My Delivery Story
My twin boys were born by emergency c-section at 9:49am on Friday, May 4th, 2012. At just 25 weeks and 5 days, Baby A weighed 1 lb and 7.5 oz and Baby B weighed 2 lbs and 2 oz.
I had been in the hospital for a little over a week on bed rest and constant monitoring after I reached 24 weeks of pregnancy. 24 weeks is when babies are considered viable at our hospital. Since I had such a complicated pregnancy, the Doctors and I thought it was best that I stay in the hospital.
Hospital Bed Rest
I had been on bed rest at home for a couple of months prior, but it was easy in comparison to being in the hospital. Physically it was uncomfortable because I had to have monitors placed on my belly almost all the time. Since the babies were so small and moving around constantly, many times the nurses had to sit with me and hold the monitors on my stomach to make sure they were monitoring both baby’s heartbeats. My body ached from staying in one position, and my tummy ached from the constant pressure.
Emotionally, it was just as hard. I missed my family terribly and felt like a terrible mother abandoning my 2-year-old. I knew I had to do what was best for my babies, but my heart was breaking. My oldest was just a baby himself. We had never been apart for more that a night.
But, I knew the hospital was the only place I could be. If the smaller baby started to run out of his share of the placenta and was in trouble, they would have to deliver the babies. If they didn’t monitor me closely, there was a risk to losing both babies or causing the other baby to have brain damage.
May 4th
On the morning of Friday, May 4th, around 5:45, I was alone in my room. I started to drift to sleep, but I heard the slow beeping of the monitor. I wanted to roll over and go back to sleep, but something wouldn’t let me. Even though the monitor also monitored my heart, I knew it was too slow to be me.
I called the nurses, and sure enough, baby b’s heart was decelerating. It had been beating very slowly for 5 minutes, indicating he was in distress. Three nurses rushed in, followed by the Doctor on call. They turned me to my side and gave me oxygen. The Doctor brought the ultrasound machine and did the fastest scan I’d ever had.
He asked me, “Do you want to do everything you can to save your babies?”
With tears in my eyes, I whispered yes. I knew it was way too soon, but I wanted to do anything to save them. The doctor shouted to book the Operating Room. It was time for delivery.
I was extremely frightened. I’d never had major surgery before, and had a natural birth with my oldest son. I wanted to call my husband and mom, but there was not time. Scared, alone, and crying, they rushed me into the room, took off my pants and rolled me onto the table. They inserted a catheter, then the anesthesiologist came over. I reminded the nurse to tell everyone that the babies shared a placenta, so they may need blood volume after delivery. Dr. DeLia, my doctor, had reminded me to do that because in this kind of pregnancy complications can arise at the last-minute. After the nurse told everyone, I remember the anesthesiologist telling everyone to be quiet because I wasn’t out yet.
My last memory before I went under was a prayer.
Please God let both of my babies be alive when I wake up.
Please don’t let me feel them cut me open.
Waking Up
The next thing I remember is coughing and being rolled into the recovery room. My mom was there and then my husband was there shortly. The nurse told me both babies were OK and in the NICU. I could tell they were concerned, after all they were 15 weeks early, both very small and very sick.
I have never felt so much relief and happiness hearing that they were both still alive. No matter what happened, they were given a chance to fight.
I was still pretty out of it from all the meds, but after a few minutes, they were able to roll me into the NICU to see them.
I remember my mom being teary eyed and saying how perfect they were. They were perfect and beautiful. Tiny, but amazing.
My dad and brother also came and got to see the boys.
Even though our journey was just beginning, I was so grateful that my pregnancy journey was over. It had been one of the hardest experiences of my life. Every decision I made, I felt solely responsible for those two lives growing inside me. Now, I knew they had made it, and they would get the best care possible.
The Journey
After enduring such a traumatic delivery at 25 weeks, 5 days, my boys spent 91 and 93 days in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at the hospital.
Between the both of them, they battled NEC (which required stomach surgery,) PDA surgery (surgery on a valve in the heart,) and ROP laser eye surgery.
They endured much more in those 3 months than I have in my lifetime. They are truly my heroes, and the strongest babies I know.
I am one lucky mommy.
