Adventures in breastfeeding...

So- I've been wrapped up in all the details of what has happened that I haven't blogged about breastfeeding .. 

In the hospital, I got zero sleep. I seriously think I slept a total of 5 hours from Monday night to Saturday. It was awful. It was mostly the interruptions from the nurses checking on either me, Ella or Bria. It was constant. I would have just got both girls down for bed or a nap and in would walk the nurse to check their vitals, etc. Then, there was trying to breastfeed which may have been the most frustrating experience of my life. 

I fully intended on breastfeeding. Bria was doing great! She was getting colostrum and she is the main reason my milk came in! She would nurse for 20 minutes or so and would fall asleep, if I would try to remove her- she would act like she wasn't done. Then, she would want to eat only an hour later. 

Ella was not cut out for breastfeeding. Not only were they preemies, Ella weighed 4lbs 13 ounces. I worked days with a lactation consultant, full well knowing my little girl wasn't getting enough to eat. Little by little they both lost weight. Which earned us an extra few days at the hospital. 

I kept asking, crying, was I doing enough? Do I need to supplement? No, they kept saying- you are doing everything right. You're doing a great job, blah blah. Those words kept my mind at ease until the next feeding when Bria would get hungry almost immediately after a feed and I could barely get Ella to latch on let alone to eat more than 5 minutes before falling asleep. I cried just about every few hours. Finally on our last day at the hospital, the pediatrician and lactation consultant agreed to let me supplement formula. 

I didn't want to supplement. I planned on exclusively breastfeeding but when you watch the two babies you created and are now responsible for- they fully depend on only you for their nutrition- you change your mind pretty quickly. 

We were given Similac neosure, I was told to let them nurse 20-25 minutes at the breast then offer 1-2oz of formula. Well that didn't work- our whole problem is the girls falling asleep while nursing so there was no way they were going to take a bottle after they were asleep. That lasted one day. Sunday I woke up and let them feed, as I had done all night. I still felt engorged and insanely uncomfortable. So- I pumped. I got 4 ounces after feeding! It hit me- those girls weren't getting enough to eat and how on earth was I supposed to measure it and keep track? That day, I decidedto solely   pump and our regular pediatrician suggested we mix the breast milk and formula together. They have been content ever since and it has most certainly helped my sanity. I can monitor how much they each get and Andrew can help feed as well. I am getting a nice supply built up in the freezer. At first I was pumping every 2 hours and getting maybe 1 ounce each breast. I decides to pump 3-4 times a day (may increase to 4-5) and I am now consistently getting 30-32 ounces a day, still not enough to feed them breast milk only but at the moment they still need to supplement formula as well to continue to gain weight. 

Ella:

Birth: 4lbs 13 ounces

At one point in the hospital was 4lbs 5 ounces. 

At discharge: 4lbs 7/8 ounces 

Next day appointment: 4lbs 9 ounces

1st Peds Appt: 4lbs 11.5 ounces! 

2nd Peds Appt (one week later): 5 lbs 2 ounces!!!!!! 

Bria: 

Birth: 6lbs 10.5 ounces

At one point in hospital: 6lbs 4 ounces

At discharge: 6lbs 6 ounces

Next day appointment: 6lbs 7 ounces

1st Peds Appt: 6lbs 8.5 ounces

2nd Peds Appt (one week later): 6lbs 11.5 ounces

We now have to watch her closely. She has to return next week- Wednesday due to holiday and a funeral to check he weight. To me, she's filling out and I think  the girls are going through a major growth spurt because they are eating fools! I think every hour to hour and mahal we are feeding them something, mix or breast milk only. 

I am so thankful I decided to pump. I was stressed, cried constantly, sore and frustrated. I know the lactation consultant and pediatrician were hoping for exclusive breast fed babies, as was I. But- the health and satisfaction of our little ones are way more important than my pride or expectations. We will now invest stock in similac (as I truly hope to be able to give them breast milk only one day- they are eating machines... I don't know if my body can keep up).

I did however buy fenugreek, it's hard to remember to take it three times a day but I started it a few days ago and hope it starts to make a difference! 

Love my morning pumps! 6am! 

Birth Story Part 2!

The nurse kind of stayed and helped me try to get the girls to latch on. Bria was a champ and latched on right away. Ella was much harder because she was much smaller and obviously she wasn't getting it. The nurse left and we decided to let everyone go ahead and visit, all of our family was probably dying around this point because it was after 9pm.. Everyone left by 11- I think. I kept saying how weird I felt. I didn't feel like myself, it didn't feel real and I wasn't exactly sure what I was saying and if it made sense. 

Next a nurse came in and said I looked super pale, well I always look super pale- thank you. I felt dizzy so she helped me to the bathroom and helped clean me up. She put me back in bed and said she would check on me in an hour. She came back and said that we were moving into a different room, it wasn't as big but still was big enough. She wheeled me down and we entered this superrrrr small room! She said someone took my other room in the meantime so this is what we got. It was tiny. No bed for Andrew. Only a chair, and no room for 2 bassinets and all of our stuff. I kept having to move one of the girls to go pee or go around the bed. It was miserable. It was even more miserable when guests tried to come visit. They were standing out in the hallway most of the time because I was breastfeeding one or the other. 

The next night, we had two nice nurses who noticed our babies looked yellow. They decided to do a quick bilirubin test and both of them were high for their age. So, we moved rooms again. For the 3rd time. This time, it wasn't for the best of circumstances. Our girls had to be places under bilirubin lights. It was miserable. They were uncomfortable and poor Ella has no meat on her bones so she was freezing in her little diaper! 

They were under the lights from 2am until 830pm that next night. They rechecked their levels and it was at a 5 for both! So they got to come off. At this point we were hoping to leave the next day, however they decided to check my hemoglobin level because it was low the day before and if it dropped again I would have to have a blood transfusion. My level was 7.5 (above 12 is normal), they just didn't want it to get any lower. Of course, it goes to 6.7... 2 blood transfusions later, our pediatrician comes in. Ella and Bria have lost the max weight they could lose. Their bilirubin levels also went up again and rebounded. She came in and said we could probably go home tomorrow (Saturday) but we would have to promise to come back Sunday for an appointment, weight check and bilirubin check. 

I was all for that idea. Neither of us had any more clean clothes and j was dying to be outside again and sleep and shower in my own home! So at 2pm on. Saturday August 17th all three of us were discharged from Hotel Ruby! On my to return in less than 24 hours and If there was one thing they didn't like we would be readmitted. So we packed out bags again, and left for Ruby. Weights went up, by an ounce or two but that was all we needed. Bilirubin levels also went up, Bria's didn't go up as much so nothing to be alarmed about. Ella's however, was 15.8- the cutoff for treatment is 15. They needed to do a heel stick blood serum to get a more accurate measurement. We ate at the cafeteria and waited the hour for the results- 12.4!!!!!! 

We walked out of there knowing we were in our way home for good! 

The Moore Twins Birth Story

So much has happened! Let start with the appointment I couldn't wait for! August 12! 

We go have an ultrasound and you can see the tech measuring Baby A. She double measures, triple measures. She tells us Baby As stomach looks a little small, but she is measuring 5 lbs 10 ounces. She goes onto measure Baby B. 6lbs 10 ounces. A pound difference. She says that since Baby As stomach looked small they wanted to see how she practices breathing and if there was any movement. No movement, but we still had a heartbeat. There was a glimmer of catching her breathing and finally she moved. 

We were set back out in the waiting room as the doctors read my ultrasound. I burst into tears. Something was wrong. I knew it. Andrew tried to comfort me, but I had several ultrasounds and they were never like that one. 

We finally went back and my OB Petra came in. She said ultrasound came back and we are sending you to labor & delivery now. I was shocked. I immediately started crying, again. I knew it. Something wasn't right. I kept wondering what I did wrong. I knew I shouldn't have started the diabetic medication. That had to be it. She said Baby As fluid was low and she didn't want to wait until Thursday when she planned on inducing us. We told her we weren't prepared and needed to run home to grab our bags. She agreed and told us to return to labor and delivery by 2pm. 

I don't know why, but I started crying again. I felt like something else was wrong. Honestly, to this day- I'm convinced Ella stopped growing, but I can't say that 100%. We ran home, did the dishes in the sink, piss poorly finished packing out bags, and left. Stopped at the dollar store for snacks for Andrew and stopped at McDonalds for lunch on the go since I knew once I got there I wouldn't be able to eat or drink much. 

We checked in and our nurse was named Nicole. They started my IV and by 245 Pitocin was officially started. 

They stuck me and the babies on monitors and would check me very 4 hours. I was a 1cm 90% effaced for like a whole day.. Pretty much. I slowly made it to a 2-3cm, where they decided to break my water. At this point it was 24 hours after Pitocin was started. August 13, 2013 around 230ish. I was having contractions according to the monitor before up to 90 some. As soon as they broke my water the contractions were intense! I couldn't see the monitor and asked Andrew what the number was and he said in the 30s! I said what?!?? 30s?!?  If hurt so bad! 

I, of course, didnt want to seem like a baby... but-- Our amazing nurse said if you can feel them now and they hurt. It's only going to get worse. So I asked for the epidural immediately. 

Anesthesia came in about 45 minutes later and after several attempts due to my scoliosis they finally got it in.. I could feel the effects within a half an hour and knew my left side was barely affected. So she has me lay on my left side until my next check! 

They kept coming in and saying dilated to a 2,,, 2-3...3... Finally at 5pm a different doctor came in and said I don't want I disappoint you, I think you may be at a 4, but I want to get Dr. Leonard, the last dr that checked you and see what she says. 45 minutes later, we started to realize that that morning, Dr. Leonard told us she was only here until 5. Finally, at 6pm my regular OB walked in with my nurse. She checked me and made a face. You never know about her- if it's a good face or a bad face! She literally bent down and took and peak and apparently saw some baby, she made the nurse look and she said- we are heading to the OR now! 

I was shocked- how on earth did I go from barely a 3 to a disappointing 4- to a 10?!? 

The next part went by so fast. There were about 12-15 people in this tiny delivery Operating Room. Andrew was on my right, my amazing nurse was on my left and Petra and Dr. Payne (ironic huh?!) were "down there".  I puked a few times, pushed for 20 minutes and at 6:28pm, Ella Faith Moore was born. She has white peach fuzz in the back and was a tiny 4lbs 13 ounces! Andrew got to go back and see her and take a few pictures! 

They took her straight away to the warming room and I didn't get to see her or hold her. Next, they proceeded to break my water for baby B. You could tell they were teaching a resident how to do it.. I immediately started feeling the contractions. I knew my epidural had started to wear off. I could feel it only left side. She told me if I could feel it- to push. So I did. My water really broke. Everywhere. I'm pretty sure it scared most of the people. The contractions started getting worse- coupled with Bria's little behind nestled on my right side in my ribs- it was getting pretty painful. I kept complaining and Petra kept asking what was hurting, I told her the contractions. Then she said, lets call anesthesia. At that point, it had been 40 some minutes since Ella was delivered. I thought oh no... My worst nightmare. I am going to have to have a c-section! Apparently she was calling them for more medication, I had a pump however and Andrew hit the pump button for me, but I didn't feel that dose of medication until after I delivered Bria. 

Petra was very calm during the whole thing, but I do specifically remember hearing her say- there's the cord. By the looks of Bria when she came out- I'm going to guess the cord was wrapped around her neck. They probably didn't tell me because I was pushing so hard that I could barely even breathe. I had ahold of my thighs, the nurse was holding my back up and Andrew was giving me oxygen. Finally, 58 minutes later- Bria Cole Moore made her way into the world in dramatic fashion. She made a "splash" everywhere- even reaching Andrew! She weighed in at 6lbs 10.5 ounces! 

They immediately took her into the warming room as well to clean her off as well as they could. Since they are considered preemies- they couldn't get an official bath until they were 24 hours old. They wheeled me back into the room and it was another half an hour until we got to see them!  

The nurses cleaned me up and two other nurses brought the girls into our room and said- they are ready to eat. And went to leave. I said ummm I've never breast fed before. What am I supposed to do? The girls were like- I have two other deliveries to go to so I can't stay. The second girl seemed frustrated and said I  guess I can stay for a few minutes. 

That's where I will quit for today- (well ive been trying to write this for days)! Here are some pictures of our little ladies from the first day. Until I get my digital uploaded on my computer, these will do! 

Ella Faith

Bria Cole

Who Are You? Part 2

So I'm totally not doing this correctly as I'm sure there are specific days and "link ups" but its just all in fun for me! 

What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?

1) Hanging onto the best guy around! I am truly super blessed and lucky with this one! Even though he jokes that I knew I couldn't do any better than him, but I guess he is right! But same goes for him!!! 

2) Putting my/our faith in God during our infertility treatments. I felt like I was at the end of our rope during that last month. I knew IUI was our next step and felt that I knew my body, through God, could do it with just medication and monitoring! & he delivered! 

3) Getting into X-ray school, finishing & graduating 4th in my class! I never imagined how difficult the classes would be. Let alone trying to manage clinic, a boyfriend/fiancé and working 32 hours a week at the pharmacy. 

4) Working up until this point! My last day of work was yesterday! At 36 weeks 3 days! I made it! Carrying two babies and working full time- 12 hour shifts! It was the first thing I prayed for (after praying for Baby B to grow) that I would be able to provide and work up until the end! 

5) Yet to come.... I'm thinking next week! 

How did you feel the moment you became a parent? 

Well since I haven't officially have birth... T minus one week.. I can't truly answer this. However, I can say when we found out we were pregnant (2nd time). We found out on Christmas Day! I mean- how cool is that?! I got up and tested prob around 5ish.. Then went back to bed. I think we woke up around 8 or so and I had hid the test in the closet in case Andrew got up before me. I checked half pretending like it was negative but my entire being praying it was positive. The two darkest lines I ever saw! I couldn't believe even after it sat "after the window" at how dark it was! 

On a dollar tree test no less! I ran in, but it in his stocking and tried to set up my phone to record it. Of course- major fail. I told him I had one thing left for him in his stocking. He reached down to the very bottom and pulled this out! We were both in shock but didn't want to believe it until we got our betas done. Little did we know it would be 898! A far cry from the 75 we had in July! 

Describe 3 significant childhood memories. 

1) Christmas Eve Pajamas. Probably is the most profound memory and tradition that I cannot wait to carry on to my kids! Every year we were allowed to open up one gift on Christmas Eve, it was always majically Christmas Eve Pajamas for us to wear that night! We looked forward to it every year. My momma did mess up one year and marked the wrong package and we opened up jeans. My sister was hysterical, but my mom didn't budge and no Christmas Eve pjs that year! 

2) Our Summers- we had an in ground pool so our house was pretty awesome. My cousin Tera was over almost every Sunday. My grandmas neighbors came over during the week, and if we weren't swimming- you could find us fishing, playing badmitton, kickball, dodgeball or volleyball. My parents always made sure we had activities to do and other kids to so them with! I know it's a general memory but we were super blessed in that aspect! We never had to worry how we were going to spend our time! 

3) Family Dinner at my Grandma Perrones- (Dads side of the family) we never get together now- so the memories I have I cherish. Playing in the creek, swinging at the barn, playing hide and seek and grandmas bedroom or just hanging out in her library! Seriously those days/evenings were the best! I need to make sure Ella and Bria have memories like these with her family as well, especially since she has more older cousins than ones her age! 

These are her cousins on Daddy's side: Trey- just graduated high school and is attending college and WVU this fall. Alyssa is now a senior in high school! & Ashlyn is 10 and is starting middle school! Thankfully, their momma got a HUGE surprise at 38 and is now about 13/14 weeks pregnant with a little girl and Ella and Bria will definitely be close to her! 

And of course, the girls will always have Kayleigh! I see a relationship like us girls had with Tera to form between Kay, Ella and Bria! 

Full Term Over Here!!!

Well full term for twins anyways! 36 Weeks (+3 days) Babyyyyy! 

I'm part of a WTE Due September 2013 Multiples Facebook page and I feel like everyone is having their babies but ME! I lost my mucous plus like 3 weeks ago- and girls are like I lost mine and then 2 hours later say- OMG my water broke! Oh well- I like to be prepared and maybe my Type A personality can't handle the surprise and needs to be scheduled! 

Lets back track. My Strep B came back normal- thank goodness! Finally something okay! The girls have looked fabulous on the monitors each time! We have a sweet NST tech, Lucy, & I may have just seen her for the last time yesterday!  

The nurse always asks if any bleeding, discharge or leakage of fluids. Well, lately- if I don't wear a pad, well lets just say I need one. So I let her know that I wasn't sure, could embarrassingly be urine because I have the bladder of a one month old. She said well let's check to see it your water broke! I'm like WTF?! I never said anything about my water breaking! I still have dishes in the sink, laundry to do! My bags are at home and the car seats are in our other car! 

Needless to say, I mini freaked out in my mind for absolutely nothing! ;) just normal bacteria! Now we wait, Monday is our ultrasound! And the day we pick these girls birthday!!! We are pretty much ready. There are some things I would still like done, but what's that e-card again? 

This is probably our last weekend as a family of two!!! Crazy! 

Who Are You?

List 20 random facts about yourself.

1. I am adopted, met my birth mom and realized I wasn't exactly missing out (that's the nice version.) 
2. I MUST sleep with a fan. MUST
3. I depend on my Mamaw more than I probably should. I've already requested a bed at the looney bin when she passes away. 
4. My husband sent me a 19th birthday message on Facebook that said Happy Birthday Cutie- and that's how it all started.. 7 years ago! 
5. I always want long hair, but get frustrated and never grow it out. 
6. I am frugal- love coupons, deals and sales! 
7. I have the same best friend I did since 4th grade , aka 1996/1997. She knows pretty much everything there is to know about me! 
8. I love Christmas, probably a little too much! 
   
   
   

   
   

   

9. I love decorating for fall. Probably my favorite decorations. Weird considering my love for Christmas lol! 

10. I sleep with a bear, more like a pillow, that my Mamaw and I made when I was little. I plan on cutting it in half and redoing it for my twin girls, but I don't know if I can part with it.. Sad I know. 

11. Our journey to get pregnant through infertility treatments brought my husband and I closer together. He may think I'm crazier because of it, but it does change you.

12. My mom had 3 kids under 2.5. My sisters were both born in the same year 1989 and I was officially adopted that year as well. So, my mom went from claiming zero kids on her taxes to 3 in one year. I find that hilarious. 

13. If I can consistently work out and see results- I will become addicted. It takes a few weeks though, hoping that energy and drive comes back after having the girls. 

14. I'm mad Pinterest wasn't around when I got married. Re-do please! 

15. I could be a serious cat lady if they stayed small like kittens do. I could have 20+ easily. 

16. I love swimming. & am still bitter our school never had a swim team. I could have rocked that. 

17. Tennis with the hubs has become one of our favorite activities. (Not the past 9 months lol) 

18. I am a picky eater. I am trying though. I made and ate zucchini bread the other and my old self would have NEVER! :) 

19. I have 2 cats with the most opposite personalities. Track & Daisy. We originally  were told Daisy was a boy. Her first name was Dexter. She may have a complex because of it. 

20. I am so in love with life right now. Awesome husband, two girls on the way, a beautiful house, great jobs and cars and the best family support ever! 

Describe 3 legitimate fears.

1. All bugs. Spiders included. 
2. Used to be being alone- but looks like I may never be alone again! Which is fine by me! :) 
3. Not having my Mamaw or Andrew for the rest of my life. I can't even fathom. 

Describe your relationship with your spouse. 

I think we balance each other well. In some instances, he's the calm one and I'm outspoken and then in others- it's the opposite. We never fight because he never argues back. I can tell when he's mad- he's quiet and he drives faster. :) Hes seriously the love of my life and I can't wait to share this next adventure with him. I'm for sure his #1 fan, which is why I tend to say yes to a lot of his crazy ideas. 

List 5 things you would tell your 16 year old self if you could.. 

1. You will love working out, promise! Keep at it! (& I did) 
2. Get rid of the bangs. No one cares about your five head but you, and your best friend.. 
3. Don't pick out your clothes before you go to bed, your sneaky little sister will just come in and steal them and that will cause a fight. Hide them! :) 
4. Start cooking. Your going to suck at it later. Not a good wife quality. 
5. Use sunscreen. You don't tan, your white with freckles.. It's okay. 

What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

1. My awesome husband. 
2. Feeling these girls move. 
3. Knowing in less than 2 weeks- they will be in your arms and your life will change forever. 
4. The fact that I have today off. 
5. A bathroom right beside our bedroom on our main floor. It's my second bedroom with all this bladder squashing the girls are doing! 

Slightly Behind

Well- I'm slightly behind in this! Whoops! I'll save our anniversary post for another day! To get caught up on the girlies! 

We had an appointment Monday- she swabbed me for Group B strep and went ahead and checked me.. She said my cervix was still back a little far but she would feel one of the heads, saying it was in front of my cervix?  Not sure what that means exactly. But that I was a fingertip dilated. So- getting closer! 

Since all my appts run together, I'm really not sure when this happened but I may have forgotten to blog about it either way. We had our usual NST and my NP came back in the room and said Lucy, our wonderful NST tech said Baby B, Bria's heart beat didn't sound as smooth as Baby A. So they decides to do a quick ultrasound to check for anything, murmurs, etc and realized nothing was wrong but Baby B was in fact practicing breathing, which is why it sounded different! That was a relief! 

Yesterday, our 4 year anniversary, we had another usual NST and we were done in 10 minutes! I couldn't believe it!! Donna came in- said they looked great and Lucy said this is the best set of twins she has had! Lets just hope these girls got the memo and are the best set of twins outside the womb too! :) 

I met my goal of working until August 1st but have decided to try one more week! I am slightly regretting it at the moment.... 

I'm pretty sure I am going to fever soon. I have been feeling like crap these past few days and its catching up to me. So at the moment I am in my car relaxing on my lunch break so no one bothers me in the lunch room or X-ray room.. I just wish I could crawl back in bed and take a nice long nap! Plus these girls are moving around like crazy and are killing my stomach! I never realized how their movements were so painful! Ouch! 

So here we are. Appts on Monday and Thursday. My last day of work is August 9th- Friday from 4-8! And then Monday the 12th we return for our ultrasound and to schedule our induction!!!!!!!!! Sweet Jesus hallelujah! :) :) 

This was from Tuesday! Good ol' 35 weeks! 

This is from today. Laying on my X-ray table to get some relief on my back! Yes, it's massive. I know. I get that comment every day, more than once! :)