Ellie is Getting Big!

Feb. 15, 2009 we took Ellie to be weighed and she was up to 9 lbs! Her 0 to 3 month clothes said she would fit into them at 8.5 and I was so excited she was going to get to start wearing them because most of what I had in the newborn size was unisex. The theory being that the newborn stage would be so crazy I would just want to grab whatever for whoever I was changing and not worry about the color. I'm so excited to bring on the pink!

The Birth

OK, I really tried not to put too much detail in, however, if you are very sensitive to the idea of a birth story, don’t read further.



I went in to be induced Feb. 2, 2009. The plan was to apply a gel, if that didn’t work, break my waters and if that didn’t work, start Pitocin. I was told induction with twins is supposed to be quick and easy because of the lack of space. When we left the house at 9:45 AM that morning we actually thought we would have babies that evening. I felt very relaxed about the whole thing. The induction didn’t actually begin until 2:00 PM even though our appointment was at 10 AM. I was put in a ward with 6 beds where everyone who is being induced or isn’t close enough to “active” labor stays. After the application of the gel I was stuck in bed for a long time because my active babies didn’t want to stay put for the monitor. We literally had to hold them on so we could move them around and try to find them every time they moved away from it. The end result of this was a total of 6 hours of Trey holding one monitor and me holding the other monitor and searching for babies trying to get sufficient consistent reads of their heart beats. The first application of the gel didn’t work and instead of proceeding with the plan my consultant from the pregnancy set up (who wasn’t on duty that day) they reapplied the gel three more times over the next 14 hours, none of which worked. One hard thing was that Trey had to go home when visiting hours were over. It was difficult because I knew I was being induced and could go into labor at any point but my husband wasn’t with me.

After the third application, and a new day, a new consultant was on duty who came in and said I would have a cesarean and asked when I wanted to set it up for. This was at 6 AM before Trey was allowed back. I told him I didn’t want a cesarean and would need to discuss any changes to the plan with my husband before I made a decision. He looked insulted and basically replied that he wasn’t doing anything else to induce labor so I could sit there and hope it started or have a cesarean tomorrow. After having had only a couple hours of sleep between my own contractions and the women screaming in the ward who were further along than I was, I wasn’t sure if I could sit there another day and night then go through labor if the next consultant that came on duty was supportive of my trying natural delivery. Fortunately, a Senior Registrar who I had seen during my pregnancy came by and wanted to assess my progress. He told me he would be back at 1:00 PM and do an exam so I would have a better idea of how I was progressing to help with my decision. I also asked if he knew the consultant who had come by that morning and if that consultant tended to only perform cesareans on twin pregnancies. He said “no comment.”

During that time, Trey got there and I tried to walk around a lot to move things along. The exam actually took place around 2:30 PM Feb. 3rd. The consultant said I was ready to have my waters broken but the labor rooms had several people “in front of me” which kind of made me feel like I was going to get a table at a restaurant.

After the exam I started bleeding a lot. I went to a midwife who wasn’t worried, said it was probably normal and she would be back in a minute to check and see how much. When no one had come in a few minutes… and it was a scary amount of blood… Trey went out to get someone. The midwife came back checked the amount of blood, put her hand on my shoulder, looked right in my eyes and said “everything is going to be fine, I am just going to get you a wheelchair and into the labor room” then she turned and RAN into the hall. She ran into the hall and came back with a chair. They pushed me into the labor ward and someone had just been put into the room they were wheeling me to. She yelled to a nurse and asked who was in the room. The nurse replied it was a woman getting an epidural and she would just be a minute. My midwife then screamed “WELL, I’VE GOT A LADY WITH TWINS HERE BLEEDING SO GET HER OUT OF MY ROOM!” At that point, I started getting worried. I was introduced to my nurse (also Sarah) who was fantastic throughout the whole process. She and Trey left me in the labor room while they moved my things to the recovery room I would go into and I had a minor break down. By that time I was having contractions really hard and fast. The anesthetist came in and placed my epidural. It wasn’t even putting a dent in the contractions then the nurse went in to break my waters. Apparently, some people do not think this is painful... if you are one of those people I think you are out of your mind.

Once my waters were broken the contractions became more intense. I was at 9 cm. when they took me to the operating room (with twins you have to give birth in an OR in case something goes wrong) and the epidural still was not working. The epidural was also not primarily for pain relief (although I wasn’t arguing when the doctor said it was recommended for twin birth) but so I wouldn’t have to be put under general anesthetic if an emergency cesarean needed to be performed. Once they got it working then I started pushing. I was allowed one push and then the doctor got the suction cup for Ellie. I honestly had no idea he was doing it until Trey told me later. I was furious because she came out so quickly he was surprised, I seriously pushed for about 5 minutes. Tate was lying transverse and they couldn’t find him on the ultrasound. I think they were worried and they began turning him by pushing on my stomach. The nurses kept apologizing for it being uncomfortable but at that point I could see Ellie and I honestly could not care less. When it was time to push with Tate they realized they had turned him the wrong way so he was delivered breach with forceps. I only pushed about three times with him. They were born exactly 10 minutes apart. The whole process was so quick after it got started. My waters were broken around 3:30. Ellie was born at 4:47 and Tate was born at 4:57.

After I had Tate, my blood pressure dropped and I was given something to bring it back up. Once that happened there was no keeping me awake. I remember feeling awful because at one point the nurse woke me up and said look at your babies. Trey was holding them beside me and I could hardly even respond. I didn’t even wake up for the final phase of the delivery. At some point after I had been wheeled to the recovery ward I woke up enough to start going through some of the medical stuff and finally to try and feed the babies. Of everything that happened how tired I felt immediately following how I felt after all of the adrenalin of giving birth was the biggest surprise. Well, that and how nice I was to Trey. When they were placing the epidural I had a contraction and was not allowed to move. I was holding Trey’s arms and had this out of body experience where I looked down, realized Trey’s arm was red and that it was red because I was pinching the fire out of it. I thought “that must hurt” mustered up a part my self control that had been wholly allocated abstaining from moving as to avoid paralysis to release my grip and apologized. I didn’t call him any names or yell at him or anything. That was honestly the thing I was probably most proud of. Ultimately I feel the birth happens whether you want it to or not but going in I was certain I was going to physically bring Trey into the pain of the experience with me. Lucky for him, apparently my instinctual self is much kinder than my cognitive self.

We're Home

After a long week at the hospital we are so glad to finally be home. Here are a couple of pictures.

It Will Be Here Before We Know It!

I had my last doctor’s appointment before the birth of the babies today! Interesting side note for those interested in some of the different ways NHS handles healthcare from the States. I never saw the doctor weekly throughout the pregnancy. I arrived 12 weeks pregnant but did not receive an internal exam until I was considered full term for a twin pregnancy, the doctor’s appointment today. I requested a Group B strep test, performed at 35 weeks in the U.S., but was told that it was only done by request if an internal exam was taking place and because I happened to be having one next week I could request one then. The NHS deems it unnecessary. Today at my appointment I requested a Group B strep test and was told that it wasn’t performed here. Taking the advice from my UK friends, I was kindly assertive and said that I was aware but had heard that I could make the request to have one and would feel more comfortable if it was performed. The doctor looked hesitant but did it anyway and didn’t treat me any differently. I do know, however, that it wasn’t performed as thoroughly as it is in the States.

Ultimately, I was told today that conditions for labor looked favorable and she was very pleased with my progress. The consultant said if she had to guess she would give me four days, which would be Monday and booked me in for an induction on Tuesday, 4th Feb. I did my best to convince her that 28th Jan. sounded like a lovely birthday and even asked if I groveled, cried and begged if it would help. She said “I would very empathetically tell you no.” I really enjoyed this consultant. She is not on duty the day that I am scheduled to be induced until the evening and I am booked in for 9 AM. Due to the fact that they like to monitor twins periodically throughout the entire labor, if I have any signs of labor (regular contractions or water breaking) I am to go in immediately.

I will have to physically give birth in an operating room (called a “theater” here.) The reason for this is there is a chance that the second twin will find the long labor too difficult and there is a greater chance of a need for emergency C-section. If I go in on Tuesday, they will start by applying a gel and the consultant believed that with the state I am in currently that would be all it would take. However, if my waters hadn’t broken in 6 hours, they would go ahead and do that for me. If this didn’t begin labor, I would be put on a drip. The whole time I am in that early phase of labor I will be without pain medication and in a relaxed labor and delivery room. Once labor progresses I will be moved to an operating theater. I am not really looking forward to laboring in a highly technical environment but have no qualms about it as it is the safest thing for the babies. It is strongly recommended that I have an epidural due to the fact that a C-section is more likely to become necessary (although I wasn’t making arguments when it was offered) so I don’t have to be put under general anesthetic in the event of an emergency.

On a personal note, Trey and I still can’t believe that we can say “OK, sometime between now and Tuesday we will have babies.” There is a part of me that still doesn’t completely believe that after the pregnancy I will be a Mom and have two babies at home. The whole concept of birth still seems so foreign that I don’t truly believe my body will do it. I was in absolute shock when I found out today that I had progressed towards delivery (dilated, etc.) I don’t know when it fully becomes real and I imagine it takes time after coming home from the hospital even. I find myself full of babies that I can see on an ultrasound, hear on a Doppler, surrounded by things that go on babies or babies go in but that has been the case for months and now the realization is setting in that those things are actually about to become useful and those strangers are about to become family. I am sure this is the experience of many parents out there, I just never expected the sense of distance from reality after all the months of preparation.

Jan Term is Over and Braxton Hicks Have Begun

Today we sent a total of 84 students and professors home from winter term. We had 10 helpers stay to clear out the rooms and get the laundry to the laundry service. There were a total of 21 garbage bags of laundry that went out and came back today. When it came back we had to put mattress pads back on all the beds and the bed spreads into the armoires in the rooms then get the rooms ready for the spring students. Tomorrow we have a cleaning service come in and have the carpets cleaned. Sunday we have a real day off with an empty house and then Monday we will have contractors around for estimates on work that needs to be done.

Monday is also a big day for Trey because he has his 6 month review. He has finished the first 9,700 words of his thesis and he will get to go over it with his advisor and second reader.

Two nights ago I started getting Braxton Hicks contractions. They continued until this afternoon getting more regular but this afternoon slowed down again. The babies did seem to drop so hopefully they are getting ready to make their debut close to their due date next week!

Our Nearest Green Patch

Trey and I ran out today while the sun was shining (for the first time since October) and got some shots together before the babies aren't in my tummy anymore. Seeing as how we are having twins, who knows if I will ever be pregnant again and we wanted to remember this special time as a couple. I have been so blessed to have a husband with a servant’s heart who has gone above and beyond to take care of me during our pregnancy. He gives me back rubs, makes sure I take my prenatal vitamins, cooks dinner and goes to the store now that standing that long means sleeping less at night from the strain, has me hold his arm when we're walking down the street, goes to doctor appointments, carries the laundry downstairs if I am going to be washing that day and just generally goes out of his way to take some of the weight off of me. I am so grateful to the Lord for my husband and best friend.

On another note, we had an ultrasound on Friday (15 Jan.) Ellie has been breech since 20 weeks. I was so sure that we would go in for this scan and she would still be breech and we would leave the hospital with a date that these babies would be born. Well, just to surprise us all, she has turned and now we are going to be playing the waiting game as nature intended. I was really ready to have a light at the end of the tunnel. They are growing great. Ellie was two ounces away from being 6 pounds and Tate was one ounce from being 5 pounds. This is a great weight for a singleton pregnancy at this point so the doctors were very pleased.

Hospital Bag

When thinking about pregnancy, one thing I had always heard not to worry about was the hospital. You just show up with a few necessities and creature comforts and everything else is provided for you. The advice from my friends was even to bring extra bags to take home everything from extra diapers to nasal aspirators because hospital policy is not to reuse anything that has been in your room. Packing for the hospital seemed to involve throwing some P.J.’s, sleepers, slippers, music, snacks and maybe glasses or contacts into a bag and having it ready to run out the door.

Upon learning that, like most things, it is just a bit different here I began researching what people take to the hospital. I compiled a list and it included the following. Some may be the same as the states but some I am still shocked that people are expected to provide themselves such as diapers, formula (the hospital won’t provide it unless you have attempted to breast feed and couldn’t for medical reasons) water.

Hospital Bag
*Pack one bag for you and one for the babies
• Ear plugs (you’re in a ward with up to 5 other women and their babies.)
• Old night dress (to give birth in… no hospital gowns.)
• 2 P.J. Sets
• Old underwear
• Your own large fluffy towel (have heard tons of stories of people drying of with the paper towels because no clean towels were available)
• Pillows (You get one flat one.)
• Overnight pads
• Toiletries
• Wet Wipes (To clean out the shower… can’t make myself think about it but because you are sharing a shower with the women on your ward they aren’t always cleaned out when you are able to shower and I have heard horror stories of bloody floors women have had to wipe down)
• Shower Shoes
• Breast Pads
• Journal to keep track of changes and feeds and pens
• Snacks (the café is only open during the day.)
• iPod with Audiobooks (no internet or cable T.V. folks)
• Water (there is a water cooler and Dixie cups should you become thirsty. Otherwise, better bring your own.)
• Camera
• Birth plan and hospital notes (Notes = records)
• Phone numbers
• Plastic bag for really dirty clothes
• Glasses
• Contacts
• Lanolin cream
• Change of clothes for Trey


Baby Bag
• Diapers (New Baby)
• 10 sleepers (extra for twins and sometimes they stay in the hospital longer.)
• 2 baby blankets
• Cotton balls
• Wipes
• Nappy sacks
• Going home outfit

Now, you can only bring what you can fit in your little area of the ward but, fortunately, your husband has to go home when it isn’t visiting hours so he should be able to make plenty of trips home to restock your diaper supply and bring in extra water should you need it.