The Story

So it’s been five days since our girls were born and things are going quite well. We went to the hospital Monday evening to have my cervix dilated. The catheter they put in around 10pm fell out around 12am and I was 4-5 cm dilated. (I was only 1 cm when we got to the hospital.) The doctors started the pitocin around 7am on Tuesday and I started going into labor around 8am. I was still only 4-5 cm dilated and the contractions were coming a minute apart. I was getting increasingly uncomfortable, and pretty much demanded my epidural by 9am. The anesthesiologist hooked me up with my “happy medicine”, and I labored for the rest of the afternoon. I finally reached 10 cm around 6:30pm and baby A, Makayla Jean Doyle, was born at 8:04pm. Baby B, Makenna Meran Doyle, followed her sister at 8:16pm.

I was discharged from the hospital on Thursday evening. We’ve had some good nights and some not so good nights. I think the most important lesson we’ve learned so far is: Sleep when you can, as often as you can!!! We had a pretty rough night Friday night because we didn’t nap during the day. The girls decided that they weren’t going to sleep, so we were extremely exhausted by the time Saturday morning rolled around. (No sleep for 28 hours!!) Luckily, the Grandmas were just around the corner and they came to our rescue.

So, we will be updating this site with more photos and stories. Check in every now and again to get the latest on the Doyle family.

Photos Are Here

I don't have a lot of time to give an update now, but here's the link to the pictures. We'll update soon. Everything is going great and we are in LOVE with our little girls!!!


http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=gg4qujt.5gimg111&Uy=-w6i7f4&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0

The Day Has Arrived!

Hello All,
We have two new additions to the Doyle family!

Makayla Jean Doyle & Makenna Meran Doyle

They were born 5lbs 12oz & 5lbs 14oz, 19 3/4" long & 18 1/2"
They were born @ 8:30 & 8:45pm
Below are some pictures really quickly (we'll have more soon)

March 5th It Is

Hello All! I am 37.3 weeks pregnant today. We went to the doctor this morning, and it looks like we'll have to go to Labor and Delivery on Monday night (March 5th). My cervix is only 1-2 cm dilated and I am 70% effaced. So, I will go in on Monday night to have the Foley Catheter inserted to expand my cervix. I'm still hoping that I will go into labor naturally, so that I don't have to go through the induction process. Keep your fingers crossed!

Mark Your Calendar

I am 36weeks 5days pregnant today. We had two appointments this week and have some information for everyone. We saw the OB on Tuesday and it looks like I am 1cm dilated, and we scheduled our induction. We will go to Labor and Delivery the evening of March 5th if I am still 1cm dilated. If I’m 2cm or more dilated by then we won't need to go in until the morning of March 6th. They will start the pitocin Tuesday morning, and Dr. Uma said we should have the girls by the end of the day Tuesday!!!

I went to see the perinatologist today and we got measurements on the girls. They both weigh 5lbs 10oz. They are measuring a little smaller than they should be at this point (about a week behind), but the doctor didn't seem to be concerned. They said it was a common occurrence in twins, and there was no reason to be alarmed. Both girls are still head down and Baby A (the baby on my left) has taken the lead. They were both neck and neck for the longest time, but Baby A finally dropped down.

35wks 4days

I had an appointment with the OB yesterday and things are still looking pretty good. I was supposed to see Dr. Uma, but I got my appointment time mixed up (again). I saw Dr. Horn instead. They gave me the Group B Strep test today, and they checked my cervix. I am still not dilated, but I am 40% effaced. The girls are still head down, and they are VERY low. The doctor said that I could go into labor at any point and encouraged me to hang in there. This past month has been very difficult physically, and I have started retaining fluid. I've gained 8lbs since last week and I really hope it's just the fluid. I am trying to stay off my feet as much as possible, but they get swollen pretty fast. I have my weekly non-stress test tomorrow at Cooper and I'm sure that will go well.

Belly Picture Montage

WEEK 29

WEEK 31

WEEK 33

32 weeks 5 days

It has been a while since we've updated the blog, but things have been going pretty good. I am currently 32wks 5days pregnant today and I am feeling pretty good considering. I don't sleep very well anymore and hips hurt pretty much all the time, but it's not unbearable. I saw both sets of doctors this week, so I have a few updates.

The OBGYN appointment was Tuesday and this is what she said: My cervix is still long and closed, both babies are still head down, I will be induced at 38 weeks if I haven't had the girls by then, my uterus is measuring the equivalent to that of a woman who's 40 weeks pregnant, my girls will be delivered by Dr. Uma, and I am up to 200 lbs (38 lbs so far)!!!!

The Perinatologist appointment was today and this is what they said: The fluid still looks great on both babies, they are both measuring right on target, they want to see me every week now for a Fetal Non-Stress Test, one of the babies has a full head of hair (we couldn't really tell on the other one), and baby A weighs 4lbs 4oz and baby B weighs 4lbs 8oz!! I'm carrying around 9lbs of baby, and I still have 5 weeks to go!!!

First Trip To L and D

So we had our first experience at the Labor and Delivery wing yesterday. I started having severe lower abdominal cramping around 11:00 a.m. yesterday, so I called my doctor's office. They instructed us to go right to L&D to get monitored. As soon as I got there they put me on two fetal heart monitors and a contraction monitor. The babies’ heart rates were good, the contractions I was having were non-rhythmic, and my cervix was closed and long. They also took a swab of my cervix to test for an enzyme that would indicate whether or not preterm labor was eminent. The test came back negative, and the doctor said that means I should not go into labor for at least two weeks!!! He thought that the pains I was experiencing were a combination of Braxton Hicks Contractions and Round Ligament Pain. Neither of which are abnormal.

With all this good news I was shocked when the doctor dropped the bomb. He said three things: 1.) He told me that I cannot take anymore baths (which I’ve been doing every night to help my back and restless legs ), 2.) he wants me to start going to the OB’s office weekly for check ups, and the final blow… he wants me to stop working as of this Friday!!! I told him that I was not prepared, financially or mentally, to stop working so soon and asked him if there was any way to compromise. He told me that the contractions and pain I was having are just going to get worse the longer I push myself and said it was his medical advice that FRIDAY be my last day!!! He said that I WILL go into preterm labor if I don’t start taking it easy. This is so much sooner than I expected. I thought I’d at least make it till the end of this month. Of course I will do what's best for my girls and I will follow the doctor's orders. I have a doctor's appointment scheduled for next week, so I will get clarification on what they need me to do.

28 Week Appt with Perinatologist

I had my appointment with the perinatologist today and the girls are doing great! Baby A is measuring at 3lbs 2oz and Baby B is measuring at 3lbs exactly. I am already carrying 6 lbs of baby!! The fluid continues to look normal on both babies and they are measuring a little ahead of schedule (a little over 29 weeks). They are both head down, so it's impossible for me to tell who's awake and kicking. Their kicks have been strong and visible from the outside. Baby B posed pretty for her picture today, but poor A is so squished that we could only get her back. The pictures are posted below. We have an appointment tomorrow with the OB and I am supposed to take my one hour glucose test… yuck!!

Baby B

Baby A

27 Week Belly Pic

Here's the 27 week photo we took last weekend. We should have new ultrasound photos posted next week. I have an appt with the perinatologist on Tuesday and the OB on Thursday. It will be our first appointment in quite a while, so it will be nice to see how the girls are doing.

25 Week Belly Picture

Here is the 25 week photo!!! We had our two doctor's appointment last week and everything looks great with the girls. They both weighed 1lb 10oz and they measured at 25 weeks 1 day. The fluids continue to look good too, so the specialist doesn't need to see us again for three weeks. They will continue to see us every three weeks as long as everything is ok. The OB on the other hand wants to start seeing us every two weeks starting in January.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!!! Don't worry, I'll eat enough food for me and the girls!! We have an appointment with the OBGYN on Tuesday and an appointment with the perinatologist on Thursday. We'll post our updates and photos after the appts.

Belly Progress 23rd Week

Just wanted to post Cherise's side view real quick.

23rd Week Appt @ Cooper Hospital

Hey All,

We had a quick appt. today @ the Specialist office @ Cooper Hospital. There was some concern about the fluid being low for baby B at our last appt. so the Dr scheduled us for a quick appt today to check the fluid. Everything was great! The Dr. and the ultra sound tech said the babies were coming along nicely and they looked to be the same size and have the same amount of fluid.

She then had the girls pose for some pictures...

Baby Purchases

I've made a few purchases since the last time I posted, so I thought I'd share the pictures with you. We bought the girls' cribs and put one of them together last weekend. I also did a "little" clothes shopping this weekend. This is so much fun!!!!

November 2nd Appt

Here are the ultrasound pictures from our appointment yesterday. The perinatologist said that the babies look great so far and they are measuring right on target. The babies weigh about 13 oz now and all of their organs have formed.

The doctor wants to see us back in the office in two weeks to check the amniotic fluid on baby B. He said that it looked a little lower then baby A, so he just wants to follow up and make sure there aren't any significant changes.

TWO HEADS SIDE BY SIDE

BABY GIRL A

BABY GIRL B

And The Sexes Are.....

GIRLS!!!!!!

20 Week Belly Picture

Before I was pregnant!!!

20 week belly picture

We have an appointment with the specialist on Thursday, so we should find out if these little ones are boys or girls. We'll post as soon as we find out!!!

Unscheduled Appointment

I had been having some cramping and spasms in my lower abdomen the past couple of days and decided that I needed to call the doctor to make sure everything was alright. Adam and I met with Dr. Zalkin for the first time and he immediately calmed my fears. He said that the spasms were caused by the rapid growth of my uterus. The ligaments that hold it up are struggling to keep up with the growth and it's causing me some minor discomfort. Dr. Zalkin said that it was normal for me to feel this pain early because I'm growing fast. Speaking of growing fast... I've gained 7 lbs since last Tuesday's appt!!!!! I don't know how I managed to do that because I haven't changed my eating habits.

The doctor did a full exam this time too. He checked my cervix, did an ultrasound, and measured my fundal height. The babies both look like they are measuring the same length, so everything is as it should be. Our next doctor’s appointment is the big 20 week appointment on November 1st. This is when we will find out the sex of the babies.

I posted the three pictures we got today. One is a shot of the tops of their two little heads and the other two are of each of them separately. I can’t believe how big they are getting and how well you can see there bones now.

Both Babies

Baby A

Baby B