Elan's Blog: The twins are here!

Karrin delivered the girls last night and without the need for a c-section! Both girls had stayed 'head down' which made it favorable for 'regular'/vaginal delivery. Apparently only around 5% these days do traditional delivery with twins. Many have no choice but to do a c section for a variety of reasons with twins. We are so thankful that Karrin and the girls are both very healthy and resting.

Since the girls are identical, meaning in the same placenta, many things can go wrong after 36/37 weeks so we decided to induce at 37 weeks since she didn't go before then on her own. Those girls just loved being in there. Karrin had no restrictions at all the whole time which is truly amazing.

The process started Saturday morning when we checked in at the hospital at 7am as requested by Karrin's OB, Dr Amy Fletcher so we could have the babies mid afternoon at the latest. Amy is like a girlfriend through all of this as such a wonderful person and is also a mother of twins. She has been so supportive of everything and really wanted us to do a vaginal delivery too.

Unfortunately, when we arrived at 7am it turned out that the maternity ward was way overcrowded. They had just experienced the busiest 3 days of the entire year and there were no nurses available in order to start inducing Karrin and check her into a room. Karrin was obviously a low priority as she should have been as she wasn't in active labor. Karrin was told not to eat (in case they needed to do emergancy c section if "b" turned when "a" delivered) and so as the hours went by she became really hungry. It wasn't until 4pm that she was officially admitted and started the induction (shortly followed by a helpful epidural - best thing ever invented if must be induced). Poor Karrin! She was such a trooper. Karrin's mom was with us that night for support and helped take great care of Karrin while I took a few naps.

Once the induction started, she had steady progress until 4am when she was finally ready for delivery. Because of the real risk of an emergency c-section due to 'b' possibly flipping or having issues after 'a's delivery, we needed to deliver in the Operating Room. I donned the OR garb and rolled her down the hall. Wow, it was really happening; it was here. The OR filled with staff and they got everything ready - over 10 people for us. After a few pushes, Heidi was on her way out! She cried and Karrin got to see her before she was moved to a baby table. Greta was still head down but needed to come into position. Karrin coughed a few times (because she still has her cold) and that helped. lol! 13 minutes after Heidi came into the world, Greta followed after 3 more pushes. All the staff were really impressed with how smooth it went. We really had no idea how few vaginal twins happen nowadays but afterwards find out quite rare. I had the chance to hold both girls for a quick picture in the OR, then back to the room to meet Grandma Lolly.

The next day Karrin's mom and dad brought the boys up to meet the girls. It was a special visit and Finn was really happy to see them. Elan didn't seemed to know what to think and not too keen on the whole thing. He just wanted our attention, which who can blame him?

Here are the pictures from last night and today. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Here are their personal details:
Heidi Jane was born at 4:38am, 6 lbs 4.7oz, 19 inches
Greta May was born at 4:52am, 4 lbs 9.2oz, 18.5 inches
And they are definitely identical and have brown (or at least dark-colored) eyes.

The girls right after delivery still in the OR.