My Pregnancy
I was so excited to finally be pregnant. I was going to have the family I’d dreamed about. After conception, the fertility clinic referred me to a high risk gynecologist, due to my age and that I was carrying multiples. I was amazed about several things during my pregnancy but one was the doctor visits. I imagined them being very complicated, lots of test and exams. At the beginning the visits were very routine weighing in, taking my blood pressure, and answering a few questions. The later visits were more involved.
I have always struggled with my weight. I was so excited to think I could eat whatever I want!!! FOOD FEST!!! Well, I guess those three little ”peanuts” were sitting on my stomach. Dang. I really wasn’t hungry and only craved Jack-In-The-Box regular tacos!!! Yum. I was lucky I only gained 30 pounds during my pregnancy. (Does that even make sense-lucky to only gain 30 pounds!!!)
The first two trimesters of my pregnancy were for the most part uneventful. I continued to work, fix up the nursery (see under projects, triplets nursery door), and just enjoyed being pregnant. In June, my doctor put me on bed rest at home. This was not traumatic for me. I envisioned days lying on the couch eating bonbons and watching “I Love Lucy” my hero and role model! Bed rest is a little harder than that because at times I felt like a beached whale and I always had to lie on my left side. Doctor's orders, somehow it helped my blood pressure. I planned my trips to the bathroom or kitchen, making a circle going around the house doing what little I could. No housework, dang! I was lucky Jay was very helpful and self-sufficient for the most part. After about a month on bed rest my doctor admitted me to the hospital to monitor my health. It was a little more difficult lying around a hospital room (no I Love Lucy) but game boy, reading, and cross stitch helped me pass the time. The wonderful thing about being in the hospital was that I felt secure. If there was a problem I was right there. Another thing that surprised me about my pregnancy was that I never felt the babies move or kick. I guess they were just too squished in there… In the hospital the babies were monitored every morning and night, so I got to hear their heart beats and know they were ok. Also, I received regular sonograms. One difficulty for me was when I developed preeclampsia which is a pregnancy-related blood circulation problem. It causes high blood pressure and affects the mother’s kidneys, liver, brain (now I have an excuse), and placenta. This condition required that I have a “mag wash” which is magnesium sulfate administered intravenously. This thing made me crazy! I really thought I was going out of my mind. Luckily I only had to have one. I was in the hospital with a woman expecting quads she had to have several of these!
While I was in the hospital we were asked if we wanted to be in an episode of Maternity Ward on the learning channel. The episode was named “Baby Boom”
because all the couples were expecting multiples. How exciting and nerve wrecking. Jay loved the idea that he didn’t have to take pictures! The hard part was when the film crew would come in, explain that they would be filming and asking me questions. They requested that I answer in complete sentences. This made me nervous; don’t I speak in complete sentences? Being from the South I’m always concerned about sounding like a hick!!! Well, we made it through I don’t think I sounded too hick but I became the incredible crying woman. Every time they filmed me I started crying (go figure). I was surprised at the number of friends and family that have seen the episode. Yikes! Be careful what you wish for.
Finally, on the morning of August 2, 2001 my doctor and the film crew came in and told me to call Jay and get him to come to the hospital!!! Needless to say I
started crying… I remember being prepared for surgery and Jay being with me when we went into the delivery/operating room. I was awake during the procedure and got to experience the births. The babies were rushed off to the NICU. The next memory I have is my Mom and sister coming into the recovery room. I did get to go to the NICU and hold Nick. I can’t explain the emotions I felt. It was fantastic!!!
I developed some complications after the births. They never could diagnose my condition. I was quarantined for several days and I could not see the babies for a couple of weeks. I ended up going home before I got to hold all the babies. It was weird going home without the babies but that is normal for most multiple/premature births.
The babies were in the NICU for about a month. We were lucky the babies
had all developed to about the same size. Sometimes with multiple births one baby will grow larger than the others. Ours all weighed about 3 lbs. They were born within three minutes of each other. Nick was born first and believe me he knows he’s the oldest!!! “El jefe” he’s the boss. Hannah is in the middle and Sam is the baby.
I loved being pregnant because, as a mother, I hadn’t done anything wrong yet. I was so thankful I got to have the experiences I did. I would love to hear about your pregnancy or your comments.
Anyone else experience the beached whale syndrome?
Click to see pregnancy "beached whale" pictures.