Twin Birth Story: Brittany Elmore

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Name: Brittany Elmore

Where do you currently live?  Arlington, WA



How far along were you when you found out you were expecting twins? 13 weeks

Any issues during your pregnancy?  I was very blessed not to have any major issues during my pregnancy. I was put on moderate bedrest at 32 weeks and stopped working around that time too.

Memorable/funny moment when you were pregnant: We went into our first dr. appointment at 12 weeks and the dr. wasn't able to find a heartbeat. She said that it was fine, because it was still so early, and that we would be able to hear/see the heartbeat at the ultrasound. When we went into the ultrasound at13 weeks, we were so excited to see the baby. But, nothing could of prepared us for the technician looking over and saying "Congratulations! You guys are having twins." There aren't twins on either side of the family and it was a complete shock. I started crying and laughing at the same time. Meanwhile, my husband looked like he was about to pass out! It felt like a dream.

Looking back, what is one thing you would tell your pregnant self?  I know that it's easier said than done, but I would tell my pregnant self not to worry so much. I was constantly worried that something would go wrong, or that something I did would effect the babies. I even refused to drink any coffee the whole time I was pregnant! I would tell myself to enjoy this special, precious time.

How many weeks/days were you when your twins were born? 36 weeks, 1 day

Baby A's Information:  Liliana Grace
April 28, 2013
4:57 am
5 lb 7 oz
17 in

Baby B's Information:  Hunter Scott
April 28, 2013
4:58 am
6 lb 0 oz
18 in

Did you have a c-section or natural delivery?  I ended up having a c-section, even though I was planning on having an all natural birth. My water broke early that morning and when we came to the hospital baby A was in the perfect position, but baby B was laying sideways, not in a great position for birth. My doctor let the decision be up to me, but after waiting and talking it out, we ultimately decided to go with a c-section. I think we made the right decision, because baby B ended up being under a lot of distress, and I feel like it could have been worse if I had gone through hours of labor.

Any NICU time?  If yes, for what reason and how long?  Hunter (baby B) was in the NICU for 5 days, and Liliana (baby A) was in the NICU for 13 days. Hunter had swallowed some fluid when he was born and was having a hard time breathing. He was immediately rushed to the NICU and put under a breathing mask. Liliana was fine at first, but then taken to the NICU to help regulate her body temperature. While in the intensive care, the nurses found that Liliana kept having episodes of sleep apnea. She had to go 5 days without having any episodes before being able to leave the hospital.
 
Did you have any complications after delivery? Thankfully, I had a very easy recovery after the c-section. 

How long did you (the parents) stay in the hospital? I was discharged after three days, but we ended up sleeping in a sleep room in the NICU for two more days, until Hunter went home with us. It was very hard for us to leave Liliana at the hospital.


What are three things you are so glad you had (or wish you would have had) at the hospital?
1. Extra clothes. Since I ended up staying at the hospital longer than expected, I was so glad I had packed extra pajama pants, loose fitting yoga pants, and extra baggy/comfy shirts.
2. Toiletries. It was so nice having my shampoo, and body wash from home!
3. Flip Flops and Slippers. I had worn tennis shoes to the hospital, but my feet got even MORE swollen after delivery. I could barely even fit into my flip flops, but was so glad I had them and my slippers. I ended up having to go back and forth from my hospital room and the NICU more than expected.
Describe one of your favorite moments while you were at the hospital:  Being able to see our son's face and hold him for the first time. Because of his breathing mask and all of his tubes, we didn't get to see him clearly until the third day after he was born. His face was red and a little swollen, but I'll never forget that moment.

If you had one piece of advice you could give an expecting mom of twins, what would it be?  First and foremost, I would tell expecting moms of twins that it does get SO much easier. Enjoy every moment of them being little, even though you are tired and sleep deprived.

Also, being on a schedule helped us to get more sleep and relaxation time. I stuck to a 3-hour feeding plan, and it worked really well.