Name: Megan
Where do you currently live? Fort Myers, FL
How far along were you when you found out you were expecting twins? 9 weeks 4 days
Any issues during your pregnancy? No real medical issues. Just a much more physically taxing pregnancy than with my first (singleton) pregnancy. At the end, I couldn't walk without such extreme round ligament pain that I felt like I was going to fall.
Memorable/funny moment when you were pregnant: When I took a pregnancy test and saw two very pink lines, the first word that came to my mind - and it was almost audible - was TWINS. I had no idea why because I certainly never anticipated having twins. It was definitely not anything I longed for. It didn't run in our family. And twins were something that happened to other people... not me. I told two people about my thought - my husband and my best friend. I still have the text message I sent to my best friend the day after we found out I was pregnant that reads "I don't know why, but I was having crazy thoughts of having twins last night". She responded that it would be crazy and exciting! And one month later, when we went for our first ultrasound, I texted her a picture of Baby A and Baby B saying..... "No, this is not a joke!"
Looking back, what is one thing you would tell your pregnant self? Calm down. You are going to have an amazing support system, and you are going to love having twins. There will be some days that you are incredibly tired - but you will catch up on your sleep when you can. Oh, and your fear of the sound of constant crying babies is unnecessary because your babies will be mellow-natured, sweet as pie and so delicious that you won't be able to stop kissing their cheeks.
How many weeks/days were you when your twins were born? 36 & 6 days
Baby A's Information: Owen John
March 5, 2014
6:03am
6lbs 1oz
19 inches
Baby A's Information: Owen John
March 5, 2014
6:03am
6lbs 1oz
19 inches
Baby B's Information: Madelyn Jane (Maddy)
March 5, 2014
6:04am
5lbs 4oz
18 inches
Did you have a c-section or natural delivery? Had a scheduled c-section for 38 weeks, but my water broke at 1:00 in the morning on 36 weeks and 6 days. Really wanted to have a natural delivery, but Maddy was not head down, and my doctor would only attempt natural if both babies were head down. We did one last final ultrasound in the hospital to make sure she didn't miraculously flip at the last minute. And she hadn't. So with that news, they scheduled me to be taken to the OR at 5:30am. A completely different experience to have a c-section versus a natural birth. The operating room is extremely bright, white and full of busy people. It seemed like there were about a dozen people buzzing around prepping instruments and stations. I had a mild panic attack right before the surgery. I had already gotten the spinal tap, and my husband wasn't allowed to join me just yet. I started crying. I don't know if it was my disappointment in having to have a c-section or just the "steril-ness" of the situation and how unnatural it felt, or maybe the combination of fears I had about being cut open, but I just couldn't stop crying. I had a wonderfully sweet nurse anesthetist who kept encouraging me and giving me calming, positive words. And then my husband walked in, and seeing his face and having him with me completly brought peace. In hindsight, I am so thankful to live in an era where a c-section is a possibility when necessary to keep babies (and mamas) safe.
Having had both a natural delivery (with my first) and a c-section with the twins - I found the recovery from the c-section to be much easier! Just my experience, but hopefully it can encourage anyone who is terrified of a c-section (as I was).
Having had both a natural delivery (with my first) and a c-section with the twins - I found the recovery from the c-section to be much easier! Just my experience, but hopefully it can encourage anyone who is terrified of a c-section (as I was).
Any NICU time? If yes, for what reason and how long? Nope!
Did you have any complications after delivery? Two things: First, I started to get a very bad headache from the spinal tap. The options to relieve it were to try staying in the laying down position as much as possible and load up on caffeine or go back to the Operating Room to get a spinal patch. I did not want to be back in the OR at all, so I chose the first route, and the headache subsided within 24 hours. Plus - lots of yummy cinnamon lattes for me :). The second and by far the most terrible part of my recovery was that I had a reaction to something - probably one of the pain meds - which made me break out in unbearably itchy hives all over my body! It would keep me up for hours at night itching. I went back to see my OB one week after delivery and he couldn't believe how bad the hives were. He put me on a steroid and they started to clear up within a few days - completely gone within 10 days. I still don't know exactly which medication made me have a reaction.
How long did you stay in the hospital? 4 days
Did your twins stay with you or the hospital nursery at night? With us
What are three things you are so glad you had (or wish you would have had) at the hospital?
1. My Brest Friend Twin Nursing Pillow
2. Loose, comfortable pajama pants that had a really stretchy waistline that didn't bother my incision
3. Nursing tanks
Describe one of your favorite moments while you were at the hospital: I loved the alone time that Brandon (my husband) and I got with the babies in the hospital. Every morning he would wake up and drive to a cafe next to the hospital and bring back breakfast sandwiches and a cinnamon dulce latte. It was like a little breakfast date every day. And holding our two precious babies at the same time and watching them snuggle each other felt heavenly. Seriously - like we had two little angels with us.
If you had one piece of advice you could give an expecting mom of twins, what would it be? You are incredibly blessed. Take every day one at a time, and let everyone help you. Don't be hard on yourself with anything - your life and pace will change when they come, and you won't be able to do things as quickly or probably even half of what you did before. And that is okay! In time it will all slowly get back to feeling normal.
Megan's Blog: http://meganaduke.wordpress.com
Megan's Instagram: meganaduke
Did your twins stay with you or the hospital nursery at night? With us
What are three things you are so glad you had (or wish you would have had) at the hospital?
1. My Brest Friend Twin Nursing Pillow
2. Loose, comfortable pajama pants that had a really stretchy waistline that didn't bother my incision
3. Nursing tanks
Describe one of your favorite moments while you were at the hospital: I loved the alone time that Brandon (my husband) and I got with the babies in the hospital. Every morning he would wake up and drive to a cafe next to the hospital and bring back breakfast sandwiches and a cinnamon dulce latte. It was like a little breakfast date every day. And holding our two precious babies at the same time and watching them snuggle each other felt heavenly. Seriously - like we had two little angels with us.
If you had one piece of advice you could give an expecting mom of twins, what would it be? You are incredibly blessed. Take every day one at a time, and let everyone help you. Don't be hard on yourself with anything - your life and pace will change when they come, and you won't be able to do things as quickly or probably even half of what you did before. And that is okay! In time it will all slowly get back to feeling normal.
Megan's Blog: http://meganaduke.wordpress.com
Megan's Instagram: meganaduke
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