Merlijne Elsemieke 

and 

Annemarth Cathelijne
 
 

First an introduction before the story begins. I am Esther de Beun, 29 years at the time this story begins,  and have lived together with Lucas, 33 years, since 1997..

It all started at the end of March 1999 when I missed the monthly period. Of course it could have been stress related but mainly it could mean pregnancy . In the afternoon I bought a pregnancy test. And Lucas would not have been my soul mate if he didn’t know that something was bothering me.  I tell him while crying that I am late for my period, stress. We did the test and it came out positive. A few days later I went to the doctor just to be sure. He was very surprised. How can that be? You have been on birth control pills? Well it doesn’t take an university study to figure out how this is possible, now does it? He then asks me the usual family history questions and we come to the question of twins in the family. Oeps, Yes, Lucas is one of a twin and my mother has two sisters who are twins. So standard procedure to go to the hospital for a scan. Now we have confirmation I really wanted to tell my parents the news. So we are off with a nice “clue” present for my parents.

Friday 2 April

The day of the scan. We could not quite determine the day of conception so we started with the scan. It turned out that I was 5 months pregnant with twins, oh wait a minute…I can see another head. It was not very clear so she wanted a second opinion. She agreed, it could be three but it could also mean two. There you are, in shock that you are 5 months pregnant with two or three kids.

Friday 16 April

The big day, two or three kids. Fortunately for us she could be very sure that it would be twins. Nothing special, everything was what is should be, my blood and blood pressure etc.

Sunday 18 April

We have had a great weekend and were relaxing before the week started to go to work again. I was thinking of a way to tell my job that I am only allowed to work for another two or three weeks fulltime. There I was, laying on the couch looking at Jag on the TV. when I notice something going down on my legs. ohoh, I ran to the toilet, it could be that Jip of Janneke was kicking me in my bladder. But it did not smell or look normal. I warned Lucas and we called the medic phone. It could indeed be that my water has broken. He would call me back as he would call the gynaecologist on duty to ask what to do. A few minutes later we received the phone call that they were waiting for me at the hospital. A scan was made and it concluded that my water broke and it would mean an admittance for at least seven weeks. There you are a few hours later in hospital, with an iv and bruises from injections.

Monday  19 April

Lucas has called everyone to tell the news this morning. As it was not exactly an emergency we waited till morning so they could enjoy a night rest. Everything went well and I hope to make it here till 35 weeks.

Friday 23 April

It was decided to stop with the medicine that stopped me getting contractions   today. The IV could come out. By midday I began to have trouble in my stomach as I did have some trouble with going to the toilet, they gave me something to ease it a bit. At diner it was still bothering me and later that evening someone came in to check on me. She timed me and said that it could be contractions. Then they put me on the ECG terminal to see if it were indeed contractions.  It was not recognisable as contractions so they called the doctor on duty. After a few examinations he concluded that it was time to call Lucas that I was going to Sophia by ambulance.  

Saturday 24 April

It was 3.30 when we arrived at the Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam and I was hurried to the delivery room. One is not prepared when you still had to go to your first Lamaze class, how do you handle this, will I be doing the right thing, ooohh panic… Will they survive a 28 week pregnancy? First they made a very quick check and told us how things will proceed after they were born. By that time they could have easily have said hello to Merlijne as her head was already visible. After about 8 strong pushes Merlijne Elsemieke was born at 5.43. she was brought away immediately as she was born I could just glimpse at her but they were to fast.  Now we had to wait for the other one. There were no contractions so they broke my water. This did not help and they started to use the pump with great unpleasure from me as I was screaming my head off. It hurt so much that they stopped doing and after an examination it seemed that the umbilical cord was to get stuck and the oxygen would be cut off. That is why the gynaecologist was keeping her from going out by pushing his hand on her head. decided was to do a emergency caesarian section. At 6.53 Annemarth Cathelijne was born. She already had five stitches because the surgeon had made the caesarean to deep and also cut into Annemarth’s head. Ah it was an emergency it could happen. Both girls were admitted at the NICU (Neonatology Intensive Care Unit) of Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam. To great joy of my brother as he is Rotterdam minded and very proud that his nieces are born in Rotterdam.

  Rotterdam Sophia Children's Hospital

The result is an eldest daughter of 955 gram and  the younger daughter weighing 1160 gram. After a few days they concluded that the ductus did not close by Annemarth, as she had some blood pressure droppings. They gave her some medications for it to close by itself. It was successful by the second attempt so she fortunately did not have to have an operation to close it. After two weeks both girls were having infections and Merlijne was very weak and looked worn out and grey. Fortunately they recovered very rapidly. At a scan of Annemarth’s head they saw that she had had a minor brain haemorrhage. She should not have any problems because of it as it is minor and with such a young age other parts of her brain can take over from the damage part. It could be compared with a bruise, the blood vessels will transport the bruising away. Annemarth keeps pulling out her NPT and is to be found all over her incubator. It is still a pain they are having trouble with going without the NPT. At the end of may the girls are moved to the High Care. The only thing keeping them there instead of  being closer to home or at home is a drug called Dopram. This helps them breath but is probably not such a nice drug as not many hospitals are allowed to handle it. 

Transfer to Merwede Hospital in Dordrecht

On June 16 we get a telephone call that they are being transported to Dordrecht today. The news is confusing and scary, leaving Sophia, where you know everyone and are familiar with the unit. But it is a big step closer to home. In Dordrecht they have removed the nose breathing tube and it worked, it did not get placed back. One step further, two steps to go. On June 21 the scan is repeated on Annemarth’s head, they could only find little leftovers of something. Annemarth is free of the monitor on 28 and on July 2 they removed the feeding tube. She is so beautiful, finally I can see what my daughter really looks like. It was an emotional day. What a sight for sore eyes. A smiling face without any cables, tubes and tape. Merlijne has these milestones on July 3 another beautiful daughters. Then on Sunday 4 July we finally get the big big news, we can take them home on Tuesday 6 July. Hip Hip Hurray, yikes scary.

Home at last

After more than a half year of having them at home we are not able to live without them. Each day is a milestone of happenings. But what is more rewarding and beautiful then having your own two little fighters as bridesmaids on our wedding. This really was the topping of the icing.