Sunday 16 June 2013
Saturday 15 June 2013
Greased Lightning
This Blog entry follows the previous one of looking back at my Doppler scan.
It looks back to the events which unfolded before the birth of my beautiful twins.
I decided to go to the day assessment unit on my own to be monitored as I knew there would be a lot of waiting around and not a very fun way for the girls during there summer holidays. Although he hospital is only a 5 minute walk away Alex insisted he would drive me as it was a hot day. Armed with my kindle and a large bottle of water I sat down and waited to be seen.
I was popped onto a bed and hooked up to the CTG monitor. It was hard to get a good trace as both twins were moving around a lot. eventually they settled down enough for the male midwife to leave me and said he would return in a while to check on me. On his return he looked at the trace and told me twin one showed a dip and he wanted to get the Doctor to come down and take a look at it.
I sat back in the waiting area of the day unit. I waited for ages for a doctor to come down and see me. I watched the whole of the Grease movie on the television which was playing in the waiting area. it was all very surreal to me.
The doctor came in just as the end credits rolled, he sat at a desk and read my notes. He finally came over. The Doctor told me he wanted me to go upstairs to the Antenatal Ward for further monitoring. I then knew I wasn't coming home that day.
The lovely male midwife walked me up to the Antenatal unit. In the lift we met one of his colleagues, who was about to start her shift, they exchanged hellos and all three of us were talking about me expecting twins and the names I had chosen.
When up on the Antenatal ward they found me a bed and said they were going to monitor me again. I quickly phoned Alex, told him what was going on and asked if he and the girls could pop up and bring me along some socks as my feet were very cold.
They put me back on the CTG monitor where one poor student midwife had to sit there holding the probes to my belly, as because the babies wee constantly moving again they could not get a good trace.
Again there were a couple of dips and the paper printout was whisked away.
Lunch was then given to be, as I hadn't eaten. As I finished eating my cheese sandwich Alex and the girls arrived.. with my socks!! We sat there chatting till a different Doctor came in and told us they needed to deliver the babies today, When? As soon as they all were ready for me!!
I couldn't stop to think, I was given a hospital gown and teds to change into. Alex stepped out and frantically called my mums work and asked her to come as soon as she could to collect the girls from the hospital. The anesthesiologist came to my bedside to talk to me about either having a spinal block if there was time or I may have to have a general anaesthetic. he explained both to me. Another doctor then came and explained all about having a C-section and the risks involved. I then had to sign a consent form. Thirdly a paediatrician from neonatal came down to explain what was likely to happen with he babies when they were born. It was all very scary and very fast.
I wanted to finalise what we were calling the babies, Bethany helped make the final decisions of middle names. I wrote the names down on a piece of paper and told Alex to put it in his pocket. I said it was his job to tell them what there names were. I didn't want my babies up in special care alone and nameless.
A nurse came in next and told me off for not yet putting on my gown and teds. My mum still wasn't here to collect the girls I started panicking so Alex said he would call her again, but as he stepped out into the corridor he saw he walking down. We all got emotional as we said our goodbyes I couldn't hold it in anymore.
I was so so frightened. it was all too soon.
It looks back to the events which unfolded before the birth of my beautiful twins.
I decided to go to the day assessment unit on my own to be monitored as I knew there would be a lot of waiting around and not a very fun way for the girls during there summer holidays. Although he hospital is only a 5 minute walk away Alex insisted he would drive me as it was a hot day. Armed with my kindle and a large bottle of water I sat down and waited to be seen.
I was popped onto a bed and hooked up to the CTG monitor. It was hard to get a good trace as both twins were moving around a lot. eventually they settled down enough for the male midwife to leave me and said he would return in a while to check on me. On his return he looked at the trace and told me twin one showed a dip and he wanted to get the Doctor to come down and take a look at it.
I sat back in the waiting area of the day unit. I waited for ages for a doctor to come down and see me. I watched the whole of the Grease movie on the television which was playing in the waiting area. it was all very surreal to me.
The doctor came in just as the end credits rolled, he sat at a desk and read my notes. He finally came over. The Doctor told me he wanted me to go upstairs to the Antenatal Ward for further monitoring. I then knew I wasn't coming home that day.
The lovely male midwife walked me up to the Antenatal unit. In the lift we met one of his colleagues, who was about to start her shift, they exchanged hellos and all three of us were talking about me expecting twins and the names I had chosen.
When up on the Antenatal ward they found me a bed and said they were going to monitor me again. I quickly phoned Alex, told him what was going on and asked if he and the girls could pop up and bring me along some socks as my feet were very cold.
They put me back on the CTG monitor where one poor student midwife had to sit there holding the probes to my belly, as because the babies wee constantly moving again they could not get a good trace.
Again there were a couple of dips and the paper printout was whisked away.
Lunch was then given to be, as I hadn't eaten. As I finished eating my cheese sandwich Alex and the girls arrived.. with my socks!! We sat there chatting till a different Doctor came in and told us they needed to deliver the babies today, When? As soon as they all were ready for me!!
I couldn't stop to think, I was given a hospital gown and teds to change into. Alex stepped out and frantically called my mums work and asked her to come as soon as she could to collect the girls from the hospital. The anesthesiologist came to my bedside to talk to me about either having a spinal block if there was time or I may have to have a general anaesthetic. he explained both to me. Another doctor then came and explained all about having a C-section and the risks involved. I then had to sign a consent form. Thirdly a paediatrician from neonatal came down to explain what was likely to happen with he babies when they were born. It was all very scary and very fast.
I wanted to finalise what we were calling the babies, Bethany helped make the final decisions of middle names. I wrote the names down on a piece of paper and told Alex to put it in his pocket. I said it was his job to tell them what there names were. I didn't want my babies up in special care alone and nameless.
A nurse came in next and told me off for not yet putting on my gown and teds. My mum still wasn't here to collect the girls I started panicking so Alex said he would call her again, but as he stepped out into the corridor he saw he walking down. We all got emotional as we said our goodbyes I couldn't hold it in anymore.
I was so so frightened. it was all too soon.
Friday 14 June 2013
The Doppler Scan that changed everything
This is a blog entry looking back to when I was pregnant with the twins and detailing a particular scan which changed everything.
It all started on Wednesday 25th July 2012 with a routine growth scan.
I had been feeling well and the previous scan just two weeks prior didn't show any problems so we decided to bring along the girls.
Unfortunately the Doppler scan found reduced blood flow in the umbilical cord and they were concerned about Owens growth. Our consultant warned us they may have to deliver that day. First he wanted another consultant who was an expert in Doppler readings to scan me again.
The two consultants staring at the screen talking medical jargon in hushed tones. They turned and told me they would be happy to look at the situation again in a week as the blood flow had slowed but not stopped. In the meantime I would have steroid injections (they are really quite painful) to help mature the babies lungs. I was to come into hospital every other day for CTG monitoring and they would scan again next week.
The other consultant left the room so my consultant wanted to make sure I understood all that had been said. He warned that if in the meantime the cord blood did stop baby one would die, so to come in if there were any lack of baby movements or I just felt something was wrong, We said our goodbyes and he left me with the words "Be prepared for delivery".
Thursday 13 June 2013
Allow me to introduce myself
Hello my name is Sheri. My Husband Alex and I have four beautiful children together;
Bethany Josie 10, Lilly Grace 5 and Twins Owen Harvey & Florence Ella 9 months old or 6 months corrective age
The twins were born at 28weeks, 12 whole weeks early.
They were born on the day of the London Olympic opening ceremony.
Florence like her name meaning is "Flourishing" and middle name Ella means "light "is and my little ray of light in some dark times.
Owen like his name meaning "little warrior" and middle name Harvey means "battle worthy" has had and continues to have a few battles to fight along the way.
Hence the name of my Blog being called "Flourishing Warriors"
I think it would be fair to say that Owen is my main inspiration for the Blog.
Owen has Chronic Lung Disease and was also got diagnosed with PVL during his 12 week and 5 day stay in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)
Most of my Blog will no doubt be centred around Owen and his journey, but also will be about the impact it has on the rest of the family. I don't want this blog to be all doom and gloom, as my house is hardly ever gloomy... Its mainly Crazy!! I hope to portray some of the "craziness and fun" along with the serious stuff.
Why write a Blog?? I hope writing this will at least help me put things in some sort of order in my head, maybe like a sort of therapy? I am not really too sure, but I am forever reading other peoples Blogs and I enjoy writing so thought I would at least give it a go. If it so happens anyone comes across this blog then fantastic... I hope you enjoy it and feel free to add your own input.
I am not even sure how often I will Blog, so I guess I will just see what happens.
Many Thanks
Sheri xxx
P.S Please understand this is my first ever blog, I have no clue what I am doing, I am highly sleep deprived most of the time so basically I apologize in advance for lack of grammar, spelling mistakes and generally not making any sense at times.
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