Going Home and the First Week

We expected to be released on Saturday but unfortunately, my blood pressure was still up and my hemoglobin was still low. We saw my primary doctor on Saturday morning and he said no way was I going home. I also asked him about my uterus and he told me that it would heal just fine and that I would be able to carry children again. I wasn't too concerned but felt better being reassured. During rounds on Sunday morning, the peditrician on call was worried about the twins weights. Emma Cate lost 11% of her body weight and Holden 8%. She told us to strictly bottle feed... and began my relationship with my pump! On Sunday morning, my blood pressure jumped again they pushed my discharge back. I had to have 3 good pressure readings (taken every two hours) before they would let me know. Luckily I was able to be released at 3pm. We got all dressed and dressed the babies after their 3pm feeding and waited and waited to the discharge to happen. We were finally out of there at 5pm. The transporter who took me down was mean and yelled at Jay to push the cart with our stuff. He wouldn't even slow down so that Jay could take pictures! While waiting for Jay to get the car I got extremely overheated and sick feeling. We couldn't get out of that hospital fast enough! I was still sick on the car ride home so we didn't take a ton of pictures. We arrived home to a beautifully decorated house complete with two storks announcing the babies arrival. It made me cry when we turn in the driveway!

The twins did fabulous on the ride home but when we got to the house, the crying ensued. Both twins were screaming and the dogs started going crazy. We had high hopes to bring them home just the two of us and spend time together getting settled as a family of four. 30 minutes after getting home I was bawling to my mom (who had just driven back to Atlanta) to come back and help me. I think that was the most overwhelmed I've ever been! One thing that I didn't hear a lot about was the crying spells. For the first week, I would cry all the time! I'd look at the babies and cry that they were ours, I would spill a glass and cry, I would be doing nothing and start to cry. On top of the crying, I still wasn't doing great physically from the blood loss. I was dizzy and hot a lot and not eating. Thankfully my hormones are much more balanced now! It just took some time for everything to settle down.

On Monday, we started to establish a routine and things got so much better. I was relieved and way more confident. We had a visit with the lactation consultant at the pediatrician's office (who is amazing) and she suggested that we continue to pump for all of the babies' feedings and try feeding at the breast once a day when time permitted. Both babies had gained some weight since discharge the day before. I'll also note that my milk came in on Saturday while in the hospital and holy cow I don't even know what to do with all of it! I feel really blessed that I'm producing enough. The lactation consultant was shocked by how much milk my body was making. Evidently I've got enough to feed four babies. I am so thankful for this blessing (but curse it since I have to pump every three hours so that I don't become engorged).

My mom arrived Monday night and was a huge help in getting things going. Jay returned to work on Tuesday. I was so sick of being in the house that on Tuesday I begged my mom to go to lunch. I know it was early but the weather was beautiful and the twins slept through their first lunch out at Cowfish! It was so nice that we did it again on Wednesday at Cafe Monte.  My mom left on Wednesday afternoon and I cried (in the pediatricians office waiting room) when she left. Thursday was my first day on my own with the babies and we had a great day! I love being their mommy. My mom and aunt returned late Thursday evening and Friday morning they helped out with our newborn pictures before heading out to Philly to move my Dad into his new apartment.

On Wednesday afternoon, we had our first visit to the pediatrician. The babies are doing well but not gaining the weight they'd like to see. They are now taking breast milk fortified with enfamil and she bumped us up to 2 ounces per feeding

A few things about the first week:
The twins are getting good at a schedule. We feed every three hours at 6, 3, 9, 12, and then start over again. They were taking an ounce each but at their feedings but have now moved onto two ounces
They are great sleepers and we generally have to wake them up for each feeding
I'm really lucky in that my weight has dropped off pretty quickly. I have 10lbs to lose as of their one week birthday. I haven't really noticed it in my face or arms but all of a sudden my legs are back and my feet look skinny again! I was overweight when I got pregnant so I still have a long way to go but this is encouraging.
Even though I've lost weight, no one prepared me for how my stomach would look after twins. So much skin...Its weird that even when I flex, my abs are non-existent. I'm eager to start exercising.
My c-section scar has healed wonderfully. I left the hospital only taking advil and am truly feeling great. I've heard horror stories but seriously my c-section (minus the uterus mishap) was so easy to recover from!

Pictures from the week:

Sunday, June 24th

in our going home gowns

holden

Emma Cate

The only picture we got on the way out

The nice lady in the waiting area took this one for us

Daddy leaving the hospital

Arriving at home

Emma Cate meeting Sophie

Boomer and Holden

Monday, June 25th

Off to the lactation consultant

Emma Cate waiting for the dr to look her over.

baby feet

Tuesday, June 26th

Getting ready to go out to lunch... keeping the germs out

love this picture

Holden

Emma Cate

Wednesday, June 27th

Off to the pediatrician's for our first visit.

Mommy and Daddy filling out paperwork

Emma Cate

Holden