My amazing twins and blessed life

by Nita
(Cape Town, South Africa)

My story is one that starts years ago. I have a 12 year old daughter from a first marriage at 20 which ended suddenly. I met the most amazing man and we've been together for 9 years. Shortly after we were married five years ago, we decided to try for my second, his first child.

My husband is 11 years my senior and at that time, I was 28 and he was 39. We tried month in and month out. I was tested and my results came back 100%. Unfortunately, my husband was diagnosed with a condition called vericocele which was operable. We decided against it and made peace with the fact that we together won't concieve a child but that we had one, my oldest daughter. The day before my 30th birthday, without warning or consideration, I discovered I was a day late with my menstruation. I'm never late. Turned out we were preggies! Completely naturally and without even 'trying'. We went on to have a little girl, Isabella at 37.5 weeks due to low amniotic fluid.

More kids was not on the cards yet as we reside in Sunny South Africa and began planning our immigration to Australia, mid 2010. October 2008, I knew something was up two days before my menstruation cycle began. I felt lousy, bloated, nausea and extreme fatigue. My little toddler was also very clingy. I purchased the home pregnancy test and what do you know, two bright pink lines. Shocked at first and weepy, I 'made peace' with the results and went on to have a blood test two days later which confirmed my pregnancy. We carried on as normal but at 6 weeks pregnant, I began to spot (bleed). We rushed off to the Obgyn where an internal ultra sound was performed. Here in South Africa, ultrasounds are performed with every visit. We were preparing ourselves for the worst thinking that I'd be booked in for a womb scrape assuming I was miscarrying. Turns out we were told we're pregnant with twins. There was a third sac which was disintergrating back into the uterus suggesting a vanishing twin. We conceived these babies completely naturally. I was shocked into depression for almost two months. My initial thought was "what will I do with four kids?".

By early December, I was admitted to hospital with Hyperemesis (severe morning sickness) as I've lost 4 kilograms in 3 weeks. Babies were doing well. We went for our 12 week ultrasound at a feotal specialist to test for down syndrome, cleft palate, gender and any other abnormalities they could detect at this early stage. We discovered were were having two girls, dizygotic twins. Four girls! How blessed we are. My depression soon passed and I was able to begin to enjoy the pregnancy. I was told that twin pregnancy could result in very early delivery so I should prepare myself for spontaneous labour from 28 weeks.

At 22 weeks, we went for our major ultrasound where all organs are checked as well as heart function and developing brain. Everything was all in order. At 24 weeks, I began braxton hicks which was a concern to my obgyn. I was told to take it easy and rest plenty. Sure! With a toddler and a pre-teen? Not likely! My 27th week marked yet another hurdle. My ferritin and haemoglobin levels where severely low and was hospitalised for suppliments intravenously. The fatigue subsided and I began feeling better yet still working full time.

At my 30 week check-up, an internal examination was performed and it was discovered that I've began to efface. I was given an injection for their lung developement. I was beginning to grow increasingly anxious about their early arrival as I work in a hospital and seen twins born at 31 weeks. They were tiny little fragile people. My worst fear was having these babies and being sent home without them. At 31 weeks, I went on maternity leave. The rest would begin and they would grow beautifully. My 32 week check-up indicated that contractions had begun. Devasted, I prepared myself for early delivery. My obgyn prescribed medication that would ease these contractions. Although they made me feel like a train wreck, it worked. 34 weeks and we're still pregnant! Every week was a milestone for my husband and I. Everyday I woke up still pregnant was an amazing feeling! I was given another injection to mature their lungs at 34 weeks.

My obgyn was to leave the country for two weeks and only return on my 36 week. I believed I'd never make it to 36 weeks. On Monday past (8th June 2009) marked my 36th week. I went to another check-up and we discovered that twin B was presenting a transverse position making it terribly difficult to monitor her heartbeat.

Further to this, she had very little amniotic fluid which was a concern for my obgyn. Again I was admitted to hospital on Monday night with the intention to perform a c-section on Wednesday 10 June 2009. Miraculously, little Twin B's heart rate stablised and her movements were rather aggressive indicating that she's doing just fine. I was discharged on Wednesday morning and my c-section is scheduled for Monday afternoon at 14:00. I'll be 37 weeks exactly. I can't believe that we've made it this far! Twin A weighs approximatley 2.6kg's and Twin B 2.4kg's (sorry for South African metrics).

Here in South Africa, it's very rare that a twin pregnancy is delivered naturally. Both babies are transverse making it nearly impossible to deliver naturally. I think we have the highest rate of c-sections in the world. I'm not too concerned about HOW my babies enter the world. My only concern is that they DO and HEALTHY!

There is so much pressure on mom's in our country to birth naturally that when a mother can't due to situations out of her control, she feels less of a woman for it making it so difficult to bond with her infant.

My journey has been an interesting one indeed. From preparing for preemie babies at 28 weeks to still being preggies and having made it to 37 weeks! We are so blessed and my only prayer is that they will be healthy little people come Monday. Our plans continue to leave our home country however delayed on just BUT for the best reason ever - our twin daughters!