I almost lost my twins four times.
But we made it through.
It was 6pm and we were filled with excitement. We were heading down to see our obstetrician for our regular appointment.
See I had been twice as blessed. Twice as sick. Twice as large. Twice as tired.
Twins were different.
The medical community treat you a bit different. More appointments, more scans, more seriousness.
To be honest they always seemed a bit concerned, a bit unsure if we'd all make it through. At this point I wasn't concerned. Later I would be.
I told the doctor about some Braxton hicks I'd been having and asked her if that was a bit early at 17 weeks?
She checked me over and my contractions were fairly strong, but with no changes and nothing getting worse or consistent I was diagnosed with an irritable uterus and told to take it easy; with a one and two year old. Eep!
I got moved to a high-risk doctor and we proceeded with caution. Rest, eat, sleep, repeat. I was scared. Twins were different.
Anne Stephens gave birth to two sets of twins in two years. She tells her story, on Mamamia's I Don't Know How She Does It podcast. Post continues after audio.
Flash to 23 weeks pregnant and I'm in a large cold delivery room. There is no excitement. My contractions are the strongest they've been and fairly consistent at 5 minutes apart.
The neonatal team come to talk to me. They wanted to let me know that at my gestation they would not try to save my babies. That I would be able to hold them as they passed away. And to prepare myself.
There were two tiny cribs. And two tiny incubators. My heart was broken.