Babies at home

It was a very exciting day when we took our babies home last 27 Sept. I think the doctor and nurses expected us to stay a day more but we thought I'd be better off at home where its more comfortable. Was just dying to be at home, too. We would have nurses and doctors and cleaning people coming into our hospital room almost every 5-10 mins. each morning (starting from around 6:30am) up until lunch time. It was not fun!

Anyway, now that we have our babies home, we're trying to adjust to parenthood with 2 babies at the same time. So far it has been smooth sailing as the babies are good-natured except during the late evenings and early mornings. The same has been when they were at the hospital. But last night was a whole lot different from the other nights as Audrey was asleep straight without any crying (she cries more than Samuel) after her midnight feed (she created quite a racket before that). Only had to wake her to feed her during the early mornings.

Samuel is quite an opposite to Audrey. He is a quiet baby and makes sounds (suckling) when he is hungry rather than cry right away.

The birth experience

The whole C-section experienced last week Friday was quite an experience. Simon and I went to the hospital around 10am (later than what the doctor has asked us); which actually didn't make a difference since we had to wait for the operating room to be free. The doctor wanted to be sure we had the use of the big and better OR in case any complications do arise. The waiting was a bit scary.

And when they took me and Simon down to the OR, I was even more scared. Especially since Simon was asked to wait in the lounge before he could join me. They needed me to go under first before he was allowed into the OR. Those few minutes that Simon wasn't there was very scary and the more nervous I was when they gave me the epidural.

After that, everything around me felt strange... Simon sat near my head. I had a 'curtain' in front of me so I didn't know what was happening except for the tugging and pulling in my belly which the doctor was doing along with her assistants. Simon was asked not to stand up during the whole time in case he fainted when he saw my 'open belly' (grin).

Samuel came out at 3:48pm and Audrey came a minute after weighing 2.4kgs and 2.5kgs, respectively. Simon told me that they were out and looked alright but did not hear anything...it was very emotional for me when the babies started screaming and I starting crying. It was certainly the best sound and most reassuring sound (next to Simon's) while being in that nervous state. Simon and I were both so happy that they were both okay. The doctor also came to reassure us all was okay and that they were stitching me up.

What happened after the delivery was not how I envisioned recovery was going to be. Apart from having to lie in the same position for 6 hours, there was the pain to contend with which started to creep in as the epidural gradually wore off. Simon was fantastic with taking care of the babies while I was still in bed. The nurses were also very helpful in getting me comfortable as well as checking up on the babies.

Two days, I was 'tied' to the bed not being able to get up or walk around. Simon has been great with staying at the hospital the whole time and taking care of the babies while I was in bed. The same when I started getting a bit more mobile but still struggling getting in and out of bed. The nurses come and go and help quite a lot giving us tips, bathing the babies, feeding them or changing the nappies. Since yesterday, we started doing the nappy changing and the some formula and breastmilk ourselves.

Being first time parents, both Simon and I are learning our way into parenthood...just can't wait to bring the babies home with us tomorrow.

4D ultrasound

Yesterday we managed to do a final 4D ultrasound at another hospital. 'Final' because this would be the last time we can do an ultrasound before the babies are due to 'arrive'. Seeing them in 4D was much better than the normal ultrasound scan because at least I can easily make out the babies' faces. They look so cute! They are too big (in terms of weeks) to get a full body imagery.

As with every ultrasound experiences we've had in Shanghai over the last few months, we always tend to encounter some unfavourable exepriences. A few weeks ago when we made an appointment to do a 4D scan, we got to the hospital only to be told that the machine is broken and that they don't know it will get fixed. We were not very happy to not only have our hopes of 'seeing' our babies but also because it was a total waste of time. Unfortunately only one hospital in Shanghai offers this type of ultrasound. So anyway, we called last week to see whether the machine has been fixed and fortunately it was so we again made an appointment. So far the ultrasound was fine until the sonologist kept on repeating over and over and over again that one of the babies is fat (hen pang很胖). It was really irritating indeed! Actually both were chubby but one was chubbier than the other whereas the other was longer in frame. After the scan, we were waiting for the bill to pay for scan when we saw on our bill of an outstanding bill for the last time we were there and the machine was broken. Simon and I were so angry that they were planning on charging us for soemthing that never even happened! Talk about loosing your cool...

With that experience over, we are just so very glad that we did not choose that hospital for delivering the babies. We never know what bad experience we will further encounter there.

My chances of doing natural delivery is now almost 100% unlikely as the babies still have not changed positions. One is still in breech position while the other is a bit horizontal. As the expected date of delivery (via C-section) draws near, the more nervous I get although the doctor is very reassuring...

About 17 more days to go...

'D-day' is drawing near for when the babies are due to arrive; that is if nothing happens before then...

Simon has put the crib together this afternoon and have managed to 'finish' my list of things to prepare before the twins' arrival... So now I guess you can say we are almost ready. Just waiting for the seamstress to finish making the cot sheets, and that should be it. Seeing all these baby stuff in our room now makes it all real now... reality is setting in. That this is not a dream anymore; we are having twins in a few weeks!!!

On another news, we have yet another typhoon. Hopefully we won't get flooded in our hallway and conservatory again like before. And fortunately the workers who were doing up the lane outside of our home has concluded just today. So I also hope that this means they have also sorted out the drainage system apart from laying down new bricked pavement.