Saturday 21 December 2013

Birth Story

This is a little bit over due (almost 5 months over due) but better late then never.

On July 28th, 2013 at around 8:00am I was getting ready for the day. I was 34 weeks and 6 days pregnant. I noticed some slime on our bed when I woke up and realised I had lost a part of my mucus plug. Well I got all excited and needed to show Ben before we started the day.

Ben's sister Allison was getting ready to move back to Newmarket with some family friends. We had a morning all planned out that Janice and Bob were coming down and we would all go out for brunch and then they would take Allison back home with them. So we all got ready and headed to Perkins for brunch.

While we were eating I was having minor contractions that were slowly getting more intense. We finished up with brunch and headed back to our place to make sure everything was packed up and ready for Allison's grand adventure.

When we got home I decided that I was going to call the hospital and ask if I needed to come in because I was having contractions about 5 min apart and had lost some of my mucus plug. Well because I needed a cesarean section they asked me to come in to get checked. They also did not want my water to break before delivery. So at 3:00pm I asked Bob to take Ben and myself to the hospital and my mom would meet us there.

I got hooked up to all the monitors and my contractions were around 3 min apart so they booked me in for a c-section for 5:00pm.

I got prepped and wheeled into the room for 6:45pm. They then did my spinal and waited for the medication to numb my belly. Well after 10 min or so I could still feel the pinch on my stomach. They tilted me and we waited another 10 min and checked again. At this point I started to panic because I could still feel the pinch. They had to put me under general at this time and my two beautiful girls were born at 7:01pm and 7:02pm.

I am so very thankful they were born safe and sound, but am sad I missed out of the wonder of delivery.

While I was under I had apparently lost a lot of blood due to a complication and was very anaemic following the delivery. I had to have 3 bags of blood to bring my colour back and give me my energy and strength to get to the washroom on my own.

Olivia and Sabrina did not have to spend any time in the NICU and they were both breastfed with a top up of formula to make sure their blood sugar was up.

We were able to come home after just 3 days. So here are a couple pictures of my belly before delivery and of the twins.


Sabrina and Olivia

Olivia and Sabrina

Olivia and Sabrina

Top: Olivia
Bottom: Sabrina

Olivia and Sabrina's feet

Olivia, myself and Sabrina

Our family
Myself and Ben
Sabrina, Miranda and Olivia

Olivia and Sabrina

Sabrina
Olivia

Wednesday 3 July 2013

Pregnancy Update: Week 31

Well this took a little longer then I would have liked to post, but I wanted to let you know how my ultrasound went as well! Baby A is still measuring smaller at 4lbs2oz, Baby B is measuring 4lbs12oz. So I am carrying just under 10lbs of baby not including all the other "stuff" in there. Baby A is still breech and is on my left side, Baby B is now laying transverse (across my tummy) with her head on my left. They must really love each other to have their heads to close. Both of their feet are on the lower right side of my tummy, which explains my extremely painful right hip bone. They are rating both babies 8 out of 8 right now, so they are both practically perfect in every way!! I can not wait to hold my two princess' in my arms in a month or so. Grow babies grow!!!

How far along: 31 Weeks
Size of babies: 4 Navel Oranges (Each)
Total weight gain/loss: -2 pounds. Under my pre-pregnancy weight. Total gain is 13 lbs from my lowest weight.
Gender: 2 Girls. We are keeping the names quiet until they are born.
Maternity clothes: Completely in maternity clothes. Wearing lots of dress' because they are the most comfortable and they help me stay cool.
Stretch marks: Only getting new stretch marks on the top of my belly.
Belly Button: The top of my belly button is poking out and the rest is shallow.
Sleep: As much as I can get, which is not very much lately. 
Symptoms: Still battling acid reflux and heartburn. Sore pelvis and belly. Swollen ankles if I am on my feet for more than half an hour. Braxton hicks are in full swing, and painful.
What I miss: Being comfortable. Whether that be laying down, sitting, standing, or anything in between.
Cravings: Nothing extreme this week.
Aversions: None thankfully. But my appetite is not as it should be. I think it is because of the heat.
Best Moment: Seeing my daughter Miranda realize what was on the ultrasound machine.
What I am looking forward to: Holding my babies in 4 to 6 weeks.

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Pregnancy Update: Week 30


How far along: 30 Weeks
Size of babies: Large Cabbage
Total weight gain/loss: 1 pound above my pre-pregnancy weight. Total gain is 16 lbs from my lowest weight.
Gender: 2 Girls. We are keeping the names quiet until they are born.
Maternity clothes: Completely in maternity clothes. Wearing lots of dress' because they are the most comfortable.
Stretch marks: Yes I have around 4 new stretch marks on the top of my belly.
Belly Button: The top of my belly button is poking out and the rest is shallow.
Sleep: As much as I can get, which is not very much lately. 
Symptoms: Still battling acid reflux and heartburn. Sore pelvis and belly. Swollen ankles if I am on my feet for more than half an hour. 
What I miss: My sleep and energy
Cravings: Nothing extreme this week.
Aversions: None thankfully. But my appetite is not as it should be. I think it is because of the heat.
Best Moment: Passing my glucose test!
What I am looking forward to: Baby A hopefully flipping to head down. 

Monday 17 June 2013

Pregnancy Update: Week 29

How far along: 29 Weeks
Size of babies: Butternut Squash
Total weight gain/loss: -2 lbs. My body just does not want to gain anything. This is getting frustrating. I am so glad that they are doing ultrasounds and making sure the babies are ok.
Gender: 2 Girls. We are keeping the names quiet until they are born.
Maternity clothes: Completely in maternity clothes. Some of my maternity tops are not fitting as well as they should and my tummy is starting to poke out the bottom.
Stretch marks: My stretch marks are growing. All I can really see is the top of my belly so I am not sure about the bottom. No new stretch marks yet.
Belly Button: The top of my belly button is starting to poke out and the rest is shallow.
Sleep: Around 6 hours at most a night. So not too bad considering. My naps are very important.
Symptoms: Still battling acid reflux and heartburn. Sore pelvis and belly. Lots of kicking from the girls and it is starting to be noticeable by other people. Swollen ankles if I am on my feet for more than half an hour. 
What I miss: Being independent and able to comfortably do anything.
Cravings: Tomato Juice and chocolate (not together)
Aversions: None thankfully.
Best Moment: The time spent with my daughter Miranda before these two come and the time I get to spend with Ben.
What I am looking forward to: Baby A hopefully flipping to head down. We will see on Wednesday at our ultrasound!

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Ultrasound and 28 Week Check Update.

I wanted to post an update on the babies from the ultrasound and my 28 week check up. 

Right now both babies are doing fantastic so far. I had my ultrasound on June 5th, they are measuring around 2lbs 4oz and 2lbs 11oz. They were also breech (head up). At this time because I am 28 weeks now there is very little room for them to flip head down. This pretty much means that I will have to have a cesarean section, it really sucks to know that the chance of a vaginal birth has almost been taken away completely. Right now I am asking for as much prayer as possibly that Baby A will flip, even if it is painful. I am also looking into massages and stretches to help encourage the flip. 

My cervix is still long, although they did not give me a length. So we know these babies will be in here for a couple more weeks. My goal right now is to make it to 35 weeks and then deliver any time after that. 

If anyone has any suggestions to help Baby A to flip I would be very happy to hear any and all of them.

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Pregnancy Update: Week 28



How far along: 28 Weeks
Size of babies: Iceburg Lettuce
Total weight gain/loss:  lbs. I am finally above my pre-pregnancy weight. But I have gained 16 lbs from my lowest pregnancy weight.
Gender: 2 Girls. We are keeping the names quiet until they are born.
Maternity clothes: Completely in maternity clothes. Some of my maternity tops are not fitting as well as they should and my tummy is starting to poke out the bottom.
Stretch marks: Some of my old stretch marks are turning purple, and growing just a little.
Belly Button: An innie, slowly getting shallow. I never did pop out with Miranda so I am hoping I do this time
Sleep: Around 6 hours at most a night. So not too bad considering.
Symptoms: Still battling acid reflux and heartburn. Very sore belly, I got a sharp pain above my belly button on the right this week. Dr said it is just stretching.  
What I miss: Seeing my feet. I am tripping over everything now.
Cravings: S'mores, but made with peanut butter cups.
Aversions: None thankfully.
Best Moment: `Being able to see my two new princess squirming at my ultrasound.
What I am looking forward to: Baby A hopefully flipping to head down.

Monday 3 June 2013

Pregnancy Update: Week 27

How far along: 27 Weeks
Size of babies: Cauliflower
Total weight gain/loss:  -2 lbs. I am down still from my pre pregnancy weight. But I have gained 13 lbs from my lowest pregnancy weight.
Gender: 2 Girls. We are keeping the names quiet until they are born.
Maternity clothes: Completely in maternity clothes. Some of my maternity tops are not fitting as well as they should and my tummy is starting to poke out the bottom.
Stretch marks: Some of my old stretch marks are turning purple, and growing just a little.
Belly Button: An innie, slowly getting shallow. I never did pop out with Miranda so I am hoping I do this time
Sleep: As much as I possibly can. I am so tired even after doing a chore I need to sit.
Symptoms: Still battling acid reflux and heartburn. I am taking Zantac and tums to help that. I am finding that I am getting sore quicker and it is hard to roll over in bed. When I wake my belly is sore. The belly band is helping when going out. Lots of movements, and less fluttering at the bottom of my belly. I am hoping that means the babies are going to stay head down. 
What I miss: My energy! Being able to paint my toes. Balance.
Cravings: Alphagetti`s, brownies, poutine.
Aversions: None thankfully.
Best Moment: Date night out with Ben to the movies on Saturday!! We saw Iron Man 3. AMAZING.
What I am looking forward to: I have an ultrasound on Wednesday to check the babies and how they are growing. Looking forward to seeing them again.