Since you’ve heard the story of us finding out we were expecting twins, I figured I should share the story of them making their entrance into the world. I had a long and difficult pregnancy. From being plagued with morning sickness, to living with PUPPS (AKA pregnancy hell) for the last two months of my pregnancy, I was ready to be done. I cleaned my house from top to bottom every day trying to induce labor. It would bring on contractions, but they ultimately always went away. We went on long walks around the mall every night. I ate pineapple. I did everything I could do to safely bring on labor. None of it worked. For months I had heard from my doctors that twins always come early. I was told to prepare for NICU time. I was told to be ready by 30 weeks, so I was. My babies didn’t get the memo though and at 38 weeks and two days, I went in for my induction.
My husband had to force me to leave for the hospital. I was terrified. I had grown up hearing the story of how my mom was induced with my older sister. She had horrible labor that ultimately ended in her needing an emergency C-section. I tried to mentally prepare myself for the fact that I may need a C-Section. Statistics were against me. Though both babies were head down, that still did not guarantee me a vaginal delivery, something I desperately wanted. My bigger fear was having one twin vaginally and one twin via c-section, something that was a very real possibility if Amelia went into distress.
We got to the hospital at 6:00pm on Tuesday night. The first few hours were just a sitting in a room doing nothing. By 9:00pm they moved us into one of the delivery suites even though I would ultimately need to deliver in the OR just in case. I was only one centimeter dilated. I was having no contractions. It was going to be a long process. The cervix checks were agonizing and I dreaded every time a doctor came in. The first thing they did was insert a foley balloon to help me dilate. I won’t go into too much detail, but it hurt like hell. I ultimately needed pain meds to help me get through it. They knocked me out and the next morning the balloon came out and I was dilated to 4 centimeters.
After that I was hooked up to pitocin for 12 hours and I felt nothing. It didn’t work and didn’t help me dilate at all. They came in later that night to give me the epidural and break Grayson’s water. Getting my epidural was a super easy process. They broke my water and then me and James went to sleep. We both got a full night’s rest, something we would be super grateful for in the next coming days. I woke up around 6 am and felt a ton of pressure. I felt like I was slowly getting to the point of being ready to push. The doctor checked me and I was 8 centimeters dilated. Breaking my water had done its job. By 11:00am I was dilated to ten centimeters and they were wheeling me back to the OR.
The OR had at least 30 people in there, including the two nurses from our first day who we absolutely loved, Ashley and Carolyn. They were the greatest nurses I have ever met and I will forever be so grateful for them. I don’t remember being scared or anxious. I think I was so overwhelmed that I honestly was just numb. They moved me off the bed they wheeled me in on and then it was time. James supported by head while I held on to my legs, pushing as hard as I could. It wasn’t enough. Grayson didn’t want to budge. After using a vacuum and getting an episiotomy, he was finally ready to meet us. After pushing for thirty minutes, Grayson James Morin was born at 11:36AM. I got to hold him for just a moment and then he was taken off with James to be weighed. He was born 7 lbs 11 oz, clearly missing the memo that he was a twin.
I was tired. I wanted a break, but that wasn’t an option. They immediately told me I needed to push again. I kept hearing them say “her heart rate is dropping.” At the time I thought they were talking about Amelia. I now know they were talking about me. Four pushes and eight minutes after Grayson was born, Amelia came out. Weighing 6 lbs, 3 oz, she was significantly smaller. James didn’t even know I was pushing until she was out. I held her in my arms and then I started to not feel right. I felt dizzy and sick. I didn’t feel safe holding my daughter. I felt like I was going to drop her. I had the nurse take her and they started injecting something into my legs while the doctor got both placentas out.
I wasn’t able to nurse the babies for about an hour after delivery. I had lost a lot of blood and had to wait for the injections and anti nausea medication they gave me to work. Finally, I felt better and I was able to hold and nurse both of my beautiful babies. They were beautiful and perfect. I had a long road to recovery ahead of me, but in that moment none of that mattered. The pain was starting to set in, but I had my babies and they were perfect.
Marvelous Mrs. Morin 