“I’m going to miss you being pregnant, baby.”
I rub my stomach, thinking how it’s going to be so weird not waddling like a duck anymore. “Yeah, I think I will too.” This pregnancy has been a major part of our relationship so far. I got pregnant so early in our relationship.
Vinny helps me off of the bed. He tugs my pants up and stops short when they don’t make it over my ass. I laugh and pull my pants up myself.
The walk downstairs is slow and painful because I have my first contraction on the way down.
Andy is waiting for us outside of the truck. Honestly, I think he was staying in front of the window waiting for me to go into labor.
“I called my sister! She’s on her way to the hospital now.” Andy grins, jumping up and down in excitement.
“I’ll be by later.” Andy hugs me and helps me get settled in the truck, then we are off to the hospital.
One part of me thought about doing a natural birth, but then squashed the idea when I witnessed a natural birth video of a woman screaming at the top of her lungs because the pain was horrific.
Dr. Anna is waiting outside of the hospital with a wheelchair. Vinny opens the door and lifts me out, setting me in the chair. Trey hands the keys off to someone to park the car for us while we gather our things.
The nerves set in the second I’m pushed through the doors. I’m scared…terrified, if I’m being honest.
Everyone tells you what to expect, but actually experiencing it is different. Another contraction hits me. I press my face into Trey’s hip while we’re in the elevator on the way up to our room.
When we get up there, I change into a gown. I decided to bring my own so I can be more comfortable and not have my ass sticking out for the world to see.
I get settled in the bed, getting IVs started. They put on the heart monitor for the babies so we can hear their heartbeats. I notice right off the bat that something is wrong. The babies’ heartbeats are very rapid.
The nurse rushes out to get the doctor. She stepped out while the nurses prepared me. Trey follows the nurse out to see what is happening.
“Vinny, what’s wrong?” I beg, the panic blossoming inside of me. My heart is beating so hard in my chest, I can feel it everywhere.
Another contraction hits me hard, causing the babies’ heartbeats to grow even more rapid. Andy’s sister runs into the room and looks at the monitor on the wall. “The babies are in distress. We need to do an emergent cesarean.”
“Okay,” I agree.
I’m absolutely terrified, and everything happens in a rush. I’m wheeled out of the room to another part of the hospital.
The guys aren’t allowed with me. That scares me more than anything, that I’m going to do this alone.
I’m in a constant mode of panic. Everything is happening around me so fast. I can’t even breathe.
“The guys are getting suited up. They will be joining us in a few minutes,” one of the nurses reassures me, but I don’t think I’ll be okay until they’re here.
I’m so scared for me and my babies. The guys slam the door open and rush inside to me. Dr. Anna approaches and says, “Alright, we’re going to numb you from the bottom down.” I’m sat up, and I lean over and clench my eyes closed, scared at the thought of the needle going into my spine.
The guys hold me as best as they can through this, “Alright, you can lie back now,” Dr. Anna says. I let out a deep breath, and the nurses and the guys help me lie back down.
They put a curtain up so I can’t see what’s happening, and Vinny and Trey sit down on either side of me. I’m shaking so hard, the nerves and the anxiety getting to me.
“I am so sorry, mama,” Vinny whispers in my ear before kissing my cheek. A tear rolls down my face. “I’m scared for my babies. Something is wrong.”
Trey takes my hand, kissing the back of it. “Alright, you’re going to feel some pressure,” Dr. Anna says from behind the curtain.
I look at my men, trying to think of anything else besides them cutting me open. I just want to hear my babies’ cries and know they’re okay.
Vinny hums under his breath so I can’t hear the nurses talking. Trey rests his head on my forehead and clutches my hand so tightly.
“You’re so fucking brave, angel,” Trey whispers to me. I can tell it’s hurting him right now that this is happening.
I close my eyes and just wait for it to be over, the tugging and the pulling making me sick to my stomach. I’m trying not to imagine what’s happening.
“We have a girl!” someone calls, and my eyes snap open. I look at the guys, smiling, and it grows when I hear her scream at the top of her lungs.
“Sariah,” I say softly. She’s here. “Just one more,” I tell the guys, praying to god that he is fine too.
“We have a boy. The cord was wrapped around his neck and he ran out of room to get it back loose.”
Then Caleb cries, and the world is completely complete. “Can someone go check on them please?” I ask the guys. I just need them to tell me that they are okay.
Vinny walks away. “They are beautiful, sweetheart. Sariah looks just like you.” My heart fills with so much love. I can’t wait to hold them and smooch their cheeks.
An hour or so later, I’m taken back to my room. Trey hasn’t left my side and Vinny has stayed with the babies.
Our room is the biggest hospital room I’ve ever seen. Trey has pushed another bed against mine so I have extra room and one of the guys can lie with me if wanted.
I know that it’s going to be hard for me for a while because of the surgery.
A few minutes later, the door to our room opens. It’s Vinny pushing a little cradle holding our babies.
“Caleb weighs eight pounds nine ounces and is twenty-two inches long, Sariah is eight pounds and seven ounces, twenty inches long.”
“Jeez, they’re big for twins.”
Dr. Anna knocks on the door and steps inside. “They are. I think it was best to have the C-section. It would be very hard to have the babies at eight pounds, close to nine pounds. So in the end it was best.
“They’re perfectly healthy. I’ll let you guys have some family time and I’ll tell your entourage in the waiting room the news.” Anna leaves us and shuts the doors behind her.
Vinny reaches inside of the cradle, picking up Caleb. “How’s my sweet boy? Ready to meet your mom and other dad?”
Trey climbs in the bed gently beside me, so he doesn’t jostle me. Vinny already held the babies earlier.
Trey takes Caleb, his eyes showing pure love as he looks at his son. Vinny passes me Sariah. “She has so much hair.” I’m in awe that we made her and Caleb.
“We did it.”
This is pure bliss. Vinny sits on the edge of the bed beside me, and we stare down into the faces of our babies. Our whole, entire world is in the palms of our hands.
A knock on the door interrupts our moment, and a nurse walks inside. “I’m here to help you try to breastfeed.”
Vinny moves out of the way so she can stand next to me. I pull down my shirt. “Do you want them to leave during this?” she asks, eyeing the guys.
I laugh, which causes me to wince at the pulling of my stomach. “Baby, you in pain?” Vinny asks and practically knocks the nurse out of the way, his face showing his concern.