Three Months...Whaaaaaat?

Faithful readers I do apologize.
During my pregnancy I was so looking forward to blogging my way through this journey, starting with the first week home from the hospital.
I envisioned a half hour a day spent to updating you on everything from Day One on.....That vision was presented by a pregnant woman drunk on pregnancy hormones.
Looking back on the last 15 weeks how the HELL did I think I would have time to connect with all of you? Let me do a nice retrospective for all of you...if I can remember that far back.

* We came home from the hospital the Saturday after the twins were born (I often try to type Paige and Aiden to acknowledge their individuality, but for now "the twins" is just going to have to do.) I'm glad we had an extra day in the hospital because that day they really got the hang of nursing and I was fully confident in my ability to feed them all by myself :)

*As per the two "get ready for twin" baby books I read, we decided that overnight, when one ate, the other would eat. This is in an effort to get them synched...........(insert overly sarcastic pushhaw). I must say that for the first 8 or so weeks, this really did serve a decent purpose.

*However, let me let you peek in to the window of our second night home from the
hospital...otherwise known in this house as "the night all hell broke loose." As I nurse the babies, Scott was helpful in bringing the babies to me in the middle of the night after changing their diapers, and he'd then put them back in the crib (which was right next to our bed). Well. The second night home was when the babies decided they wanted to cluster feed THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I was in tears through the babies' cries. Feeding them at the same time didn't seem to matter and only made it seem like we had 900 babies. We were up EVERY SINGLE HOUR..SOMETIMES TWICE IN AN HOUR...and it was SO frustrating because they would only eat for a few minutes, then fall asleep. Alas, Scott and I decided from that night forward, I would pump after the last feeding that took place after 8pm and we would bottle feed the babies breast milk (still emplyoing the one up, both up, mentality) and then I would go pump to prepare for the next feeding. As my body was in overdrive milk production, these middle of the night pumpings produced SO much milk that I still have milk in the freezer right now lol. Like over 100 ounces.
...I can't type any more about it- it exhausts me thinking about "THAT NIGHT" lol

I didn't realize how long it would take to reopen that painful wound lol. So, I'll wrap it up for now.
**MOMS** Please take from this story the fact that you MUST do what works for YOU AND YOUR FAMILY....I can tell you that I'm back to nursing them through the night but that's because each of them only gets up once or twice at this point and they are awake for a lot less time when they're on the boob then when they're on the bottle and they fall asleep much faster. HOWEVER, I did NOT see that coming early on. So, again, do what works for you and remember that you are ALWAYS ALLOWED TO CHANGE YOUR MIND!

I'll type tomorrow about Quinn's adjustment, scheduling, not scheduling, tandem feeding, scheduling, Quinn don't touch the babies, can someone get me some food, why do I own a mirror- or a scale for that matter...and other things that happened over the last 3 months.

xoxo
andrea

~*Birth Story*~

Before getting on with my apologies and a synopsis of the last 15 weeks I would like to post my birth story of Paige Ellen and Aiden Robert, born 10/05/2009 (3 days after my last post).

Recovery from this c-section has been much easier then my c-section with Quinn. The nurse said normally 2nd c-sections are easier because we know what to expect. Also, she said moms of multiples tend to do better because it's just such a relief to have them out! The story is long but thanks for reading!!

Baby's Name: Paige Ellen and Aiden Robert
Date of Birth: 10/5/09
Original Due Date: 10/29, c-section scheduled for 10/15
Weeks Pregnant: 36 weeks 5 days
Weight: Paige- 6 pounds 1 ounce & Aiden- 7 pounds even
Height: Paige- 20.5 inches & Aiden- 21 inches


Sunday night (10/4) I felt "off." I was restless, couldn't get comfortable, and was a little nauseated. I couldn't eat much and even soaking in the bath didn't help. Luckily I got some sleep and started my Monday as usual.

I had my regular OB appt. at 10:20. I told the midwife I had been feeling stronger contractions and some pressure. She decided to do my "pre op" questionnaire then since she said I likely wouldn't make it until next week. She also checked me and I was 1cm dilated but my cervix was nice and long.

My BP is usually low but it was high in the office, but when I went down for my NST it was normal. However, I was having regular contractions that were moving from my lower back around my hips and to the front and they were quite strong. They gave me an IV of fluid to see if I was dehydrated or if they were "real" contractions. They slowed down and after I finished the IV bag they sent me home at 3:00pm

I hadn't eaten since 9:00am so I ate a quarter pounder and fries when I got home. I still was feeling off and Scott was taking care of Quinn (20 months) so around 5:30pm I took a bath. When I got out I got in my PJs and told Scott I'd draw Quinn's bath. I knelt in front of the tub, started the water and added the soap. When I stood up..."guuuuush" and my water broke. I sat on the toilet and waited for Scott to come in to give Q his bath. He said, "what are you doing?!" I said "Don't panic..my water broke..We'll give Quinn a bath, I'll call my parents (4 hour drive) , Ben and Julie (friends to come watch Q) and the OB unit."

I told OB I'd be about 20 minutes as we waited for Ben and Julie to come. 15 minutes later the doc himself called me to make sure I was on my way. I didn't realize they were urgently waiting for me. I told DH they clearly were going to do the C section right when I got there and he would have to be in the room with me, instead of my mom.

Luckily, when Ben and Julie got there Julie offered to sit in the room with me because Scott is too squeemish. She drove me to the hospital and Scott followed. I should note Julie was pregnent and due 10/26 haha. Anyway, we got to the hospital and we were strolling up the parking lot and 2 nurses were waiting for me with a wheelchair! lol!

At 7:00pm I got in to one of the L&D rooms and there was myself and Julie, my midwife, doctor, 3 nurses and the anesthesiologist. The doc was supervising, midwife putting catheter in, one nurse shaving me, one nurse putting the IV in my had, one nurse supervising and the anesthesiologist asking questions (like when did I last eat......remember the 1/4 pounder at 330? It's about to make a cameo).

They get me in to the OR probably around 7:10 or 7:20, did the spinal (he had to do it 2x but I was numb from the local so it didn't matter).

The babies were out at 7:43 and 7:44 pm!!

It was Paige's water bag that was broken. She was frank breech in the womb (butt on cervix) but rather than her legs being stright up she was kind of squatting so when on her back she has little froggy legs, but they are straightening now.

I didn't realize how out of breath I was until they pulled Paige out and I said "HOLY HELL I CAN BREATHE AGAIN!" and the whole OR laughed.

After the babies are out I returned the 1/4 pounder via vomit. It's odd throwing up while on your back and not feeling the lower half of your body! haha, all is well now though.

Both babies are absolutely wonderful and they are champs at nursing!! The first few sessions I had assistance to latch on but the last few I haven't needed it..I just need to get the hang of tandem feeding which will be tomorrow's project!