The Birth - Meet the Triplets!

Following the quick ultrasound to peek in on the babies one last time before meeting them in person, I was wheeled into the operating room. I was lifted from the bed to the operating table by some very strong nurses (one of whom had been the head nurse when I had my second child as well, and she remembered me!), and was given the epidural (spinal tap? Is there a difference?). I can't even describe the thoughts going through my mind. I couldn't believe I was actually on that table, that this was really happening. All those months of waiting, the growing and stretching to inhuman proportions, all the pain and discomfort, the joints that had stopped working several weeks before, and the seemingly endless number of doctors appointments had all led up to this moment, and it was happening.  It was happening 4 weeks earlier than the doctors intended, and nine weeks earlier than nature intended, but it was happening and it was far too late to turn back. In a few short minutes, heaven and earth would meet as three beautiful and perfect babies would come into the world straight from the arms of their Heavenly Father and into ours. I was going to meet my sweet babies, and I was thrilled...and just the right amount of nervous.

NNP Kelly waiting to "catch" Asher

The nurses helped me lie down, brought my husband into the room, and about half the hospital came in as well, hustling around, getting three separate baby areas set up (we actually had to use the entire operating room and the operating room right next to it). My amazing doctor, Dr. Gulinson, began checking me to make sure I was numb. There was an excited hum in the air. It was perfectly choreographed craziness.

Finally, that blue sheet went up between my face and the rest of the world, and I was alone with my husbands' and anesthesiologists' faces peering down on me to comfort me. The familiar pulling and tugging began, and I waited. I hoped to hear cries as the babies were born, but knew that since they were coming so early, they might be silent.  But then in the hustle and bustle of an overflowing operating room, that first beautiful first cry soared through the air and my doctor announced, "Here is Asher!" Then, in what seemed like minutes later to me but was really only seconds, he announced "And this is Brooks!"  and Brooks let out a beautiful cry. Relief washed over me for another brief second, and then I braced myself for the last birth, certain that tiny Baby C would not announce himself as his brothers had. A few seconds later my doctor said, "Here is Caden!" and then, there it was - another beautiful, thin and high pitched cry, and the tears of joy and relief came that they were all here, they were all crying, and they were each in the arms of their individual, specialized teams.  I didn't know that Dr. Gulinson was going to announce each of them by name, and the fact that he did made the experience so special and personal. All of them were born in exactly the same minute, at 9:41 AM. Asher was 16 1/2 inches long and 4 pounds even, Brooks was 18 inches long and 4 pounds, 11 ounces, and Caden was 14 1/4 inches long and weighed in at a whopping 2 pounds, 14 ounces. Their Apgar scores were all 8s and 9s.

All I could do was listen and try and figure out what was going on. The nurses were counting in unison and sounded very enthused and jovial...I still have no idea what that was about but it was kind of funny to listen to.  And then, finally, the nurse practitioners for Asher and Brooks came to my side and showed them to me for a split second. Caden was too fragile to be brought to me at that moment and I didn't get to see him until later in the NICU, but JJ did snap a picture.  Asher and Brooks looked exactly as I had pictured them - like smaller versions of my older son and their Dad, all rolled into one (or three, haha).

Asher and Brooks being born.
This is an extreme close-up of the mirror that hangs on the wall that you can see in the picture above. If you look, you can see Asher laying outside getting his umbilical cord cut and Brooks being born. I was zooming in on the picture to look at something else and noticed you could see the babies in the mirror. I am so glad I found this, because I think it's pretty cool!

  

Brooks with his "catcher" Katie, NNP.

Dr. Gulinson handing Caden to Laura, NNP

Caden with NNP Laura

Unfortunately, our camera battery, unbeknownst to us, was defective and died right after these first few pictures. I will forever be heartbroken about that. Luckily, we have cell phones that can take decent pictures, though it's not the quality of our digital camera.

All of the babies were briefly intubated to have a special medicine injected into their lungs and were prepared for their first several days in the NICU with IVs, nasal cannulas, and feeding tubes. The developmental therapist wrote a detailed description of everything that the happened to the boys in the first few minutes of their lives, most of which I had no idea about until I read the reports. I am so grateful for such a detailed summary, I know the boys will find it fascinating to read all about their birth in such detail. She even vividly described their rooms in the report.

At one point, the neonatalogist, Dr. Leonard, came into my vision and told me how they were doing. I don't really remember what he said, but if it had been worrisome I would have remembered it. Then the work on getting my huge belly closed back up began. I remember hearing my doctor joking with the nurse, and I knew that if they were able to laugh, that I must be doing fine as well. One of my big worries towards the end of my pregnancy had been that I would bleed too much and need a transfusion - I even had a special IV just in case I needed one. But hearing the laughter helped me know I was okay.

Asher at almost an hour old

Brooks at almost an hour old

Caden at an hour old

Once I was pieced back together, they wheeled me into recovery, where the onslaught of phone calls, text messages and facebook posts began, and thankfully, they made the time pass quickly. I spent quite a bit of my 2+ hours in recovery shaking uncontrollably from one of the medicines they had given me. Then I was wheeled to postpartum, but first, since it was "on the way" my nurse wheeled me down the NICU hall and I got to see my little sweethearts.  That was an experience like no other - imagine meeting your baby for the first time and all that goes with that, and then being wheeled to the next room and experiencing that first meeting all over again...and then going to yet another room and doing it again!

They were so beautiful! I had expected them to look funny, being so early, but they were these perfect, albeit small, babies with 30 itty bitty fingers and 30 adorable toes among them and 3 beautiful heads of hair. Brooks and Caden had blonde hair (Caden's being nearly white blonde) and Asher had brown hair. They all looked like miniature versions of their dad and older brother. So that makes my husband 5 for 5, since none of my children look anything like me. I would have thought I had the dominant genes, having darker hair and darker skin than my strawberry blonde, fair skinned, freckled husband. Apparently not.

Asher, Daddy, and Mommy

Brooks, Daddy, and Mommy

Caden, Daddy and Mommy
Gotta love that post-delivery double chin.

I couldn't stay in the NICU for long since I was in a huge hospital bed, so eventually they wheeled me toward the postpartum area. As I entered the wing, they played Brahms' "Lullaby" over the speakers three times - the tradition in this hospital is to play that song each time a new baby is born. I've had the opportunity to have that song played for me and my children 5 times in this hospital, with three being one right after another.

I was feeling pretty good following the C-section. After a little time in postpartum, my nurse had me get up to walk and I felt like a rock star. I had no issues getting up and walking around the nurses' station (I didn't even need the stomach brace that they offer!), and my nurse exclaimed, "Wow, you are the best C-section patient I've ever had!" I responded that it was a lot easier to walk now that I didn't have three people inside of me.  Plus, they had promised me I could go see the babies again as soon as I walked so I had a big incentive. One of the nurses warned me to take it a little easier, that if I didn't I would wake up the next day feeling like I'd been hit by a truck (turns out she was right, but I will get to that in the next post).

After I walked, they allowed me to go over to the NICU to see my babies again, and by this time, my older babies were here to meet their new little brothers too. They were fascinated and immediately took to them, speaking lovingly to them and touching their little fingers.

Asher

Brooks

Caden

After this visit, I spent the rest of the afternoon in postpartum, but got to come back and visit them once more at about 10:30 that night. And I got a great surprise - they let me hold Caden for the first time!

He was so little, 6 pounds smaller than the size babies I was used to holding. But I loved holding every single ounce of him.

I am so grateful for the amazing team of doctors, nurses, sonographers and therapists I had throughout this pregnancy and delivery. Dr. Pedron and Dr. Gulinson were incredible, and their staffs were each so supportive and caring. I could not have been in better hands.  It was also fun being able to watch the excitement of the doctors and the nurses at getting to do something that just doesn't happen very often. That afternoon, my doctor posted on Facebook:

"Obgyn of Phoenix
August 21 via mobile

Exciting day to um...deliver triplets!!! What a great day. Mom and all three are doing fantastic!!! And the dad is about to fall over. From 2 to 5 children in an instant. :o)"

I was so flattered that he was so excited about the birth of his first set of triplets. In fact, one of his staff later told me he practically floated around the office for days afterward! How often does a patient get an opportunity to see a doctor that excited? I feel so blessed that my boys came into the world straight into a room full of people who were genuinely thrilled that they were there.

After my special time with Caden, I headed back to postpartum for what would prove to be a very long night. But I will save that for another post!