Caitlin was born at 7:09 at 2.7kilo’s
Megan was born 7:11 at 2.5kilo’s
Bianca was born 7:12 at 2.2kilo’s
That Monday morning we arrived at the emergency side of the Medi-Clinic in George. Checked into the maternity ward, filled in some forms and we waited. Some of the hospital staff has been waiting much longer than we have. The Neo-natal department has been waiting for us for weeks, even phoned at home to ask when we were expecting. And, sweet, they even send me a flower biscuit to welcome the girls. The hospital was roaring with excitement to meet these 3 angels. Mr. V was soooo anxious that he was to be fetch outside on the hospital roof by the Doctor when it came to delivery these babies. Of course, for some backup, my mom was also prepped and ready to deliver these babies. She had the wonderful experience to witness the birth of her 3 little grandchildren. I, on the other hand, was very surprised, but very happy to meet my husband in theatre. The whole birthing experience was just great, I didn’t have any problems and neither the girls. I could feel with every baby being delivered that I was getting lighter and lighter. And my whole world almost crumbled when I heard that first cry. All I could do was turn to Mr. V and ask: “Did you hear that?” Now, thinking back at that moment, I feel that hard ball returning to my throat once more. It was definitely the most memorable experience in my life. And Mr V was very pleased that the doctor didn’t take “No” for an answer and dragged his ass to that room. And, of course, these 3 princesses were the most beautiful 3 faces that we have ever seen. In that theatre room we had the most amazing doctor and hospital staff. The girls were checked and everything was found perfectly healthy. Caitlin received 10/10 for her test and Megan the same. Bianca received a little bit of oxygen and scored a great 9/10. From there they were taken directly to the maternity room for us to start our lives together and receive some of moms ever needed breast milk. But if we only knew what was to come...................
I, on the other hand, wasn’t as healthy as we thought I was. Taken to the recovery room, the shit started to run out of control, best part of it was, that I didn’t really realize what was happening. We battled to stabilise my blood pressure and with that I was constantly bleeding out. And I was feeling so cold, shivering uncontrollably. With a triplet pregnancy and birth, and something like this not happening often, the nurses wasn’t sure what amount of blood was “normal” to loose, and uneducated, if you will. I was about 2 and ½ hours in recovery, and things was just not looking better, I was still losing blood and my blood pressure was at some stage 65/45. I remember clearly how I told that nurse that she will not send me to maternity ward if things were not the way it was supposed to be. I just couldn’t see myself laying there, next to my children, having my loved ones close by and something should happen and then seeing it happen. I never thought to ask someone to let them know what was happening. After some time I was send down, and I can remember clearly how I told my husband that I will be receiving some blood at 15:00 that afternoon.
It was about, I think, 10:00 in the morning when I eventually reached my room, filled with gorgeous flowers, new, old family and friends. I had a lot of visitor’s right from the start, as well as support.
One, of many people, that I believe saved my life, my sister, came to visit me. I clearly remember how she told me I looked like crap. For a moment, I thought that she was just full of shit. But instead replied by telling her I have no clue how I am supposed to look and feel. I mean, this is my first birthing experience. She just thought that I shouldn’t look SO bad, and called a nurse. Remember, that I, at this stage, still didn’t have any feeling in my legs. When the nurse came in to inspect, it was found that beneath all the bedding it was blood red. I was still bleeding out. Now, under normal circumstances, they give the patient something that will contract her uterus back to its normal size and with that stop the bleeding. In my situation, my body was still producing blood to my uterus as if trying to keep the 3 babies alive with supporting blood flow. Now, on the other hand, one can only be amazed at how great our bodies have been created. At this stage we had no idea as to how much blood I have lost. The nurse tried to suck the blood up, in her attempt to give a calculation to my doctor. And before I could react, my doctor was there, with her first attempt as to save my life.
I remember how cartoon were playing above my head and her comment being: “Ek probeer ‘n lewe red terwyl cartoons speel.” Nice to hear her still keeping her cool and having a sense of humour.
What she was trying to do was as to save my uterus by placing a “surgical balloon” in my uterus and fill it up with Saline (salt water) with the hope that my uterus will then latch itself onto the balloon and when the balloon deflates, my uterus will contract with it. I have no idea for how long this battle was going on. All I know is that for this time I was still in my room at the Maternity ward, but very much in-and-out-of-things.
From there I was taken to High Care and blacked out completely. What I know is that from there I remember doc saying that we need to take the uterus out. I know my husband had to sign the consent forms and only later I was told that he wasn’t too sure what he was signing for. I have always said, right through my pregnancy, that one day I would like another baby. I would like to know what it would feel like to give all your attention to one baby. But I guess God had a different plan, and I do not regret one day. I think sometimes or somewhere during all this chaos he hoped that I wouldn’t be angry at him for the decision that he has made that day. But I am grateful for him making that decision. And one day he said: “Jou baarmoeder het meer gedoen as baie ander mense sin, 3 lewens in die wereld gebring en 1 gered.” Which was true.
Bright, blue eyes, I remember in ICU. There was one nurse among that fighting team that had the most beautiful, bright, clear blue eyes. Every time I opened mine, she looked at me and smiled as to say: “Don’t worry, everything will be okay”. Around that bed, that day, there was nurses, internist, suegeons, so many people, too many to mention, and all played a very significant part. All of them to which I owe so much.
While laying there I could hear them talking, feel them around me. They were looking for a main vein, I needed blood immediately. At that stage, most of my veins have collapsed and after many attempt to find one in my neck, they eventually succeeded in my right thigh. I remember battling to breath beneath a surgical cloth lying over my face and I didn’t have the strength to lift the cloth from my face.
In my mind’s eye I see the worried faces of my husband and his brother. I was pushed past them and I remember that. If I close my eyes I can remember who stood next to each other. It must have been so difficult for my man. He was also a warrior through this whole ordeal.
When pushed into theatre at about 5’ish that Monday night, seeing once again the same familiar faces of the anesthetist that I met earlier that morning, under much brighter circumstances. I declared that I was still awake while they were opening me up. Thank goodness not for much longer after that I was out of it once again. According to my family I stabilised that night at about 23:00. My poor doctors, family and friends must have been exhausted, totally drained, emotionally and physically. I cannot image what they must have gone through. How scared they must have been.
Tuesday morning, 10 May 2012, my brain woke up, but I couldn’t open my eyes. I heard my doctor’s voice, but couldn’t life my hand. And what the hell was in my mouth? I have survived the night, blood pressure hasn’t stabilised and I have received 11 litres of blood. Now, the human body only has 7 or 8 litres of blood. Doctor explained that with the complications and a lot of blood some of my organs were giving some trouble. I would have some water on my lungs and during that week I also turned a nasty shade of yellow that my liver produced.
After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I was ready to meet my girls, which felt to me like for the first time.
At 16:00 that afternoon I was discharged from ICU back to the Maternity ward.
Let motherhood begin........................................
No comments:
Post a Comment