On the triplets birthday
32 weeks in and Friday night was again another tough time for my body. In much pain, I slept less than 2 hours, spending most of the time counting the minutes, waiting for the day to arrive. As soon as it was morning, we called the obstetrician on duty at the hospital.
They asked a bit about my pain and they said all is normal, they also advised there were no beds available but if things got worse to come in for sure, but before 5pm. Otherwise to arrive Sunday, next day, at 9am for a quick check-up. Oh well, around 4:30pm I felt a bit better and managed to have a quick snooze so we ended up deciding to give it an extra day.
Sunday, all bags packed up just in case, and once again I had another terrible night. This time I did not sleep at all.
We called before leaving and the lady on the phone wanted more info on how I feel. I didn’t know exactly how to explain the pain, I am not sure exactly where, just an overall discomfort. Something in my head thinks it is the contractions. The lady on the phone just says: "if it is contractions, you would know for sure hun, don't you worry". I tell you straight away that she was wrong.
She said again there are no beds but we went to hospital anyway at least for a check-up. All bags in the car, full of all the stuff from loads of lists from friends and associations.
Once we got there, just in the initial chat, both Jon and the nurse though it was just some normal thing as I am getting closer and closer to the date, bigger and bigger so I should be suffering more and more discomfort.
Exams starts, there we go hearing the babies' hearts. Never been so pleased to hear them (they have been quiet for a few days now, less and less kicking). However, for our untrained eyes we didn't realise the results weren't that brilliant.
Dr. Peter, obstetrician on duty that weekend and covering for the one that has been with us the whole pregnancy, came with the news. Something is going wrong, one of the babies is in serious distress and it's not possible to know why. I am also already in early labour (yes, those were contractions that I felt). We needed to go into an emergency Caesarean NOW! (Woman's sixth sense is a powerful thing).
Without calling anyone from our families so no further delay, here we go. Biggest team I ever seen, paediatricians coming from all sides, when I realised everything happening around us I was already dressed-up (actually, undressed to be more accurate). Jon is also ready and has that fatherly caesarean look wearing the whole gear with a funny red hat (mine is green :)
The caesarean started so fast, I was so scared and shaking, freaking out but trying to put on a brave face and realising that the people on the room were the best in town, adorable people and they can see I am fearful (I am shaking). After the spinal everything is numb and I felt the famous pushing here and there that people talk about.
Suddenly, first baby out and with it, started the shakes I will never forget. I can barely concentrate on anything else around me. I can’t breathe, my mouth has lost control, I am biting Jon's hand to try to control and sometimes he gives me a blanket to bite too. I felt really bad and something is wrong. All boys are out but I am feeling too bad to understand things around me.
Boys went straight away (not sure where they were taken) but now I'm in a recovery room. A nurse is trying to control my panic and hubby too. Not sure how normal is the situation but they took Jon away from the room with some excuse. I woke up hours later in another place and finally the shakes stopped (seems there was no other way but to give me some drugs). Another worse pain starts… Oh boy what a journey… but some Morphine later, I am now in my room, resting.
Dr. Peter comes around and advised that if we didn’t move with the caesarean as quick as it was done the risks were extremely high. One of our identical boys has suffered TTTS (Twin to twin transfusion syndrome) at the last minute and that has weakened him quite a lot. (The whole pregnancy we monitored for that and unfortunately, that has happened now but at least the babies are big enough to increase their survival chances).
Phew, better now but there is still a long way to go for getting 3 healthy babies out of this hospital but so far we have done single thing within our reach.
I love you 3 cheeky monkeys!
Patrick Luis – 2,020 kg (triplet 1)
Rafael Thomas – 1,545 kg (triplet 2)
Felipe Leo – 1,645 kg (triplet 3)
I can’t wait to feel better and go home to be with you for the rest of our lives! The caesarean experience wasn't my favourite moment like it is for some people but I would have done everything again for you my boys!
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