“Oh, sweetheart!” his mom said and pulled him into a hug. “If they need to do a C-section, it’s for a good reason, and they will get those babies out as safely as they need to. You trust the nurses and doctors. Just listen to them.”
Tyler just nodded and seemed to calm down with his mom in the room.
“Molly, honey, how are you?” his mom asked as she left her son’s embrace and came over to my bedside.
“Worried but ready for them to be here, and if the safest way is through C-section, then I totally understand.”
“Good,” Susan said. “So, which of you ladies is Olivia? I’ve heard all about how amazing the nursing staff has been!”
“That’s me,” Olivia said from where she was still sitting at the other side of my bed. “I guess you are Tyler’s mom, who is also a nurse.”
“That’s me,” she said with a huge grin. After she hugged me, she walked over and gave Olivia a hug like they were old friends. “Where is this wall of names? I have to see this.”
As Tyler’s mom checked out our baby name list, his dad gave him a big hug and then came over to give me a hug as well. “I’m glad we made it in time,” he said.
“Oh, I like the name Milo!” Tyler’s mom said. “And Lucy is just precious!”
After talking for a few more minutes, the on-call doctor came into the room. He was of average height and on the thinner side with glasses. He had a kind smile, and even though I had wanted a female doctor, I wanted healthier babies more at this point.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Nicholas Busch. Let’s see what is going on and which one of these twins is causing all the problems.”
“Nick was my dad’s name, too,” I said in lieu of a greeting.
“How serendipitous,” Dr. Busch said with a smile. “If you want to call me Dr. Nick, I am fine with that.”
He walked over to the monitors and began jotting things down on his tablet before adjusting the two belts around my waist. He whispered, so only I could hear him, “Is it okay to speak freely in front of all these guests? If not, I can ask them to leave. You can make me the bad guy.”
“Yes,” I said without any hesitation but appreciated his offer. “They can stay.”
“I think a Cesarean section would be the best bet at this point. You’ve been in active labor for several hours and are close to 7 centimeters dilated, but I don’t think it’s worth waiting to see how long until you’re fully dilated.”
“Then, let’s do what you think is safest,” I said. “Do you agree, Ty?”
“What are the risks if we wait and don’t do the surgery?” Tyler asked.
“That is a very good question. Babies who experience fetal distress are at greater risk of complications after birth. Prolonged lack of oxygen during pregnancy and birth can lead to serious complications that may include brain injury, cerebral palsy, and even stillbirth.”
“Okay. Let’s do the C-section,” my husband said and sat on the side of my bed that Olivia wasn’t on. He took my hand in his in a sign of solidarity.
“I agree,” I said.
“Let’s get these babies delivered,” Dr. Busch said. “Olivia, I thought your shift ended already?”
“It did, Dr. Busch. Are you okay if I come in the room and assist with Molly’s needs? I will be in the background, I promise. I can assist with breastfeeding or any questions she has.”
“If Mrs. Stone is okay with it, then I am fine. It’s your own time.”
“I am more than okay with it,” I said.
“I have two daughters,” I said as I looked down at the sleeping baby in my arms. She was wrapped securely in a yellow blanket, and her hospital hat had a big bow on it.
“They are perfect!” Olivia said with tears in her eyes. “Some babies born at 36 weeks would need neonatal intensive care, but Dr. Busch and the pediatrician on call said your girls are healthy enough to stay with you!”
“Our girls! I love the sound of that,” Tyler said as he held our other little girl in his arms. He was looking down with so much love and emotion in his eyes. I knew exactly how he felt.
I couldn’t believe I was a mom and Ty was a dad. I loved them so much already.
“I think I’m going to leave you guys as a family of four,” Olivia said. “I’m exhausted. I can’t believe it’s after 1:30 in the morning.”
