Georgie & Caitlin's 1st week!

So after bringing the girls home after 3 days in hospital, I was finally in the comfort of my home with help around me (the staff at hospital were useless and it was so difficult trying to feed both babies as well as recover from a c section). 

Sienna at Nana's being told her baby twin sisters have been born!


 The identical twin sisters sharing a moses basket!

I got home and pretty much wanted to sleep! Mum and Dad came down for the day to meet the girls but I was so knackered I said hello and then went to bed. I didn't however remind Dan about how to steralise or prepare formula so the babies start crying, I'm asleep and Uncle Laul pops in.... perfect timing as Dan had to send him to shops to buy some ready made formula! Ha, his first trip down a baby aisle. Then back to ours to help with the feeds. They did a fab job though!

In the meantime, Sienna was sleeping and I had woken up, however due to my operation I was unable to pull myself up from the bed and I didn't have my phone to hand and couldn't shout for help as I would wake Sienna up. After about 15 mins I managed to maneuver myself to roll out of bed, in a lot of pain but I was up!!! 

I have been so uncomfortable for the last week, heavy bleeding (as always with childbirth) and having to wear Dan's old boxers as they were baggy enough and high enough so they didn't irritate my scar. Honestly, the most unflattering thing ever! 

The girls have been good, the first couple of weeks babies sleep quite a bit but having 2 babies is a handful. Both Dan and I are doing night feeds, so we are both knackered as they are feeding at 10pm, 2pm and 5am, then Sienna is up at 6.30am!!! Exhausted!!!!

D-Day!!

Happy Birthday Georgina Rose and Caitlin Olivia Hawkes!!!

Born on Summer Solstice 2013
Start Sign - Gemini (yikes!)

So.... natural birth over c-section.... discuss.....

The c-section process was actually very relaxing and less stressful than the natual way however the recovery is SHOCKING!!! I was in so much pain for the first few days that I was demanding morphine on top of the pain killers they were giving me. I was so sore to move and that with trying to sit up and care for teeny tiny twin babies next to my bed was a nightmare. They were understaffed (never go to hospital at the weekends) and they had about 32 babies on the ward. Note to self.... once they know you are bottle feeding and not breast, you get handed a couple of bottles and left to your own accord.....

 

Back to the c-section.... I didn't feel a thing! The spinal was similar to the epidural I had for Sienna and once that kicked in I couldn't feel anything. To the point that I had to ask Dan whether they had cut me open yet (he then looked and yep... felt pretty sick at what he saw...).

The whole process was very quick....

8.54am - first insition
8.58am - Georgie born
9.02am - Caitlin born
45 mins later - sewed back up

We spoke to the surgeon afterwards and said that we were surprised it was so quick. She told us that it was pretty slow and that she had pulled babies out from first insition to baby out in 30 seconds! WOW!

  
Cailtin in photo on left, Georgie in the right photo

I was moved to recovery for an hour where we got to cuddle our babies and that's where we chose which was which. The nurse handed the bigger baby to Dan and I held the smaller one. As Dan chose Georgie's name he had her, and I chose Caitlin! They were so small it was crazy and the fact there were two as well......

We were moved up to the maternity ward and given a private room (privileged of having twins!). Then the feeding and nappy changing began. It's funny how it all comes back how to hold a baby etc. It's all a natural thing really.

The epidural began to wear off after an hour or so but the morphine etc still kept the pain at bay. I had a catheter in so I didn't need to get up for the toilet. Later I realised that once the painkillers had worn off there was no way I could move to get to the toilet. I asked for the catheter to remain in overnight to help.

I get asked whether I would choose to have a c-section again, the answer is simple... No! Although everyone has different births, the recovery from the c-section was so long and painful, I would opt for a natural (with epidural) next time for sure. Actually, take that back.... we now have 3 beautiful girls and I can safely say we have no intention of producing any further children. We have done our part for humanity ;0)

Final days....

35.4 weeks

My c-section has been booked for Monday 24 June. Yippee! Scary times but glad I only have a few days to go. I need to get organised with all my hospital bags, Sienna with nana etc.

However..... I went to hospital week on Tues 18 June for blood tests and my final midwife chat in preparation for D-Day. I told them how I was experiencing ichy hands and feet. They were a little concerned so said they would call me when the blood results came back. I received a call later that day saying there may be a risk of OC (a condition on the liver). Another appointment was then booked for Thurs 20 June for further blood tests.

I had to attend the next appointment on my own as Dan couldn't take time off work. They did further blood tests and dropped a bombshell that my liver condition wasn't improving and although they can treat with medication the fact that babies are due Monday they move my section to Friday (TOMORROW!!!). I was in shock......

I couldn't sleep at all the Thursday night., I kept freaking out that the babies weren't moving (one of the risks of OC is stillbirth) and kept getting up and being really restless (not the ideal situation before giving birth!) All the doctor information was messing with my mind and I just wanted them out, safe.

We had organised for Sienna to stay with Nana for the weekend whilst I was in hospital and once the babies were here Dan could bring her up to meet them. Sienna, bless her then started getting a diarrhea bug and we decided it was best to keep her out of the hospital and away from the babies for the time being. I missed her so much whilst I was in hospital those 4 days.