It's Spelled C-A-I-T-L-I-N: They’re here!

I bet you thought I dropped off the face of the Earth?! Which I did in a way as I’ve become a shut-in these past few months. Between the ridiculously never-ending 3rd trimester (twin pregnancy is NO JOKE) the birth, a postpartum hemorrhage and subsequent 3 weeks of bedrest, and of course holding/feeding/soothing/changing TWO BABIES….ooffdah! But, anyhow, they are here! They are healthy and perfect!

Baby A: Luke Robertson

5/2/16 2:20pm

7lbs. 5 oz 20”

Baby B: Jesse Daniel

5/2/16 (obviously! haha!) 2:34pm

6lbs. 3 oz 19”

(last pregnancy pictures)

The doctor recommended that I be induced at around 37 weeks, standard procedure for babies who share a placenta like mine did. So, at 37 weeks 2 days, dilated to 2cm (for weeks) I went in to the hospital.

There had been lots of debate in the weeks prior to the delivery about whether or not I should have an elective c-section as Baby B was still breech. The presenting baby was Baby A, who was head down, so it was really up to me which path I chose. I went back and forth about the whole thing, not wanting to risk any complications or an emergency c-section, but also not wanting to do unnecessary surgery (and the accompanying longer recovery) on my last pregnancy. Finally, after lots of debate and conversation (sorry to ANYBODY who talked to me in those weeks, since I couldn’t talk about anything else really. Besides also my sciatica) I decided to go for a vaginal birth, with the idea that the doctor would do a version on Baby B (where they manually turn the baby from the outside) after the first one was out.

The worst part of the whole labor experience was when it took the anesthesiologist three tries to get the epidural in place, while I was contracting and trying to “curl my body” around my GIGANTIC twin belly to open up my spine. I may or may not have mouthed a particularly juicy curse word at Brian during this time! Ha! Happens once during each of my labors!

Once I was fully dilated, they wheeled me into the Operating Room (my first time in one!) where there was an entire city of doctors, nurses, and personnel waiting for me. This is also standard policy for twin births, in case an emergency c-section is needed (which I was praying fervently against!) I was able to transfer myself onto the narrowest bed in history, lay flat on my back, put my feet in the stirrups, and it was go time!

It didn’t take me very long at all to push out Luke, who came out screaming!

They placed him on my chest/stomach area and instantly got out the ultrasound machine to check on Jesse and begin the version.

Right away we thought Luke looked just like one of our boys! Poor guy was bruised from being wedged so far in my pelvis and from a quick exit. Like my midwife said, “That is NOT a small baby!”

In just a few minutes (I started to watch, but then got creeped out) the doctor had flipped Jesse successfully and it was critical go time- TIME TO GET THAT BABY OUT before any complications arose.

This was when I started to feel the fatigue as I grabbed my legs and started pushing again. I had to push him down from much higher this time, and it felt like it took FOREVER. But, only 14 minutes after Luke, out he came!

It was all so surreal and such a rush. The lights, the people, the crying babies, the fear that melted away, and the TWO BABIES that were placed on my chest. Even though, obviously, I knew I was having twins, I also COULDN’T believe that I had two babies.