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Name: Caitlin Morgan
Where do you currently live? Baltimore, MD
How far along were you when you found out you were expecting twins? 8 weeks
Any issues during your pregnancy? I was very lucky to have no complications throughout my pregnancy. My OB often joked that I was the perfect incubator for twins.
Memorable/funny moment when you were pregnant: There were so many memorable moments, but one of my favorites was the first time I felt the babies move. I always got weekly reminders about fetal development and was particularly excited when I finally got one about feeling baby move for the first time. I kept waiting and waiting and every little thing that happened in my belly, I wondered if that was it. Finally, after eating dinner at my sister's house, I was sitting on the couch and felt the undeniably movement of my babies. It was an incredible and indescribable feeling and I was so happy to be able to share it with Jay as well as my dad and sister. I didn't love being pregnant like a lot of people I know, but I really miss that feeling.
Looking back, what is one thing you would tell your pregnant self? Take. It. Easy. Towards the end, I had a tendency to push myself and I don’t recommend it. It didn’t help that we moved when I was 7 months pregnant and I wanted so badly to have the house in some sort of order before the twins’ arrival. I had lots of helpers and Jay was great, but I’m a pretty independent person and I wanted to be able to pull my weight (plus a little extra!). Looking back, I should’ve just sat back, put my feet up and ordered people around! Just kidding. Sort of.
How many weeks/days were you when your twins were born? 38 weeks exactly
Baby A's Information: Carter Allen
6 pounds 11.8 ounces
20 inches
8/30/2013
12:25 pm
Cailtin's Instagram: @caitdmorgan
Baby B's Information: Delaney Lee,
5 pounds 15.8 ounces
19 inches
8/30/2013
12:26 pm
Any NICU time? If yes, for what reason and how long? No
Did you have any complications after delivery? No complications. I had really bad nausea before and after delivery. I got it after the epidural, but the anesthesiologist quickly adjusted my meds and everything was good. After delivery was worse, but it came in waves. I wasn’t too bothered by it though and it only lasted while I was in recovery. Other than that, it wasn't so bad. My pain was well managed with pain killers and after day 2, I no longer felt it come back after the medicine wore off. .
How long did you (the parents) stay in the hospital? 4 very long days. You know how most people say they loved being in the hospital and didn't want to leave? Not me. I was ready to go home after day 2.
Did your twins stay with you or in the hospital nursery at night? We chose to have them go to the nursery, but the nurses brought them back to our room to nurse throughout the night. We tried to keep them in our room one night and I just sat at the edge of the bed and stared at them..
What are three things you are so glad you had (or wish you would have had) at the hospital?
1. Lotion/chapstick - I know this is two things, but they're both for the same reason. My skin was so dry and screaming for hydration. I kept them both on the table next to my bed and lathered up when needed.
2. Make-up - it sounds silly, I know. But I was exhausted; mentally, emotionally and physically and it took a toll on my appearance. It was so nice to be able to put on a little make-up and feel slightly refreshed.
And one thing I wish I had - nursing tops. A major error on my part and I don't know why it didn’t cross my mind they’d be useful in the hospital. I had a nursing bra, but it would've been nice to have tops too so I didn't have to lift up my shirt every time I needed to nurse (every 3 hours, day and night).
Describe one of your favorite moments while you were at the hospital: Our first night. After all of our family and friends left, we were finally alone together for the first time. I was in awe of our beautiful babies and was so incredibly happy.
If you had one piece of advice you could give an expecting mom of twins, what would it be? Trust your instincts...during your pregnancy and especially as a new parent. Prior to getting pregnant, people would always talk about "mother's instincts" and I couldn't relate. But trust them, they're real. If you feel like something isn't right, it probably isn't.
5 pounds 15.8 ounces
19 inches
8/30/2013
12:26 pm
Did you have a c-section or natural delivery? C-section. Delaney (Baby B) was breech from about 28 weeks on.
In the days leading up to my c-section, I expected the fear would come, but it didn’t. I was just excited. Even the morning of, I got up, got ready and headed to the hospital like I was heading to another OB appointment. After I checked in, I was escorted into the prep room where I was instructed to change into my hospital gown. A steady stream of people came in the room to explain their role. It wasn’t until I was walking (yes, I walked) into the operating room, did I get nervous. The room was a lot bigger than expected and very cold. I got up on the table and was met by my OB and the anesthesiologist, who again explained everything to me. The anesthesiologist instructed me to round out my back so he could place the needle; all while my OB reassured me everything was going to be ok. A few, quick seconds later the anesthesiologist said “all done!” to which I responded “that’s it?!" Piece of cake! I laid down and could feel the numbness creep up my body. Such a weird feeling! It gets a little fuzzy until they announced they were ready to begin. Wait a minute…Jay wasn’t in the room yet. I started to seriously panic thinking he was going to miss it all. I asked for him and what seemed like an eternity later, he was there. Ok, that’s better. I held his hand and waited. A little tugging and a lot of pressure later, at 12:25pm, Carter Allen was born. My first thought was wow this kid has some dark hair! He let out a big cry and it was the best sound I’ve ever heard. One minute later, Delaney Lee was born, crying just like her brother. The nurses took them away to check them out and clean them off. I could still see Delaney if I tilted my head back, but Carter was at the other end of the room and I couldn’t see him past the curtain. Everything was good. I heard one of the nurses call out something but I couldn’t make out what it was. The anesthesiologist asked me if I'd heard the weight of Carter and I hadn’t. He repeated the numbers to me…6 pounds and 11 ounces! Come again?! Not even in my wildest dreams did I expect to have a twin that size. Such a blessing! Jay was walking back and forth between the babies' stations and when the nurses finished cleaning up the babies, they brought them over to me. They were perfect. Jay went with the babies to the recovery area while the doctors finished with me and then I was wheeled back to recovery to join my little family. The whole surgery lasted about 45 minutes, but it felt like 5. I wish I could go back and re-live that day. It was perfect.
In the days leading up to my c-section, I expected the fear would come, but it didn’t. I was just excited. Even the morning of, I got up, got ready and headed to the hospital like I was heading to another OB appointment. After I checked in, I was escorted into the prep room where I was instructed to change into my hospital gown. A steady stream of people came in the room to explain their role. It wasn’t until I was walking (yes, I walked) into the operating room, did I get nervous. The room was a lot bigger than expected and very cold. I got up on the table and was met by my OB and the anesthesiologist, who again explained everything to me. The anesthesiologist instructed me to round out my back so he could place the needle; all while my OB reassured me everything was going to be ok. A few, quick seconds later the anesthesiologist said “all done!” to which I responded “that’s it?!" Piece of cake! I laid down and could feel the numbness creep up my body. Such a weird feeling! It gets a little fuzzy until they announced they were ready to begin. Wait a minute…Jay wasn’t in the room yet. I started to seriously panic thinking he was going to miss it all. I asked for him and what seemed like an eternity later, he was there. Ok, that’s better. I held his hand and waited. A little tugging and a lot of pressure later, at 12:25pm, Carter Allen was born. My first thought was wow this kid has some dark hair! He let out a big cry and it was the best sound I’ve ever heard. One minute later, Delaney Lee was born, crying just like her brother. The nurses took them away to check them out and clean them off. I could still see Delaney if I tilted my head back, but Carter was at the other end of the room and I couldn’t see him past the curtain. Everything was good. I heard one of the nurses call out something but I couldn’t make out what it was. The anesthesiologist asked me if I'd heard the weight of Carter and I hadn’t. He repeated the numbers to me…6 pounds and 11 ounces! Come again?! Not even in my wildest dreams did I expect to have a twin that size. Such a blessing! Jay was walking back and forth between the babies' stations and when the nurses finished cleaning up the babies, they brought them over to me. They were perfect. Jay went with the babies to the recovery area while the doctors finished with me and then I was wheeled back to recovery to join my little family. The whole surgery lasted about 45 minutes, but it felt like 5. I wish I could go back and re-live that day. It was perfect.
Any NICU time? If yes, for what reason and how long? No
Did you have any complications after delivery? No complications. I had really bad nausea before and after delivery. I got it after the epidural, but the anesthesiologist quickly adjusted my meds and everything was good. After delivery was worse, but it came in waves. I wasn’t too bothered by it though and it only lasted while I was in recovery. Other than that, it wasn't so bad. My pain was well managed with pain killers and after day 2, I no longer felt it come back after the medicine wore off. .
How long did you (the parents) stay in the hospital? 4 very long days. You know how most people say they loved being in the hospital and didn't want to leave? Not me. I was ready to go home after day 2.
Did your twins stay with you or in the hospital nursery at night? We chose to have them go to the nursery, but the nurses brought them back to our room to nurse throughout the night. We tried to keep them in our room one night and I just sat at the edge of the bed and stared at them..
What are three things you are so glad you had (or wish you would have had) at the hospital?
1. Lotion/chapstick - I know this is two things, but they're both for the same reason. My skin was so dry and screaming for hydration. I kept them both on the table next to my bed and lathered up when needed.
2. Make-up - it sounds silly, I know. But I was exhausted; mentally, emotionally and physically and it took a toll on my appearance. It was so nice to be able to put on a little make-up and feel slightly refreshed.
And one thing I wish I had - nursing tops. A major error on my part and I don't know why it didn’t cross my mind they’d be useful in the hospital. I had a nursing bra, but it would've been nice to have tops too so I didn't have to lift up my shirt every time I needed to nurse (every 3 hours, day and night).
Describe one of your favorite moments while you were at the hospital: Our first night. After all of our family and friends left, we were finally alone together for the first time. I was in awe of our beautiful babies and was so incredibly happy.
If you had one piece of advice you could give an expecting mom of twins, what would it be? Trust your instincts...during your pregnancy and especially as a new parent. Prior to getting pregnant, people would always talk about "mother's instincts" and I couldn't relate. But trust them, they're real. If you feel like something isn't right, it probably isn't.
Cailtin's Instagram: @caitdmorgan
Our stories are very similar!! I walked into the operating room as well, and I say how I want to go back to that day SO bad! Your babies are precious.
ReplyDeleteThese are the two most similar-looking boy/girl twins I think I have ever seen! They are too cute!
ReplyDelete