Daisy and Charlie
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In August 2005 I had my 28 week routine scan booked in. I was pregnant with twins, 2 girls I had been told, and this was just checking everything was as it should be. Our oldest daughter Scarlett was 18 months old and she came along with me and my mother in law to have the scan as my husband was at work in London and as I said, it was just routine. My due date was November 2nd.
In the scan room it fell quiet and the nurse left the room to get a doctor, we were then taken to another room and asked to wait for the consultant to come along to speak to us. We sat there wondering what was going on, I thought that i would be told that I was over doing things and that I would have to think about stopping work soon. My mother in law and I decided between us that I wouldn’t go back to work that day and that we would go out for lunch! The consultant came in. He said that twin 2 hadn’t grown at all since the 24 week scan and that I needed to have the babies by c section that day. I was allowed to go home to get my bag and get Scarlett sorted out and call Anthony. I was back at the hospital by 1.30pm with Anthony by my side after a very speedy motorbike ride home. We were drawn a diagram of the SCBU and where our babies would be and told that it was going to be a rollercoaster ride over the next few months.
I went down to theatre and at 3.10 i had Daisy who weighed 2lb 10oz and then 2 minutes later I had a little boy! Charlie weighed 1lb 12oz. We weren’t told the sex of our babies until about 3 hours later when Anthony was told that twin 2 was a boy and we couldn’t call him Tabitha! The babies were whisked away, no crying, probably around 30 people in the operating theatre all very busy and they were put onto ventilators. It was a very frightening time and I cried throughout the operation.
I was taken to a ward to recover and that was the longest night of my life. I didn’t sleep at all, i just stared at these two polaroid pictures I had of my babies. the general noise of new born babies and tired mothers on the ward was very traumatic and the following day I was given a side room. Daisy and Charlie were in hospital for nearly 3 months. In that time we learnt that Charlie had not got any of the nutrients he needed from his cord. Daisy on the other hand was doing quite nicely and was plucked out causing huge trauma to her.. Charlie wouldn’t have survived another day inside me. It was luck that I had a routine scan that day. His tiny body had gone into survival mode and his vital organs were strong enough to fight for his life. His tummy wasn’t finished so he had lots of problems there but generally he was amazing, just so tiny. Daisy had many more issues with her breathing, going from the ventilator to Cpap right up until she came home. She used to set off the alarms constantly going blue. She also had bleeds on her brain that were discovered when she had a brain scan. I remember standing in the intensive care unit and hearing the doctor saying that she may have behaviour problems when she is 4 or 5 but all I could think was I don’t care, i want her to be ok now and focus on the next few weeks. Daisy contracted MRSA in the hospital aswell which was traumatic as they were put in isolation.
I would get a lift to the hospital every day with Scarlett after Anthony had returned to work. he had already been early in the morning to drop off the milk that had been expressed in the night. That is the hardest thing to do. No baby crying to get you to comfort them, just a photo in the kitchen with a milking machine. But, it is so important if you are able to do it even for a short while. I was eventually given some medication to help bring on more milk. When people ask you to let them know if there is anything they can do, say yes! We had a rota, and we got a babysitter every night for 3 months. Every one will want to help you. Accept it. We had old friends, neighbours, Anthony's fellow rugby club players, all happy to give up a few hours to just sit in our lounge while Scarlett slept.
Anthony and I would then go and sit with our babies doing kangaroo care and for some bizarre reason we would try and talk French whilst sitting there! It was funny and comforting and such a special time.
It was a hot August day when Daisy and Charlie were born and I remember thinking that the weather had to change before we would even think about them coming home. The nights had to get cold and dark and they did eventually. When they came home it was lovely and actually because they had been used to being in hospital they slept well and were in a routine. Around 2 weeks later Charlie had a hernia in his groin that was quite serious and we went from a doctors appointment, transferred to Lister hospital who said that he was too tiny at 3 months and 5lb to operate on there. We were then transferred by ambulance to Addenbrookes in Cambridge. There Charlie was in for 5 days and had his operation. All went well and he has not had any further issues.
Daisy has always been a bit of a wild child. Her behaviour was always challenging and there gets to a point where you realise this is more than tantrums due to age. We moved to Dorset in 2011 and at age 9 she was diagnosed with ADHD. She has been on medication since then and it has changed her and our life. She is the most amazing girl, she rides horses all the time and luckily in Dorset that is easily an option. She also plays rugby and recently had trials for Dorset and Wiltshire. She is dyslexic and struggles academically but what she has in common sense and practical skills, I have no worries for her in the future. She has lots of friends and is very loyal. She was under CAMHS for 3 years and is now just under paediatrics with a yearly appointment to manage her meds.
Charlie is also a gorgeous boy and is happy and confident. He is a keen rugby player for Sherborne and he wants to join the army! They are very close to each other and always have each others backs.
We had our 4th child Henry in 2010 and he was born by c section at 38 weeks as he would have been my third c section with no problems at all.
Daisy and Charlie are completely average weight and height now at age 13 and completely gorgeous!
if you are reading this and wondering if it will be ok, all I can say is be patient, it will be a rollercoaster like the nurse said but you will get through it and it will be amazing.
In the scan room it fell quiet and the nurse left the room to get a doctor, we were then taken to another room and asked to wait for the consultant to come along to speak to us. We sat there wondering what was going on, I thought that i would be told that I was over doing things and that I would have to think about stopping work soon. My mother in law and I decided between us that I wouldn’t go back to work that day and that we would go out for lunch! The consultant came in. He said that twin 2 hadn’t grown at all since the 24 week scan and that I needed to have the babies by c section that day. I was allowed to go home to get my bag and get Scarlett sorted out and call Anthony. I was back at the hospital by 1.30pm with Anthony by my side after a very speedy motorbike ride home. We were drawn a diagram of the SCBU and where our babies would be and told that it was going to be a rollercoaster ride over the next few months.
I went down to theatre and at 3.10 i had Daisy who weighed 2lb 10oz and then 2 minutes later I had a little boy! Charlie weighed 1lb 12oz. We weren’t told the sex of our babies until about 3 hours later when Anthony was told that twin 2 was a boy and we couldn’t call him Tabitha! The babies were whisked away, no crying, probably around 30 people in the operating theatre all very busy and they were put onto ventilators. It was a very frightening time and I cried throughout the operation.
I was taken to a ward to recover and that was the longest night of my life. I didn’t sleep at all, i just stared at these two polaroid pictures I had of my babies. the general noise of new born babies and tired mothers on the ward was very traumatic and the following day I was given a side room. Daisy and Charlie were in hospital for nearly 3 months. In that time we learnt that Charlie had not got any of the nutrients he needed from his cord. Daisy on the other hand was doing quite nicely and was plucked out causing huge trauma to her.. Charlie wouldn’t have survived another day inside me. It was luck that I had a routine scan that day. His tiny body had gone into survival mode and his vital organs were strong enough to fight for his life. His tummy wasn’t finished so he had lots of problems there but generally he was amazing, just so tiny. Daisy had many more issues with her breathing, going from the ventilator to Cpap right up until she came home. She used to set off the alarms constantly going blue. She also had bleeds on her brain that were discovered when she had a brain scan. I remember standing in the intensive care unit and hearing the doctor saying that she may have behaviour problems when she is 4 or 5 but all I could think was I don’t care, i want her to be ok now and focus on the next few weeks. Daisy contracted MRSA in the hospital aswell which was traumatic as they were put in isolation.
I would get a lift to the hospital every day with Scarlett after Anthony had returned to work. he had already been early in the morning to drop off the milk that had been expressed in the night. That is the hardest thing to do. No baby crying to get you to comfort them, just a photo in the kitchen with a milking machine. But, it is so important if you are able to do it even for a short while. I was eventually given some medication to help bring on more milk. When people ask you to let them know if there is anything they can do, say yes! We had a rota, and we got a babysitter every night for 3 months. Every one will want to help you. Accept it. We had old friends, neighbours, Anthony's fellow rugby club players, all happy to give up a few hours to just sit in our lounge while Scarlett slept.
Anthony and I would then go and sit with our babies doing kangaroo care and for some bizarre reason we would try and talk French whilst sitting there! It was funny and comforting and such a special time.
It was a hot August day when Daisy and Charlie were born and I remember thinking that the weather had to change before we would even think about them coming home. The nights had to get cold and dark and they did eventually. When they came home it was lovely and actually because they had been used to being in hospital they slept well and were in a routine. Around 2 weeks later Charlie had a hernia in his groin that was quite serious and we went from a doctors appointment, transferred to Lister hospital who said that he was too tiny at 3 months and 5lb to operate on there. We were then transferred by ambulance to Addenbrookes in Cambridge. There Charlie was in for 5 days and had his operation. All went well and he has not had any further issues.
Daisy has always been a bit of a wild child. Her behaviour was always challenging and there gets to a point where you realise this is more than tantrums due to age. We moved to Dorset in 2011 and at age 9 she was diagnosed with ADHD. She has been on medication since then and it has changed her and our life. She is the most amazing girl, she rides horses all the time and luckily in Dorset that is easily an option. She also plays rugby and recently had trials for Dorset and Wiltshire. She is dyslexic and struggles academically but what she has in common sense and practical skills, I have no worries for her in the future. She has lots of friends and is very loyal. She was under CAMHS for 3 years and is now just under paediatrics with a yearly appointment to manage her meds.
Charlie is also a gorgeous boy and is happy and confident. He is a keen rugby player for Sherborne and he wants to join the army! They are very close to each other and always have each others backs.
We had our 4th child Henry in 2010 and he was born by c section at 38 weeks as he would have been my third c section with no problems at all.
Daisy and Charlie are completely average weight and height now at age 13 and completely gorgeous!
if you are reading this and wondering if it will be ok, all I can say is be patient, it will be a rollercoaster like the nurse said but you will get through it and it will be amazing.