Wow, where did the time go?
I haven't been here in 10 months and I can't believe people are still reading my old entries... wow. Okay, so I guess I need to update then, don't I, lol... here it goes...
Yay! Our fresh cycle was successful... x2!! We transferred three 3-day embryos and got pregnant with twins. It was so exciting and we had a wonderful, easy, uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery. I can't begin to describe the awesome relationship that I developed with my IPs over the last few months. They were continually sweet and always there for me when I needed them. We would chat and visit and laugh and cry... it was miraculous!
Here is the story of the birth of their daughters (Yes, it is long, but what did you expect from an English major)...
Nobody ever told me how hard it would be to sit down long enough to gather my thoughts in a way that is coherent enough to write a birth story... or maybe it’s just me, lol. Okay, here goes...
Thursday, April 5th (35w 6d)
I had been having contractions off an on (mostly on) for about two days. My OB was out of town those days, so I waited until Thursday to go in and have him check me... just in case, you know. Well, I went in around Noon and he checked and said I was at 1cm, but still posterior and high up there. He advised me to go to the hospital to be monitored for a while. I did NOT want to go in for fear of being sent home, but decided it would be better safe than sorry. I called my IM on my way home from the OB’s office and had her meet me at my house and drive us there.
We arrived there (leaving our bags in the car because we didn’t expect to have to stay) and went up to triage to have me “checked”. I changed into my gown and strapped on those lovely elastic bands and watched my contractions show their performance anxiety by slowing from every 2-3 minutes to every 6-8 minutes. My IM and I talked about all the things we would do after we left the hospital because we totally thought we would be sent home.
Well, the nurse came in around 2pm and said she’d check me and then monitor for a little while longer and then if all was the same we’d be sent home. Soooooo, she checked me and in less than 2 hours after I left the OB’s office, with slowing contractions that didn’t really even bother me... I was at 4!!! Nobody was more surprised than I was. I’ve never gone past a 2 without crying for my epidural, lol.
Obviously, we were admitted.
My IM called my IF and my DH and probably everyone else, lol, while they moved us up to our labor room. It seemed so surreal to be checking in... I kept thinking that I didn’t FEEL like I was in labor. Soon everyone started arriving... IF, his mom and dad and sister, IM’s dad, half of the hospital staff (Oh, did I mention that IF’s dad worked there as an anesthesiologist?). Put it this way, our labor room was pretty full, but I didn’t mind at all, it was actually kinda nice for a change instead of boring ole labor with nobody to talk to except a stunned dh, ha ha.
I also called my good friend CC (aka Sugarsnaps) who came right over to be my support person. I have to say how phenomenal she is to have done this for me and I absolutely adore her for it.
So, the story continues... This labor was the total opposite of any labor experience I’ve ever had. Instead of taking all day to get to 4 then delivering quickly, I raced to 4cm and then slowed waaaaaaay down. It was close to Midnight when the nurse checked me and said, “Oh, you’re complete!” Wow, it was not as bad as I had imagined, considering I didn’t have a FULL epidural and still felt quite a lot.
At that point I did panic slightly when realizing that I did feel the contractions and that meant I would also feel EVERYTHING ELSE. I think my IF’s dad (the anesthesiologist) was the only one that realized my panic and went to get me something and pushed it into my IV himself (God bless him!).
Friday, April 6 (36 weeks exactly)
We all traveled to the OR together (hospital policy to deliver twins in the OR, just in case, you know)... me being wheeled down the hall on my bed and everyone else following in scrubs. My own personal parade, lol. CC came with me in to the actual OR and my IPs (and the rest of the entourage) went into the neighboring room that had a connecting window where the babies would be passed through. I could look over to my right and see right through to them and they could look through and see me as well, just without a direct shot, kwim.
It didn’t take long for little miss # 1 to decide she wasn’t waiting for the nurses to be ready and my OB was a bit irritated with them for dawdling, lol. Did I mention I could still FEEL EVERYTHING? Well, I could and baby girl was pushing herself right out on her own... Bless you women that go without pain meds by choice, but you’re crazy! I did panic a bit since I had never actually FELT a birth before (having always had an epidural), but my good friend CC reminded me to stop talking and breathe and push and all that stuff that I completely forgot about once the baby was right there.
Little miss K.R. was born at 12:17 AM weighing 5pounds 5 ounces and being 19 inches long. She has a full head of hair and looks a lot like her mommy. I cried when she was born from the overwhelming excitement and straight joy I felt. I watched her be passed through the window where here parents were waiting for their first-born daughter.
CC had to remind me to continue paying attention at which point I said to her, “Oh my God... there’s another one in there still!” I know, you’d think it would have occurred to me before then, but I was a bit bewildered by then.
My OB wanted the 2nd baby to come down quickly so he broke her water and used the vacuum just long enough to put her in the right spot and then she came out all on her own with just a little help from me pushing.
Little miss A.J. was born just 5 minutes later at 12:22 AM weighing 5 pounds 11 ounces and being 18 inches long. As my OB was clamping her cord I reached out and touched her little foot that was kicking around... so soft, so little... of course, I cried again. She was passed through the window as well and I watched as the whole family was staring in wide-eyed wonder at their newest additions.
I kept asking if they were breathing okay. They were born at 36 weeks exactly and I just wanted them to be alright, you know. I asked so many times and had to keep being reminded that my delivery was not quite complete as the doctor was still mucking around down there, lol. Eventually, it was all done and I am happy to report that the girls were great to me and I have no tearing, stitches or anything like that. I must say it makes all the difference in the world when it comes to recovery.
The hospital was very busy and we all went back to the same labor room together where I got to see the babies being assessed for all that newborn stuff, mom and dad putting on the first diapers and feeding the first bottles and all the family picture taking. It was so great to be a part of those first couple hours of the girls lives, to see the whole family enjoying its newest members, to be able to hold and cuddle those lovely little girls. I’ll never forget those moments and I’ll be forever thankful I was a part of them.
We all eventually went to our separate rooms, my IPs to their private room and me to mine. It was nearly 4 AM by then and I was understandably exhausted. After having the nurse take the batteries out of my clock (it was soooo loud with its tick-tock, tick-tock) I turned over onto my belly and slept for 4 hours straight for the first time in about 3 months. I needed that sleep soooo badly as some of you know.
I have to say that as a first time surrogate, my experience was nothing short of absolutely fabulous. I found the perfect IPs, they were awesome the entire time and still are, the pregnancy was as perfect as it can get with twins (no bed rest of any complications), delivery was a breeze (much easier than I anticipated when I initially freaked out, lol), the girls were absolutely perfect (both a decent weight with no time in the NICU) and I feel like I have a new family.
It all sort of feels like a dream at the moment... I almost forget I just gave birth less than two weeks ago. I feel great, I sleep (Yay!) and my feet are now a normal size. I am so thankful to everyone who supported me along the way and were there when I needed an ear or a shoulder to lean on. A huge special thanks to CC for being my coach and good buddy. And I could never forget my great buddy, bestest surro pal in the world, C2 (aka mommyof3coolboys). C2, you are the best friend a girl could ever ask for. Of course, there is my contact buddy and fellow Beach Baby, LowboyLove, who is one of the most supportive and wonderful people on SMO. I love you all and thank you.
