I think you have the most anticipation in your life when you are expecting a baby... and for me, it was 3 babies. After 11.5 weeks in the hospital on bed rest, I had enough time to think about the C-section and delivery of my daughters, but still the anticipation was the most I had ever experienced. Brian took off work Thursday (June 6) to spend the day with me and help me get ready for the big day. My parents and in-laws came in the evening as well to spend time together with us. Before bed, my nurse came in to monitor the babies one last time (so I thought) and talk to us a little about what to expect the next day. It was so hard to believe that I would become a Mother within hours.
At that point in my pregnancy, I was over 34 weeks pregnant, I had just started swelling, my belly was overwhelmingly big (and I had no body awareness of it as I hit it on the bathroom door multiple times), the skin around my belly button was numb due to the amount of stretching, I still somehow had an appetite, my blood pressure had just started rising (to what most people's would be considered normal, but mine was always low), it took me like 5 minutes to go from lying down to standing up, my back muscles would quiver every time I stood up, I was exhausted after taking a shower (keep in mind I was sitting), the walker was my best friend, I had watched all the seasons of Amazing Race, Arrested Development, and The Good Wife., and read multiple books about raising babies. Let's just say I was ready to no longer be pregnant (and I'm glad my doctor agreed).
I never thought I would get sleep the night before they were born... but somehow Brian and I both slept pretty well. We woke up at 5 AM to get ready. I showered and then put on the oversized (yep... it was still too big for pregnant me) hospital gown. My nurse came and we had to monitor the babies one more time (so I thought again) and about 1 minute later the labor and delivery nurse arrived to take me to the prep room. My parents, brother, and sis-in-law arrived just as I was standing to walk to the bed right outside of my room (my Mom pointed out that was the farthest I had walked since going on bed rest). I heaved myself onto the bed and they started rolling me to the patient elevators. I passed the nurses station as all of my nurses wished us luck. I had my entourage following me all in their hot pink "TEAM PATTERSON" t-shirts that my parents had made. Down the elevators and in to the prep room where they did all of the pre-op stuff like blood pressure, attaching EKG, and monitoring babies one last time (so I thought ...again). My family came in and they wished us luck. The TV was on but I don't think I was paying any attention. I was nervous and so excited for what was about to happen.
My last belly pic
Heading to surgery
In Pre-Op
Brian getting ready
Brian was so excited
They asked my family to leave to finish up with their pre-op and then I heard her voice. My doctor's voice in the hallway that you can't mistake for anyone else. The time was getting very close. All of the docs came in to go over the surgery... anesthesiology and the team of docs that would be working on me. It was time.
At 7:32 AM, they wheeled me out of the pre-op room leaving Brian behind. They rolled me down a long hallway and then another and in to OR 5. The room was mostly white and cool. There were already people bustling about to prepare. My nurse and the anesthesiologist began working on my spinal epidural catheter. I was pretty nervous about it, but it went very smoothly. I was afraid I was going to get the shakes, but somehow I was able to relax myself. Once finished, she asked me to start lying down and I could already feel my legs going numb. The anesthesiologist stayed at my head and continued talking to me, letting me know what was going on and continually testing my pain sensation to make sure the block was working. I was soon numb up to my chest. Meanwhile, all of the doctors were getting ready and the neonatal team was working to get set up to my left. There were so many people in there, probably more than 20 to deliver and care for me and my babies. They put up the partition so I couldn't see and they began their work. My doctor asked, "Is Dad here?". No was the answer and I just stared at the door waiting for him to come through because I knew my doctor wouldn't wait long for him. I was relieved when he walked through the door and he sat by my side, camera in hand. Not one minute later, we heard a baby scream. We made eye contact with each other not realizing they were coming so quickly and he quickly snapped a picture of Samantha. A tear began rolling down my face. Taylor came out so soon after that he missed her picture and was able to get Mallory's picture as she was passed to the nurse. It happened so fast... to tell you the truth, I didn't know that all 3 had been delivered already. Brian was up taking pictures and I asked the anesthesiologist what they were doing and she said delivering your placenta. What? They are all born. I had heard 3 cries, but I thought they were from the same baby. I knew it would be quick, but it was faster than I expected. All my girls were safely here.
Samantha Elizabeth at 8:05 AM (pictured) and Taylor Rene at 8:05 AM
About to 'catch' Mallory Ann at 8:06 AM
And there she goes...
I was able to watch on a monitor on either side of me while they worked on Taylor. Brian would come back to me every few minutes to give me updates... Samantha has a full head of hair, Mallory is doing great and keeps poking out her tongue... Sam and Taylor needed a tad of Oxygen, no one needed C-Pap. They were all given glucose through an IV because of low blood sugar, which was expected. The neonatologist (preemie doctor) also kept coming up to me to give me updates. Everyone was looking great.
Mallory (Baby C)
Taylor (Baby B)
Samantha (Baby A)
Samantha was the first they brought over for me to see and hold. They put her on my chest and I held her in my arms. I noticed all of her dark hair and kept thinking she was so small. I was able to hold her for awhile before they let Brian hold her. Eventually, during all of the commotion of completing my surgery and making sure the girls were all okay... they were able to bring all 3 of our babies to see us. Brian was holding Sam and I was holding Mallory and Taylor. Our first family photo.
Soon after, the girls were ready to head to the NICU so Brian followed along. They were taken to room 825. The NICU was set up as individual rooms so all three of our girls were together in their own room. Meanwhile, my team of doctors continued to finish my surgery and then I was wheeled to the recovery room (same as prep room). I was feeling good (other than having the shakes really bad) and Brian showed back up around then. He gave me an update that all the girls were doing great and on room air. We invited my family back in to see me after the nurses did their checks. We visited and we looked at pictures on the television that Brian took during the surgery and in the NICU. Around 11 AM, I was wheeled back up to my room on the 11th floor (normally post-partum patients go to the Mother-baby floor, but I was able to go back to my room on the ante-partum floor... I'm special like that). I was comfortable in my room with all of my nurses. Our families came up as well and I was in a really good mood. I knew I needed some rest but I wanted to see my girls as soon as possible. The nurse let me go around 4 PM (4 hours earlier than my doctor wanted... oops, hehe). Brian and one of the PCA's on the floor wheeled me to the NICU on the 8th floor so I could see my precious little triplets.
It was overwhelming to see MY babies. I sat there and stared at them wondering how they all fit in me (Even though hours earlier I was E-nor-mous). They were beautiful. They were in isolettes with tags above each crib... Baby A, Baby B, Baby C. They all had NG tubes for feedings, IV's in their lil' hands, and other wires to monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, and % oxygenation. Every once in a while, you would hear an alarm go off because one of the rates had dropped, but normally it was immediately back up to normal. I was wheeled to each isolette, taking in as much as I could. Looking at their hair, their little noses, holding their tiny hands. It was incredible. They were beyond perfect and they were mine. I didn't have the energy to stay too long so we headed back up to the room.
Mallory
Taylor
Samantha
The next few days all melded together. They consisted of visiting the girls, resting and eating in my room, pumping, and recovering from my surgery. All of my nurses throughout my time on bed rest came to visit and congratulate us. We had some friends and family come visit. The second night we had our "complimentary dinner" for two from the hospital cafeteria consisting of steaks, sparkling cider, and a birthday cake. It was my first time to go sit on that darn couch I had been staring at for 12 weeks. I began moving around a little more in my room and pushing the wheelchair to the NICU for a little exercise. I have a long road ahead of me to get back to where I was physically.
Holding the girls for the first time. Such special moments for us.
Mallory
Taylor
Samantha
Celebration Dinner
The girls continued to improve in the NICU. We showed up one morning and they were all in open cribs. They were blowing us away with how awesome they were doing. One nurse even said, "In my 24 years as a nurse, I've never seen triplets do so well".
I was discharged on Monday night, making it a complete 12 weeks in the hospital. It was the most bittersweet moment of my life. I was getting to leave the place I had been since March, yet I was leaving my 3 little girls. I knew they were in a safe place and the nurses were going to take great care of them, but I was going to miss them. One of the PCA's helped us 'move out' of my room. Loads of stuff had already been taken home but it still felt like we had a ton of stuff. After a long process of being discharged, I was wheeled downstairs and we loaded up. I got in the passenger seat and we drove off. It was about 9:30 by the time we left which was much later than we anticipated. Brian was so excited to bring me home and show me everything that had changed (he even went home to mow the lawn and get the house ready before I came home... such a sweet man)... from the road construction to new buildings. He would have so much excitement in his voice to point out how the freeway had changed or they had torn down restaurants. Although, it had a lot to do with my hormones... it made me tear up. The ride home was so emotional for me. I normally hear him telling stories or new things to other people because I am normally the one with him making the new experiences... but because I had been in the hospital this whole time, I was now the person he was excited to share something with. It made me love him even more.
The next week or so consisted of us sleeping at home, Brian going to work in the morning, and a friend or family member taking me to the hospital, hanging out with my girls all day, Brian coming to the NICU after work, and then going home. The doctors and nurses were impressed and amazed at how well the girls were doing. Samantha and Mallory were discharged on a Wednesday which was Day 13 in the NICU and Taylor came home the next day. Never in our wildest dreams, did we think the girls would be coming home within 2 weeks. And to complete our family, Ryley came home a week later.
Brian and I feel like this was the very best scenario we could have had after my eventful pregnancy. We are so blessed and so thankful to have healthy baby girls. We also have to thank everyone for visiting, sending nice texts or messages, and all of the gifts that have helped us start our lives with children. These nice things kept my spirits up and kept me motivated to stay pregnant as long as possible. So we owe everyone a huge thank you.
Our family is home, healthy, and full of love. I couldn't ask for anything more.
