Volleyballer's miracles have arrived!

[volleyballer]

Also posted in General Pregnancy Board:

I am so extremely happy to announce that Steven and Elias have arrived on Tuesday, January 25 at 1:13 and 1:18 a.m. They were both born vaginally. I was 36 weeks and 6 days. Steven weighed 6lb 2oz, and Elias weighed 5lb 13oz. I never got gigantically huge like I thought I would for twins. I still don't know how those relatively big boys were in me, but here they are!

You might remember my dilemma of breech vs. c-section deliveries. I felt comfortable about the doctors there, and we ultimately delivered Steven after 2.5 hours of pushing first, and they pulled out Elias with breech extraction. There were no complications, and I am so thankful that I only had to push for 5 minutes with Elias. I was so done after Steven. I honestly think that I might not have made it if Elias was averted (turned head down) and I had to push him out as well.

My water broke on Jan 24 at 7:30 a.m. and I was at the hospital by 9:30. I lost my mucous plug the day before. I can liken it to elephant snot, pretty cool! When I got to the hospital, I was only 1.5 cm dilated, so they put me on pitocin to speed up the contractions and make the cervix dilate more. I think it was around 6:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. when I couldn't take the pain (didn't know it at the time, but Steven was face up and I was having back labor) and I asked for the epidural. I was pretty calm the whole time, but if freakin' hurt! The doctors didn't want to check my cervix because they figured I had a while to go since it was my first delivery. After the epidural, it was soooo much better. The doc finally came in and saw that I was dilated to 6. It all went well and quick from there. A few hours later the doc came in and I was 10 cm dilated and ready to push. I pushed for A couple of hours in the regular labor room before they wheeled me to the OR. That's when they did an ultrasound, and the doctor said they'd like to deliver Steven and use the momentum that Steven creates (while I'm still open and contracting) to pull out Elias. It was the most chaotic 5 minutes of my life, but they got his feet after missing and grabbing his amniotic sac, and started pulling him out while I was pushing. There were no complications with head entrapment.

What an amazing experience, and I can't believe people do this more than once! I didn't realize that the pushing could last so long. I thought the contractions were supposed to be the worst. These boys are perfect in ever way and worth the ugly hemorrhoids, extreme carpal tunnel, pitting edema, exhaustion, hormone crying...

Gonna take a nap while gramma and DH watches them.

[SC-blu_sky]

Congrats!

[JessicaM]

Congratulations! They're beautiful Thank you for sharing the experience, it helps to read positive experiences for those of us still expecting!

[bebehope]

Congratulations! So happy that your delivery went so well!! Great great outcome.

[mbj46]

Wow! Congrats on a fantastic delivery and handsome boys! I really appreciate you posting your vaginal delivery experience - encouraging, although it was a little tough on you. Better than having to vaginal and then also c-section. Rest when you can!

[AshRS]

congratulations! the boys are so handsome - look at all that hair! Way to go on delivering vaginally, I wish I could have!

[lmkc]

so happy for you! they are gorgeous!

[waitingonice]

Congratulations! What a wonderful birth story, you did wonderful. I went through back labor as well and caved and got an epidural 12 hours and six centimeters into labor (baby sunny side up and back labor as well). Pushed for 3.5 hours and unfortunately ended in emergency c-section I envy you, what a wonderful experience. And I will tray again

Andrea

[thebabybaker]

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your story. Your boys are absolutely beautiful!