Hi everyone,
What a week, so much has happened so quickly! I'll try to tell you as
briefly as I can - here goes.
Sally admitted to tertiary hospital on Wed 29/5 with ruptured membranes on
1st twin, on oral antibiotics, submitted to daily CTG's (but never could get
a "good" trace), told that she would need a C/S because both babies were
breech ("and it will probably be a classical C/S and you will never have
another baby naturally" [by a doctor]). Very upset, of course. However,
even with the "best" in the ultrasound department, no-one seemed able to
agree on the position of the babies. The plan was for bed rest in hospital
to try to keep these babies inside for as long as possible, provided there
was no infection. All going along OK, her partner came back to Bright (3
1/2 hr drive) on Sun 2/6, I was going to come back with her little 4 y/o
boy, Tasman, on Mon 3/6. However, a phone call to me at 5.30 am Mon from
L/W - "Sally is having a few niggles, and would like you here, no need to
rush". I got there at 6.30 am - "quick in there, she's delivered!" I went
in to find that she had a little girl (twin1) and a little boy, the 3rd
stage was being delivered. Masses of people in there - the 3rd set of twins
for the night! Matilda had come out as a head/shoulder presentation and
Reuben was vertex. Matilda a little stronger than Reuben, but of course
lines, monitors and tubes everywhere. Both up to NICU after seeing Sally
briefly. I stayed with Sally, who was in total shock with it all. She
didn't even feel like she had given birth (and had only just started to
enjoy that real blossoming feeling of pregnancy) and of course had laboured
and birthed with none of her own support people present. She was up in
stirrups, and they were still trying to put on the CTG and talking C/S when
the midwife said "she's pushing". The doc even was trying to put on a scalp
electrode at this stage and ended up cutting Matilda's (Tilly) neck with it.
However, no C/S and no stitches, so Sally's recovery has been excellent. I
helped her with her shower and then we went up to NICU to see the babies
(her partner was still on his way). Both stable, Tilly a little stronger
than Reuben, actually mostly breathing on her own, both on "routine" drugs,
treatments, etc. They weighed 880g each. Tilly was bruised around her
shoulder and Reuben's head was bruised. Tilly had a lumbar puncture that
evening and she was diagnosed with meningitis, however, the staff were
pretty confident that she was going OK. Those poor little mites were on
more drugs than Sally has had in her entire life!!
Then, on Tuesday Tilly was looking as if she was having a little bit of
seizure activity, CT etc, late Tuesday revealed she was haemorrhaging into
both sides of her brain, she had also developed scepticaemia and looked like
she was bleeding into her abdominal cavity. Wed 5/6 - I had seen them early
in the morning before doctors' rounds and she was constantly fitting despite
Morphine and Phenobarb, etc. I was with Sally when she was called to NICU
and this information was given to her and her partner when he rushed over
from across the road. They made, what to me, was the only choice and that
was to cease treatment and turn everything off. The staff were fantastic,
giving us all time, privacy and space. My other daughter was there, Sally's
partner's (Russell) sister and brother-in-law were there. Sally and Russell
spent a long time just touching and looking at Tilly until they were ready,
while we made sure that someone was with Reuben and touching him as well.
We held hands and surrounded them while Sally washed and dressed Tilly.
They then carried her into a private sitting room and held her as she died
which was almost immediately. Sally had asked me to be with Reuben as they
turned Tilly's machines off and as she died. He gave a little cry and
stopped breathing momentarily at that time, then settled. I saw Tilly's L/W
summary which described the whole labour as being a total of 31 mins!
(however, Sally had actually been having niggles all night but tried to
convince herself that it wasn't labour and hadn't told anyone). When Sally
and Russell were ready, we went in to hold and kiss Tilly and I brought
Tasman in to cuddle his sister. "She won't grow up big will she, but my
brother will!"
Reuben is doing well, having periods off his CPAP, having 1 mil of EBM 4/24,
but we still have a long road in front of us.
It has just been SO awful, but some positives as well. It is so awful to
see your child go through the pain of losing her own child, which (of
course) is also your grandchild.
Thanks to everyone who has sent their thoughts, love and prayers, all of
that has helped enormously.
Joy
Joy Cocks RN (Div 1) RM CBE IBCLC
BRIGHT Vic 3741
email:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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