Our Twins’ Birth Story: The Big Day!

To read about how we go to this point, how we decided between vaginal or schedule c-section, click here. This is a recollection of the birth of our fraternal twins.

The night before

The night before and the morning of, I showered using that special antiseptic body wash the doctor prescribed for me before surgery. I don’t love the soap, it makes my skin really dry and itchy. I had to stop eating past midnight, only clear fluids until sometime in the middle of the night. Thankfully the surgery is on the schedule for early morning.

My husband and I enjoyed dinner and a movie, while our daughter spent the night at her grandparent’s house. I enjoyed a popsicle (like I ate most of my pregnancy, one of my cravings) while I finished packing my hospital bag. 

My body aches. It is stretched, raw and striped. The babies and I had an equally hard time getting comfortable. I could tell by weird wiggling they were doing, kicking and pushing, because I too, was trying to do the same. Honestly, standing was the most comfortable position, because sitting hurt my hips and ribs, and laying down hurt my belly. I was nauseous, my GI system wasn’t happy with the occupancy and I always peeing. The carpal tunnel and numbness from the swelling and decrease blood flow was probably the worst. I really didn’t have any Braxton Hicks tonight, other nights it was a regular occurrence.

I tried to enjoy and savor all the last moments of my belly. Knowing too well, that even though I didn’t enjoy being pregnant, I would miss it all too soon. I loved feeling them move in my belly. It’s the craziest feeling. How could two humans find room and grow, healthy, inside of me?! One of the reasons why I am a nurse, I love all the science and physiology behind it all. We tried to get comfortable, rub my belly, and feel the babies kick for the last night.

I was so certain that I wasn’t going to sleep well that night because of all the anxiety of the next day, all the unknowns and worry. I did think about these things, but thankfully, I slept very well. The 430am wake up came way too soon. I had to shower again, we packed our car with the two extra car seats, and headed to the hospital. 

The hospital

We arrive at the hospital at 530am, the emergency room entrance. We tell the man at the check in table that we are having our scheduled c-section for twins today. Saying we are having twins always grants a conversation with someone, about how their sister’s neighbor’s, cousin has twins and blah blah blah. No, but really, it is fun to hear other people’s twin stories. 

I roll up to the birthing unit and I am so excited to see which nurses are working. I got to know the nurses on the unit. One, because I did my nursing internship on this unit in hopes I would work there someday (we ended up moving out of state, so I didn’t). Two, because I needed to have two stress tests done a week since 32 weeks to check the health of the babies. To read about this experience click here. I was happy to recognize a few that I was hoping would work. We settle in our room and the night nurse starts prepping me for surgery. I have two baby monitors, one pink, one blue, to listen to the babies’ heart rates. This is similar to getting a stress test.

Our OB walks in while my nurse finishes up my IV. He talks over the surgery once more and answers any last minute questions we may have. I am 38 weeks +2 day gestation with di/di girl, boy twins. Thankfully, the babies and myself are considered healthy patients, so the surgery should be pretty straight forward.

The operating room

I wheel into the operating room now, in my hospital bed with my husband by my side. The anxiety starts to kick in at this point. No turning back now! The babies are coming, ready or not!

The operating room (OR) was hopping! I immediately see the two infant bed warmers and a nurse at each one, all set up and ready to catch two babies. There were 9 (nine!) health care workers in the room! It is the craziest thing to witness. All of this just for us?! Twins are considered a high risk surgery, even though we are healthy, and with the extra baby, they need extra hands. I remember helping to catch babies in this room during my internship. Being on both sides makes me feel more relaxed. These people know what they are doing, they do it well, and it is second nature to them. We got this. 

The nurse helps me onto the table and my husband needs to step out to prep for surgery. My nurse holds me while the anesthesiologist places my spinal nerve block. I had an epidural with my singleton daughter and I remembered the pain and procedure, it’s nothing compared to labor. 

They lay me down and start prepping. They place a curtain over so I don’t accidentally touch my cleaned, sterile belly (which I almost did…) Lots of noises, talking, beeping, medical terms and numbers being exchanged. To me, this was comforting, but I’m sure it may be isolating for others. I like it, because even though I am not in control, I feel included. My anesthesiologist is great, he kept talking with me, making sure I am okay. 

My husband shows up by my head and has our camera ready. They are ready to start. I only feel some pressure but I immediately start feeling sick. I start crying, sweating, nauseous, anxious. This was all normal considering the anesthesia and the doctors and assistance cuting, pushing, and pulling on my stomach.

Twins!

And like that baby A is out! I hear crying and that’s when I lose it. I can’t see her but I know what was happening. My sweet, baby girl is getting warm, rubbed, and suctioned on the infant warmer. Taking all her measurements, assessments, making sure she has the appropriate airway, breathing and circulation. She has a good set of lungs. She is finally here and healthy. 

Now, our boy. He had been the stinker all pregnancy, being either transverse (sideways) or breech. He was the main reason why we chose to do the scheduled c-section. I have another wave of anxiety, neasuea, and lots of pressure. Two minutes later, our breech, baby boy, is pulled out backwards by his feet. He was stunned. I don’t  hear anything at first and i am nervous. I hear suction and silence. The nurses and doctors during their job to stimulate him. Then a cry and big breath, from him and me. He is fine, just a little stunned from his immediate backwards, entrace and the need to suction out some extra fluids. However, all of this is normal for a breech, c-section delivery. This all was only seconds but it felt like an erternity. 

While I am getting put back together (literally), the twins are finishing getting checked out. Afterwards, the nurses brought me and my husband our two babies. I don’t have the strength or the ability to hold them yet because I feel shaky, so they help place them on my chest. Everyone did so well, the babies did well. We are all healthy and happy. We are so thankful that a nurse took our camera to snatch this picture of the four of us, minutes after they were born!

Recovery

I roll into recovery and immediately the nurses help teach me to breastfeed the babies and perform skin to skin. These were nurses that I knew and worked with before! My husband and I are so incredibly pleased with how smooth and regimented the c-section went. Everyone was very professional and calming, there was never any panic. I personally was extremely impressed by how quickly I was able to start skin to skin and breastfeeding with both twins. 

The scheduled c-section experience was very different from our singleton daughter’s vaginal both. I am very thankful that we were able to experience both. However, surprisingly, the twin birth was way more peaceful. Talk with your provider to chose the right birth plan that is right for your family.

Read about the babies’ transition into the world, the hospital stay, and c-section recovery here. 

Subscribe here if you want to stay current with my posts!