Birth Story

Thursday, 2nd July 2009 - Friday, 3rd July 2009
35w+0d - 35w+1d

I'd been home for a few days now and as per my OB's instructions started exercising my legs a little after 9 weeks of being too scared to move on complete bedrest. Tonight I squatted at the oven to put my dinner in and then wondered how the hell I was ever going to get back up. I also went to the nursery and flipped the cot mattress over because David had the waterproof side facing down. I guess I will never know if I overdid things.

I layed down in bed at around 9.30pm (on David's side ;) ) to relax and watch television and suddenly GUSH! I left huge puddles all over the floorboards until I could grab a towel. I immediately checked the colour thank goodness it was clear. My bulging waters had finally given out.

First I called Mum and told her to come over and drive me to the hospital (this was the plan all along). All she had to say was that she was in her nightie so I asked if it were at all possible that she could get dressed and get me as soon as possible. Uh, okay then. I then called David at work and asked him to meet me at the hospital. Next was my OB to give him a heads up that I was heading to hospital and then the actual hospital to tell them I was on my way as an unbooked patient. They asked if I was sure I hadn't just wet myself. No. I told them about my cervix effacing and dilating since the second trimester and they told me to come straight in.

Knock, knock. I open the door to MIL and SIL!!! MIL said don't panic, grabbed my hospital bag and said let's go. I said, Uh... I'm not worried, I'm just waiting for my Mum to pick me up :S WTF??? David had called them. I didn't want them at the birth!!! That's not the plan :( What the hell had David told them?

Soon after Mum arrived and we got going. MIL and SIL followed in their car. I don't think Mum could have possibly driven any slower. Thankfully I didn't have any contractions. I then went to text message Geohde to tell her that I was on the road but after hearing her beautiful voice on her message bank realised that I had pressed call rather than text so gave up on that idea.

I asked Mum to drop me off at the Emergency Department doors. As we were driving up the entrance to the ED Mum saw someone she knows on the footpath and wound down her window and called out to them. I asked her to keep going and to let me out. I am yet to figure out her thought processes. I then realised I had just eaten a heap of blue lollies and was presenting with blue teeth and a blue tongue.

I waddled in to the ED with a towel between my legs. Everyone in waiting room looked stoned. I stood at triage for about 10 minutes whilst the staff pretended they didn't see me and continued to chat amongst themselves. I told them that Midwifery had instructed that I be sent up to them in a wheelchair. They told me that they doubted that they would be able to find one and told me to walk. I insisted on a wheelchair as the Midwife had told me not to take no for an answer. I got my chair and was wheeled up. The clan of DH, Mum, MIL and SIL follow. Ridiculous.

Since I wasn't booked in to this hospital (mine doesn't take anyone under 36wks) there was a bit of paperwork to go through. They checked that I hadn't just peed my pants. I have worn panty liners for the majority of this pregnancy and they peeled it off and ridiculed me as if I had put in on the catch my waters. I was then strapped with two dopplers to check the heartbeats.

My OB arrived and did an internal. It bloody hurt and he acted like I was being a big sook. With my history I am used to being poked and prodded down there but this was different. He said due to the way I was acting from the internal (like I couldn't handle pain) and since Twin A had her arms and hands wrapped around her head and over her face that he recommended I have a cesarean. I agreed since it sounded safest considering her position also since I hadn't had any contractions and couldn't see an end. They checked with the SCN if they had 2 free beds first and thankfully we got the last 2 bumping them up to full capacity.

I was taken to the operating theatre with David whilst my groupies were told to get out of the elevator and to go back to the waiting room. My goodness, this party is invitation only people! I was given an epidural and had the best birthing experience ever. It was so quick and painless. With a medical team of around 15 in the room I felt safe that my babies and I were in good hands.

Twin A arrived easily at 12:49pm - 1965g, head 31cm, length 43cm. They held her up and she was screaming. Phew. APGARS 8 & 9. Twin B had to have her waters broken and be manoeuvred down. She arrived breech at 12:52pm - 2060g, head 31cm, length 43cm. APGARS 4 & 8. As they held her up they said here she is, she is a bit floppy. She looked lifeless. No crying. She needed resus. I watched to my left as they put her on a ventilator and an eternity later I heard a little cry.

Twin A was wrapped and layed down next to me as I was being stitched up. This scared the crap out of me as I was worried she would fall off the table. The girls were then whisked off to the SCN with David following them as I went to recovery. I was told that the bottom of the placentas had met and joined up.

I recovered quickly and was taken to my room. Going past the waiting room I saw that another BIL and SIL had also joined the party. I can only assume that they were there to pick up SIL leaving my Mum and MIL.

I was told that I wouldn't get to meet my girls until 9am. I didn't sleep for the next 8 hours.

Happy birthday baby girls 03/07/2009.