My birth story...by Natalie Sharp

We had been trying for a baby for a while and nothing was happening. I already had a little boy, Mitchell, who was 18mths old. I'd had 3 miscarriages before I had Mitchell so I thought I was never going to get pregnant again, or even that I wouldn't be able to have a girl. I finally got pregnant and was about 4 weeks when I did the test. I was so happy I couldn't believe it.

Then things started to go wrong. I had the same pains as before and I began to bleed. I was gutted. My husband Ian felt the pain too. We thought it was the same as before, I was having a miscarriage. We rang the midwife and she got me an appointment at the early pregnancy unit at the city hospital. We rang and told all the family members we were going, I really thought that was it and we were both adament that it was going to be bad news. We walked in the ultra sound room with tears in our eyes, the lady scanned me and asked what the problem was.

We began to tell her and she moved the screen away and told us that we wouldn't be able to see anything at such a early stage. We both then knew that it was bad news. We held hands so hard my fingers were beginning to go numb. She paused for a moment and then she said I am sorry, you have lost a baby....but you're having TWINS.

Well I went into shock my hand came straight over my mouth and my husband began to cry! We were both in tears, how could such a terrible feeling change in a second. Me, Natalie, was having twins! I always dreamt of having twins from when I wanted children, I couldn't believe my luck. I never thought for one second that I would ever have twins. We left the hospital with our 1st photo of our babies, but at that point it was just 2 dots in sacks, with the 3rd sack still present. We felt so lucky to have 2 there and that the 3rd had been there but didn't manage to continue. We had been having triplets - oh my god as if I could manage to get 3 babies at once!

We rang around to tell family who were all in tears with us. After that, my pregnancy was fine. I just got bigger and bigger and less active. Mitchell was so good, talking to my tummy and helping with little jobs. At my 20 week scan I couldn't wait to find out what sex they were. Deep in my heart, I wanted girls - one would be great but two would be like winning the lottery twice over. I guess life has taught me not to build my hopes up, so I expected to find I was carrying 2 boys and at the most 1 boy and a girl. We had a boys name and a girls name, but not 2 of each at all. I sat holding Ian's hand in the ultra sound room and the scanner lady said, they are both the same sex, so I knew it was 2 boys. Then she said you have 2 well sized baby girls. I screamed and shouted YES!!. I was amazed! I still cant believe I have them.

My husband said that's 2 weddings I have to pay for. So now I had to pick another girls name. How hard? As the weeks went by I was a very large person carrying 2 special girls. When I had Mitchell he was 9lb 11ozs and the doctor said I would continue to have large babies. So throughout the pregnancy I knew they would be large than the average twins. I opted to have a c-section and by 36 weeks I really needed a date to aim for . I was really fed up and in a lot of pain with my back and I couldn't walk or breathe properly. That week's visit to the hospital I was give the date 16th March 2006 at 8am. Great here we go . The next 2 weeks were great we had everything ready and Mitchell was sorted with his nursery visits and his childcare. We couldn't wait.

On the morning of the birth, my mum came with us and I was so excited and Ian was so nervous. Even though it was me having the twins he felt alot worse! I walked down to theatre at 9.45am and I had my epidural which was fine this time round. When I had Mitchell I had 27 hours of labour and then ended up having a emergency section, which was vile. I felt so much pain and said I would never have another. So I went in with an open mind and tried not to worry. Ian was really emotional but was great. Capri was born at 10.35am she came out crying and she weighed in at 7lb 11.5ozs then coming out breach was Marika weighing in at 7lb 5ozs.

I was so so happy. I couldn't believe they were really mine and really here. Ian held them both one in each arm. He then said you will have to take one my arms are killing me! As if !??! I had just carried them for 9 months and he held them for 3 minutes and complained. MEN!!!! Now the girls are in our lives it has changed so much and we still can't believe we are the proud lucky parents of twins and Mitchell has twin sisters.

Thanks for reading

Natalie Sharpe & Ian Sharpe
Nottingham