23-02-2004, 08:42 PM
There is a strong history of twins in both mine (maternal) and my husband's (maternal and paternal) sides. We always joked that we would probably have twin boys, followed by twin girls. We were young and naive, obviously.
I found out I was pregnant when I was 19. The doctor told me that I was pregnant, but that I would probably miscarry, as he had detected a blighted ovum. I was really upset about this obviously, and was told that if I had not miscarried by 9 weeks, that I could go for a scan. I did have bleeding, but I left it...
At 9 weeks, I had my first scan. The doctor was busy looking at the screen, not explaining much when he asked us if we had a history of twins in the family. He then went on to say that we had three babies, and that one had died. We were shell-shocked, as we might have expected twins, but not triplets.
Anyway, I had an uneventful pregnancy, but started dilating when I was about 28 weeks gone. Then at work one day (I was about 32 weeks) I complained to my mother-in-law that I had been awake for 2 nights with back pain. She thought it best if I see my gynae. He confirmed that I was starting labour, and booked me into the Marymount. I was in for over a week, getting steroid injections for the girl's lungs, and in serious pain. My water's broke at 2:30 on the following Wednesday morning, and the girls were born 3 days after my 20th Birthday (which was spent on my back in hospital - lovely) at about 3:30 in the morning. Laura weighed in at 1.980kg, and Danielle arrived 8 minutes later at 1.879kg.
They were in incubators for about 5 days, but were not allowed to leave until they were both 2kg. If I remember correctly, they were came home at about 8 or 9 days old. They also suffered a bit with jaundice, and had to be under the lights a lot. I was at the hospital twice a day to take milk for them, as they were tube fed for most of the time. It was a hard time, as I wanted my babies home with me, but I at least got some rest for a week before they came home.
We had no help for the first 4 months, after which I returned to work part-time. We had a maid who looked after the girls in the morning until I got home at lunchtime. They had colic from about 2 months, which made feeding complicated, as I was breastfeeding....It was pure hell at times, but they were essentially very good babies, despite the colic.
It was difficult when I was alone, but I did not know any better - I just dealt with it. I had no choice, and it really did not phase me. I took to motherhood well, despite my age, and I am grateful for it.
My girls are a joy, (and occasionally a pain) and I love them to bits. It's sad that the 3rd baby died, but I would never have coped with 3.
I found out I was pregnant when I was 19. The doctor told me that I was pregnant, but that I would probably miscarry, as he had detected a blighted ovum. I was really upset about this obviously, and was told that if I had not miscarried by 9 weeks, that I could go for a scan. I did have bleeding, but I left it...
At 9 weeks, I had my first scan. The doctor was busy looking at the screen, not explaining much when he asked us if we had a history of twins in the family. He then went on to say that we had three babies, and that one had died. We were shell-shocked, as we might have expected twins, but not triplets.
Anyway, I had an uneventful pregnancy, but started dilating when I was about 28 weeks gone. Then at work one day (I was about 32 weeks) I complained to my mother-in-law that I had been awake for 2 nights with back pain. She thought it best if I see my gynae. He confirmed that I was starting labour, and booked me into the Marymount. I was in for over a week, getting steroid injections for the girl's lungs, and in serious pain. My water's broke at 2:30 on the following Wednesday morning, and the girls were born 3 days after my 20th Birthday (which was spent on my back in hospital - lovely) at about 3:30 in the morning. Laura weighed in at 1.980kg, and Danielle arrived 8 minutes later at 1.879kg.
They were in incubators for about 5 days, but were not allowed to leave until they were both 2kg. If I remember correctly, they were came home at about 8 or 9 days old. They also suffered a bit with jaundice, and had to be under the lights a lot. I was at the hospital twice a day to take milk for them, as they were tube fed for most of the time. It was a hard time, as I wanted my babies home with me, but I at least got some rest for a week before they came home.
We had no help for the first 4 months, after which I returned to work part-time. We had a maid who looked after the girls in the morning until I got home at lunchtime. They had colic from about 2 months, which made feeding complicated, as I was breastfeeding....It was pure hell at times, but they were essentially very good babies, despite the colic.
It was difficult when I was alone, but I did not know any better - I just dealt with it. I had no choice, and it really did not phase me. I took to motherhood well, despite my age, and I am grateful for it.
My girls are a joy, (and occasionally a pain) and I love them to bits. It's sad that the 3rd baby died, but I would never have coped with 3.
Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow.
--Mahatma Gandhi
--Mahatma Gandhi