Graeme and Thomas' Birth

It is difficult to find a beginning to this story, the birth of our twin boys.  I feel I have to include some of our history as it all weaves together like a single strand of yarn to make the whole sweater.  I have had two very different birthing experiences.

On June 30, 2007 I gave birth to  a stillborn baby boy who we named Cai.  He was kicking inside of me right up until the day he was born, but he had not developed lungs.  We knew this for several weeks beforehand, which did not minimize our devastation.  I was induced and laboured for 25 hours before his birth.  Anything possible to bring on labour artificially was used.  We had amazing caregivers throughout our stay in the hospital.  We came home without our  beautiful son to hold but yet he felt so close to us as we began to heal.

A year later almost to the day we discovered we were pregnant!  At our 3 month ultrasound we found out we were having identical twins!  We laughed and cried all in one.  After 10 years of « trying », and 6 pregnancies we were ecstatic!  As the pregnancy went on we were surprisingly calm but felt we needed some type of education/ support for the upcoming birth after our previous experience.  We discovered Hypnobirthing and Marie who was so wonderful. 

For the remainder of the pregnancy we reviewed the exercises together, but I especially focused on the relaxation exercises.  I listened to the recording daily.  As soon as Marie’s voice came on our dog Molly would lie on the floor beside me and we would listen together.  I practised the breathing techniques in bed at night since I wasn’t sleeping anyway.

I found these so helpful in keeping me calm as the « guess » date approached.  Since Baby A was head down the plan was for a vaginal birth.  Our obstetrician did not want me going past 38 weeks, so at 38 1/2 weeks I was induced.  Ideally we would have chosen not to have all the medical interventions, but due to the nature of birthing twins and all the uncertainties, we trusted in our caregivers while embracing the hypnobirthing principles where we could.

During the induction process I continued to use the breathting techniques while my husband  Jason assisted and provided support as he had also learned.  The induction started at 9am, by midnight I was having more significant contractions and was tranferred to the labour and birthing unit.  After discussion with the nurse, including voicing our concerns, we chose to have an epidural due to the many scenarios that may be presented during a twin birth.

On Feb 18, 2009 at  7 :30 am, Dr. Akinibiyi arrived and nurse Linda!  They had both been present at Cai’s birth.  Unbelievable that they would be present this time also. 

Although the babies shared the same placenta, they were each in their own sac.  The Dr. ruptured the sac of Baby A.  Once this happened things progressed very quickly, almost too fast, making it very difficult to manage the surges.  I was soon wanting to push, while we were taken to a larger procedure room allowing for more space. 

The surges were extremely intense….  Graeme Anton was born at 8 :45 am weighing 6 lbs 12 oz.  Jason was able to announce that he was a boy and to cut his umbillical cord.  He was placed on my chest for a moment and we looked on in amazement.  The staff then took him within sight under the lamp to keep warm. 

An ultrasound was then done and determined that Baby B had turned and was now transverse across my stomach.  Dr. Akinibiyi placed his hands on top of my stomach and asked me to push with the next surge as he moved the baby into breech position.  As the surges progressed he stated « this baby is coming feet first ». Days later,  Jason stated that he could see the baby coming out with the sack still intact looking like a little football.  As the baby made his way out, the Dr. opened the sac and he emerged.  Thomas Gordon was born 13 minutes after his brother weighing 6 lbs 9 oz. They were beautiful and healthy!!  We were overcome with graditude and love for these two.

They are now 8 months old and expressing their own personality. They are changing daily.  We so grateful everyday for our three blessings.

Our twin birthing experience was not as we had planned, but as the hypnobirthing affirmation suggests, we must accept whatever changes occur in our birthing experience. For us it unfolded just as it should have.

Nicole Pylatiuk, written October 2009