Gretchen Dauzat Pregnancy and Birth Story
Gretchen is mother of four, blogger, and writer with a passion for empowering moms to follow their dreams. Read about Gretchen’s surprise pregnancy with twins!
Was your pregnancy planned or a surprise?
Definitely a surprise! At the time we found out we were pregnant in December of 2014 our oldest was 2 and a half and we also had a 10 month old as well.
How did you share the news with your partner, family, and friends?
My husband and I were both shocked one that we were pregnant and even more when we went for our first ultra sound to find out it was twins. On our way home from the doctor we called our parents to tell them we were expecting twins and they didn’t believe us!! My mom thought we had gotten a pregnancy ultra sound picture from the internet until I pointed out that my name was on the top!!!
Which was your favorite trimester?
I would say the 2nd trimester because I wasn’t feeling as nauseous and tired like the first and all my maternity closed still fit!
What was your pregnancy MUST HAVE?
My pregnancy must have product was a heating pad for my back and maxi dresses for my third trimester.
Did you find out the gender?
Yes, we found out the genders at our first specialist appointment I’m pretty sure I was 10-12 weeks so it was really early. The doctor said baby A was definitely a boy and he guessed baby B was a boy as well and he was right!
Were there any complications throughout your pregnancy?
Thankfully no. Because twin pregnancies are automatically high risk, I had to see my regular doctor once a month and a specialist once a month as well. For the last month I was going to doctor appointments pretty frequently and they also had to monitor me a couple of times to make sure the twins were moving okay in the last month.
Did you go into labor naturally or were you induced?
My previous two pregnancies we C-Sections and I had tried a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) with my son and was unsuccessful. So after speaking with the doctor we opted for another C-Section and were able to chose the date as well.
How long were you in labor?
This go round we arrived at the hospital and they prepped me for surgery.
What was the best and worst part about labor and delivery?
For the twins the best part was was to actually be able to finally meet them and to see if they looked alike or not. The worst part was when the doctor was completing the surgery I was feeling so much pain and pressure.
Were there any complications with your delivery?
Not really, because I was feeling so much pressure and pain they gave me enough medicine to put me to sleep for the rest of the procedure.
Give us the stats!!
The twins were born on August 12, 2015 at 37 weeks and 2 days. Owen was born at 8:52am at 5lbs 14 oz 18 inches long and Andrew was born at 8:53am at 6lbs 9 oz and 18 inches long.
What was the hardest thing about the first few weeks of motherhood?
The hardest thing about there first couple of weeks was adjusting from going from a family of 4 to 6. In addition, because I wasn’t producing enough milk for both babies for a couple of weeks I pumped and would give them half milk and half formula and by 5 weeks old they were just on formula.
What is the best advice you received as a new mom?
To nap when they nap!
What is your best advice for expectant or new moms?
People warn you about the emotions and fatigue, but nothing will compare when you are in the thick of it. Don’t try to do it on your own. Ask for help from your partner, family, or friends.
You can follow Gretchen’s crazy life on Facebook and Instagram. Or, pop over to her blog for a beautiful dose of mommy empowerment at www.gretchendauzat.com.
DISCLOSURE: Coffee and Coos is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.
Some posts on this site may or may not contain affiliate links. Coffee and Coos is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. To learn more, visit our Privacy and Disclosure page.
