Birth Story: May 19, 2011

Leigh posted pictures of some of the birth story, but I thought I would tell the story. It is definitely not the story I anticipated sharing, but it is our story, nonetheless.

My pregnancy had gone fabulously without any complications or indications that I would go in to preterm labor. We saw the perinatologist 4 weeks ago and everything looked great--the girls were right on track and were the same weight. 

On Thursday, May 18th I started noticing at work that with contractions that I got every so often I felt a little crampy, which was unusual for me. From 4 to 6 that evening I counted my contractions and I had 6 each hour, so I decided to call my OB. He said to take a warm bath, rest, and that they should go away. He said that if I truly was in preterm labor that my contractions would be more painful than how I was describing. I did as the doctor said and my contractions went away. The next morning, May 19th, I woke up and the same contractions started right away. I went to work and at about 9:30 I noticed that they were pretty close together, the pain was a little more than the day before, but still wasn't unbearable or anything of that sort. I called my doctor and talked to a nurse. She had me drink 30 oz. of water and lay down for 30 minutes. She said if the contractions did not go away to go to labor and delivery to get checked out. After 30 minutes I had had 3 contractions. At this point, I called Leigh and said I was coming home and that we should probably go get checked out to make sure everything was okay. I left work about noon and we got to the hospital about 1. They monitored the girls' hearbeats and my contractions for about 30-45 minutes. Everything looked okay--their heartbeats were good and I was having contractions about 7 minutes apart. It seemed like they were wrapping everything up and getting ready to let us go home, but wanted to do a couple things before we left--including checking my cervix. A nurse checked and was shocked to feel feet kicking her and she was uncertain of what my cervix was doing so she got another nurse to make sure. This nurse checked and said I was 3-4 cm dilated and 80-90% effaced. When I heard those numbers I was a little nervous and Leigh was confused as to what all of this meant. The nurse then said, "You will not be going anywhere today." They called my doctor and decided to start me on Magnesium to hopefully stop my contractions, but let me know that no matter what happened I would be staying in the hospital until I delivered. My doctor was out of town and so an OB I had never met came in to introduce himself and check my cervix again. I was 4-5 cm dilated and 100% effaced. Everything happened fast after this point and kind of seems like a blur. They did an ultrasound to confirm Baby A was breech--and she was frank breech (feet first) and Baby B was also breech. The OB explained how dangerous it can be to have a baby frank breech if my water broke--even at 5 cm dilated the baby could start delivering herself because her feet could fit through 5 cm or a prolapsed cord could occur, all things that would lead to an emergency c-section. I got an epidural and after becoming numb, the doctor checked again and I was 6 cm dilated. At this point, everything was pretty much ready for a c-section. They finished getting everything ready, Leigh got dressed in his scrubs, grabbed the camera, and we headed to the c-section room. 

Having a c-section was definitely not ideal, but I knew it was the best way to keep my girls safe. All I experienced from the surgery was pressure, the awful smell of burning, Leigh's excitement, and the first cries from my babies. I didn't even get to see them. Leigh watched and took pictures of each of them being born and then went with them in to the next room. They cleaned the girls off, evaluated them, and started getting everything set up for them in the NICU. While that was happening, the doctors were sewing me up, giving me weird medications, and then took me back to a room. It was a strange feeling to have just given birth and to not even know what my babies looked like. After about an hour after surgery Leigh came in to show me the pictures and tell me how they were doing. The nurse then took me to see them in the NICU before taking me to the Mother Baby Unit at the hospital. It was so great to see them, touch them, and know that they were mine. 

Since the night of their birth, I spend my day pumping, resting, and in the NICU. Leigh has been taking care of me and visiting the girls as often as he can to get updates. The past 72 hours have been filled with more changes than I have ever experienced. The girls have both already been through so much, but they are strong, sweet little babies. Leigh has also been amazing--he has to do so much right now for all three of us AND get schoolwork done. They expect the girls to probably be in the NICU until their due date (July 16th) and we both will be spending our days sitting by their beds. We are so in love with our little girls and so grateful for their health and safety.

Baby A: Kendal Mae Greenquist

5:11 PM

4 lbs. 1 oz.

18 inches

Baby B: Lyla Jane Greenquist

5:13 PM

3 lbs. 2 oz.

15 3/4 inches