This website is made possible by the advertisement on these banners
This journal is about raising identical twins.Before birth
Sunday, Dec 22, 1996 (gestation age 2 weeks)
The babies were conceived.Note: Gestation age was calculated from Dec 9 (first day of last menstrual cycle.)
Wednesday, Feb 12, 1997 (gestation age 9 weeks)
We were aware of the pregnancy through an over-the-counter pregnancy test kit. Then we went to my wife's primary physician and asked for a lab test, it was positive. We had the first OB visit at Dr. Pulskamp's office for the first time.We picked Dr. Pulskamp because she is associated with El Camino Hospital and it is famous for being the best hospital in the area for child birth. (We have heard horror stories about Kaiser Hospitals from several friends. For the record, we were 100% satisfied with El Camino Hospital, their fame is well deserved.) In addition, Dr. Pulskamp belongs to an all-women medical group and my wife prefers women doctor.Before the first ultrasound checkup, the nurse asked us what we would prefer. My wife and I jokingly replied twin girls.We actually have talked about the same topic just after we got married, both of us dreamed it would be nice to have twins. And we both prefer girls because boys are usually too hyperactive.We were so surprised when the nurse located two separate sources of heartbeats. We got the image of both fetus on a polaroid. Because of the twin pregnancy, mommy would have one ultrasound check up every 4 weeks to monitor the growth of the twins.
Mar 97
Mom got laid-off, her company was shutdown after a merger. Mom would stay home and rest a lot for the pregnancy.
Wednesday, Mar 12, 1997 (gestation age 13 weeks)
Second OB visit with Dr. Pulskamp.
Monday, Mar 17, 1997 (gestation age 14 weeks)
Begin second trimester of pregnancy.
Wednesday, Apr 2, 1997 (gestation age 16 weeks)
Routine ultrasound examination at Perinatal Assoc in Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose. (Our insurance does not cover the ultrasound service from our own doctor office.) The clinic recorded the whole ultrasound exam on videotape for us.
Wednesday, Apr 9, 1997 (gestation age 17 weeks)
Routine OB visit with Dr. Pulskamp.
Wednesday, Apr 30, 1997 (gestation age 20 weeks)
Routine ultrasound examination at Perinatal Assoc in Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose.
Friday, May 9, 1997 (gestation age 21 weeks)
Routine OB visit with Dr. Pulskamp.
Wednesday, May 28, 1997 (gestation age 24 weeks)
Routine ultrasound examination at Perinatal Assoc in Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose.
Saturday, Jun 7, 1997 (gestation age 25 weeks)
We went to El Camino Hospital for a free Maternity tour. About 20 pairs of couple attended. An off-duty nurse showed us around the maternity ward, she showed us where the linen and snack supply were stored, where to enter the hospital after hours etc. She ran through an example scenario of what usually happen after the mother is admitted. She explained the visitation rules etc.She also showed us the labor rooms, operation rooms, maternity ward, nursery and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She also explained to us the strict security procedures, which ensures the child is only given to the right parents.
Since familiarity reduces uncertainty and fear, the tour made us feel more confident and prepared. We found the tour extremely worthwhile especially for first time parents.
Monday, Jun 16, 1997 (gestation age 27 weeks)
Start of third trimester of pregnancy.
Saturday, Jun 21, 1997 (gestation age 27 weeks)
We attended a Childbirth Preparation class. According to the instructor, Heather Moll, understanding the process breaks the vicious cycle of fear, anxiety and pain. She explained how to measure progress during labor and understand the medical jargons used among the nurses and doctors.
Saturday, Jun 28, 1997 (gestation age 28 weeks)
We attended the second installment of the Childbirth class. The instructor showed us how to keep the mother comfortable during and after labor. She also went through different labor options, such as drug-free natural delivery, use of pain killer, epidural anaesthesia, Caesarean section etc.The instructor had to cut short the class for some personal reason and she scheduled a makeup class after the fourth of July holiday. We didn't get the chance to attend the makeup class...
Sunday, Jun 29, 1997 (gestation age 28 weeks)
Lucy threw a baby shower party for us at our home. Many friends came and they brought many gifts for the babies.
Monday, Jun 30, 1997 (gestation age 29 weeks)
Routine OB visit with Dr. Pulskamp.
Friday, Jul 4, 1997 (gestation age 29 weeks)
Mom had pre-term contractions. Tom Cruise's movie "Born on the Fourth of July" (DVD|VHS) was on TV that night and the babies wanted to be born on the Fourth of July too. We packed up at 1 o'clock in the morning and went to the hospital on the doctor's advice. Dr. Janet Pulskamp was on vacation, Dr. Katherine Sutherland was on call that weekend. Mom was admitted to the hospital because the babies were not supposed to come out at the 29th week of gestation. Dr. Sutherland administered several types of intravenous medication to stop mom's pre-term labor. She also gave mommy a shot of growth hormone, which was for the babies. In case they were born prematurely, the hormone will accelerate the growth of their lungs.
Sunday, Jul 6, 1997 (gestation age 29 weeks)
After spending the Independence Day weekend in the hospital, the labor eventually stopped. Mommy was discharged from the hospital, and was prescribed strict bed rest and some oral medication (Nifedipine) to calm the uterus.Another group of friends had planned another baby shower for us next week. We decided to call it off.
Wednesday, Jul 16, 1997 (gestation age 31 weeks)
Paid a visit to Dr. Sutherland's office for the follow up on the July 4 hospital trip.
Sunday, Jul 20, 1997 (gestation age 31 weeks)
Mommy's waist measured 39 inches.
Wednesday, Jul 23, 1997 (gestation age 32 weeks)
Routine ultrasound examination at Perinatal Assoc in Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose.
Routine OB visit with Dr. Pulskamp.
Thursday, Jul 31, 1997 (gestation age 33 weeks)
Mommy's waist measured 40 inches, she weighed 140 lb. (a 40% gain.)
Friday, Aug 1, 1997 (gestation age 33 weeks)
Mommy noticed some slight bloody discharge. On doctor's advice, we went to the hospital at 10pm for a check up. Again, Dr. Sutherland was on duty. She wanted mommy to stay overnight under observation. She gave another dose of growth hormone for the babies' lungs.
Saturday, Aug 2, 1997 (gestation age 33 weeks)
Mommy was discharged from the hospital.
Sunday, Aug 3, 1997 (gestation age 33 weeks)
We went to the hospital again for a reinforcement shot of the growth hormone.
Monday, Aug 4, 1997 (gestation age 34 weeks)
Dr. Pulskamp learned from Dr. Sutherland about our hospital trip over the weekend. She asked us to visit her office at 3pm for a check up.The doctor examined the cervix with her fingers. The stimulation seemed to set off a chain of events.
Tuesday, Aug 5, 1997 (gestation age 34 weeks)
Mommy was in labor again. We checked in to the Hospital at 4pm. Dr. Pulskamp was on duty this time. She also gave medication hoping that it could stop the labor for two more weeks. The medication was not effective. The doctor decided to let the labor run its natural course. At around midnight, mommy couldn't stand the labor pain and decided to take the epidural anesthesia so that she could have a good night sleep. The water broke in the middle of the night.
Wednesday, Aug 6, 1997 (gestation age 34 weeks)
The doctor told us that the babies were definitely on their way because Joanne's water had broken for few hours already. We still had to wait for the cervix to dilate to the right size. When the time had come, Mom was sent from the labor room to the operation room. It is a standard procedure for twin delivery because the equipment will be ready in case there is complication delivering the second child. A Caesarean section remains an open option when needed.I was led to the locker room, scrubbed down and changed into some operation gown. Another nurse and I stood next to my wife to help her on the pushes. Since my wife lost all the feeling below her waist, she didn't know how to push correctly. That was the disadvantage of using epidural anesthesia. With many trials and feedback from the doctor, she finally made progress. But the progress was quite slow. I believed at some point the doctor decided to use episiotomy, Joanne came out smoothly within a few pushes. A team of nurses took her to a baby station at the corner of the room.
Dr. Pulskamp had another OB doctor help her with the ultrasound. He just delivered a set of fraternal twins himself the day before. He used the ultrasound to locate Jasmine and Dr. Pulskamp reached in to break the water, at the same time, she pulled on Jasmine's legs and she came out smoothly. I bet Jasmine will love to play on water slide when she grows up. Jasmine's delivery was effortless to mommy. Honestly, I didn't see the whole procedure, but that was how Dr. Pulskamp explained the procedure few months before.
Jasmine was taken to another baby station by another team of nurses. I believe the Neonatalogist, Dr. Philips was there too. I forgot to count, I bet there were over 10 people in the room at one time. I forgot to read the clock when we entered the operation room, but I estimate we spent about an hour in there.
My wife told me she was okay, so I took my camera and camcorder to get some shots of the twins while they were being prepared by the nurses. Unfortunately, the nurses didn't let me videotape the procedure. I only took one photo of each baby.
The babies and parents were tagged while the doctor was busy saving the cord blood and cleaning up mommy. Since the babies were premature, they were taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit immediately. I was told by the nurses of this hospital that the daddy usually has the honor to push the baby to the nursery after the mommy has a chance to hold the new born. We both lost that privilege because the twins were premature. Of course that was no big deal, the most important thing was the twins were well taken care of.
Joanne and Jasmine were born three minutes apart.
At birth,
Joanne weighed 4 lb. and 8 oz.
Jasmine weighed 4 lb. and 7 oz.
Both were 18" long.They were 6 weeks premature.
Next Site map Book List
Search this site!
Visitor Count