Cal and Evie's Birth Story Part 3

Yesterday I ended part two of the birth story with me being dilated to a 9 for 4 hours. I can never explain that discomfort/pain...it won't do it justice!

After the doctor checked me 3 times over the course of 4 hours (and I was still at a 9) I decided it was time for the epidural. This broke my heart because I had made it SO far naturally but I knew that mentally and physically my body was not going to make it to a 10 unless I relaxed. I could not figure out how to relax through my contractions but I knew that when I had the epidural with Blair things progressed really quickly. 

M and Ashley (my doula) really encouraged me to try and finish the race sans epidural but I knew my body was done. So, without further delay I got an epidural...and that was SO scary! It was so hard to be completely still through contractions at a 9 but I fought through it because I knew my babies were right around the corner. 

From the time I decided to get the epidural to when it actually set through my body, was about an hour and a half. As soon as the epidural took the doctor checked me again and I was at a 10. I knew I just needed a little bit of a break to reach the finish line. 

At this point everyone suited up and I was wheeled over to the OR. With twins there is such a high risk of needed a C-section that all deliveries are in the OR. Typically they only allow one person to be with you in the OR. For me, that person was M of course. However I knew Ashley would be a huge help too. Since she happens to be a post partum nurse at the hospital where I delivered they allowed her to be there too. That sure worked out well! 

These are by far the most unattractive pictures of me. Who looks good at this angle?!

Once in the OR Everly was ready to come out. It took me about 4 pushes to get her tiny little five pound body out. When she came out and was placed on my tummy I was overwhelmed with happiness. I cried and cried and remember saying, "We've been waiting for you! We wanted you so much! You are our miracle." Re-writing those words still makes me tear up. After the cord was done pulsating, Matt cut it and we were on to the next baby.

sweet Everly Grace born at 8:55 pm weighing 5lb 10 oz and 17&3/4 inches long

My contractions were 6 minutes apart (woah!) so we had to wait a while for Calvin to show up. For a while I remember looking in the mirror at the top of his little big head while we waited for the second contraction. After about 4 pushes he also came out. If it were just up to Evie I wouldn't have torn at all but he changed that. ;) Thanks Cal. 

sweet Calvin Noah born at 9:22pm, weighing 7lb 6 oz and 20 inches long

Again when they placed him on my tummy I was in a complete state of euphoria. God had given us not one miracle, but two and I was overwhelmed by his goodness. Matt, Ashley, and I were all crying happy tears and I will never forget sharing that moment with them. 

Once Cal and Evie were weighed and measured and checked over by the NICU they wheeled us all to the recovery room where they did their initial assessments of the babies. 

All was well until they asked me to shift my body weight to check on things "down there." 

Cal and Evie

Stay tuned to see what brought all the doctors frantically running down the halls to my bedside...

One of the scariest moments of my life!