Twin Birth Story: Amanda Gruber

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Name: Amanda Gruber

Where do you currently live?  Redlands, CA




How far along were you when you found out you were expecting twins? 6 weeks – we were successful after our third IUI. Through our infertility office I was instructed to take a pregnancy test 16 days after our IUI and then they wanted to see me back to confirm a heartbeat at exactly 6 weeks.

Any issues during your pregnancy?  For me, my pregnancy as far as how I felt and how I was able to function (if that makes sense) was smooth and wonderful. That being said, I think pregnancy is stressful! I always thought that the process for us to actually get pregnant was the stressful part and that somehow it would magically go away when I became pregnant. Not for me. At 23 weeks at a follow up appointment, we found out the big anatomy scan we had a few weeks prior showed baby B had a choroid plexus cyst. This is a cyst that develops in the middle of the fetal brain. They say it’s a soft marker for fetal chromosome abnormalities such as Trisomy 18 or 21 but it’s normally accompanied by other markers. We were told that I should schedule an amnio. At that point in my pregnancy there was no way I could justify getting an amnio for our own reasons, so we opted to see a high risk doctor a week later to have another look at baby B’s cyst. It was gone, which typically happens with CPCs. Their thoughts are that these are much more common these days because technology is so much better that it picks up many more details. 

At 28 weeks I did fail my 1 hour glucose test. Thankfully, when I went in for the three hour test a day later, I “passed.” At my 34 week appointment, I went in and had a routine check and my blood pressure was 163/101 and I had protein in my urine – preeclampsia signs. My doctor sent me to labor and delivery to be “monitored.” I wasn’t ready for that. We went home and grabbed my hospital bag and lots of bows for baby girl. On the way to the hospital we called and texted our family and told them not to worry, but we were sent to the hospital. They all hopped in their cars and worried all the way to the hospital. At the hospital in the triage it was full panic mode by the entire staff around me, trying to find a vein for my IV, to trying to find both babies on the ultrasound, etc. That was not fun. Once a doctor finally came in to speak with me, I naively asked him if I would get to go home or if I would be in the hospital until d-day. I’ll never forget his smile at me and he said, "You’ll definitely be leaving here with babies, but we aren’t going to deliver them tonight." My husband later told me they didn’t have a team ready for a twin birth or I would have delivered that night.

Memorable/funny moment when you were pregnant: There were so many. I think the funniest moments were when people asked what we were having. People lose their minds when you say you’re pregnant with more than one. So I’d say people’s reactions to “what are you having” and my response of “a boy…and a girl…" :)

Looking back, what is one thing you would tell your pregnant self?  I would tell myself not to worry about everything. What happens is going to happen and I just need to roll with it.

How many weeks/days were you when your twins were born? 34 weeks, 5 days

Baby A's Information:  Mason Edward
December 28, 2012
3:10 pm
4 lbs 4 oz
19 in

Baby B's Information:  Madilynn Paige
December 28, 2012
3:11 pm
4 lbs 7 oz
19 in

Did you have a c-section or natural delivery?  C-section – Mason was breech so we already had planned on a c-section.

Any NICU time?  If yes, for what reason and how long?  Yes. I mentally prepared myself that it was very likely they would have to stay in the NICU. They were both taken directly to the NICU when they were born. Thankfully they did not have any major issues but they needed to learn to eat. They were there for 9 days and got released on the same day. One day they would say one is eating better than the other and then the other would catch up the next day and vice versa. The NICU is one special place. We learned so much from the amazing nurses and doctors, I’m thankful for the experience.
  
Did you have any complications after delivery? My blood pressure was still an issue after delivery, but I was given medication for that and I monitored it. I think it was the second day, because I wasn’t keeping up on my pain medications, which hurt, badly. Once I learned to keep taking my Motrin, recovery was much easier than I imagined.

How long did you (the parents) stay in the hospital? We stayed 4 days. Although my babies were downstairs in the NICU I wanted to be released, badly. I did not enjoy being in the hospital at all. When I was released, we still spent every moment we could in the NICU with our babies with the exception of going home to sleep.

What are three things you are so glad you had (or wish you would have had) at the hospital? 
I was glad to have everything I needed to take a shower. Man, that first shower felt amazing. Also, lots of comfy pants and shirts/tanks. I wish I would have known to make a crib sign. My amazing nurse that was with me all day before delivery had me write out Mason and Madilynn’s name and she decorated them for me right before I went in for delivery. It was sweet to have their names on their little beds.

Describe one of your favorite moments while you were at the hospital:  Hands down, getting to finally see and hold my babies after a very long wait. For hours all I could do was look at them through pictures my husband took, that killed me.

If you had one piece of advice you could give an expecting mom of twins, what would it be?  Try to enjoy every single moment of being pregnant. Your life is about to change drastically... especially if they are your firsts. It’s amazing, but such a different life.

Amanda's Blog: Oh, It's Love. Twin Love.