Saturday, November 18, 2017

Prim & Hagen Birth Story - Part I

You might want to grab a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate because this is going to be a long one. 

 30 Weeks  - my last belly shot before delivering 

I had a pretty uneventful pregnancy for the most part.  Just regular aches and pains that come with pregnancy.  Each time I would ask my OB about this pain or that he would reply, "yeah, you are pregnant .... with twins!"  I was considered high risk because of age and twins so I was seen often and had an ultrasound each time (a nice perk).  I never needed to see a specialist or had any concern that anything was wrong.  The babies were growing and stayed somewhere in the 40% .  Both babies were head down for a majority of the time.  We felt so blessed that the twins were doing so well! 

At my 30 week appointment my doctor told me that I would for sure make it to 38 weeks.  With twins they generally don't let you go past 38 weeks.  I was measuring full term (40 weeks) and getting pretty uncomfortable.  I asked if maybe we could push that up to say 36 or 37 weeks?  

One week later, Wednesday September 7, 2016.  I went to work just like any other day but was having a bit of an off day.  I was just tired (duh!).  I spent most of the day in my office, sitting.  I had been warned not to over do it even if I felt good.  So I heeded the advise and sat most of the day.  That evening I was presenting at a New Teacher Academy meeting so I skipped pilates and took a nap before heading to my meeting.  I think I even left work a little early.  After my presentation I headed straight home telling the other presenters that I just didn't feel well.  I was having an off day.  As the evening wore on I just kept feeling more and more blah.  As Erik made dinner I tried sitting at the bar but even that felt like too much, I just wanted to lay down.  Man this pregnancy thing was getting hard!  As I headed to bed I told Erik that I was having SO much pressure in my pelvis and even some cramping.  Well no surprise, I had two heads in my pelvis!  I remember specifically praying that these babies would not come yet.  We needed more time.  As I went to bed I told Erik that I wasn't ready to have these babies yet but didn't really think much of it.   I went to bed thinking that I would wake up feeling better the next day!

Sometime just before midnight I woke up.  At this point I was waking up several times a night so this was nothing new.  But this time was different.  I was all wet!  Had I just peed the bed?  Oh my gosh I can't believe this is happening!  I got up and went to the bathroom.  As soon as I sat down there was a big gush!  Oh dear!  That sure didn't feel like pee!  But it has to be.  I am only 31 weeks.  I am not in labor.  So I sat there a little longer.  Another gush!  Ok!  That definitely was not pee!  

I will say that I am pretty good in tense situations.  I didn't panic or freak out.  Not wanting to wake Erik (why? I am not sure) I quietly changed my pants, got my phone and went downstairs.  I called my OB after hour calling service.  I waited the ten minutes they said to wait for a call back before calling the hospital.  I called Utah Valley because I knew that this early in my pregnancy I would have to go there (thank goodness we had talked to the OB about this).  I talked to a charge nurse and  told her what had happened but that I was not in labor.  I felt fine.  She told me that I should probably come in to get checked.  I asked if I could just go to American Fork because it was much closer, if I had just peed my pants I could go home, if my water was broken I could go to Utah Valley.  She said NO!   I needed to come straight there because AF was not equip to deliver 31 weekers.  

While I was on the phone I had a few more gushes so I was all wet again.  Gross!  I went up stairs, turned on a light and changed my clothes hoping Erik would wake up.  Well he didn't.  Ready to walk out the door I walked over to his side of the bed.  "Erik."  I whispered.  "Erik!"  He opens his eye.  "Hey, you should probably sit up.  I think my water broke, we need to go to the hospital and get checked."  Erik FLIES out of bed!  Seriously he practically jumped over me!  "Erik!  I don't think you are really awake.  I think you should sit down.  I am not in labor!"  It was just like a scene in a movie.  He starts running around our room in complete panic.  "Oh my gosh!  What do we do? We are soooo not ready for this!"  He puts on a t-shirt, takes it off and puts on another one.  "I guess I will be rep'in the Y if the babies are born tonight!" as he puts on a BYU t-shirt.  "Great! Let's go."  He then changes his shirt two more times.  "We don't even have a hospital bag packed! What are you going to take?"  "Nothing, my purse.  I don't even know for sure that it was my water that broke." I tell him as I am standing in one place with my purse.  "Erik we need to go."  I was starting to cramp and my third pair of pants were now wet.  He was just kinda running around the house.  It is actually pretty funny!  

It was about 1 AM at this point.  We get to the hospital in record time!  I had to remind Erik to slow down a couple of times that I was not in labor.  We pull into labor and delivery parking right by the front doors.  Erik gets out of the car and heads to the hospital door .. without me.  I get myself out of the car and start waddling after him.  "Um Erik? Wait for me!"  he explains that he doesn't know where we go so he is going to check things out.  As we approach the security guard he points to the elevator and tells us to go to the 4th floor.  Erik yells, "her water broke!"  I think it was pretty obvious why we were there at 1AM.  We get in the elevator and Erik pushes the 4th floor button like 30 times.  

Labor and delivery was expecting us and took me right back to a room.  Before the poor front desk girl could get out of the room I was stripping down.  I just wanted out of these soaking wet pants!  As soon as I was in the care of the L&D nurses Erik calmed right down which was a relief.  It took about three seconds for the test to confirm that my water had indeed broken.  "Well my dear, you are here to stay!" was my nurses response.  She got me and the twins hooked up to monitors.  All that cramping I was having .... well it turns out that those were contractions.  I actually WAS in labor.  Who knew!?!  

That first night was a very long night!  My doctor had ordered lots of IV fluids, magnesium drip and antibiotics.  The hope was to stop labor and keep these babies inside for three more weeks all while on hospital bed rest.  

To be continued ..... 

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