The Birth Story: Part 1

I've been wanting to post our birth story from the day it happened, but seriously, blogger moms, how on earth do you find the time to do this!!! Anyway...better late than never! Part One is the back story of my L&D and Part Two will be all about the actual L&D.

In the weeks leading up to my delivery day I was just praying and praying that I'd go into labor on my own and not have to be induced. My specialist had been saying all along that he didn't want me to go past 37 weeks due to the fact that my twins were monochorionic, meaning they share the same placenta. These types of pregnancies are higher risk than others and statistics show increased problems occurring in pregnancies that go past 37 weeks...not that I buy into all that negative talk, but that's just what doctors will tell you. My own instinct and conviction was that both of my babies were doing fine and I knew that I was doing fine...no swelling, perfect blood pressure, normal weight gain, etc. At this point, I was having a BPP (bio-physical profile) every 3 days so someone could have an eye on the babies. Each time they scored 8 out of 8...my little all-stars! I was always so proud of them! However, 3 weeks prior to delivery my specialist detected some discrepancy in their sizes during their growth scan. Baby A was measuring smaller than Baby B. I wasn't too concerned because I knew that the measurements could be off by as much as a pound and I just had conviction from the Lord that the babies were just fine.  Week 37 came and I was scheduled to deliver on that Wednesday morning. I was absolutely not ready....I didn't feel ready physically and I didn't have peace about it. I was scheduled to see my OB, Dr. Crochet, on Monday and I was praying that she would hear my concerns and be ok with letting me wait another week. Just as the Lord had answered EVERY SINGLE PRAYER throughout the pregnancy, he answered this one as well. It was the easiest conversation ever and my doctor even agreed with me that we didn't need to rush things as I was progressing so well naturally. At this point I was 3 cm dilated and probably 60% effaced. I had been walking a ton and was having tons of Braxton Hicks contractions. Prayers answered....Dr. Crochet said see you next Monday. At this point, I could tell my body was really getting close to being ready...I won't be too graphic, but things were happening. I continued envisioning myself going into labor....feeling that first painful contraction and calling Ross at work to come home or calling his parents to come pick up Julian.  Then I got a call on Wednesday. Apparently my sweet specialist, Dr. Magee, whom I loved, found out I didn't get induced that morning and said I needed to come see him.  I arranged for my sister in law to come with me and I nervously went. I hate disappointing people...especially people I like. Anyway, he did a growth scan and promptly told me that Baby A was 4 lbs 13 oz and Baby B was 7 lbs 13 oz and that I needed to go straight to labor and delivery.  I started feeling a little worry (mostly because baby A had measured 4.13 three weeks prior as well), but was able to cling to my original conviction that those measurements were off.  I even asked him to remeasure but the results were the same...actually a little worse. Then I just felt this peace that everything was going to be ok...even if I had to be induced. I knew my body was so close to going into labor on my own...unlike my experience with my first child. I asked Dr. Magee to call my OB while I was there to see what her response was and of course she acknowledged his concerns and agreed with his recommendation. So, I called Ross and had him come home from work then drove back to my house to pack a bag, eat a meal, and love on Julian before heading back to the hospital around 5 pm to check in at L&D. 

                                

  Here we are loading up in the car to go to the hospital on 3/20/13.  Look at that BIG BELLY!!! Stay tuned for Part Two: The Birth. :)

Sam & Miles: Month One

Yesterday marked ONE MONTH in the life of the twins. Wow, what a journey it's been the past 8 months! Time has flown from the time we were told I was pregnant with twins until their one month birthday! Here's just a quick update:

Eating: Nursing is going great! Both babies have been fabulous latchers and eaters from day one.  I am so thrilled. This past week I began feeding them on a 3 hours schedule and I love it. It has made life so much easier for me and the babies are in a much better groove since extending the feedings from 2 hours to 3 hours. Now when they get a little fussy around the 2 hour mark I'm seeing that they are really just tired and need to sleep instead of eat again.  It has seemed to help their nights too as they are sleeping more soundly and not waking as often in between feedings.

Sleep: Both are sleeping a ton during the day and have a fussy period in the late evening that lasts a few hours. They are consolable and don't cry the entire time....they each take their turn!! Currently they are sleeping together either in their crib or their pack n play at nighttime. During the day they bounce between the  crib, bouncers, pack n plays, and peoples arms.  Yesterday a friend gave me a Fisher Price Rock n Play Sleeper that I'm excited to start using too.  At night they initially were waking up often in between feedings but the past few night they've had some 3 and even a 4 hour stretch without waking. This has been amazing for Mama!!

Fun Stuff: We've been on 2 stroller walks with all three kiddos. One trip to the post office with Aunt Dana and one trip to White Rock Coffee with Daddy. The twins use the Double Snap n Go by Baby Trend and Julian uses his own single stroller. So, obviously I need 2 people to go on a stroller ride...this may be a problem in the future and I'm considering my options for a triple stroller. Any suggestions?

We made our debut at church yesterday on their one month birthday. Daddy was playing bass all morning at church and I was not up for wrestling all 3 kiddos at home alone. People kept telling me how brave I was to bring all three of my children to church by myself but I think it would have been more courageous to have stayed at home! I knew at church I could drop Julian off at childcare and then hangout with the twins in the nursing moms room. Church felt like a safe place for me! And it was a successful and fun outing...although exhausting. Then again, anything and everything in the past month has been exhausting. 

Hard Stuff: Julian has come a long way with adjusting to life as a big brother. He understands they are here to stay now and loves touching them....a little too much. I can tell its been hard on him having to share mommy. He initially was throwing lots of fits, but those have for the most part stopped.  We are working through how to handle his roughness with the babies. We want to encourage him to love on them, but there is a fine line between love and aggression with Julian. There have been lots of squeezing, suffocating, and toy throwing incidents....but I think it's going pretty well for the most part considering Julian is just 22 months old.

Things I want to remember: People have been so wonderful. My mom, sister, and mother-in-law have taken turns staying overnight with us to help with the twins during the night. They've changed countless diapers, done loads of laundry, and helped to entertain Julian.  Our friends have been amazing about bringing us meals. I have not had to fix a single meal since the twins were born other then heating up the occasional leftover or making a sandwich. It has been a tremendous help to us because I would not be making time to cook myself. What a blessing it's been to have delicious home-cooked meals without having to lift a finger. People have just been so generous and have gone out of their way to check in on us and offer help whether that means stopping at the grocery store for us, holding a baby, taking Julian for a playdate, or taking out our trash. I am just floored by the outpouring of love and support we've received from friends, family, and neighbors. I want to say it takes a village to raise twins and a toddler, but I know that some people out there don't have that luxury and I know I am blessed beyond measure to have such a great network. Because of all the help, I've been able to enjoy my newborns without so much stress. 

The boys are so strong. They move their heads around during tummy time. They LOVE being held. They like cuddling and being held tight. They like facing inward to be tummy to tummy with mommy. It is SO SWEET! They both grunt a lot but Sam does it the most. We call him "the grunter". 

Stats: At their one month appointment:

Sam: 8 lbs. 9 oz.

         20.75 inches

Miles: 9lbs 11oz.

          21.5 inches

Dr. Naidoo says they are both doing great and he was very impressed with their weight gain!

*Ok, finally got the pictures uploaded. :)