Our Birth Story (Not A Short One)

This is a very long story, but it's our way of remembering exactly what happened on our daughters birthdays!

After my 2 weeks of hospital bed rest, I successfully made it through one more week at home. Sunday night I was waking up every 30 minutes to use the bathroom. Monday, I kept telling Christian I just didn't feel well, and had some little aches and pains, but we both attributed it to "growing pains". Monday night, same thing... up every 30 minutes and I just felt very achey, had an uncomfortable heaviness, and my hip and pubic bone pain were much worse. Around 6am, I went to the bathroom and noticed some faint pink spotting. We decided it was time to call the doctor. When she returned my call, she said she was sorry, but I should make the trip into Magee, though she felt it was most likely a UTI. I decided to pack a little bag just in case I ended up on hospital bed rest again. I guess I had some sort of intuition about what was ahead because I told Christian I just wasn't ready to have our babies yet... I wanted them to have more time to grow.

Moments after hanging up the phone with her I started having horrific cramping. We both got showered and by the time we got into the car around 7:15am, I was contracting every 4-5 minutes and feeling it in my back as well. I had a feeling that wasn't good. I was starving and craving marshmallows, so Christian stopped and got me a rice krispie bar. Who knew this would be my last morsel of food until 11pm that night?

We got to L&D and were sent back to triage right away. It was actually a slow morning for them. As soon as they got me set up on the monitors, we saw the contractions. I think they were every 5 minutes at that point. They checked my cervix and did a bunch of cultures. I was 4 cm dilated. When I left the hospital 1 week prior, I was 2 cm dilated. The doctor came in and talked to us and did yet another cervical exam. She looked at me and said you realize your not going home, right? We were a little scared, but still had hope that maybe I'd just remain there on bed rest.

After a few hours of monitoring, they sent us over to a Labor and Delivery room. We were told it was just for further monitoring where they could give us more one-on-one attention. I think we went over there around 11am. Then the MFM (maternal fetal medicine/high-risk) group came to talk to us. We were surrounded by probably 7 doctors, nurses and specialists. They explained to us that there are many reasons for pre-term labor, but sometimes the true reason is never found. One out of 3 reasons is an infection in the uterus. They suggested to us that we do an Amniocentesis to check for infection. We were both shocked by this as we always thought that an amnio was very risky due to a chance of miscarriage. They explained that the risk does exist at early stages in pregnancy. The risks associated with an amnio at this point were very small. We needed to know if there was infection because an infection would mean delivering the babies that day. Infection can be detrimental to the babies and to the mother. If no infection was found they would consider continuing my meds to prolong birth, even if was only for a day. They did the amnio, assisted by an ultrasound and the initial result showed a positive for baby a. They would need to wait for 3 more markers before making a decision.

My parents then came and we all waited and waited for the results to come back. In the meantime my contractions worsened, then subsided a little, and then started back up. It was around 12:15 or so that they did the amnio and we didn't see the doctors again until about 4:00 (all times are estimates... it was such a whirlwind!). The doctor came in and explained that there indeed was infection found. It was basically our decision in the end as far as what we wanted to do, but that the consensus of every one there was to induce labor and they she wanted to break my water. We were in shock and disbelief. We didn't want to risk the babies health or mine, so we agreed. My eyes welled with tears and the doctor looked right at me and said "this is not your fault, you did everything you could."

She did one last cervix check and I was now 6-7 dilated. She told us at that point there was no longer a decision to be made anyway, I was going into labor. She broke my water and I felt a little relief and then the cramping started again. We discussed the epidural. I didn't want it too early or too late. I needed to do it then so that I was ready for a c-section if necessary. I think by this time it was about 5, and my dad asked the doctor if she had a time in mind. She said she was pretty sure the kids would be here by 8pm, and she was right!

Right after we said it was time for the epidural, the "real" contractions and pain started. I was in so much pain and screamed a few times. The anesthesiologist came in and explained what he would be doing. In the meantime my pain was increasing. I had to turn to my side and hunch over and not move while he prepped an inserted the needle and catheder. Christian held my hands and I leaned on him for support. After trying twice, the doctor said he was not convinced that this was going to work, but he would be back to check on me in a few minutes. Everything remained the same, if not worse. He came back to check me by pricking my skin with a needle and it was obvious that it hadn't worked. So while my pain was worsening, we had to try again. 2 more attempts and he finally got it in. This was probably the worst part of the day. Trying to breath through a contraction being unable to move.

After the epidural, they checked me again and I was 9-10 dilated. We did a few pushes in the labor and deliver room to push through the pain of the contractions and I was moved to the OR just in case of a c-section. I kept looking for Christian, making sure I could always see him. By the time we got to the OR, the pain of the contractions had lessened and turned more into an immense pressure/pain instead of cramping. It definitely made a difference, but we still painful.

After they got my prepped, Christian was able to pull a chair up beside me and hold my head and hand. He was the best labor coach anyone could ask for. There is no way I could have done this without him. The nurses are still commenting on what a great team we were and how well we did. He was talking the whole time, trying to keep me occupied. I kept my eyes closed almost the whole time to remain focused, but he said there were at least 15-20 people in the room with us.

I think that maybe I pushed 5-8 times and then they told me they could see the head and full head of hair. Christian kept saying, "honey, it's the head, it's our baby's head!" A few pushes later I could feel her getting ready to come out, as the pressure intensified. At 7:16, they told me to open my eyes and look and said, "congratulations, it's a girl"! We named her immediately and they laid her on my chest for a moment. She was beautiful! While they cleaned her up, they prepared for baby b. Christian and I were a little nervous, as they used the ultrasound to figure out if the baby had changed position and they were concentrating on the heartbeat. They positioned the baby internally and by moving my belly around. They broke her water and put a monitor on her head.

It was only a few pushes later that our second miracle entered our world, at 7:27pm. We got to see them both after they were cleaned up and put in their isolettes. Two beautiful baby girls!

Then they went to work on me. I had to deliver the placentas, which was a little uncomfortable, but I felt such relief afterwards. I only required one stich, which was one of the parts of labor I was very worried about!

It was an amazing, scary, joyful, tearful, whirlwind of a day. These little girls are doing so, so well. We think they know how much mommy and daddy went through to have them and how we would go through anything for them.

Happy Birthday Emma and Madelyn!

Yesterday at 7:16pm we became the parents of the most beautiful little girl we've ever seen – Emma Gail Mayer (2lb. 14oz).


Then at 7:27pm, her equally gorgeous baby sister – Madelyn Lee Mayer (3lb. 2 oz.) was born!


We are all doing unbelievably well for a 29 week birth. They are the most perfect little angels!

Emma is breathing room air on her own now. Madelyn is breathing assisted, but she is progressing very well and they just lowered the amount of assisted breathing she was receiving to see how she does. They are keeping warm in there little isolettes, and love when mommy and daddy visit to hold their hands. It's amazing the clutches these lil' girls have. They have run a bunch of blood work from which we are still awaiting results, due to Emma showing infection in-utero. They are both on antibiotics. They will be in the NICU at Magee until 34-36 weeks gestational age, so about 5-7 weeks. It will be so hard not going home with them, but we know they are in great care here. We will be able to hold them in the next few days and offer them "kangaroo care". This is basically us holding them skin to skin on our chests. Hearing our heartbeats (especially mine that they have heard for 7 months) will comfort them, and being on our skin will help keep them warm. It will be our way of bonding with them while they are in the NICU. We can't wait to get the okay to do this!

I started pumping and have been able to get plenty of initial milk for the babies. This will do so much to help them and their health when they start eating in the next few days. They will be fed intravenously or through a feeding tube until they are able to suck and swallow on their own, which is usually around 32 weeks.

I am recovering very well. I'm extremely tired, of course. I will post our full birth story after I take my next nap. I'm being released tomorrow (insurance will only cover 2 nights), so I'll be home tomorrow night. I can't drive for 2 weeks, so it will be interesting trying to get in here every day to see my girls!

Thank you all of much for all your hopes and prayers. We have been through so much to get here and know that all of your love and support has helped us get to this point. If I haven't talked to you personally, I promise I will get to you soon!

28.5 week belly shot

This is no beauty shot, that's for sure. We didn't take any pictures while I was in the hospital, so we wanted to make sure we got one yesterday, makeup or not :)

Our Lil' Buddy

This is our little buddy, Giger.


Christian took him to the vets this morning and he is crashing. He now also has a heart murmur. He talked to the vet and we've decided that we will put him to sleep. Now it's just a matter of when. We don't want him to suffer at all, so we'll be keeping an eye on him and hopefully will know when it is time. He's lost 3lbs in the last 2 months, which is a lot for a tiny cat. We are so sad that our babies will not get to meet him, pull his tail and cuddle with him.

On to some better news, I had my doctors appointment yesterday and the babies heart rates were great. Nothing else has really changed, so she didn't do a cervical exam. We have a non-stress test Monday. I can't believe it'll be almost 3 weeks that I've been on bed rest! We still have a lot to do, but Christian is tackling things one day at a time.

28 weeks

The babies weigh approximately 2.4 pounds each and are a little under 15 inches from head to heel. They have been gaining weight steadily during the past 27 weeks as their stem cells develop into organs, blood and immune systems, and bones. However, from this point forward, their weight gain will be due to increasing amounts of body fat. They can actually see light through the womb and will even turn toward light now. They are also now able to blink, cough, suck and breath.

We are so thankful to be at this mark! I'm now home on my own couch with my cats. It was interesting to get up and walk out of the hospital yesterday, as it was the first time in 2 weeks that I walked further than from my bed to the bathroom. I'm still feeling good, no changes since I left. The scary part of all of this is not knowing if I'll be back there tonight, tomorrow or 5 weeks from now. Odds are the babies will be here before 36 weeks, just a matter of when! I'm taking it easy and listening to the doctors. It is a little harder to sit still at home, but I'm doing it!

Heading Home!

I can't wait to walk into my house. I am very nervous but confident that they know what they are doing if they are releasing me. They will see me twice a week, which makes me feel better. One day will be for a non-stress test (the test I've been doing every day here that looks for contractions and the babies activity) and the other will be an appointment at the doctors office. It's a little inconvenient as Christian or my parents will need to drive me to these, but I think we would all take the inconvenience over the alternative. I'll continue my meds at home which means waking up at 12:30am and 4:30am. The doctor repeated again that she would rather see me 15 times a day then to not see me and risk anything. I'm to call with ANY changes. I guess I also need to spend some time each day with my hands on my belly to see if I can feel any contractions. I think my belly always feels hard so this is complicated!

I have so many mixed feelings but I know that this is what is right for all of us right now. We still need all of your thoughts and prayers as we really need to get to the 32 week mark which is 4 weeks away.

Oh, and I think I may take up knitting or crocheting or at least try to learn how over the next few weeks!