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We welcomed our little Courtney Maren into our lives on August 28, 2012.
She was born at 12:10 pm and weighed 6 lbs 12 oz and measured 20 1/2" long
Birth Story:
One of the things I was sad about when I resigned myself to having a c-section was the fact that I wasn't going to have a fun birth story to tell. But, things happened the way they did, and I still have to tell about the day our twins were born.
I woke up several times the night before the surgery, so excited (and hungry) that I couldn't go back to sleep for hours. I knew that I needed to take advantage of the last full night of sleep I would have in a while, but I couldn't.....it was worse than Christmas! When the family finally got up around 6, I was so thirsty I was ready to drink out of our sprinklers when they came on. I wanted water SO badly! I was really too nervous to eat, but the no water thing was really difficult.
The last belly picture at home. I had to add in the dramatic face....because that is how I felt on the inside lol!
My mom showed up just before 8 so she could watch Kaylee for us. It was actually pretty sad to leave Kaylee home knowing that our little family of 3 was about to change dramatically. We got a final picture of our little family and the Robert and I headed to the hospital.
Our last time as a "small" family
We were told to get there 3 hours before the scheduled surgery, and we got there even earlier because traffic is unpredictable on the drive over. Some days it will only take 20 minutes, and other days it takes a full hour. I was hopefully that our being early would mean I would go into the c-section early, and that's exactly what happened.
The room where we waited for surgery and where the babies and I came during recovery
Waiting was the worst part! It seemed like it took forever before they were ready for us.
As we sat in our room waiting I became more and more nervous. I just didn't know what to expect. This was surgery. MAJOR surgery! The few people they had come in to explain things to us didn't help to calm my nerves very much. At one point, Robert had gone out of the room to get a drink and several people came in and made it sound like we were going in to surgery right then! I started to freak out that Robert wasn't there, and maybe wouldn't be there in time for the birth of the babies. Silly me. It was another hour I think before we actually went back.
Ready for the walk to the OR
Robert looking all handsome in his scrubs
The last twin belly picture
Walking to the OR was surreal and exciting all at the same time. When we got in the OR it was just like everyone described it to me. Cold, noisy, impersonal, scary, and overwhelming. As I sat there on the table getting my spinal placed I became more and more anxious, but tried my best not to show it. The spinal didn't help at all. I was hoping it would be an easy one like my epidural with Kaylee, but this one hurt......a lot. He had to poke me a few times to get the placement right, and with each painful poke my emotions bubbled more to the surface. When it was finally in and started working (instantly) I started to cry a little and that, of course, embarrassed me to death. I hate crying in front of people! I finally calmed down and then we all sat there waiting for the Dr to come in.
Trying my best to stop crying and calm down.
They checked a couple times to make sure he had in fact been paged, and finally he came in. Robert hadn't come it yet, and I was so afraid they were going to forget to bring him in! It was wonderful when he finally came to sit by me, and then I let myself get excited. I let myself celebrate the fact that we were about to have babies!
The surgery started at some point. I didn't hear anyone say when it started, but I could see just enough reflection on a light fixture to tell when things got a little bloody. Robert actually got to take some pictures of the surgical field while they were pulling babies out, and I will forever be thankful. Really I would have loved to videotape the entire thing to watch later. It was the birth of our babies, and I didn't want to miss it.
Alexis' Birth:
Courtney's Birth:
Alexis (Baby B during the pregnancy) somehow got her head far enough down that they took her out first. That then made her Baby A. It was SO confusing! But at least they were able to tell us which baby they had taken out first so we would know who was who. Alexis was 6 lbs 7 oz 18" long, and born at 12:08pm.
Alexis being cleaned off
Holding our baby Alexis for the first time
One thing that differed from how I envisioned was that they didn't lift the babies up over the screen to show them to us. I hear Alexis start crying, but didn't get to see her. It was all I could do to keep from jumping off the table to go check and make sure she was ok. Then they started working to pull out Courtney (Baby A during the pregnancy). I don't remember if they had gotten Courtney out yet when they brought Alexis over to us, and I got to hold her. That was heaven!! I loved looking at her little face, and having her calm down immediately when she heard my voice. Courtney was still breech so they pulled her out by her legs, which doesn't look comfortable in the pictures. She was 6 lbs 12 oz 20.5" long and born at 12:10pm. The doctors and nurses were commenting on how big the babies were and congratulating me on growing two healthy sized twins. She ended up with excess fluid in her lungs so they took her (and Robert) to the nursery to be monitored to make sure she was ok. Before they took her away we got a couple pictures of the 4 of us, and I got to see and touch Courtney a little.
The new additions to our family - Courtney is on the left and Alexis is on the right
I continued to hold Alexis until I was wheeled into recovery. As soon as I was settled and sitting up a little in the recovery bed I was allowed to nurse Alexis while we waited for Robert to come back with Courtney. I don't remember how long they were gone, but it seemed like forever! Once they came back, I was able to tandem nurse the babies for the first time. It was amazing! Courtney was a natural and latched herself on with very little help from me. Alexis has a latch very similar to Kaylee's. Very shallow and VERY painful. It looks like I will be working with her to get her latching better. It was so odd to realize over and over that we really do have TWO babies now to take care of. They are here and now it is up to us to raise them.
It was a very interesting experience having a c-section. Not something I would be ok doing again, but at least now I know what all happens and I can encourage any family/friends who find themselves having to be cut open.
Courtney
Alexis
Together again!
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