Wednesday, December 30, 2009

My Birth Story



Originally my girls were suppose to be born on December 30 (today). I went to se Hutch on December 20th. It had been a strange pregnancy week for me. For the most part being pregnant was fairly easy for me. I only puked once and if you take away the nasty stretch marks I had it pretty easy. However, the Sunday before I was at Josh's parents house. I took my shoes off and when I left my feet wouldn't fit into them again. I shoved them in and went home. The next morning I woke up and it looked as if my "cankles" and feet belonged to someone who should weigh about 700 pounds. Of course I was devastated, to have to wear flip flops in the winter; but whatever, I delt with it. By Thursday I had been having my share of Braxton Hicks contractions only they didn't really hurt, they just made me feel out of breath. They took my blood pressure and it was elevated enough that they made me stay and relax so that they could take it again. Apparently between the swelling, blood pressure, and "changing" happening "upstairs" Hutch decided to take them on Monday.



Oh Boy...



So we roll around to Monday. I call my sister in law and she came over to French Braide my hair for me. After all, I couldn't have an ugly first hospital picture after my girls were born. We went and saw Hutch just to make sure things were pregressing nicely. While waiting in the waiting room to see him I met a lady that had just had her second set of twins. This time they were girls the last time they were boys. I seem to be hearing about that a lot lately. It just so happens that this woman is one in the same with the one I heard yelling to "Get Them Out" when I was about 33 weeks pregnant. Funny how that works.

So Hutch sends us over to Jordan Valley Medical Center. We get checked in and it takes twice as long because I have to sign release forms for me and both girls. It took us about 25 minutes and I was even pre-registered. The took me into this really nice room and gave me a gown to put on. Well the gown would have fit just fine if I didn't have a huge belly to accomodate. So it didn't cover about 8" of my butt. Fine, just get a bigger gown. Apparently they only have regular size and super super size because that one I couldn't even keep on my shoulders. I ended up wearing two regular gowns, just one was backwards. The put the monitors on my belly and they gave me two nurses. One was very nice, she seemed to be the more experienced one. The other one, didn't crack a smile one time. She was the one doing my IV. I don't particularly care for needles so Josh came up and held my hand while I stared at his face. My hand was on fire and I could feel her "fishing" around. I watched as Josh's face went white and he said, "I think I need to sit down". At that point I look at my hand and there is no IV in it, just a blown up vain pour blood out all over my hand and arm. Thankfully the more experienced nurse took pitty on me and did my IV in my right hand instead. The IV was the worst part of the labor experience for me.



I only stayed in my room about 30 minutes signing more forms and getting fluids when my favorite person at that hospital walked in, Ron, my anesthesiologist. He was amazing. So concerned about me and any fears I might be having. He stayed with me the whole time. Walking me to the operating room and then rolling me to my room. He even stopped by every day to see me and the babies. He was awesome. We went to the OR and I was shaking. I was terrified on the spinal block but Ron was joking with Josh and I while he was explaining everything he was doing. It didn't really hurt, felt more like a small sting for about 5 seconds; but when he put the needle through into my spinal fluid my leg jerked and I was instantly numb. Weird feeling. I was already on the operating table so they laid me down and put up the screen so I couldn't see what they were doing. They put warm towels on my arms and got my belly washed. Hutch was of course running a little late. So while waiting Josh, Ron, the nice nurse, and I were all talking about vacationing. We had been waiting for about 25 minutes when all of a sudden it dawned on me and I asked Josh if I was naked. He confirmed that for me and I instantly turned red. Honestly, who has casual conversation with people they barely know in the buff. Apparently I do.



Hutch arrived at about 12:50. He started and the only way to explain the way it felt is to say that I could feel most everything but that it didn't hurt. I felt Madisyn be born and Kaitlyn turning. I felt Hutch put his arm in me to bring Kaitlyn out head first (he took Madisyn feet first). The weirdest feeling was the vaccum inside me sucking out the fluid, it greatly resembles the spit sucker at the dentist just bigger. They took the girls to the NICU for observation and Josh and I had already decided that he was not to leave them. I only saw Kaitlyn for about three seconds before they left. Ron stayed by my head and kept rubbing my arm and holding my face to talk to me. I was extremely grateful for him. In the end I was cut, stretched, soddered, sewn, and stapled over seven different layers. The babies spent about 7 hours in the NICU and I wasn't able to go see them unitl 7:30. All I got was some pictures. It was the most terrifying and amazing thing I have ever experienced. It was more than worth what pain I did experience to have these perfect little babies.

Josh and I and Ron going into Surgery!






3 comments:

Jami Berry said...

Aren't anesthesiologists the greatest? Mine totally helped me keep my sanity when I had an emergency c-section! I'm glad everything went good and that you are all doing well.

mom said...

Amber, you are so amazing!! you have never completed about any thing that happened during your 9 months.
You were so cute in the hospital, wanting to make sure that there were alot of pictures taken. Josh was so cute, trying to be the best daddy that he can be, making sure that his two new little girls were being taken care of.
Ron was amazing! when he walked into your room,the scared look that you had went away.
I am so grateful that all went will, Heavenly Father was for sure there making sure all three of my girls were okay, and that everything went perfect.
Love Mom

The Hendricks Family said...

Congrats! They are so sweet. Its an amazing thing. I am so glad it all went so smooth.