The Triplet's Birth Story - Part2 - The Actual Births

{Read Part One of my birth story to see how the day began.} 


Walking from my room to the theatre was crazy. There were people everywhere, and they were all there for us. Once I was in the room, it was also crowded with people just for us. Today, the triplets and I were the superstars. There were comments about the dramatic weight loss program I was about to undergo. Then I Had to sit on the bed and bend over as the epidural was given. “Bending over” with three babies in my belly was hardly bending over, more like “leaning slightly forward”. Thank goodness it was obvious it was working working as my legs started to go numb.

The anaesthetist was talking to me and making sure I couldn’t feel anything. Alex came in and gave me a nervous smile, but he also looked excited. I was just scared by now.

When they started cutting it was such an odd feeling. The whole pulling and tugging and fiddling was all a bit surreal. The doctor and his attending surgeon were concentrating hard. The nurses and all surrounding were watching with great interest. As the doctors were fiddling around doing doctor things, I began to feel really sleepy. I told the anaesthetist who wasn’t phased and said it was only natural, there was a lot going on. I can remember thinking how entirely ridiculous it was that people were cutting me open and reaching into my insides, my three children were about to be born, and I just wanted to roll over and have a snooze.  Before long everyone was leaning forward in interest and the anaesthetist, who had our camera, was poised, ready to shoot the action.

I felt it as they tugged Triplet 1 free. He had been head down and was very ready to be born.  

Triplet One is born

I was disappointed because I had expected to see the baby immediately after he was born. However, straight away the doctor handed the baby straight to the nurse who quickly took him straight from the room. I can remember watching that nurse disappear, trying my best to see what my baby looked like. All I could see was the top of his tiny head.

As soon as he was out of sight, I started concentrating on what was happening with the next baby because a lot of tugging and pulling was going on there again.

When T2, my breach baby, was born, the doctor held him up ever so briefly, (as in mere seconds). Even still, it was so wonderful to see him. He was then rushed away by a nurse and once again I tried to watch him for as long as possible.

The Birth of Triplet Two

The next bit was the most uncomfortable of the whole proceedings. The epidural only had effect up to around my belly button. Unfortunately T3  had firmly wedged herself under my ribs. She was lying transverse across the width of the top of my stomach. I said that I could feel it, and instantly I was given more drugs to alleviate it. I could still feel it, so a bit more solved the situation. It was then very uncomfortable as they tugged and pulled and pushed quite strenuously. It felt like forever – well at least 10 minutes anyway.

In reality there was 3 minutes in between the first baby being born and the last. The boys were both born at 1:23pm and the little lady at 1:25pm. Later I questioned the nurses about the accuracy of the time. “I’m sure there was several minutes between the boys,” I explained, “And it was a very long time with Missy, at least 10 maybe 15 minutes is what it felt like. Are you sure the times are right?” The nurses assured me that these times would be correct. They said that everyone is automatically programmed to look at the clock immediately when the baby is born. Sure enough, when looking back at pictures of their births, I can see the nurse turning around, checking the clock. The time is the exact time recorded on their birth certificate.

Triplet Two is born. (See the nurse at the back looking at the clock?)

Finally my girl was safely in the world. Now that all three were out, Dr. K must have been more relaxed. He held Triplet 3 up saying, “Here she is. Hello Mummy. Hello Mummy.” As he was holding her up, he had her little hand and was waving it at me. I can’t remember why but I didn’t think it was funny. But I did like seeing my little girl.

Triplet Three enters the world.

Once the babies were born, Alex went over to where they were weighing and checking them. He said hello to all the babies and told the nurses their names. We had already decided upon the names for the babies according to where they were situated in my womb.

I was on my own as they finished whatever they were doing on my stomach. The doctor commented that my stomach muscles and had been completely separated from being stretched and that I would need physio to repair it. I was still really sleepy, so as they were busy at work and since Alex wasn’t around I succumbed and had a bit of a doze. 

The Triplet's Birth Story - Part One

Last year, while I was in hospital after having the triplets, I continued writing my pregnancy journal. I left Week 34 as a cliffhanger. I fully expected to finish the story in the following weeks. How wrong I was. I had expected to write the story while the babies were in the special care nursery, but they were so healthy they got out so much sooner than expected. So here is the beginning of the tale, better late than never.

The Triplet’s Birth Day - 7^th October, 2011

I woke from a nice deep sleep at around 2:00 am on the 7^th of October. I had been given some sleeping tablets, but had been told that I wouldn’t sleep through labour with them, I’d wake if anything started getting more intense. Once I woke up, I realised that the contractions had gotten stronger, so I rang for the midwife, like I’d been instructed. Turned out the midwife couldn’t come to me because she was literally in the middle of delivering another baby. A few messages were run back and forth between rooms, and then I was left alone. I wasn’t concerned, because nothing was too painful. It was a very busy time in the maternity ward that month apparently. In the two days that I was admitted, including my babies, 18 babies were delivered, which made the October quota of babies born at St. Vincent’s 32, for the month.  (A lot for the private hospital in our city.) The midwives theory was that it was exactly 9 months after the floods. They said that their ward always got busy after natural disasters or extended periods of blackouts. We had experienced both in our community 9 months prior. (Not that either were responsible for our triplets birth!)

I slept on and off until Dr. Mac visited me around 7:00 am. He basically said that I was very close to delivering, but we didn’t know whether it was a matter of hours or a matter of days. His advice was to monitor the dilation of the cervix, and to act immediately if it started to advance beyond  3cm.  He then noted that he was going to take the rest of the day (Friday) off, and that he also was not rostered on over the weekend, so he would hand me over to the care of Dr. K. I was starting to feel like this was patient pass the parcel.

Dr. K came to visit me about an hour later. He didn’t seem to be as confident as Dr. Mac that the labour would last days, but he was still leaving the decision up to us as to whether we would choose to have a Caesar straight away, or take our chances waiting.

About another hour later, after a shift change, a new midwife came to check on me. She sat on the side of my bed with her hands placed gently on my stomach, just feeling. She was surprised by the amount and frequency of the contractions. Her advice was to have the babies during the day, since the weekend was about to begin and it would be more difficult to muster up an operating team required for an emergency Caesar for triplets.

We agreed. I had delivered T-Star in around 2 hours from the start of the first contraction. And with J Boy, once my waters broke, I delivered him also in under two hours.  So it was safe to say that Alex and I were already nervous that once this labour progressed into anything serious, we may not have time to assemble a team before babies started dropping out, (in the case of Triplet 1, who was head down and right at the exit ready to go) and the others getting stuck and distressed (Triplet 2 was breach and Triplet 3 transverse).

Another phone call and we all agreed to schedule a Caesar for that day. 1:00 was booked and a crew was quickly assembled. Everyone seemed to be on standby as it was. They had been expecting me for quite some time in the maternity ward. Nobody had expected that I would avoid hospital for as long as I did. When I appeared on Thursday night, everyone was on high alert.

There wasn’t too much more to do than wait. The time went very quickly. We took some last pregnancy snaps, got dressed in my very becoming hospital attire and become extremely nervous.

About an hour before the triplets were born. I have to say, this dress is very flattering. It doesn't  seem to reflect how large my stomach really was. To gain perspective, look at how I'm positioned in the doorway. Admittedly though, I didn't get as large as I thought I may. Pregnant triplet ladies - take heart, it may not be as bad as you think.

Lordy! Did I get nervous! I think by midday I was ready to push all three out whichever way they were facing! I have to admit, I stayed nervous throughout the whole procedure, and I wouldn’t call it entirely pleasant, it was all rather surreal. However, I don’t mind one bit that I had the Caesar, especially when I look at the angelic faces of my three little miracles. And of course I’m very grateful that I didn’t go with my irrationality and damage all four of us trying to bypass the surgical option!

Finally after incubating three little people for 239 days it was time for them to make their appearance in this world. Their life had started at conception 34 weeks and 1 day ago, now it was time for them to leave the mother ship and begin living their own existence. 

Monthly Photo Project - 3 Bubs in a Tub

Without further ado, here is the next group of pictures Linda has taken in our monthly photo project. (Click here to see the monthly photos against a fabric backdrop.)

I think this group of photos really show how much they are growing. Here are each individual photos.

They were so tiny during the first month. We had to find something to prop them up because otherwise they were lying down and you could only see their feet.

It's a bi hard to see the difference here in size, but they do have a little more flesh on their legs, and they definitely had grown! You can't tell, but they were all crying in this picture which certainly reflected what life was like in month 2!

 More crying in month 3. Such was life. It was Christmas time, and so reflected in Missy's onesie. You can certainly see they are filling out more of the tub seat this time.

 Hooray! Smiles have started! It certainly reflects that the sore tummies from cholic and reflux are starting to settle down.

Here's the month where they were puking ever so much - therefore the colour appropriate bibs! Isn't it cute how Missy and Chook are clasping hands?

 I love Joey's little hand resting on the couch here. Poor Chook's sleeping away, and Missy was starting to feel squashed!

The triplets are now seven months old - I suppose I ought to schedule another shoot!

Mothers Day Report

My goodness. Busiest Mother's Day ever. Loved it. Cherished it. Heartwarming. Gooey. Moosh. But ... BUSY!

The triplets are eating solids. Three.meals.a.day. AND they.still.breastfeed. Tick tock, tick tock. More time is required to accomplish all these everday tasks.

Which makes it a tad tricky getting out the door for church. The truth is, we have always found it tricky getting to church on time. Getting to church on time with triplets. A lot more tricky. Not impossible, but very rare occurence. Now with feeding solids there's an extra challenge. I'm sure in time we will sort a rocking red hot routine. We are certainly not there yet. I'm still at the lining three up, showing rice cereal in as fast as possible. (Baby girl refuses to be hurried.) Spoonful toT1, Spoonful to T2, Spoonful to T3, repeat, repeat, repeat... Of course T3 (baby girl) interrupts the rhythm, therefore decreasing her share in the rice cereal goodness. Other interruptions to the rhythm include sneezing (Otherwise known as "Let's see how far we can spatter food in as many directions as possible), twisting and turning in the seat to put mouth in the most difficult to reach place, and crying because "the spoon is taking too long to reach my mouth and I'm so hard done by because I'm a triplet and I have to share all the time" often results in the irony of delaying the food reaching the mouth. To hurry the process up today, The Accountant and I had one bowl and two spoons and we were both stuffing food into the three hungry mouths as quickly as we could. If the mouth was empty, we'd stuff a spoonful of rice cereal its way.

You can speed up breakfast, but there's always going to be dirty nappies to slow you down. And then of course there's still the two older boys that need to be dressed, fed, questions answered, figting to be dealt with.

Oh, and there was also the important task of gift giving that happened Mother's Day morning before church. This would be one of the heartwarming moments I mentioned. J Boy, was ultra proud to give his card and keyring chain that he made at school - packaged in "a very lovely envelope, because look, there are lots of lovely things stuck all over it. You can keep it forever." (J Boy's words.)

My boy and I - PJ Perfect!

 Oh, and it turned out Mother's Day was foot warming as well as heartwarming. I got the classic Mother's Day gift - slippers! Lovely pink wool ug boots. I've so been enjoying walking on them before the wool is squashed in. It's like walking on clouds!

Anyway, we got to church about half an hour late I think. A tad embarrasing. Because you know, there's no way of making a discreet entry when you've triplets. Even if you are 'slipping into the back row'. For now, we celebrate that we still make it to church. Getting there on time. It will come.

I was fondly remembering as I walked into the service, my announcement to the church last year telling the church I was pregnant. During the service all mothers who had babies in the last 2 1/2 years were asked to stand. I did, holding up three fingers. Later I realised I'd miscounted. I've had four babies in the last 2 1/2 years. Way to go Caitlin!

As always, I never take motherhood for granted on Mother's Day. (See here for why Mother's Day makes me reflect back on my struggle with infertility.) I read some great blogs this year reflecting this sentiment. If you want to reflect on how Mother's Day can be difficult for some, hop on over to sugercoatit and messymiddle

I don't think that the fact that just because the day can be heartbreaking for some, it should be any less celebrated. Yes, we need to be sensitive, but also motherhood should be celebrated in fullness. Motherhood is worth that.

I think that just because the day is difficult for some, does not diminish the joy that can be enjoyed by so many mothers. For me, I looked forward to this day for so long. I cried because I couldn't celebrate it, and now I can, I make the most of it and cherish every moment.

I read another article this week by a childless UK woman this week saying mother's shouldn't whinge because they are so lucky, and others miss out on kids. As much as I acknowledge her pain and the heartbreak of being childless. I can't agree that mother's shouldn't 'whinge'. After all, if she has a right to whinge about other's whinging, well, it's automatically not fair, isn't it? Everyone should be able to vent with that which they are finding difficult. Childless couples should be able to talk about their hurt as much as mothers shouldn't bottle up their struggles. You can be grateful for the chance to be a mother while at the same time as being frustrated with the fact that there's poo smeared over your child, food squashed to the wall, kids screaming and you have a throbbing headache. Sensitivity is the key. If you knew that someone was struggling with the lack of children in their life, well, don't rub it in. Although, I must admit, when I was childless, I had a friend who wouldn't talk about her kids very much at all to me. She was trying to be sensitive, but I found it hurtful. She couldn't talk to me about what she did every day any more. She wouldn't share her struggles and triumphs. She shut me out of the most important aspect of her life. Consequently, the friendship died a natural death. I just no longer felt comfortable sharing all about my life to her because the conversation was not reciprocated.

Anyway, I digress. Seems like I'm feeling opinionated tonight!

To sum up the rest of my Mother's Day, my sisters and our families went out to lunch with Mum, Nana and my Mother-in-law. It was lovely, and of course it's always super dooper when you don't have to cook or clean up.

The rest of the day was fairly ordinary. The Accountant had a long sleep in the afternoon, leaving me with the kids - I suppose fitting that I should mother on mother's day. I hadn't prepared anything because I thought that hubby was making dinner with J Boy, who was wanting to do a candlelit dinner. Obviously my son is more romantic than my husband, and with the babies being fed their solids and breastfed, bathed and put to bed, we ended up having leftovers, and I was breastfeeding and ate after the rest of the family anyway. (A familiar scenario at the moment, the babies always seem to be ready to settle down during dinnertime.) No candles present.

So what are your perspectives on Mother's Day. What did you do on this day in 2012? And another little question - just curious - I've added a lot of links in this post - did you click on any?

Triplets Monthly Photo Project - Months 4,5,6.

Can you remember that my friend Linda and I were doing a monthly photo project? I was inspired by John and Sherry's photos of their beautiful daughter over at Young House Life. So when I was preggers with the bubs, I made the call out to my friends who knew more about photography than moi, and hey presto, Linda took up the challenge.

You may have thought we had given up since there has been nothing posted since Month 3, but no sirree, we have not. It's just that Linda has been an ultra busy lady given that it's been Easter, and she is one of the key ingredients in organising a huge event in our city called Easterfest.

Despite her busyness, Linda has been dropping in and clicking off some rounds of the trio and then going back to work, work, work. Now that Easter is over and she's (kind of) recovered, she's been able to edit the pictures in bulk.

So without further ado, let me show you exactly how much my adorables have grown.

To look closer at the last 3 months. Firstly there was Month Four. Since it was January, the babies are on a fabric featuring an Aboriginal print to celebrate Australia Day. We were pretty chuffed that they all simultaneously looked at the camera for the first time.

Month Five arrived and the babies were puking with renewed energy. Normally I take the bibs off at the last moment to photograph. (I'm so looking forward to when we can ditch the bibs forever.) It just wasn't happening this month, so in the end, as a reminder of what the month was like, the babies are photographed in their appropriate coloured bib. To make up for being puke machines, the bubs all razzle dazzled us with beaming smiles. It was only appropriate that Linda was the first one to capture all three smiles on film at the one time.

And then there was last month. Month Six. Aren't they growing ever so much? And look with their extra maturity, they look so very organised neatly in a row! The babies have a bit of an owl theme going on in their nursery, so the fabric in the last two months feature owls. For this month, they triplets are sporting very fetching owl body suits that their great aunts lovingly had screen printed for them and given to us at my baby shower.

So, what do you think? Cute, eh?

Keep hanging around the next few days, because as a part of the project we also photographed them in my leather tub chair. I can't wait to share these pictures with you also, so hopefully I'll get a chance to upload them soon. (Update: Click here to see.)

Introducing Solids to Triplets

Hey there. I've got three babies asleep, so I thought I'd jump on and write about the process of achieving this temporary state of peace in our house. It may entertain you! Or, it may comfort you to know that all mothers have our busy times and we always 'get there' in the end! It's one of the reasons I write this blog is 'to keep it real'. I think that when we share our stories it empowers others because we realise that there are others out there who are experiencing similar challenges.

So. This morning I had no helper. I'm getting braver these days, and there are several mornings a week when this happens. Normally during the couple of hours by myself there is a busy time where two or three babies are very demanding. I've learned that I just stay calm, address one baby's needs at a time starting with the bub making the most noise and before long we pass through the storm.

This morning it was three babies being demanding. When I got surfaced after my morning shower, I could hear fussy babies. With me out of the bathroom, The Accountant headed in to do his morning routine so I had no one to hold bubs. I decided I needed to leave the babies fuss, predominantly Missy, who was making the most noise, because I needed to make J Boy's lunch for school. I didn't get very far, because Missy was terribly, horribly hungry, so she informed me vehmently.

We reached an agreement that she would downsize voracious crying to mild whimpering if I carried her around the kitchen while getting lunch box components. It was OK throwing in things like biscuits, chicken (already wrapped last night, phew!) peeling a mandarine was possible and even chopping an apple. (J Boy only eats fruit that is pre-cut.) I had to put her down to make a sandwich, she had been settled down somewhat so she begrudgingly allowed this for a short period of time. All the while I was shoving dummies (otherwise known as pacifiers!) into the other two babies and I had to constantly was reminding J Boy to get dressed, put on socks and shoes etc. He had slept in and was slow to move this morning.

Once the lunch was made, the other two babies were also getting noisier. I started to make a bottle for Missy and some solids. Generally I feed the babies separately, (I'll try to write another post about how I have been feeding them solids), but this morning I thought I'd have another try at feeding all three at once.

I made a smaller bottle for Missy since she and Joey had already been breastfed. I wanted to give her solids first to try and keep her tummy full for longer though.

Before The Accountant and J Boy headed out the door, The Accountant re-arranged the babies into different rockers and bouncers, which served as a temporary distraction and cut the noise level for a bit. So, I started feeding Missy on her own with a big bowl of cereal, but I had two bumbos (our preferred 'high chair' at the moment) on the table ready to include the boys when it was necessary.

As expected, Joey soon grew sick of his bouncer, so he came to the feeding frenzy also. Feeding two. They were OK with that. Phew. This isn't always the case. All good.

Then Chook started protesting, so he joined in also. Missy started slowing down with the solids, so I stopped feeding her and continued to feed the boys. She was still disgruntled, so I pleaded with T-Star to fetch her bottle that I had left out to feed her. After a lot of coaxing (I couldn't leave the boys in their bumbos on the table, totally not safe.) the bottle was finally obtained. She was in the high chair, so I put it into recline and held the bottle for her while feeding the other two. After a while Joey slowed down eating, but wanted a drink also. Missy seemed happy enough, and since she'd already had a breastfeed, I knew she wasn't starving so I transferred the bottle to Joey and continued feeding Chook solids. Missy was happy enough for awhile, but then she began grizzling again. I ignored her and eventually she fell asleep in the highchair. (She's the only one out of my 5 kids that will just fall to sleep like that!) Meanwhile, the solids were all finished, so Chook was starting to fuss. He had been breastfed in the early hours of the morning, so was obviously hungry. I took the bottle off Joey, who wasn't entirely happy, but I figured he also wasn't starving. I grabbed the two boys out of their bumbos, plomped Joey in the swing and turned it on. He kept grizzling, but also fell asleep eventually. This left me finish feeding Chook. Of course the bottle wasn't enough, (I was wishing I had made a bigger bottle at this stage), so I had to make another bottle with one hand while he cried even though I was holding him. Once the fresh bottle was made, he fell asleep before the bottle was finished. That's when I got on the computer. Since then Missy awoke and finished the bottle and is now on the floor playing.

It was 35 minutes from when The Accountant left the house to when all three were asleep. It seemed so much longer!!! This is why I take any help that is offered. It's completely possible to do it on my own, but it makes life so much easier when another person is able to help. It's also why I do it on my own sometimes now. It's normally not such a long time really, it just is really busy and seems longer!

Here's some pictures I clicked of the aftermath! I suppose I should go and clean it all up now!

Missy fast asleep. So cute with her little legs resting on the tray!

The wider scene, complete with basket of ironing!

Empty Bumbos. The cup behind them was full of water left by T-Star which got spilled everywhere when Joey reached behind and grabbed it.

Joey asleep. Thank goodness for ABC 2. It kept T-Star amused during the whole ordeal.

Sleeping Chook.

So how has your morning been? What is your busy moments when you regularly need to keep a calm head and eventually you'll get through to the other side?

Feast of Life

I thought I'd share a clip today.

It is a song written by the worship pastor at my church.

Evan Shelton is a truly gifted muscian, but more importantly he is a man who is passionate about living a life that honours God. His music is a reflection of this passion.
I can remember the early days of Evan's music career. My sister was in his class for most of their schooling. With a few others, they started a band towards the end of high school. While Julienne remained musical, she pursued theatre over music. Evan continued studying music and afterwards began working for the chuch. Since those early days Evan has written many praise and worship songs in his own unique style.

What I love about this song is that it taps into the heart of God to bless his people, regardless of race, social standing or whether we consider ourselves worthy. Take a moment to listen, and I pray that as you do, you will feel a hunger and accept the invitation to eat at the table of God.