surrogate birth story - long

On Thursday, April 20th I had a check up with my OB. Being that I was 36 weeks pregnant and had been in for preterm a week prior, both of us were surprised that this visit occurred. Both boys checked out great and I was healthy as could be so we joked and set up my final recheck for one week out and a week following my c section was scheduled (May 4)! 

I left my appointment with a chuckle as a week ago I had all the signs pointing to labor and this week...nothing!!! My wife and I had an appointment with her OB for our rainbow baby (yesshes pregnant too - 16 weeks along as we lost our 3 1/2 week old to SIDS in November 2016). After our appointments we grabbed some lunch and ran a few errands before we were due to pick up our four kiddos from school and daycare! While at Walgreens around 3 pm on Thursday, I felt a small pop/bubble in my front. Now ladies we all know this isn't impossible especially at the end of pregnancy with increased discharge..I went to the bathroom to check it out and had clear substance but thought if I'm not gushing or even trickling when I push then it is just discharge. We went and picked up the children and went home for the nighttime routine.

Throughout the evening at random times I would continue to leak but same look to it. Eventually we decided to go to bed until a telltale sign of true labor or Morning and I would go in to L&D! 

Fast forward to 4 am and I woke up to a small wet spot through my pants (mind you I was wearing a poise pad) and so I took a trip to the bathroom. I had a small gush and it was then that I knew. Contractions didn't really hurt so I continued with my Morning and got my kids ready for school and daycare. I dropped them off at around 7/7:30 and headed in to the hospital. 

When I arrived at L&D they had me change, tested my water and confirmed that my waters had indeed ruptured. from there things went super fast and by 9:30 am I was in the OR for my c section.

On Friday, April 21st 2017 at 9:56 am baby A was born. He weighed 5 lbs 9 oz!! At 9:59 am baby B was born weighing 5 lbs 8 oz! They were both perfectly healthy and needed no assistance. This has been one of the best experiences of my life. Despite my wife and I losing our son during this pregnancy, I instantly loved them. It was emotionally trying because I miss my son so much but their parents are over the moon after a 10+ year wait for them and that kept me grounded to the moment rather than to my grieving heart.  I would do this again in a heartbeat! I've attached pictures below! 

Baby A

Baby B