Birth Stories: A Double Blessing

Now that I'm a grandma - I couldn't help but remember when it was my time to deliver - and it was twins. I was only 20 at the time, my husband (now ex) and I were very excited. I was 5'8 1/2" and went in to the Dr. weighing 128 - by the 2nd visit I had already lost 10 lbs. My Dr. wasn't concerned - my mom had done the same thing with her pregnancies - losing weight. As the months passed, everyone was concerned why I didn't look pregnant. Actually I was already 7 months and still wearing regular clothes. At 8 months I was hoping to show but my weight gain was so minimal...the Dr. was so pleased with me. I was put on bed rest at 6 months - but did everything but stay in bed. I was so active - I did just about everything. Now that I'm older and think back I realized I could have jeopardized one or both of my children - but with age comes wisdom. At around 9 months I wore my first maternity dress - it looked like a bag on me. I felt stupid because I could barely even feel my twins protruding out. It was one week before the due date - I had only gained 17 lbs - - I was 7 lbs over my walk in weight and that's what he went by - so for a twin pregnancy I gained only 7 lbs. This isn't unusual - I've met several moms of multiples who gained little weight. it was around 8 p.m when I started feeling a flutter on my back - I was scared because I didn't know what this was and this flutter was coming every 20 minutes. Timing them - they went down to 15 - then to 10 - and very consistent. No pain, just a feeling of being kicked on my lower back. My friend suggested to call the Dr. - the Dr. who was on call was NOT one of my favorites in the group I was going to. I actually didn't like him. He told me to drink some warm milk, take a shower, get some rest. The flutter now started getting just a little more intense and were now every 5 minutes apart. I called Labor and Delivery - the nurse was so nice - she suggested we come in - just for my own peace of mind. I was put in a room - the nurse came in - asked a bunch of questions - and then said she was going to check me - she asked me what face was I on the chart of happy to painful faces they had on the wall. I felt I was about a 2 - I wasn't in pain - just frustrated thinking I would be sent home. She says "You're not in any pain at all" - I just shrugged my shoulders and said "No - is this false labor - do I have to go home" - - concerned she said I'll be right back. Suddenly another nurse came in to check me - I was now scared thinking something is definitely wrong. She said she was the head nurse and needed to check me because the other nurse thinks she got a wrong reading. She checks me and ask how much pain am I in - - I told her none... does this mean I have to go home? She said H "honey, you see that chart on dilation - you are at 8 cm - no you are not going home...you will have these babies within the next 2 hours! She was right - at 7:57 am - my first son Jason came into the world weighing in at 4 lb 12 oz. - then 20 min later at 8:17 am - my other other John was born weight 5 lb 13 oz. I was in love. John took a little longer because he was face up - and they had to use forceps. I nursed my twins on my milk alone only for 1 yr and they did great - -6 1/2 yrs later I welcomed another son James - weighing in at 7 lb 11 oz. - I lost 10 lbs again - and gained 20 - so technically I only gained 10 lbs with him. I'm 48, my twins are now 27 yrs old and my youngest just turned 20. My youngest twin married and now has 2 children. It's hard for me to imagine being a grandma when some of my friends are barely having kids for the first time - but I love my life - I love my family and wouldn't trade it in for anything in the world. My suggestion to young Mom's...just remember "We as women as amazing, we are so strong - we just don't know it until we have to, you can do anything - - our bodies grow these little beings inside of us and through the miracle of birth we deliver these little angels. Do everything you Dr. says to do - if you smoke - please stop. Don't even have that occasional drink of wine..... but most importantly - - when you have your baby - - ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS - - remember to buckle them up. My best to all of you.