Twin Birth Story: Megan Diehl

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Name: Megan Diehl

Where do you currently live? Dunbar, WV




How far along were you when you found out you were expecting twins?  6 weeks and 1 day
 
Any issues during your pregnancy? I LOVED being pregnant (I know some of you want to punch me). I felt so happy and lucky to be experiencing this MIRACLE. I was in the best shape I'd been in a long time when I got pregnant and I truly think that had a lot to do with it. I watched my diet and portion control, but definitely enjoyed having a "get out of jail free card" when hitting up the buffet. I had a slight uterine tear which caused the spotting early on (it healed). My only issue was some high BP from time to time, which I believe was a touch of "White Coat Syndrome." I worked up until 35 1/2 weeks and then I was put on modified bedrest until delivery. My BP got a little too high for comfort, but I never had any signs of Preeclampsia.

Memorable/funny moment when you were pregnant:  One of the memorable moments of my pregnancy actually happened the day we found out we were having twins. We found out very early that I was pregnant (3 days before my missed period). I started spotting (bright red) at Zumba class on Monday night. Being the hypochondriac that I am, I immediately thought the worst. I called the doctor and she said to come in the morning to have an ultrasound (at this point I was only 6 weeks pregnant and my 1st appointment wasn't scheduled until 8 weeks). I cried all night and prayed for a miracle. That morning we went to the doctor and I laid down on the ultrasound table. The ultrasound technician said "Well there's one heartbeat"... music to my ears... she then followed with "there's another heartbeat... it's twins." She followed with, "Hold on, let me make sure there's not a third..." At this point, my husband is rocking back and forth in a corner about to pass out. There wasn't a third but my mom said to my husband, "Chris you're having twins! Say Something!"..He said so calmly, "I'm just kind of relieved she didn't find a third!" LOL definitely a shockingly memorable day, but one of the best days of our lives!

Looking back, what is one thing you would tell your pregnant self? Please don't stress and research (google and web-md are the devil) about EVERYTHING that can go wrong with pregnancy, namely a twin pregnancy. Educate yourself, but don't be in constant worry.

How many weeks/days were you when your twins were born? 37 weeks and 1 day

Baby A's Information:  Lena Rachel
February 11, 2013
10:15 a.m.
6 lbs, 12oz.
20" long

Baby B's Information: Sophia James
February 11, 2013 
10:16 a.m.

7 lbs, 2 oz.
19.5" long

Are your twins identical? Yes!

Did you have a c-section or natural delivery? I had a scheduled C-Section at 37 Weeks, 1 Day. Early on, when we discovered the girls were Mono/Di, we started doing our research (I'm a research lunatic). We found that most twin pregnancies deliver around 36-38 weeks. My OB had long threatened to put me on bed rest if I didn't take care of myself or kept having consistent BP problems. I made it to 32 weeks and felt such relief that we were in the "safe zone." At 34 weeks, we (my husband, OB and myself) decided to schedule an eviction date for the girls, February 11, putting me at 37 weeks 1 day pregnant. We opted for a scheduled C-Section. My main reason for C-Section was a controlled setting. I had heard horror stories of 36 hours of labor to only deliver one baby vaginally and the other by c-section... that was scary! We were already a high-risk pregnancy with it being multiples, I wanted a controlled setting (as much as it could be controlled). My only issue that made me re-think my decision was I was physically ill (vomiting) the entire time for the spinal block so I didn't get to cherish the first moments like I had planned... but you know what God thinks of our plans... :)

Any NICU time? If yes, for what reason and how long?  Unfortunately yes, but our story is still so fortunate.

Lena -- Lena came out having issues. She wasn't as pink as her sister and had early breathing complications. She was taken straight to the nursery to be monitored. About an hour in, she was sent to the NICU for Transient Tachypnea or "fast breathing." Very common in c-section babies because they don't have labor to get all the fluid out. She was in the NICU for 2 1/2 days.

Sophia -- Sophia joined me in recovery after she had a bath (I was still recovering from being so sick). The nurse brought her into my room and we started to attempt to nurse. The nurse noticed she was having some issues breathing and decided to take her to the nursery. She ended up being in the NCU for a week. Sophia had premature lungs. They assumed it was transient tachypnea like Lena but she was not improving. She had to have surfactant put into her lungs, an umbilical catheter, and an IV in her head. I was a WRECK, but kept it together. She showed great progress and after a few days, graduated from NICU like a rock star!

Did you have any complications after delivery? I had no complications and a great recovery. I got up and moved because I had to go see my babies. I think that made ALL of the difference. I had a few postpartum breakdowns once we came home, but nothing out of the normal.

How long did you (the parents) stay in the hospital?  5 Days, 4 nights

Did your twins stay with you or in the hospital nursery at night? Lena stayed with us the last 2 nights.

What are three things you are so glad you had (or wish you would have had) at the hospital?  
1. A great pair of slippers! Especially walking up and down the halls to the NICU.
2. My laptop/iPhone/Camera.... I had to share pictures since only the parents and grandparents were allowed in the NICU.
3. My postpartum nightie and robe! So easy and comfortable to wear.

Describe one of your favorite moments while you were at the hospital: 2 days after the girls were born, I had a breakdown in my room that night. My husband had left to shower and check on the house. I finally let myself have a pity party about how this was not how I pictured our time in the hospital to be. I never dreamed the girls would have a NICU stay. I'd just posted an update to Facebook, asking for continued prayers and updating the girls' status. A few minutes later, I heard a knock at the door. It was the NICU nurse.. with LENA! The nurse said, "Would you like one of your babies?" Lena had graduated from the NICU and was able to stay in our room with us. It was a wonderful moment.

If you had one piece of advice you could give an expecting mom of twins, what would it be? LET PEOPLE HELP YOU! I'm a very independent person, always have been. I don't want to seem weak and I want to be able to take care of everyone and everything. Let people take some of the weight off your shoulders. Welcome meals, laundry help, grandparents visits, friends stopping by, etc.! If someone says, "Go shower and take a nap, I'll watch the babies!" YOU GO DO IT!