MARCH FOR BABIES: A MOTHER OF A MOVEMENT™
Pinellas County
https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=YOUR_API_KEY
&q=Fairmont+Empress,Victoria+BC
&attribution_source=Google+Maps+Embed+API
&attribution_web_url=http://www.fairmont.com/empress-victoria/
&attribution_ios_deep_link_id=comgooglemaps://?daddr=Fairmont+Empress,+Victoria,+BC
Safety Harbor Marina
110 Veterans Memorial Lane , Safety Harbor, FL 34695
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2018 9:30 AM
110 Veterans Memorial Lane , Safety Harbor, FL 34695
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2018 9:30 AM
Our ambassador
Jules and Gigi Constantinople
Jules and Gigi Constantinople
Ambassador Mom, Sheila Constantinople, shares:
I had an uneventful twin pregnancy, which is the type of multiple pregnancy you want to have. I went and had ultrasounds every two weeks and saw the specialist once a month. We thought for sure I would be able to carry my girls until at least 35 weeks. My girls had a different plan for us.
At 32 weeks I delivered my twin girls. Juliana weighed 3 lbs. 13 oz. and Gianna weighed 4 lbs. 3 oz. When I arrived to the hospital the morning before I had them I knew something wasn’t right. I was scared! I wasn’t at all prepared for them to come. I had about three more weeks in my mind. I was already 5 cm dilated. They tried stopping the labor by putting me on magnesium sulfate and they gave me steroid shots for the babies. Gianna’s water broke so we had no choice other options but to deliver. Both babies were vertex and very cooperative so I was able to deliver them naturally.
Once Julianna arrived, I was able to hold her for a minute before I had to deliver Gianna. Her cord was prolapsed so it was extremely urgent I get her out as soon as possible. If I didn’t I was going to need a C-section to get her out so she was safe. 9 minutes later I was able to deliver Gianna naturally. They took her right away. I did not get to hold her or even see her. I had to wait 5 hours to see my girls. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to endure. Those 5 hours felt like a lifetime. Once I was finally able to see them I was not able touch them or hold them. My heart was broken.
I had a completely different experience 4 ½ years before the twins arrived with my first-born daughter Olivia. I played the comparison game. I wondered what I did wrong and how I could’ve prevented the twins’ earlier arrival. I felt so much guilt even though I did nothing wrong. They were perfectly healthy and they just decided to arrive early. The girls spent 17 days in the NICU! . Everyday I drove an hour to and from the NICU. On that drive home I felt sadness because I was leaving without my babies. Each and every day was something new and everyday the girls grew and became stronger. One of my favorite part of our NICU experience were the NICU Nurses. They not only cared for my girls they took care of me. I am so blessed to now call them my friends. If it wasn’t for them taking the extra time with me I would’ve been more sad and depressed. Though 17 days seems short to many, it felt like a lifetime to my family and me.
The girls are now 4 ½ years old and you’d never be able to tell they were born premature. They are so full of life and energy. Julianna is so kind and loving while Gianna is a strong-willed goofball. Being a mother of three and having multiples is definitely not the easiest thing but the best things don’t come easy. The twins definitely still are and will probably always be double the work but they are also double the reward.
This year will be our 5th year marching for babies. When we walk we celebrate our journey. Every year we will continue to walk to raise money and awareness for babies born too soon. If it wasn’t for surfactant therapy that the March of Dimes provides funding for, my girls may not have thrived as well as they did. Everyday I feel truly blessed to be given the gifts I have been given. Love is truly multiplied and not divided.
NATIONAL PARTNERS
Thank you to our local sponsors