8 days old

I finally googled the med they gave me after labor.  It was hemabate (carboprost).  http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/hemabate
"Carboprost is used to treat severe bleeding after childbirth (postpartum)." The Dr. used hemabate and pitocin to stop my bleeding.
I can't believe the babies are 8 days old already.  How did that happen?  I'm starting to get a little more sleep.  Not at night, though.  I'm just trying to catch a few more zzz's in the daytime when the babies are sleeping.  It helps!  A lot!

Cora's jaundice levels peaked on Tuesday.  Yesterday's labs showed that they are starting to go back down.  Luckily, they didn't go up high enough that she needed a bili blanket or under the bank of lights again.

The babies had their 1 week check-up yesterday.  The Dr. said they look healthy, other than the jaundice, which is worse when breastfeeding.  I found out its more common with breastfeeding than formula fed babies.  He said that jaundice usually peaks at a week.  When he examined Colt, he said his jaundice looked worse than he thought it would, so we ended up having labs on him after the appointment yesterday and then again this morning.  His levels were higher yesterday, so they are going back down as well.  Whew!  Neither one had to be back on lights.  The Dr. said we don't need to do any more labs unless they stop eating.  That's not a problem.  They are still sleepy eaters, but they still take a bottle after nursing to finish filling up.  They are starting to stay awake longer and are able to nurse for longer periods of time now.  They are both nursing right now.

At birth, Colt weighed 5 pounds 1 ounce.  3 days later (Saturday) he was 4 pounds 10 ounces.  Yesterday he was 4 pounds 12 ounces.

At birth, Cora was 5 pounds 7 ounces.  3 days later (Saturday) she was 4 pounds 14 ounces.  Yesterday she was 5 pounds even.

We are headed back in the right direction.  A 7%-10% weight loss at birth for breastfed babies is normal.  Colton had a 7% weight loss.  Cora had a 10% weight loss.  I'm so glad they have both gained 2 ounces!

Changed into my gown at 6am.  Getting ready to start pitocin.

Getting ready to be wheeled into the c-section room.  I was ready to push here.

I didn't get to hold either one after they were born.  They had to be checked out first.  This was the first time I held them.  <3

Settled in my new room.  I look so pale compared to the 6am pictures.  Blood loss, I guess.

2 Days Old 

1 Day Old with big brother and sister. 

Cora under the bank of lights and on a bili blanket. 

Colton on a bili blanket.

Cora soaking in the sun wearing her protective eye wear.

Sleeping much better back together.

4 days old.  Finally home!

1 week postpartum.  I gained 28 pounds during pregnancy.  I have not lost 26 pounds since giving birth.

Last Door pic

Colt - 1 week

Cora - 1 week 

Snuggles - They love to lay close and touch each other. 

Have a great weekend!  

~Sam

Zzzzz

I think Shawn and I have forgotten what sleep is.  We are doing well, though.  I'll start this post after the birth of our miracles.

I still can't remember what the two shots were in the thighs to firm my uterus and stop my bleeding.  I also remember them upping my pitocin.  Apparently it helps with that as well.

After Colt and Cora were born, my family got to come to my delivery room (I was in this room before delivery.  All twins and multiples are delivered in the c-section room in case of emergencies.) and they got to oogle the babies and hold them.  I think Colt looks a lot like Shawn and Cora looks a lot like me.  I was starving, so Shawn ran out and got me Subway while waiting to take me to the postpartum room.  They waited a little bit to take me because they wanted to give me the biggest room and the room was being cleaned since the person in it had just been released.  I also had some lovely tummy pains from those shots in the thighs.

Once in the postpartum room, we found my sisters and Zac and Abby waiting on us.  They loved meeting their new brother and sister.  Shawn and I slept I think 2 hours that night.  We were just too excited and couldn't put down our babies.  We have waited a long time for this. In fact, Shawn and I married March 11, 2006. We were blessed with the birth of our twins (our miracles) exactly 7 1/2 years later on September 11, 2013. That's a long road of infertility finally at an end.

The next morning I had labs.  I was already a little anemic during pregnancy, which is common.  After my blood loss after delivery, it got a lot worse.  I was cold and dizzy.  I had to have my IV hooked back up and I had a blood transfusion.  1 unit takes a little over 3 hours to do.  I had to have 2 units (which again, is common).  It hurt the whole time.  The blood was cold, so it made my vein ache in my hand and wrist.  Thank you to whomever shared their blood with me.  I appreciate using your nutrients!  My blood work Friday morning showed that I'm still anemic, but a lot better than I was.  I'm taking iron pills for at least 6 weeks.  Hopefully at my 6 week appointment, I will be better.  The Dr. said don't be surprised if I'm not.

We are really learning what it is to be parents to not only newborns, but twins.  We are exhausted!  Our babies are "sleepy eaters".  This can be common with any newborn, but especially preterm babies.  Our babies are technically preemies since they are not 40 weeks.  We could have weeks of this.  I pray not!  Its exhausting.  I am breastfeeding and pumping.  The babies have great latches and sucking now, but they fall asleep quickly, long before they are full.  They struggled with latching and sucking the first day or 2.  It was a learning process for us.  They both lost weight after birth, which is common.  Cora got down to 4 pounds 14 ounces and Colt got down to 4 pounds 10 ounces.  I hope they are gaining now that my milk is in.  I nurse the babies for an hour.  I should clarify.  I "try" to nurse them.  I spend most of the time stripping them down, changing their diapers, putting cold washcloths on them to wake them up to nurse more.  After doing this for 30 minutes with each baby, we bottle feed them with breast flow design nipples.  I don't want it easy for them.  I don't want them to give up on breastfeeding.  So far, so good.  They still enjoy nursing first, even if it puts them to sleep.  Everyone promises that this will eventually come to an end and they will get it.  It could take up to 5 more weeks.  Lord, I pray not!  It is exhausting.  I nurse one baby for half an hour then Shawn brings me the next baby.  He takes the first baby and encourages them to finish filling up on the bottle.  Then once the 30 minutes is up with the next baby, he bottle feeds them while I pump.  We have a system down.  Its just very time consuming and doesn't promote a lot of sleep.  We are both "trying" to get naps in the daytime while the babies sleep.  My mom came over this evening and spent time with Zac and Abby and took care of the twins while Shawn and I got a nap.  It was AMAZING!  We greatly appreciate her giving us that little bit of time to rest without having to worry about anything.  After seeing how much time is spent focused on nursing, I think she understands why we are so exhausted.

I told Shawn to call me Bessie and put me out to pasture.  I am producing quite a bit right now.  I hope it stays that way.  I want to tandem feed, but its hard to do when they aren't nursing without being pestered.

We were supposed to get out of the hospital on Friday evening, but both babies developed jaundice.  They were put on bili blankets.  Cora's got worse, so she was put under bili lights as well while Colton continued with his blanket.  They were finally well enough to come home on Sunday.  I cry when I look at all of the pokes and marks on my babies.  They had a little trouble keeping up their sugar the first couple of days, so they have a lot of heal pokes.  :(  Cora had labs again today.  She jumped when the needle went in and just sucked on her pacifier while it was done.  The lab tech really struggled getting her tiny vein.  In fact, she lost it and wasn't sure she had gotten enough blood.  I didn't want her poked again, so we stayed there long enough to see if they had gotten enough.  Thank God, they had.  I'm not sure I could have handled them poking her again.  She just lay there sucking her pacifier while I leaned in close to her talking to her and stroked her head.  I about cried for her.  I hate feeling like she's a pincushion.  She's had so many labs since her jaundice was worse than Colts.  Her levels were a little high again, so we should be getting a bili blanket delivered for home use tomorrow.  Their first appointment is Wednesday.  I'm sure they will have labs again to check their levels.  I think Colt still has it as well, but not as bad.  They are eating and messing diapers a lot now.  I really hope their weights are going back up.

Shawn is amazing!  I would be lost without him.  He takes very good care of me.  I'm so busy that I forget to take care of myself.  He feeds me and makes me drink often.  I am dreading him going back to work.  Maybe the babies will eat better by then.  I'm thankful he saved his vacation and was able to take the first 2 weeks off with us.  I'd be lost without him.

Well, Bessie had better get to work.  Take care!

~Sam

They're here!

I'm so sorry for not updating sooner! It's just been so crazy. Colton James Scott was born at 4:09 pm weighing 5lbs 1oz 18 1/2 inches. Cora Leigh Scott was born at 4:32 pm weighing 5lbs 7 oz 19 1/2 inches. It was quite an experience.  They wheeled me in the c-section room next door. They let our moms put on scrubs and watch through the scrub room window. Colton's heartreate kept dropping and Dr. said the his cord was probably around his neck. Once he was crowning, it got extremely low, so the Dr. put the vacuum on his head and helped pull him out. His cord was around his neck, but he was perfectly fine. Baby girl's water broke while she was still up high. She wasn't' moving down much so the Dr. put an electrode on her scalp. They were having trouble keeping her heartbeat. As he suspected, her heartrate was doing the same thing, but she wasn't moving down. They kicked out our moms from the other room and the Dr. said to prep the c-section team, she needed to come out now. Her heartrate was worse than her brothers. I pushed back to back 6-8 times as hard as I could. I moved her just enough that the Dr. could get his hands up there and get a hold of her. Her guided her down and I continued to push with everything I had. She came out and she was just as perfect as her brother. Her cord was not around her neck, but it was getting compressed somewhere. The nurse went and told our moms that we didn't end up having a c-section. Apparently they were practically crying, they were worried. We have 2 beautiful babies!!! After that, I obviously had an episiotomy, the Dr. stitched me, but I kept bleeding. A lot. I had to have 2 shots ( I can't remember the medicine at the moment) to get my uterus to harden. OMG! The massaging of my belly to get things to go back right was downright painful. I kept lifting my head to see my babies and they would yell at me because they needed to massage my belly properly. Shawn stayed with the babies until things calmed down with me. So, we had 2 babies in a rush. Things were such a whirlwind, I finally bawled while nursing last night.

~Sam

Last Belly Pic

36 weeks 5 days!  I'm ready for tomorrow.  I can't wait to meet our babies and find out who's been beating me up. :-)  I almost made it to the door knob!

I can't wait to not worry about my BP anymore.  I'll update as soon as I can.

~Sam

36 weeks 5 Days

My Dr. appointment went well today. I am about 3cm and 75% effaced. Baby boy is measuring 6lbs 2oz. Baby girl is measuring 6lbs even. Both are head down. I get induced in the morning. I'll have our babies at 36 weeks 6 days. Almost 37 weeks. Shawn and I just installed the carseats to make sure we know what we're doing. OMG! Shawn and I are going to have 2 babies tomorrow!

What is your guess on their weights tomorrow?

Have a wonderful day!

~Sam

36 Weeks 4 Days

Nothing new to report.  I freaked out a little during the Colts game yesterday.  Apparently both babies were sleeping and I couldn't get them to move.  I put ice on my belly and they finally started moving.  They are moving less and less.  I'm not used to that.  I read that they get calm before labor, so I wonder if my body is gearing up for that soon.  Shawn came home from work last night and said my belly has dropped a bunch.  I guess I'm getting closer.  I hope that means either A) I go into labor on my own. B) The Dr. strips my membranes and I go into labor. OR C) I get induced and things go smoothly.  Unfortunately, induction can lead to c-sections because your body isn't ready.  I am relaxing and picturing everything going smoothly, so I really think things will go well for us.  I think my body is getting ready.  I'm getting excited!  Just think, we could have babies at home for the next Colts game.  ;-)

It depends upon who you talk to, but some Dr.'s consider 36 weeks full term with twins.  I know the ultrasound tech considers me full term.  Other Dr.'s don't consider twins full term until 37 weeks.  I'm not sure about my Dr.  Just to play it safe for lung development, my Dr. wants me to make it close to 37 weeks.  Unfortunately, gestational diabetes can slow lung maturity.  At the same time, I have been able to control mine with diet alone and I RARELY go over.  I really hope that by keeping it under control it hasn't had much of an affect on the babies.

I'm ready when the babies are ready or the Dr. says its time.  My next post could have pictures of babies!

Take Care!

~Sam

Getting Closer

I'm 36 weeks 1 day pregnant today.  My BP is always high when I get up in the morning.  It was the highest its been today.  It was 175/100.  After getting out of bed, 2 hours later it was 143/87.  I called my Dr. and left a message just to let him know how high it was and that I would be in for my NST in a bit.  They called me back as my mom was bringing me to my NST.  My Dr. said he would either send me home after my NST or see me depending on how the babies were doing.  Thankfully, the babies are just fine.  NST was perfect again.  So I got to go home and he will see me at my appointment Tuesday.  He said at my appointment we would discuss inducing me on Wednesday.  With my BP creeping higher and higher, its time for these babies to come out.  He just wants me to make it close to 37 weeks.

I'm hoping he will strip my membranes on Tuesday and I will go into labor on my own that day.  If I don't go on my own, I'm ready for induction.  I know he said discuss inducing me on Wednesday, but as far as I'm concerned, its a done deal.  Lets get the ball rolling.  I thought about trying every old wives tale I could find about trying to get the babies to come this weekend, but the more I think about it, the more I realize I should just rest.  These babies are going to come when they are ready, not when I want them to.  I should rest up for labor and staying up with 2 newborns instead of wearing myself out.  I thought about taking a walk, but I'm just going to save my energy.  I feel really tired today too for some reason.  I think I hear a nap calling my name.

Have a great day!

~Sam

Week 36 - 9 Months!!!

I went to the Dr. yesterday/Tuesday.  I had an NST at 9am.  I've learned to wait and eat breakfast while I'm hooked up.  The babies move around a lot more and their heart-rates go up and down like they want to see when I eat.  The babies get so excited when I eat.  The flavor of what I eat does go to their amniotic fluid, so I guess they get excited because they know they will be tasting something soon.  After my NST, I met with my Dr. for an OB appointment.  He asked how I was feeling.  I was honest and told him I'm miserable now and my pelvic is killing me.  He checked me and I am 2cm dilated and 75% effaced.  I thought I would have spotting, but I actually bled a little after he checked me.  My Dr. said he could feel baby boy's head when he checked me.  He did not strip my membranes, yet.  He really wants to see me make it to 37 weeks, unless the babies make the decision for him.  I think he will strip my membranes at my appointment next Tuesday.  He doesn't like the way my blood pressure is so all over.  It was really high this morning when I got up, but it started going down as soon as I got up.  I don't know why it gets so high when I sleep.  The Dr. also had me stick around and have another ultrasound at 1:00.  He wanted to make sure the babies are close in size to each other.  The babies are similar in size, so that's good.  They are somewhere between 5-6 pounds.  They are so cramped in there, it was hard getting good measurements and with baby boys head engaged in my pelvis, it was hard getting his head.  They do seem to have long femurs, so maybe they will both end up being tall.  Their hearts were pumping away.  Baby girl was practice breathing on ultrasound.  Everything is great with them still!

I figure this may end up being my last week pregnant, so I'm going to show off my belly, stretch marks and all.

Far Along: 36 weeks with twins!

How big are the babies: Somewhere between 5-6 pounds. http://www.babycenter.com/average-fetal-length-weight-chart

Maternity Clothes: Yes - Pretty much dresses are the only comfy thing on this belly.

Weight Gain: Just under 28 pounds.

Belly: Huge

Stretch Marks: Most definitely.

Sleep: I wake up every 1 1/2-2 hours to pee. I drive Shawn crazy getting up all of the time, but I wake up having Braxton Hicks because I need to pee.  It also hurts to roll over.

Best Moment of the Week: Seeing the babies are still perfectly healthy on ultrasound Tuesday.

Movement: All of the time. Makes me smile a lot!

Symptoms: Sore boobs. Taking off my bra makes me cry. Acne on my neck, chest, etc. Hair growth on my belly. Major heartburn. Braxton Hicks.  Extremely sore pelvic.  Baby boy has been head down and engaged for so long I just ache.

Food Cravings: I'm dying for pizza and a nice warm brownie with ice cream and chocolate syrup for dessert.  I dream about it, but can't have it.

Genders: A boy and a Girl!

What I Miss: Not worrying about what I eat (deli, etc). Sleeping through the night. Not waddling. Having energy. Being able to walk through a store. Painting my toenails without leaving unpainted strips on the sides.  Not hurting when I get up and walk.

What I'm Looking Forward to: Meeting the babies. I don't want it to be too soon, but I can't wait. Soon!

Weekly Wisdom: Naps are great!

Milestones: 36 weeks is considered safe and "full term" with twins!

Emotions: Still crying like a baby.  I cried earlier because I'm going to miss being pregnant.  I hurt and I can't wait to meet the babies, but I'm afraid of forgetting what their movements in my belly feel like.  This is the one time I will get to experience this.

~Sam