SNL0605: Zachary & Madeline's Birth Story

Posted Wednesday, June 04, 2008 12:00 PM

"I saw clear fluid trickling down my leg. I thought maybe it could be my water, but deep down I didn't actually believe it..."

 
The beginning 

On May 7th, 2008, I woke up feeling pretty normal. I was a little tired, because I didn't sleep very well the night before, but didn't think anything of it. Around 11:30 in the morning I decided I as going to take a quick shower. I sat down to use the bathroom first and when I stood up, I saw clear fluid trickling down my leg. Honestly, I thought maybe it could be my water, but deep down I didn't actually believe it. I told Scott that it was possible I broke my water, but not to get too excited because I wasn't completely sure. After my shower I laid down in bed for about a half-hour and stood up to a soaked bottom. I called the clinic and they asked me to come in at two in the afternoon (which at this point was in about an hour).

Here come the contractions!

I no sooner walked (okay wheeled) into the clinic and painful contractions began. They quickly put me on the monitor and it was clear things had changed. The babies looked wonderful on the monitor but I was very clearly having real contractions. They did a pH test to check to see if it was truly my water and within 10 seconds she said, "You need to go directly to the hospital. Have someone bring your overnight bag, put their car seats in the car, and prepare yourself to have your babies in your arms today." None of this seemed real, it was all happening way too fast and my husband and I were in major denial and a serious state of shock.

We got to the hospital within minutes and walked in the door and they were there waiting for me. I got placed in my room and had a flood of nurses and doctors enter the room. One started and IV, one was getting the babies on the monitor, one was preparing me for surgery, and someone else put those lovely stockings on my legs. One doctor did a quick ultrasound to confirm the babies positions (both were transverse -- they were laying sideways like they were in a bunk bed) and the other doctor called anesthesia to find out what they wanted to do, since I had eaten a small lunch. It was all so surreal and happened so fast.

A speedy delivery 

I walked into the hospital at 4 p.m. and was taken back to the operating room at 5 p.m. I was given a spinal to numb my body from the chest downwards and was told the incision started at 5:30 p.m. exactly. Three little minutes later (5:33) my little Zachary was born. His sister, Madeline, came into the world one tiny minute later (5:34). Madeline was a champ; she cried and pinked up immediately. Zachary on the other hand was being lazy. He needed quite a bit of stimulation to get him breathing. But after a few hours he perked up and was doing as well as Madeline.

Zachary weighed 5 pounds 9 ounces and was 18 inches long. Madeline weighed 5 pounds 6 ounces and was 19 inches long. They were both huge for 34-weekers! Apparently the average 34-week baby weighs about 4 pounds, so our little ones are not all that little. They were put under the bilirubin lights because they were both jaundiced (which is very common in premature babies).  Afterward, they were both in the hospital for about a week, which wasn't as bad as we thought it'd be. They are both nursing very well now and we are so excited and pleased with that!

 
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