A Canadian Gestational Surrogate shares her twin birth story!

 

Heather with the twins she carried as a gestational surrogate.  Sydney and Isabella were born July 5th, 2011 weighing 6lbs 4oz and 5lbs 13oz! 

 

My Birth Story of Sydney & Isabella

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I made it to 38 weeks and 1 day with the twins (still not named yet). I am positive these little girls were determined to stay in to the end. I was still 3-4 cm dilated when I went to the hospital on Tuesday, which in previous pregnancies (my own), I went into labor a day after my due date, dilated quick and had babies quick. This one was almost as fast only labour was a little longer.
 
They started pitocin on me on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. (ish). Didn't really feel any contractions.....doctor ordered epidural about 11:30-12:00 when I was 5 cm dilated, with my past of quick births, they didn't want me to deliver twins without pain meds in case I had to have an emergency c-section. I was not complaining. They upped the epidural and contractions started to come. I never felt them, only pressure on my lungs. At one point, contractions were coming every minute and a half with no breaks, so they turned it down to maintain every 2 minutes apart.
 
At about 3:30, I started to feel more pressure (no pain). Nurse checked and I was 9 1/2 cm dilated and told that the OR was being called to get ready for my arrival. With twins, they don't want to deliver in a delivery room in case (for most pregnancies) baby B decides to not cooporate. I was in the OR by 4:00.
 
They called the doctor to tell her I was ready, but some other lady decided she was more important and had her baby first. I over heard the nurses talk about a bet they had as to whether "their girl" (me) would go first or the other mom. They lost! Not my fault! LOL
 
I would have probably delivered at 4, but the nurses were not really allowed to deliver baby B in case of complications or position she may change to...they prefer the Doctor to be there...I agree. After waiting for 40 minutes, the nurses said, "Let's jus tsee what would happen if you push."   I gave 1 small push and was told to "Stop", that baby A was going to come right out if I continued, which was fine, but again, it was baby B they were not allowed to really deliver.
 
Now 45-50 mintes of waiting in the OR, the doctor FINALLY showed up. Allowed in with me was my Intended mother and my husband, as her husband wanted to respect my privacy. I was some what relived as I really wanted my husband there for ME.
 
I'm still only feeling pressure, no pain. LOVE the epidural! At 5:09 pm, Doctor is ready to deliver....she said "push"......I pushed, literally at 5:10 pm, baby A was delivered. I remembered all the comments on how much hair she had on her way out.
 
Now is where I was REALLY thankful for the epidural and having the Doctor deliver. Baby B decided she was on a roller coaster ride and brought her arms up over her head as if to say, "wheeeee" on her way out. Everytime the doctor tried to push her hands down, baby B would grab her fingers and hold on as if to say "pull me out". It took the doctor 10 minutes to get her to cooperate. Jamie commented on how far her hand was "up there, and maybe she should buy me dinner first".....always with the jokes. According to him, all the support staff were starting to prepare for a c-section.....good thing I didn't know about that!! At 5:20, I was told to give a big push to get her head down so it would keep her arms down....I complied.....then was told to "stop pushing hard, and just give a small push", at 5:21 pm, baby B was out.
 
I think this was a very easy labour and delivery thanks in part to the epidural. The only discomfort I am having is in my back and caused by the epidural which has cause inflamation from the needle. Other than that (and the normal stuff that follows delivering a baby.........or 2), I feel great!