Twin Birth Story: Eryka

This week we continue with your Birth Stories!  
If you'd like to contribute your own twin birth story, CLICK HERE to fill out our questionnaire!
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Name: Eryka

Where do you currently live? Bountiful, UT



How far along were you when you found out you were expecting twins? 8 weeks
 
Any issues during your pregnancy? On October 30th my husband and I went in for a regular appointment. I 25 weeks 1 day. Our doctor discovered my cervix was half the size it should be and I was dilated to a 1. She immediately admitted us. After they hooked me up to the monitors I started contracting a lot. After watching me for a few hours the contractions weren't stopping and I was thinning out and dilating a little more they ended up air lifting me to the University of Utah hospital which was a 5 min ride. There they were able to stop the contractions and kept us for 2 days to be sure things weren't going to start again. I was then put on strict bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy; 10 weeks.

Memorable/funny moment when you were pregnant:  The day after we found out we were having twins we went on a road trip to Moab, Utah with some friends. During our trip we hiked to delicate arch. It was July. So it was HOT HOT HOT. Well, I didn't think I would make it on this hike. It was so hard. I was tired, nauseous and hot. That was the first time I realized how pregnancy would make things different. I did make it to the end of the hike but, it wasn't easy. Look back on it now and laugh at how the heck did I make it.

Looking back, what is one thing you would tell your pregnant self? To cherish those bed rest moments more. 10 weeks was a long time and feel like I spent a lot of time just feeling sorry for myself and not enjoying the quiet time with my pregnant belly.

How many weeks/days were you when your twins were born? 35 weeks, 1 day

Baby A's Information: Henry Daniel Clark
4lbs 15oz
17.5 in
Jan 10th 2014 
11:47am

Baby B's Information: Campebell Ella Clark
4lbs 7oz
Jan 11th 2014 
12:07am

Did you have a c-section or natural delivery?  Natural delivery but,delivered in an O.R. It was a fairly quick labor. My membranes were stripped at 2:15 pm due to high blood pressures the week before, went to the hospital at 4pm, Dr showed up at 5pm. Babies born at 11:47pm and 12:07am.

Any NICU time? If yes, for what reason and how long? Our sweet girl Campbell had to stay for 2 weeks. She wasn't staying awake during her feedings and was struggling with keeping her temp up. They admitted her the day before I was discharged. Put her on a feeding tube and she stayed for 2 weeks. She did great and gained all the weight she needed. We were grateful that was the only thing she was struggling with.

Did you have any complications after delivery? Right after the nurses had me try to nurse Campbell since she was the smallest. Well nothing was working and I started to feel really sick. I told the nurse I was going to be sick and someone grabbed Campbell and they laid me all the way down and gave me some medicine. They think it was from all the blood loss. Then later when I tried to walk to the bathroom with nurses help I almost passed out again.

How long did you (the parents) stay in the hospital?  4 days

Did your twins stay with you or in the hospital nursery at night? The nursery, we figured why not taken advantage of it!

What are three things you are so glad you had (or wish you would have had) at the hospital? 
1.) Dry shampoo, 
2.) Makeup remover cloths
3.) light hoodie
..Oh and slippers. Sorry, I coudn't stick to 3. 
I wish I would've brought contacts. I ran out a few weeks before and just to stick my glasses the whole time.
 
Describe one of your favorite moments while you were at the hospital: Since I delivered in an O.R I didn't get to really see the babies right away. They passed them through the window as soon as they were out. The first time I got to see and hold them was after I was wheeled into my room. They brought them in a few minutes later and I just bawled as soon as I saw them. They handed me the twins and I was cried with tears of joy!

If you had one piece of advice you could give an expecting mom of twins, what would it be? Take care of your self and pamper yourself every now and then. Once the babies are here those moments are far from few.

Eryka's Blog: ABCDE The Blog