pregnant". It sounds simple enough, but for us, we felt slammed with the reality that we were going to be parents of twins -- and most likely premature twins. Horrible thoughts were going through my mind about the outcome of this pregnancy. We'd tried for so long and had such a hard pregnancy -- what if something happened to one or both of the girls? AHHHHhhh! You can imagine our fear....although DH was still quite optimistic.
As each day of my 9 day hospital stay passed, I became more frustrated & completely miserable. Thank GOD that we had friends we lived in the city where I was hospitalized and that DH works nearby. I was going stir crazy and had way too much time to think. I had some truely wonderful nurses though -- they made the stay more enjoyable. They even had VCR's, playstation/nintendo, etc. to keep "those in waiting" entertained & calm. My perintologist informed me that I could stand to gain some more weight in hopes that the girls would benefit from maternal weight gain. Each night, around midnight, the nurses would put in an order at the grill for anything fried! My friend brought Mickey D's fries and strawberry milkshakes each day. Talk about being babied! I was loving that! :0)
For 3 consecutive nights, the nurses would come in (while I was in a dead sleep) and wake me up by turning me from side to side. Obviously something was going wrong. They kept telling me that Baby B's heartrate was dropping. They thought she was simply lying on her umbilical cord and by moving me -- she would move off her cord. However, the incidence of this happening was becoming more frequent. And seemed to coincide with even the smallest of contactions. Plus, the contractions themselves were coming more frequently & I was given meds to stop those. Also, taking the steriods to aid in maturing the girls lungs (just in case). We were now doing ultrasounds every day. The purpose was to monitor Baby A's fluid, which was increasing a bit, and to check Baby B's cord. Huh?...we thought Baby B was perfectly fine. Now I had to find space in my jammed-packed-with-worry brain for more upsetting news. I was holding up -- somehow -- DH was was holding up -- somehow -- grandma & grandad were holding up -- somehow.
After our last ultrasound and deceleration of Baby B's heartrate, our perintologist came to speak with me and my mother (DH & my father were back home, 2 hours away). He said he thought it would be best to induce labor at this point. He was concerned that Baby B's cord & placenta were deteriorating. We also met with a Neonatologist, since the girls were going to arrive at only 32.6 weeks gestation. At this point, we were more relieved than anything -- but this was going to be "D-day" and fear was mixed in the emotional basket as well. I called DH. I told him what was going on and suggested he come on to the hospital soon...however, there was no need to rush b/c we were attempted a vaginal delivery and it would be hours before anything started happening. I was only 1 cm dialated and 50% effaced. DH contacted my father and decided they would make the trip asap. It's a good thing he did, b/c about 15 minutes after that conversation I had begun having more contractions and the Baby was not tolerating any of them. With each one, her heartrate would plunge! The doctor decided we needed to have a C-section very soon. They started prepping me right then. I couldn't get in touch with DH, so I knew he was on his way -- but would he make it? I WAS NOT going to have these babies without him!
Just as my DH arrived they were wheeling me off to the OR. He scrubbed up & was there by my side for the whole thing. Because this was a planned section, I was able to have an epidural and be awake for the BIG event! They gave me the epidural and the fun began. So far, not a bit of any type of pain...just a little fear. I heard them say "begin making the incision" -- as The Door's, "Riders on the storm" play in the background. I'll be honest, it was making feel very wacked out -- even more so then the medication. I was in and out of an alert state, when they lifted up my first daughter, Baby A. I just got a peek of her over the screen. Dh was in awe! I asked if she was okay, got the answer YES, then drifted off for the next couple of seconds. Next, I awakened by the loud cry of Baby B. She had the most amazing voice in the world. I've never heard anything quite like that sweet sound. DH peeked over the screen for their birth and would later tell the wild story of my belly being opened up & life being pulled out! He was so strong & amazing. At this point, I know my girls are alive & my husband is semi in charge of the situation so I allow myself to drift off once again. I didn't wake up until they brought my Baby A for me to see as they were stitching my up. She was gorgeous -- no words can be written to express the way I was feeling. They took her to the NICU & I would not see her or her sister for another 6 LONG hours.
As I was recovering from the c-section and there were problems with some of the other babies in the NICU...6 hours elasped before I could see my babies. Their daddy had already seen them. When I finally did see them, it was a blur. I guess the emotions from the birth and then seeing them with tubes and wires everywhere was too much. So sadly, those first precious moments were not as we had hoped. But I am just thankful their lives were saved.
My girls arrived on August 27th, 1999 -- Baby A @ 1:23 pm, weighing 3lbs, 14oz. Baby B @ 1:24 pm, wieghing 3lbs, .06oz. Neither was on ventilators! (thank goodness for the steriod shots that matured their little lungs). Baby A was on blow-by oxygen only. Baby B was on none. They were immediately taken to isolettes and IV's for fluid/nurishment. We have been so blessed to have healthy preemies. Niether had any of the common preemie problems, other than (both) feeding problems. Baby A had a couple of spells (apnea, bradycardia) within the first 2 days of her life. And Baby B required oxygen when we came home -- just 34 days later.
For more about their lives in thr NICU (nik-U), Click Here.
This Website was created on 15 October 1999. Designed by K.S. Smith. All graphics are property of K.S. Smith , do not use any of the graphics without permission. Updated on 10/15/99.
Send all comments, questions, etc to: Journey2Baby-- Copyright 1999 --