Missie’s Birth of Footling Twins: Faith and Crismas

Missie’s birth of footling twins: Faith and Crismas

The week before we had a fight and we made up, after that I passed some bloody tinged mucous and though, we can’t do it anymore, I'm starting to lose my plug.

Friday, 12/22 I started having symptoms of Preeclampsia, swelling in my hands and feet, high blood pressure, no protein in the urine to speak of, not even to +1, no contractions until after 9pm. I measured my belly and all the big I was 2 cm over for some time, measured 4 cm for a couple of days, but went poo and it went back to 2cm over. 2 cm being a variation of normal for 1 baby, no indications for 2 babies. I heard one heart beat, and kept moving it all over my belly and still only heard one heart beat.

Contractions all night, painful yes, but not too unbearable. I slept some and lost some more mucous plug all night. On a spiritual level I suspected twins, read twin stories and did a lot of visiting of www.breechbabies.com and www.spinningbabies.com but no outward symptoms of twins in any way. Even their placement suggested a big single baby for me, hiccups in my pelvic bone, but by my belly button (which was Crissie's head now that I think about it)

Eric had to go to work about 6am, said it was better for him to go to work and be called home than to completely miss out. I was ok with that, figuring time and all, he was only 15 minutes away from home.
About 7 am I woke up my oldest and told him to go to the neighbors to call Eric (we have cell phones but both of our  were timeless treasures). Davey finally got a hold of him around 8am when he left a message. Eric called back and was told to come home, it might be the baby.

During this time I got things ready, I washed and boiled some yarn for their cords (yes I thought 2 was a good idea) and bulb syringe, readied the bowl and colander for the placenta and some scissors for the cord which was strange but instinctual, as I planned to lotus the baby.

I don't know what time he came home, by then there was no way you would get me to leave my nest I made in the bathroom: full bath tub, blanket on the floor next to the bath tub between the toilet and the tub (I have a small bathroom-it made a nice cozy nest) and the toilet. I was bouncing between the tub and toilet. When Eric got home he didn't know what to do to begin with, so I had him rub my back. There wasn't much back labor to speak of, just during contractions. Just kept reminding myself that I wanted a labor I could enjoy, lol. Something kept me from pushing, too. I wanted to but I just couldn't bring myself to actually push. So still I bounced between tub and toilet.

Eric kept checking me to see if I was pooping, go figure that I asked him to check. I didn't want to poop in the tub but I felt for sure there was some poop. I had been pooping some before he got there, I guess I got it all out. Finally I ok'd myself to push some and my water broke.

I was sitting on the toilet. I reached my hand down there and felt two little feet crossed at the ankles. I got up into the tub and Eric saw the feet and started to flip out, asked what he should do. I forgot, even still do I forget, he doesn't know as much about this stuff as I do. He surprised me. I said don't do anything and I let her dangle until she decided to pop her head out, I caught her in the tub, stood up, thinking it was over except for the placenta, was able to hand her to Eric (I think, I was still on autopilot and the details are a little fuzzy) and stand up straight. I felt my belly and wondered why it was still hard way at the top. Then just a couple of moments later, it seemed moments not minutes.

The contractions started again and I figured it was after birth, then I knew it was another baby, got out of the tub onto my blanket and told Eric to cut the first one's cord right away, I didn't want anyone to bleed out since I didn't know what kind of twins we were dealing with. He tried the yarn I boiled but it wasn't useful so he grabbed some zip ties from his tool box and cut her cord.

My second water broke, I felt more crossed feet and she fell out onto her sister and their placentas, which were fused, came next, immediately. They cried from the experience and turned the most beautiful shades of pink. We put their placentas in the colander and in the bowl and I sat on the bed with them. Then we made phone calls.

 They both nursed great and started peeing and pooping right away. Breathed great, cried loud, had good strong heart beats, clear lungs, and I never did suction them. Faith was first, so it was her cord that was cut, Crissie, I am so glad came second because she did get all of her cord blood, though when I finally did decide to cut it, she cried, which made me feel so bad.   

You know, when you call family that the baby came and SURPRISE there are two, they all came over bringing preemie diapers, clothes and blankets. Mom took pictures of me in the chair with them.

I took some pictures but they are still on my camera at home.....

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