Throughout the last few weeks I've been writing about the downsides of this pregnancy: polyhydramnios with both babies, extreme discomfort in my belly from my uterus being so distended, cholestasis, symphysis pubis dysfunction, and most recently the horrible swelling in my entire bottom half. Well, all of that combined did cause a little issue after delivery.
In recovery I began bleeding so Dr. Matta had to give me some type of medicine to help stop the bleeding. It was four little capsule things that they normally insert vaginally but because of the bleeding, he had to insert them rectally. Fortunately, I was still somewhat numb from the spinal. He also externally massaged my uterus....NOT the most pleasant experience just after major surgery. Thank God for the residual spinal effects otherwise it would have been downright torturous! They observed me for an extra hour after that before sending me to postpartum.
The next day, they ran blood test to check my blood count and though I wasn't bleeding heavily or feeling bad, it came back as 6. Normal is 12-15 in females and I was at 10 when I had been admitted! I ended up having to do a blood transfusion of two units and even then, when they retested me 24 hours later I was only up to 8.5. They did go ahead and discharge me with that since I was feeling fine but were adamant that I take iron and prenatals and keep an eye on my bleeding and come back to the hospital if I notice any other symptoms or start feeling off.
So, after a long day of waiting for paperwork to be put together, both babies and I were finally discharged. Because of hospital policy and it being a unique situation, I carried both babies out in the wheelchair and then we handed them off to Grant and Russ and said our goodbyes.
The first night in the hospital, Grant and Russ and the babies were actually able to have their own room within the postpartum ward (which was set up as this cool circle of rooms around a main sitting area and the nurses station...it was almost like a little hotel!). However, last night, the hospital didn't have the extra space so they stayed in mine. My room was nice! It was decently sized with two beds and small table and chairs. Even with all five of us there, we had plenty of space. It was kind of nice having them in the room that last night because I got to have some private time with each of the babies, holding and feeding them, while I let Grant and Russ get some much needed sleep. There were a couple of times that I got a little teary eyed thinking about the fact that I wasn't taking them home with me. But it wasn't because I couldn't give them up or anything like that. It was more of a bittersweetness that these two little people whom I'd been carrying with me for nine months and was used to having around were no longer going to be around. But the tears were short lived as the extreme happiness would take over when I'd look over to see Grant and Russ and know what a wonderful family I'd just helped to create and how loved Ava and Barrett were going to be.
As my husband drove us home from the hospital, I couldn't help but let a few more of those bittersweet tears fall. And then just as quickly turn back into a smile of contentment.
In recovery I began bleeding so Dr. Matta had to give me some type of medicine to help stop the bleeding. It was four little capsule things that they normally insert vaginally but because of the bleeding, he had to insert them rectally. Fortunately, I was still somewhat numb from the spinal. He also externally massaged my uterus....NOT the most pleasant experience just after major surgery. Thank God for the residual spinal effects otherwise it would have been downright torturous! They observed me for an extra hour after that before sending me to postpartum.
The next day, they ran blood test to check my blood count and though I wasn't bleeding heavily or feeling bad, it came back as 6. Normal is 12-15 in females and I was at 10 when I had been admitted! I ended up having to do a blood transfusion of two units and even then, when they retested me 24 hours later I was only up to 8.5. They did go ahead and discharge me with that since I was feeling fine but were adamant that I take iron and prenatals and keep an eye on my bleeding and come back to the hospital if I notice any other symptoms or start feeling off.
So, after a long day of waiting for paperwork to be put together, both babies and I were finally discharged. Because of hospital policy and it being a unique situation, I carried both babies out in the wheelchair and then we handed them off to Grant and Russ and said our goodbyes.
The first night in the hospital, Grant and Russ and the babies were actually able to have their own room within the postpartum ward (which was set up as this cool circle of rooms around a main sitting area and the nurses station...it was almost like a little hotel!). However, last night, the hospital didn't have the extra space so they stayed in mine. My room was nice! It was decently sized with two beds and small table and chairs. Even with all five of us there, we had plenty of space. It was kind of nice having them in the room that last night because I got to have some private time with each of the babies, holding and feeding them, while I let Grant and Russ get some much needed sleep. There were a couple of times that I got a little teary eyed thinking about the fact that I wasn't taking them home with me. But it wasn't because I couldn't give them up or anything like that. It was more of a bittersweetness that these two little people whom I'd been carrying with me for nine months and was used to having around were no longer going to be around. But the tears were short lived as the extreme happiness would take over when I'd look over to see Grant and Russ and know what a wonderful family I'd just helped to create and how loved Ava and Barrett were going to be.
As my husband drove us home from the hospital, I couldn't help but let a few more of those bittersweet tears fall. And then just as quickly turn back into a smile of contentment.