We left off last week with Sam and Caleb dropping me off at the hospital. What followed were a few days of waiting for a C-section. It was classed as an emergency, but other emergencies took precedence, including someone giving birth in the car park!

I had never been away from Caleb so to have a few days of resting in the hospital unable to see him was odd but quite relaxing! Sam did bring him to see me once and also came alone so we could grab a drink from the hospital Costa but otherwise I was sitting on the bed, reading, watching things on my iPad and occasionally being monitored. A lovely consultant from the NICU came to see me to explain that we could expect the girls to have a couple of weeks in the SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) because they were only going to be 34 weeks when they were born. This helped calm my anxiety, having at least an idea of what it might be like once they were earth-side.

The day arrived, thankfully Sam managed to get to the hospital, find a parking space and have a negative COVID test (all things causing me great anxiety at the time, as if it was positive he wouldn’t have been able to join me) and we were action stations.

I won’t share much about the birth because I found it quite traumatic. I was hoping the screen could be put down so I could see what was going on but I didn’t ask, and they didn’t ask if I wanted it, so it just didn’t happen. I still remember the anaesthetist though, he was the member of the team who spent the most time talking to us. He was really lovely, caring and understanding and helped to calm our anxieties. Speaking of the team, there were a LOT of people in that room! The anaesthetist, a couple of surgeons, their assistants, midwives, two NICU nurses for each twin, probably a bunch of other people I’ve forgotten. I’m so SO grateful that the twins were born at a time during the pandemic that partners could be in the operating theatre. I can’t imagine how frightening the experience, which was already so strange, would have been if Sam hadn’t been there.

Bethany came out first and went straight to resus, apparently it took a little bit of time for her breathing to be ok. Lily was a bit more tricky to get out and then 5 minutes later, arms stretched, she made her way out. She also spent some time on the resus table. Thankfully Sam was able to stand with them and took some photos on his camera to show me as my only view was the ceiling and the blue screen. I would strain to hear them crying and had no idea what was going on. Once both babies were checked over and wrapped up, I got to briefly touch them before they were whisked away to the NICU where I didn’t get to see them again until 24 hours later. Mercifully, Sam got to see them and cuddle them that night and took plenty of photos for me to see.

The 5th of February 2021 was a wild day that I’ll never forget. I’m so grateful that I was able to give birth to the twins in a safe, hygienic and FREE environment. Praise God for our NHS and for the incredible doctors, nurses, midwives, health care assistants, anaesthetists, porters, all the people who give their lives to care for us.