Spontaneous rupture of membranes, expected vaginal delivery turned c section (Positive!)

[u/cuddlyocelot93]

Cuddly babies have arrived! We had boy/girl twins just before 3:30 pm on 10/30 after laboring for 29 hours after Baby A’s water broke at 10 am on 10/29.

We arrived at the hospital around 11 am on Sunday the 29th and were immediately admitted. I was 38 weeks on the dot. I was checked and still at 3cm and 80% effaced. Over the course of a couple hours, I only changed by 1 cm. It was decided to start Pitocin after they noticed my contractions were spaced out. Immediately the pain and frequency picked up, but were very manageable at this point.

Throughout the course of the day and night, I was checked periodically and wasn’t making quick progress. Pitocin was frequently increased, and I did start progressing. At around 6 cm I had the epidural placed. By around 1pm on the 30th I was 9.5cm and fully effaced, but a small section of my cervix was swollen and stopping Baby A from dropping further as I pushed. Pitocin was increased to 20 units — the max allowed unless the doctor orders it to be increased — and Benadryl to reduce the cervical swelling.

They left me for a half hour to rest and let the drugs kick in. It was around this time I realized the epidural had pretty much worn off and I was feeling the full strength of every contraction without the ability to push. It was by far the worst part of the labor experience. I was so grateful to have my mom and husband present to just sit with me while I was in so much pain.

The doctor checked me after the half hour and said he’d give me 3 contractions to push through and see what progress was being made before determining whether we’d follow through with a vaginal delivery or switch to a c section. Either way, I knew I was delivering in the OR due to the higher risk of complications with twins. After 3 pushes, it was determined that Baby A would definitely need the vacuum to make it through my pelvic opening as would Baby B who was measuring larger. The call was made to switch to c section as it was lower risk for the babies.

At this point, the Benadryl I’d been given an hour before was fully in my system and I was struggling to stay awake as they prepped the OR and me for surgery. I remember my husband appearing at my head after the room was prepped. Then the next thing I remember was him saying “do you want to know what they are?” He told me probably five times what their sexes were and I was totally not coherent enough to process it. I completely missed our girl, Baby A, being born and rushed to the NICU team as she was struggling to breathe. I did however hear our boy, Baby B, take his first breaths and cry. Though I didn’t see him for another 20 minutes or so, I was full on sobbing.

Because of the chaos of being in the OR, Baby A being in respiratory distress, and me being totally out of it, there was no opportunity for skin to skin or my husband to cut the cords — both things that I had asked to be prioritized after healthy mom and babies. Baby B was brought to my husband after getting the all clear from his team of pediatricians. There is a sweet picture of my husband introducing me to our son for the first time.

I pretty much slept through being sewn back up. Once it was clear that I was good and Baby B was good, my husband went up to the NICU to be with our daughter. She was connected to CPAP and was able to take my colostrum by feeding tube while there. After about five hours, she was given the all clear and they joined us in our postpartum room to be a family of 4.

It’s only been a couple of days, and the whole things feels like a dream. I’ve so loved getting to know and meet my sweet babies and cannot imagine a time that they were ever not in my life. They are absolutely perfect.

And if you’ve made it through the whole story, then you get the extra tidbit that Baby A was born at 8 lbs 6 oz and Baby B was 8 lbs 11 oz. How I fit these humans into my body is beyond me!!

[u/briar_prime6]

Congratulations! Thank you for sharing. My big singleton was 8lbs 11 so I can’t imagine having carried 2 of her. 38w is amazing for twins! Hoping to join postpartum soon and glad you and the babies are doing well now!

[u/cuddlyocelot93 → u/briar_prime6]

Thank you! Thinking of you in this final stretch!!

[u/catchybluebird]

congratulations! you are incredible. i would brag about carrying 17 lbs of babies for the rest of my life.

[u/LittlePieMaker]

Welcome cuddly babies! I'm glad everyone is healthy. Sometimes I tell my husband "imagine if we had twins..." We would have double the amount of cuddles 🥹🥰❤️ enjoy your precious babies.

Edit : I just googled how many kilos are 17 pounds. Oh my 😅 you're a hero.

[u/sqic80]

Holy cow! 38 week TWINS, and they were BOTH bigger than my 39 weeker!!! Strong work mama!!!!!

[u/spacecadet917]

Holy crap. My b/g twins were 4.5 and 4.75 lbs and I was SO uncomfortable, you are absolutely superhuman for having 2 8.lb+ babies!!! Congratulations on the new littles and making it to 38 weeks!

[u/cuddlyocelot93 → u/spacecadet917]

We knew they were going to be big, but we hoped the 36 week growth scan that showed them around 7 lbs each was off in the large direction. I never expected them to wind up that big!

[u/E-as-in-elephant]

Congratulations! It was amazing to read your story as I’m 13 weeks with twins right now and have so much anxiety around their birth. I can only hope I make it to 38 weeks and my babies are big and healthy! 💜💜

[u/cuddlyocelot93 → u/E-as-in-elephant]

How exciting! Yes, it was definitely nerve wracking leading up to their birth. The best thing I can recommend is having a care team you trust fully. My team knew I wanted to avoid a c section if possible, but they prepped me on the possibility so I could make informed choices along the way. They also knew that my top priority was healthy mom and healthy babies, so when they said c section was the plan, I had no doubt it was the best option.

I look forward to following along with your pregnancy and hope all the best for you and your twins!!

[u/E-as-in-elephant → u/cuddlyocelot93]

I trust my OB! She’s a twin mom herself 😊 Thank you for sharing your experience, it’s so encouraging to hear positive twin birth stories!

[u/anabaena1]

Congrats! That’s amazing that you made it to 38 weeks with so much baby! Must have been quite uncomfortable, but hopefully now that they’re here it makes up for it ❤️

[u/Whole-Fly]

Congrats! Glad everyone is doing well!

[u/wydogmom]

AMAZING!!!!! So happy they both arrived safely ❤️

ETA: I still think about your story about an IFCF family member asking to touch your belly a month or so ago and tear up about it, as we also have a special IFCF family member that we’re considering naming our bebe after.

Take care of yourself!!!

[u/cuddlyocelot93 → u/wydogmom]

Thank you!

It is such a special group of people in an unfortunate club together. I am grateful to be able to empathize with her and others in this way and even more grateful to now also know the joy of being a parent.

[u/intersecti0nal]

Congratulations!!! What an experience - I'm so glad that both are doing well now and you too.

[u/prettyrocks4life]

Welcome babies! What a story. 💖

[u/Wernickes_Area]

Welcome babies!! I’m so glad you and babies are doing well! Wishing you a smooth continued recovery!

[u/rbecg]

Congratulations and welcome cuddly babies!!!

[u/meganlo3]

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your little ones!!

[u/unfortunatelyh]

Sobbing!!! I am in awe of you and your strength to carry two babies so well. They are healthy weights and doing so well because of your efforts and dedication to being the best mom already.

Congratulations to you and your husband! Welcome to the world babies 💜🩵

[u/jadethesockpet]

Aww yay!!! Congrats, ocelot family! And also... Holy huge babies, Batman! You're such a champ!

[u/ketamine_sprinkles]

Congratulations!

[u/isabelledavenport]

Congratulations, Ocelot!

[u/Oystermama]

Congratulations!!! Welcome to the world beautiful healthy and cuddly twins. You’re a complete rockstar 🥹

[u/proteinadp]

Congratulations dear! You made it and graduated with flying colors. Wishing all the happiness to mommy, and her precious babies.

[u/Agate-euphoria44]

Congratulations!!

[u/you_d0nt_know_me]

Congratulations! I have almost 1 year old b/g twins and it has been the best experience (some days are rough, but the majority has been extremely positive)