Scan at 14 weeks and 3 days shows the girls as  "heads down" for now.

 

The big day has arrived. It's 10h00 and I have been in labour since about 07h00. My huge tummy is prepped with iodine while the spinal block takes effect.

 

After administering a spinal block (there was no time for an epidural as labour was happening too fast) - the surgeon cuts through layers of skin, fat, muscle and uterine wall.

 

With much tugging Jesse is delivered, a mere 10 minutes into the operation. She had already "engaged" and I was 6cm dilated. A natural birth was possible, but we opted for the planned caesarian - to ensure the safety of both the girls. Things were just happening way to fast to risk it.

Jesse is not impressed - and let's everyone know about it! In retrospect - it must have been an awful experience for her. Several hours of natural labour and then a sudden rude awakening to the real world.

 

A mere minute later, Bronwin is delivered.

Bronwin's mouth and nose are cleared. She seems a little "blue" - but this is only because she has been cramped up at the top of my uterus for a good number of hours. To this day, Jesse still has to try and do everything "first".

I finally get to see who everyone is ooo-ing and ahhh-ing about. Both girls have pinked up nicely and have near perfect apgar scores. Everyone is surprised at their weight - 2.4 and 2.6kg respectively. Although this seems small in comparison to a singleton, they were carried full term and by all standards this not a bad weight for twins at all.

 

Time for a quick warm up-while the surgeon closes me up. By this time I was freezing and shaking so hard that I was afraid I'd fall off the table - apparently a by product of chemical sensitivity and a small amount of shock. I'd often wondered why I always reacted so strongly to intravenous medications and anaesthetics ... having been diagnosed with FMS (Fibromyalgia Syndrome), I'm starting to understand why.

 

It's time for another quick cuddle before I am wheeled to recovery. Jesse has a good look at me, while Bronwin has a snooze. About 6 hours later I was up and making my way to the nursery for my first bash at feeding two at a time. But that's another story ...