As someone who's been there since the burping beers, long ponytail/braid and backwards cap days, I'm so so incredibly happy for you both. I remember watching your video celebrating your first 3 months (or maybe 6, i can't remember exactly) as a couple and thinking to myself "I wish that'll be me someday". I was a young teen, lost and identity-less and you made me feel safe and less alone. I'm so happy for you two, I hope your children are happy and healthy and I wish you the very best!
@@TheGallicWitch I found them around the same time, and I just realized, I was 14 when I first started watching them... I'm 24 now. That's sort of just a little bit insane to me. I am so so happy for them though and they deserve to have a wonderful healthy and safe family!!
@@feliciaroseantonia Me three! I was 14, possibly 13, when I first watched any of Ash's videos (upwards of a year or so after you, if I'm doing my math correctly). I was a little middleschooler who thought they were a straight cis boy. Now I'm 23, very bisexual, very nonbinary, and very much a mess sjhdfksj
yeah same, they seem like very good empathetic people, as someone with not the best childhood it's nice to see children being treated like human beings for a change, i think they'll be great parents and I'm glad we won't be seeing their kids
Shame she couldn't breast feed - The natural way children bond with their mother. Unfortunately, her totally unnecessary double mastectomy denied the children of this vital bond.
As a healthcare provider who discusses reproductive options with people, hearing Gray talk about ya'll's experience with the physician who delivered the twins brings me much joy! So special!
I’m only halfway through but I have to say I am super impressed with your ability to intelligently advocate for yourself under stress with proposing the c section as the next step around the 10 minute mark
im a trans man who wants to get pregnant in a few years (whose name is also Ash lol), and hearing you talk about your experiences is so helpful for me. i have had a m*scarriage before so there's a lot of fear surrounding that topic for me, but hearing you talk about it makes me feel like its actually possible for me to have kids.
I'm so sorry you're getting comments that invalidate your gender. I know I'm just a stranger on the internet, but I hope you know that some strangers on the internet aren't jerkfaces and see you for who you are, and wish you luck on becoming a dad when you're ready.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I delivered my daughter almost 2 years ago and had a similar story: had severe pre-eclampsia, went through reciprocal IVF, had a C-section. As I processed my birth trauma, I was constantly looking for stories like mine so I wouldn’t feel so alone. It is seriously so so amazing you’re sharing your story and I’m sure it will help a lot of people. I also LOVED hearing Gray’s perspective as that’s not often shared, and really important to have their side told, too. Congratulations on making it through year one. Parenthood is the best!! ❤
I gave birth to twins via c-section 30 years ago. I relate to so much of your experience. We still call them Baby A and Baby B. Congrats! Twins are the best!
Gray describing the moments before they were beckoned into the operating room, the words from their friend, the thoughts of their own parents and of Ash and of how much they're going to love those kids--it made me genuinely start crying a little bit lmao. And I'm so happy to hear your doctor was so cool, healthcare can be so scary for queer folks and I'm glad you guys found a doctor who treated you kindly and respectfully and in accordance with your identities. Everything about this sounds so nerve-racking and scary... but so exciting and beautiful! Thank you both for sharing this wild story, it's always nice to hear from y'all after a while. And of course, congratulations!
Hi Ash, I remember having watched your videos when I was 12 and 13. You inspired me to learn about trans and queer identities and played a part in me figuring out that I am a trans man. After coming out, I fell into self-hating transmedicalist ideologies and found myself renouncing open minded people like yourself. Luckily I was able to overcome that when I got out of my hometown and met fantastic confusing beautiful people of all genders and sexualities and walks of life. I’m 20 now and 3 days ago I finally underwent top surgery. It made me think of you and how I watched your top surgery related content with so much longing and envy; I’m so glad to see that you, your spouse, and your children are doing well.
I love hearing birth stories from others outside the gender binary. A big part of my decision to work toward nursing and obstetrics is my own and others' experiences with gendered language in childbirth and medical spaces. We need to hear more stories like yours to help people see that people like us become parents too.
Gawd I missed y'all's so much. It's like running into an acquaintance and talking about experience and life stuff before saying bye and seeing them again soon💖💖💖
I had preeclampsia with my second child. Your story seems like everything went super slowly. They gave me the pitocin and magnesium basically as soon as I was settled into a delivery room, and broke my water like 10 minutes later. The pitocin worked really well, so I delivered my child in 15 minutes.
I'm so shocked they weren't the ones bringing up a c-section, especially with your condition progressing and you being a long way off a delivery (with TWINS). I'm glad you had the knowledge to suggest it yourself
Around 13:30 is when I realized that dinner is not the right time to watch a birth story. But all jokes aside: thank you for this birth story from a queer perspective in such clear and direct words. Really appreciate it ❤ Also, it's great to get a peek of Gray and hear their side of the story.
*Be your own advocate* is amazing and invaluable advice. While not related to birthing, I can certainly relate to what you described regarding your anesthesia experience (even once having a "waking" moment under what should have been *heavy* general). Our brains and bodies are interesting things that can be highly unpredictable, so stay educated, trust your instincts when it comes to safety, and *always* speak up if something feels amiss.
Ash 100 percent know what you mean about feeling everything while numb. I could tell if it was a cut, a tug, I even announced when her shoulder popped out cause I could tell a limb was rubbing over the slice. Freaked them out. The only thing they could think was it may have been the sensory problems that come with my ADHD on top of me being a panic attack ridden mess.
I have to know though did gray peek over the curtain? My fiance did both times and was shocked both times. The nurses and doc made jokes that he may want to look into medical school bc usually the support person/parent goes down after looking and he just seemed stoic but caring about it all 😂
I am autistic and ADHD -and definitely someone who notices all the details. I have never given birth but the idea of a needed/emergency C-section icks the bejebus out of me...(but vaginal birth doesn't) ...after hearing this story, I know why my body feels so ick over a C. ...I am likely to feel all the things like Ash has said they did. Yipes.
Thank you for your comment toward the end about being your own advocate. I'm a nurse and have an extensive patient history. Advocacy is so so so so so important and so many people don't realize it. Also, happiest of birthdays, kiddos! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
So good to see you again! Happy belated to the twins and I'm glad you caught the preeclampsia in time, and I'm so happy your experience with that nurse was amazing .
You're back! I remember you putting up the key lime pie video around the time we were having our first. It made me feel much less alone as a NB gestational parent. Now I'm 6 months with our second (and last 🤞) and you're here with this one! Thank you so much from one NB GP to another!
Oooohhh pitocin is rough. I had preecmplesyia please ignore how I spelled that. Mine was caught at 38 weeks my blood pressure went to stroke level they turned pitocin up to 20. I begged for epidural they tried 3 times and the epidural failed every time then they say ok we are going to continue to keep an extremely close eye on you. Well 2hrs later I was ready to push I pushed my daughter out in 30min
Omg happy birthday to the twins!! And you're not alone with the experience in feeling things during the c section, my sister's second child was delivered via c and she expressed almost the exact same sensations, I think some people just don't take to anaesthesia the same
@@crystalmprincess15I'm strawberry blonde, so halfway between redhead and blonde and I can verify. The dentist was really weird as a kid because I wouldn't be totally numbed all the time and I would freak out
@crystalmprincess15 oh that's interesting! My sister is not a redhead but all my siblings do carry the red head gene (we all get random patches of ginger body hair, and my sister's child has red hair) so perhaps that is why she reacts the way she does to anaesthesia
I have EDS [which oddly seems to be disproportionately represented in the trans/NB population??] & I'm DEFINITELY resistant to all local/regional anesthesia. I make sure to emphasize that to EVERY MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL!! Ever since I started advocating for that, I get extra doses or some twilight sedation so I don't remember feeling so much sensation. But like... When I had a steroid epidural for nerve pain, I could FEEL the catheter going into my spine & it freaked me out. It was worth the pain relief but EW EW EW SO BIZARRE.
Happy birthday, Goblins!! And thank you as ever, Ash and Gray, for sharing your stories as you do. It means more than you know. I especially appreciate the note on being your own advocate! I've been through more than my fair share of the medical system, and have only gotten as far as i have through advocating for myself. It's very nice to hear said that we are the experts in our own bodies, for how often patients with chronic illness like me are told otherwise. And everyone -- but it's especially vicious with chronic illness/disability. Appreciate you both very much.
Wow, I've never heard a birth story so similar to mine? I had a singleton and she was born at 33 weeks, but the pics of you in the hospital, the pre-e with severe features, and every part of your c section from feeling VERY specific movements to the vomiting... it really sent me back. I'm in tears watching this. You are both amazing and Ash I'm so happy you are okay and both the babies are okay. It's definitely a scary experience.
I feel like advocating for a c-section may have very well saved your life. I wish more people who went through childbirth were given easy access to the information needed to realize the situation and act accordingly
Ash I could not be happier or prouder for you. For this beautiful journey and also sharing it with us. Most of all, your advocacy for yourself and understanding of what you and the babies needed - that is truly inspiring. Many congrats to you, Gray, and your beautiful family!
My mom says she could feel everything during her c-section too! She's had four though and says it wasn't the case for all of them - she felt it the most with me . . . when she had the most severe pre-eclampsia. And she had less severe pre-eclampsia during my youngest sister's pregnancy and says that the anesthesia just seemed to wear off too early. She had no pre-eclampsia for the other two pregnancies and had typical c-sections. Based on all this very limited anecdotal experience it seems like there may be a correlation between pre-eclampsia and anesthesia/sensation during c-section!
It's amazing how far you've come. I remember watching your videos back in 2016 and learning from your experience and knowledge. It's wonderful to hear about your journey.
I had a C-section with twins about two months after you guys. It’s really great to hear your story. I can assure you that I did * not * feel hands in my body or organs moving around. That sounds really scary and weird. You’re a champ for getting through that ❤
This was lovely and wholesome, thanks for sharing your family's story 😊🥰 And the message about medical self-advocacy is so important. Love seeing your videos come up, keep being amazing.
I love your final message about advocating for yourself. Having now been through a traumatic induction that resulted in a vaginal birth with shoulder distocia, a second delivery that started as an induction but never should have been (thanks to vasa previa), stage 3 triple positive breast cancer treatments, and two fractured legs (one an open tib/fib), I have learned that the medical system is critical but flawed (like many aspects of life). Dr’s egos, not believe a patient’s lives experience, diminishing legitimate concerns, and completely unfounded accusations of drug seeking post-op (let me tell you, chemo sucks, radiation burns suck, c-sections suck, but thus far the worst pain - for me - is postoperative repair of bones, yeow!). It has taken me a long time to be my own advocate, but life has taught me some solid lessons along that path. So thankful that you and the twins are healthy and doing well now, but know that those experiences can kinda stay with you, even when, for the most part, you are no longer thinking of them, and don’t be hard on yourself if they do. For example, I am 5 years out from finishing my cancer treatments. When I go for check-ins at the oncology centre, my BP is always high, even if I don’t outwardly feel worried or unsafe. In my family Dr’s office, NBD. Happy birthday 1st kiddos! You have some awesome parents and are so loved.
SOBBED all the way through this. I am so happy and weirdly proud for you guys. You are so strong and just brilliant parents. Also got emotional at all of the footage the nurses got for you, how kind!
Happy birthday to your kiddos!! So sorry your health went absolutely nuts but I’m glad you lived to tell the tale >:) Also Gray getting excited about the twin’s ears is so cute😭 I just know y’all are being and will continue being wonderful parents!!💕
I'm late, but happy birthday, goblins!!! Thank you so much for the update! I honestly squealed when Gray showed up. Sounds like it was rough, but all of you made it through it!
Happiest 1st Birthday Goblins 🎉🎉 Much love from a Nana in CT ❤ Thank you both for sharing your intense, scary, sometimes boring, wild birthing experience ‼️
I love every part of this adventure lol. I'm so proud of u for being ur own advocate bc so many medical professionals don't understand the unspoken power dynamic .
What a wild birth story! I definitely resonate with the advice to be your own health advocate. I’ve had some bad experiences during times when I didn’t know I was allowed to push back-and it’s made a world of difference since I learned what my rights are as a patient and started seeking out docs who let me participate in my care.
I'm a triplet and I've heard my moms side of it describing her joy and love but ive never heard her birth story as in depth as this story was. I know your experiences aren't the same but hearing you experience with your twins makes me appreciate and feel so much more awe for my mom and everything she went through and for all our loved ones who were there for her too. Thank you for sharing your story
Happy birthday, twins! That birth sure was a rollercoaster of emotions, I'm glad you're all relatively okay and that the hospital staff was amazing.❤ Thank you for keeping the babies private, not showing pictures. You're parenting good with that.
AAAAAAAA CONGRATS ON THE FIRST BIRTHDAY OF THE TWINS!!!! YALL SEEM LIKE SUCH GOOD PARENTS AND AASDFULSAKDFAKDS I CANT BELIEVE YOU'RE PARENTS NOW!! i started watching this channel in 2019 when i was younger and now i can't believe you have kids 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
Thank you for not Sharenting (parents sharing TMI about their kids online). Your kids will thank you. -and I thank you (as someone who cares about kids a lot (works with kids) and feels absolutely icky about how much information we all can look up about specific kiddos online. 😖). I am so happy to hear about all the things Parenting you wanna share. I am enby myself and always happy to hear from other enby parents and their experiences/choices. ❤
Been a subscriber since you were on Hannah Hart’s channel! It has been such a joy watching you grow! So happy for you, Gray and your precious little babes!
Yes! Be your own advocate! Well, as much as possible. My own c-section was uneventful but the nurses pressured breastfeeding too soon and too often. My son got a severe aversion to it and never nursed, I had to pump for 8 months. There were so many times I wanted to tell them to leave us alone, he wasnt hungry yet, but I was too sick from the anesthesia to speak up. My sister was attempting a VBAC and after many many hours her doula suddenly insisted to my sister and her doc that it was time for a c-section. Nothing had happened but she was adamant about it. Turned out my sister's uterus had basically exploded and she almost died. That doula's instincts and fierce advocacy saved my sister and my nephew.
Omg, I just watched your video about top surgery with Jackson Bird (from like, 5 years ago). I just wanted to say, you look amazing!!!! ❤❤❤ Your face looks so different, in a good way!
I’m toward the end of my second trimester right now, so taking a birthing class in a few weeks. I’m so scared for all of the unpredictability around birth. So happy to hear how you advocated for the care that you wanted/needed. Wish me luck to be able to do the same!
I went through a singleton pregnancy but also went from fine to severe pre-e quickly at 35+5. I was on the mag drip so my body didn’t respond to the induction stuff at all. Went in for a c section too. It was a crazy experience and hearing your story stirred up some crazy emotions. My LO is currently asleep oh my chest, just turned 4 months old. Glad all the nuggets are here and healthy. Looking forward to hearing more of your story.
Happy Birthday to the twins. I love that you keep them private so that they can choose when they get older if they want to be shown or not. It’s Amazing and a great choice as parents in my opinion. Also Ash the whole being able to feel things during surgery is a thing I just learned happens to people sometimes which is like super scary because I myself have had tons of surgery due to a disability I have and the thought that could have happened to me is scary. Thankfully that never happened to me though.
I was also allergic to the glue that they use to attach sensors to my belly during birth and that itchiness was the worst part of flavor for me so I can relate!
Happy Birthday to your little goblins! I love and have always loved the way you speak/tell stories. It draws you in and makes you want to listen. Hope you are both doing well and loving every minute as a family
I've had 2 csections. with my first one, I felt everything. the annestgiologist told my doctor I was ready and she didn't believe me that I had sensation. when I was screaming, my doctor told the anestegiologist to give me more pain meds and she said that the epidural didn't take and she wasn't prepared to offer me anything other than knocking me out which she wouldn't do until my daughter was born. she told me to hang in there for 30 minutes, at which point my doctor swore at her and said count to 10. I don't know if she counted up or down, but I remember hearing 4 and everything paused while they showed me my daughter, but all I cared about was being knocked out. I woke up in the recovery room screaming and my doctor reorintated me to the fact that surgery was over and to assess how I felt at that moment. 2 years later when I had my 2nd child I said I didn't want the same anestiologist and I was told that she no longer works at the hospital and recently I learned that she no longer works at any hospital in the area. For my 2nd csection, my anestegiologist told me what was happening, what I might feel, and I felt nothing after the spinal went in. My anestegiologist for my 2nd csection was great. the first, ignored my needs and yelled at me. my recovery from my 2nd csection was quick, felt fine in less than a week, but my first was in pain for over a month, which I was told was due to how intense the pain was during the surgery. No one wants to talk about that sometimes pain control doesn't work during surgeries, but it can happen and you're not alone.
I also had pre-eclampsia, but the morning I was scheduled to get induced, half of my face went numb (Bell's Palsy). When we got to the hospital I had to go through a cat scan to make sure I wasn't having a stroke. I had to get magnesium in an IV. My cervix never dialated. I also ended up having to get a c-section after about 35 hours. Thankfully my c-section was pretty routine, but I had some intense complications afterwords. I've never heard of anyone with as similar of a birth story to mine. And our kiddos are approximately the same age. I'm a long time follower, and I'm glad you and your sweet little goblins are ok. ❤
Happy belated birthday to the twins! So glad y’all are doing good and getting better. Extra happy you’ve got a loving partner who was helpful through it all and that everybody involved made it out of a tough situation safely.
Ash I am so happy for you that you were able to be your own advocate, and you were listened to by the doctor. I'm so glad you were able to receive the care you needed. Happy birthday to your goblins lol! Thank you for sharing the details. It really helps to hear the good and the bad, but still feel all the love and joy radiating from you both as you talk about meeting your kids for the first time. Lots of love to your family! 💖
Hearing how you advocated for yourself sounds so empowering! It's great that the team respected your choices too. I don't think I've ever heard a birth story from someone who was so well informed about their condition & the options/risks etc. I'm guessing you'd been watching MamaDoctorJones amongst others.
I'm so glad you were able and aware to advocate for yourself! My sister in law was in the same position as you, pre-eclampsia and all, and allowed the manual water breaking and the continuation of medicated labour for far too long, and eventually had a c-section anyway. And while I can't relate to pre-eclampsia or the c-section, I can absolutely relate to going well past 30 hours of labour on induction meds. 36 hours for mine and they were trying to talk me into a section that I didn't want at hour 35 but luckily they checked me one more time and it was go time anyway.
As someone who's been there since the burping beers, long ponytail/braid and backwards cap days, I'm so so incredibly happy for you both. I remember watching your video celebrating your first 3 months (or maybe 6, i can't remember exactly) as a couple and thinking to myself "I wish that'll be me someday". I was a young teen, lost and identity-less and you made me feel safe and less alone. I'm so happy for you two, I hope your children are happy and healthy and I wish you the very best!
I went out to look and I've been watching you for nearly ten years, meaning I was 15 at the time. Thank you for being there for so long!
@@TheGallicWitch I found them around the same time, and I just realized, I was 14 when I first started watching them... I'm 24 now. That's sort of just a little bit insane to me. I am so so happy for them though and they deserve to have a wonderful healthy and safe family!!
@@feliciaroseantonia Me three! I was 14, possibly 13, when I first watched any of Ash's videos (upwards of a year or so after you, if I'm doing my math correctly). I was a little middleschooler who thought they were a straight cis boy. Now I'm 23, very bisexual, very nonbinary, and very much a mess sjhdfksj
same
All of this❤️❤️❤️❤️
i LOVE how private u keep the twins, genuinely thank u for not showing them
yeah same, they seem like very good empathetic people, as someone with not the best childhood it's nice to see children being treated like human beings for a change, i think they'll be great parents and I'm glad we won't be seeing their kids
@@kai_maceration yes! Especially with all the family vloggers these days!
Especially the one who is plastered all over the news.
@@zomb_bree7950
These ladies twins are kept out of public because ash is a mega narcissist. It's all about her.
@@girlofthevalley69469then get tf off Ash’s channel. Nobody’ll miss ya, and clearly, you don’t need to be here if you don’t like the creator.
I am an icu nurse. I want to emphasize your points about being your own advocate and speaking up. Such a great message. It’s so true.
Shame she couldn't breast feed - The natural way children bond with their mother. Unfortunately, her totally unnecessary double mastectomy denied the children of this vital bond.
As a healthcare provider who discusses reproductive options with people, hearing Gray talk about ya'll's experience with the physician who delivered the twins brings me much joy! So special!
I’m only halfway through but I have to say I am super impressed with your ability to intelligently advocate for yourself under stress with proposing the c section as the next step around the 10 minute mark
I was thinking the same thing! Especially after 30 hours of labour they must have been so exhausted 😅
The fact that the staff got a clip of Gray during all of the chaos is so beautiful.
im a trans man who wants to get pregnant in a few years (whose name is also Ash lol), and hearing you talk about your experiences is so helpful for me. i have had a m*scarriage before so there's a lot of fear surrounding that topic for me, but hearing you talk about it makes me feel like its actually possible for me to have kids.
Good luck on becoming a mother
Wish you lots of luck on becoming a FATHER one day.
@@twistedmind3323lol it’s mother. Men can’t have babies sorry
I'm so sorry you're getting comments that invalidate your gender. I know I'm just a stranger on the internet, but I hope you know that some strangers on the internet aren't jerkfaces and see you for who you are, and wish you luck on becoming a dad when you're ready.
@@Phie_Mc it's reality.
Major props to you for being educated enough to stop the doc when they wanted to break your water without asking you for permission.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I delivered my daughter almost 2 years ago and had a similar story: had severe pre-eclampsia, went through reciprocal IVF, had a C-section. As I processed my birth trauma, I was constantly looking for stories like mine so I wouldn’t feel so alone. It is seriously so so amazing you’re sharing your story and I’m sure it will help a lot of people. I also LOVED hearing Gray’s perspective as that’s not often shared, and really important to have their side told, too. Congratulations on making it through year one. Parenthood is the best!! ❤
I gave birth to twins via c-section 30 years ago. I relate to so much of your experience. We still call them Baby A and Baby B. Congrats! Twins are the best!
Gray describing the moments before they were beckoned into the operating room, the words from their friend, the thoughts of their own parents and of Ash and of how much they're going to love those kids--it made me genuinely start crying a little bit lmao. And I'm so happy to hear your doctor was so cool, healthcare can be so scary for queer folks and I'm glad you guys found a doctor who treated you kindly and respectfully and in accordance with your identities. Everything about this sounds so nerve-racking and scary... but so exciting and beautiful! Thank you both for sharing this wild story, it's always nice to hear from y'all after a while. And of course, congratulations!
Hi Ash, I remember having watched your videos when I was 12 and 13. You inspired me to learn about trans and queer identities and played a part in me figuring out that I am a trans man. After coming out, I fell into self-hating transmedicalist ideologies and found myself renouncing open minded people like yourself. Luckily I was able to overcome that when I got out of my hometown and met fantastic confusing beautiful people of all genders and sexualities and walks of life. I’m 20 now and 3 days ago I finally underwent top surgery. It made me think of you and how I watched your top surgery related content with so much longing and envy; I’m so glad to see that you, your spouse, and your children are doing well.
I love hearing birth stories from others outside the gender binary. A big part of my decision to work toward nursing and obstetrics is my own and others' experiences with gendered language in childbirth and medical spaces. We need to hear more stories like yours to help people see that people like us become parents too.
Only females can get pregnant and have babies.
Gawd I missed y'all's so much. It's like running into an acquaintance and talking about experience and life stuff before saying bye and seeing them again soon💖💖💖
Happy birthday to the twins!
Also Gray’s segments in this video brought such light and joy to what was a very stressful story! ❤❤❤
I had preeclampsia with my second child. Your story seems like everything went super slowly. They gave me the pitocin and magnesium basically as soon as I was settled into a delivery room, and broke my water like 10 minutes later. The pitocin worked really well, so I delivered my child in 15 minutes.
I'm so shocked they weren't the ones bringing up a c-section, especially with your condition progressing and you being a long way off a delivery (with TWINS). I'm glad you had the knowledge to suggest it yourself
Around 13:30 is when I realized that dinner is not the right time to watch a birth story. But all jokes aside: thank you for this birth story from a queer perspective in such clear and direct words. Really appreciate it ❤ Also, it's great to get a peek of Gray and hear their side of the story.
*Be your own advocate* is amazing and invaluable advice. While not related to birthing, I can certainly relate to what you described regarding your anesthesia experience (even once having a "waking" moment under what should have been *heavy* general).
Our brains and bodies are interesting things that can be highly unpredictable, so stay educated, trust your instincts when it comes to safety, and *always* speak up if something feels amiss.
Ash 100 percent know what you mean about feeling everything while numb. I could tell if it was a cut, a tug, I even announced when her shoulder popped out cause I could tell a limb was rubbing over the slice. Freaked them out. The only thing they could think was it may have been the sensory problems that come with my ADHD on top of me being a panic attack ridden mess.
I have to know though did gray peek over the curtain? My fiance did both times and was shocked both times. The nurses and doc made jokes that he may want to look into medical school bc usually the support person/parent goes down after looking and he just seemed stoic but caring about it all 😂
I am autistic and ADHD -and definitely someone who notices all the details. I have never given birth but the idea of a needed/emergency C-section icks the bejebus out of me...(but vaginal birth doesn't) ...after hearing this story, I know why my body feels so ick over a C. ...I am likely to feel all the things like Ash has said they did. Yipes.
Thank you for your comment toward the end about being your own advocate. I'm a nurse and have an extensive patient history. Advocacy is so so so so so important and so many people don't realize it. Also, happiest of birthdays, kiddos! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
So good to see you again! Happy belated to the twins and I'm glad you caught the preeclampsia in time, and I'm so happy your experience with that nurse was amazing .
Happy Birthday Twinses!!! 🎂 🎂Good job keeping them alive parental units.
I’m still not over the excitement of you guys being parents 😍
You're back! I remember you putting up the key lime pie video around the time we were having our first. It made me feel much less alone as a NB gestational parent. Now I'm 6 months with our second (and last 🤞) and you're here with this one! Thank you so much from one NB GP to another!
Oooohhh pitocin is rough. I had preecmplesyia please ignore how I spelled that. Mine was caught at 38 weeks my blood pressure went to stroke level they turned pitocin up to 20. I begged for epidural they tried 3 times and the epidural failed every time then they say ok we are going to continue to keep an extremely close eye on you. Well 2hrs later I was ready to push I pushed my daughter out in 30min
Congrats 🎉 happy b'day to the twins
Omg happy birthday to the twins!! And you're not alone with the experience in feeling things during the c section, my sister's second child was delivered via c and she expressed almost the exact same sensations, I think some people just don't take to anaesthesia the same
It’s actually scientifically accepted that redheads DO need more anesthesia! May not be interesting for you if you don’t know any readheads though. 😊
@@crystalmprincess15I'm strawberry blonde, so halfway between redhead and blonde and I can verify. The dentist was really weird as a kid because I wouldn't be totally numbed all the time and I would freak out
@crystalmprincess15 oh that's interesting! My sister is not a redhead but all my siblings do carry the red head gene (we all get random patches of ginger body hair, and my sister's child has red hair) so perhaps that is why she reacts the way she does to anaesthesia
I have EDS [which oddly seems to be disproportionately represented in the trans/NB population??] & I'm DEFINITELY resistant to all local/regional anesthesia. I make sure to emphasize that to EVERY MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL!! Ever since I started advocating for that, I get extra doses or some twilight sedation so I don't remember feeling so much sensation. But like... When I had a steroid epidural for nerve pain, I could FEEL the catheter going into my spine & it freaked me out. It was worth the pain relief but EW EW EW SO BIZARRE.
Wow, what a story. Thank you for sharing with us.
Happy birthday, Goblins!!
And thank you as ever, Ash and Gray, for sharing your stories as you do. It means more than you know. I especially appreciate the note on being your own advocate! I've been through more than my fair share of the medical system, and have only gotten as far as i have through advocating for myself. It's very nice to hear said that we are the experts in our own bodies, for how often patients with chronic illness like me are told otherwise. And everyone -- but it's especially vicious with chronic illness/disability.
Appreciate you both very much.
Wow, I've never heard a birth story so similar to mine? I had a singleton and she was born at 33 weeks, but the pics of you in the hospital, the pre-e with severe features, and every part of your c section from feeling VERY specific movements to the vomiting... it really sent me back. I'm in tears watching this. You are both amazing and Ash I'm so happy you are okay and both the babies are okay. It's definitely a scary experience.
I feel like advocating for a c-section may have very well saved your life. I wish more people who went through childbirth were given easy access to the information needed to realize the situation and act accordingly
Ash I could not be happier or prouder for you. For this beautiful journey and also sharing it with us. Most of all, your advocacy for yourself and understanding of what you and the babies needed - that is truly inspiring. Many congrats to you, Gray, and your beautiful family!
My mom says she could feel everything during her c-section too! She's had four though and says it wasn't the case for all of them - she felt it the most with me . . . when she had the most severe pre-eclampsia. And she had less severe pre-eclampsia during my youngest sister's pregnancy and says that the anesthesia just seemed to wear off too early. She had no pre-eclampsia for the other two pregnancies and had typical c-sections. Based on all this very limited anecdotal experience it seems like there may be a correlation between pre-eclampsia and anesthesia/sensation during c-section!
Definitely may be the blood pressure difference, and the way that the meds go through the blood streammmm Oo
It's amazing how far you've come. I remember watching your videos back in 2016 and learning from your experience and knowledge. It's wonderful to hear about your journey.
I'm so happy to see you comeing back after all these years❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
You are both rays of sunshine and I still love to see you both after all these years. The videos are still great and entertaining- I love to see it.
The way that your content is like a source of comfort and sanctuary is so healing to me. thank you for making these videos and your vulnerability
I had a C-section with twins about two months after you guys. It’s really great to hear your story. I can assure you that I did * not * feel hands in my body or organs moving around. That sounds really scary and weird. You’re a champ for getting through that ❤
Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Goblins! 😁
I love how you advocate for yourself, consult, discuss and then choose better optinion for Ash and kids to healthy and safe
This was lovely and wholesome, thanks for sharing your family's story 😊🥰
And the message about medical self-advocacy is so important.
Love seeing your videos come up, keep being amazing.
Thank you for sharing! And thank you for keeping the twins privacy.
Happy birthday goblins!!!
I am also a non-binary parent, and I've been so grateful to hear your story.
I love your final message about advocating for yourself. Having now been through a traumatic induction that resulted in a vaginal birth with shoulder distocia, a second delivery that started as an induction but never should have been (thanks to vasa previa), stage 3 triple positive breast cancer treatments, and two fractured legs (one an open tib/fib), I have learned that the medical system is critical but flawed (like many aspects of life). Dr’s egos, not believe a patient’s lives experience, diminishing legitimate concerns, and completely unfounded accusations of drug seeking post-op (let me tell you, chemo sucks, radiation burns suck, c-sections suck, but thus far the worst pain - for me - is postoperative repair of bones, yeow!).
It has taken me a long time to be my own advocate, but life has taught me some solid lessons along that path.
So thankful that you and the twins are healthy and doing well now, but know that those experiences can kinda stay with you, even when, for the most part, you are no longer thinking of them, and don’t be hard on yourself if they do.
For example, I am 5 years out from finishing my cancer treatments. When I go for check-ins at the oncology centre, my BP is always high, even if I don’t outwardly feel worried or unsafe. In my family Dr’s office, NBD.
Happy birthday 1st kiddos! You have some awesome parents and are so loved.
this haircut makes you look like the welsh singer/songwriter ren its pretty cute
SOBBED all the way through this. I am so happy and weirdly proud for you guys. You are so strong and just brilliant parents. Also got emotional at all of the footage the nurses got for you, how kind!
I’ve missed you guys🥰
happy birthday to the twins! so proud of you and gray for being parents for a whole year!
Happy birthday to your kiddos!! So sorry your health went absolutely nuts but I’m glad you lived to tell the tale >:)
Also Gray getting excited about the twin’s ears is so cute😭 I just know y’all are being and will continue being wonderful parents!!💕
I'm late, but happy birthday, goblins!!! Thank you so much for the update! I honestly squealed when Gray showed up. Sounds like it was rough, but all of you made it through it!
Happiest 1st Birthday Goblins 🎉🎉 Much love from a Nana in CT ❤ Thank you both for sharing your intense, scary, sometimes boring, wild birthing experience ‼️
I love every part of this adventure lol. I'm so proud of u for being ur own advocate bc so many medical professionals don't understand the unspoken power dynamic .
What a wild birth story! I definitely resonate with the advice to be your own health advocate. I’ve had some bad experiences during times when I didn’t know I was allowed to push back-and it’s made a world of difference since I learned what my rights are as a patient and started seeking out docs who let me participate in my care.
I'm a triplet and I've heard my moms side of it describing her joy and love but ive never heard her birth story as in depth as this story was. I know your experiences aren't the same but hearing you experience with your twins makes me appreciate and feel so much more awe for my mom and everything she went through and for all our loved ones who were there for her too. Thank you for sharing your story
Happy birthday goblins! I hope you continue to grow stronger and always try to be a little kinder. Congrats Ash and Gray! ❤
Happy birthday, twins! That birth sure was a rollercoaster of emotions, I'm glad you're all relatively okay and that the hospital staff was amazing.❤ Thank you for keeping the babies private, not showing pictures. You're parenting good with that.
Thank you so much for sharing this story. I really like the way you edited together, with alternating POV.
Y’all are adorable! Out of curiosity, what do you plan on being called as parents? Mom and dad, or more gender-fluid alternatives?
I was wondering the same!
Mom and mom
I heard other people got a in-between name of both mommy and daddy like Doddy or Moddy
AAAAAAAA CONGRATS ON THE FIRST BIRTHDAY OF THE TWINS!!!! YALL SEEM LIKE SUCH GOOD PARENTS AND AASDFULSAKDFAKDS I CANT BELIEVE YOU'RE PARENTS NOW!! i started watching this channel in 2019 when i was younger and now i can't believe you have kids 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
I can’t wait to watch this in full
In the next few days. Thank you for all the time and effort you have put into making this for us 🤗
Thank you for not Sharenting (parents sharing TMI about their kids online). Your kids will thank you. -and I thank you (as someone who cares about kids a lot (works with kids) and feels absolutely icky about how much information we all can look up about specific kiddos online. 😖).
I am so happy to hear about all the things Parenting you wanna share. I am enby myself and always happy to hear from other enby parents and their experiences/choices. ❤
Happy Birthday! Y'all're amazing! < 3
So happy for you and your newly expanded family! Wishing you all the best.
I really loved hearing your story, thank you so much for sharing this part of your journey!
And, ofc, happy bday to the twins 🎉
so incredibly thrilled to hear the babes are in the world safe and healthy, and so are their parents!! congrats and happy birthday goblins!!
Been a subscriber since you were on Hannah Hart’s channel! It has been such a joy watching you grow! So happy for you, Gray and your precious little babes!
Yes! Be your own advocate! Well, as much as possible. My own c-section was uneventful but the nurses pressured breastfeeding too soon and too often. My son got a severe aversion to it and never nursed, I had to pump for 8 months. There were so many times I wanted to tell them to leave us alone, he wasnt hungry yet, but I was too sick from the anesthesia to speak up.
My sister was attempting a VBAC and after many many hours her doula suddenly insisted to my sister and her doc that it was time for a c-section. Nothing had happened but she was adamant about it. Turned out my sister's uterus had basically exploded and she almost died. That doula's instincts and fierce advocacy saved my sister and my nephew.
this story totally didn’t make me cry /s you did fantastic and happy birthday to your twins 🎉
a very happy birthday to the kiddos! All the best to you and your family
Thank you for sharing this with us! Such a joy to lean more into this side of things
Thank you both so much for sharing! And happy birthday to the gremlins!
Omg, I just watched your video about top surgery with Jackson Bird (from like, 5 years ago). I just wanted to say, you look amazing!!!! ❤❤❤ Your face looks so different, in a good way!
This made my cry. So happy for you and proud of you both.
It was nice to hear from both of you!!
Happy Birthday to the Little Hardell's!
I’m toward the end of my second trimester right now, so taking a birthing class in a few weeks. I’m so scared for all of the unpredictability around birth. So happy to hear how you advocated for the care that you wanted/needed. Wish me luck to be able to do the same!
I went through a singleton pregnancy but also went from fine to severe pre-e quickly at 35+5. I was on the mag drip so my body didn’t respond to the induction stuff at all. Went in for a c section too. It was a crazy experience and hearing your story stirred up some crazy emotions. My LO is currently asleep oh my chest, just turned 4 months old. Glad all the nuggets are here and healthy. Looking forward to hearing more of your story.
OMG congratulations! I was just thinking about you guys the other day. I'm so happy for you!
Happy Birthday to the twins. I love that you keep them private so that they can choose when they get older if they want to be shown or not. It’s Amazing and a great choice as parents in my opinion.
Also Ash the whole being able to feel things during surgery is a thing I just learned happens to people sometimes which is like super scary because I myself have had tons of surgery due to a disability I have and the thought that could have happened to me is scary. Thankfully that never happened to me though.
You did it! You brought people into the world! Thank you for sharing your story!
Glad y'all were able to have a safe birth! Happy birthday(s) to the twins! wishing you and Gray much more joy in parenthood!!
What a sweet video! Happy birthday, twins!!! ❤️
I absolutely love getting to here how you're doing. Been following you since your MDK days.
I was also allergic to the glue that they use to attach sensors to my belly during birth and that itchiness was the worst part of flavor for me so I can relate!
Happy Birthday to your little goblins! I love and have always loved the way you speak/tell stories. It draws you in and makes you want to listen. Hope you are both doing well and loving every minute as a family
Happy birthday goblins!! Also I am happy to hear everything turned out well considering everything
So excited to watch this! And so very happy for you both 🎉
Congratulations! You both are so strong and awesome!
I've had 2 csections. with my first one, I felt everything. the annestgiologist told my doctor I was ready and she didn't believe me that I had sensation. when I was screaming, my doctor told the anestegiologist to give me more pain meds and she said that the epidural didn't take and she wasn't prepared to offer me anything other than knocking me out which she wouldn't do until my daughter was born. she told me to hang in there for 30 minutes, at which point my doctor swore at her and said count to 10. I don't know if she counted up or down, but I remember hearing 4 and everything paused while they showed me my daughter, but all I cared about was being knocked out. I woke up in the recovery room screaming and my doctor reorintated me to the fact that surgery was over and to assess how I felt at that moment. 2 years later when I had my 2nd child I said I didn't want the same anestiologist and I was told that she no longer works at the hospital and recently I learned that she no longer works at any hospital in the area. For my 2nd csection, my anestegiologist told me what was happening, what I might feel, and I felt nothing after the spinal went in. My anestegiologist for my 2nd csection was great. the first, ignored my needs and yelled at me. my recovery from my 2nd csection was quick, felt fine in less than a week, but my first was in pain for over a month, which I was told was due to how intense the pain was during the surgery. No one wants to talk about that sometimes pain control doesn't work during surgeries, but it can happen and you're not alone.
I also had pre-eclampsia, but the morning I was scheduled to get induced, half of my face went numb (Bell's Palsy). When we got to the hospital I had to go through a cat scan to make sure I wasn't having a stroke. I had to get magnesium in an IV. My cervix never dialated. I also ended up having to get a c-section after about 35 hours. Thankfully my c-section was pretty routine, but I had some intense complications afterwords. I've never heard of anyone with as similar of a birth story to mine. And our kiddos are approximately the same age. I'm a long time follower, and I'm glad you and your sweet little goblins are ok. ❤
Happy belated birthday to the twins! So glad y’all are doing good and getting better. Extra happy you’ve got a loving partner who was helpful through it all and that everybody involved made it out of a tough situation safely.
Ash I am so happy for you that you were able to be your own advocate, and you were listened to by the doctor. I'm so glad you were able to receive the care you needed. Happy birthday to your goblins lol! Thank you for sharing the details. It really helps to hear the good and the bad, but still feel all the love and joy radiating from you both as you talk about meeting your kids for the first time. Lots of love to your family! 💖
this is an amazing beautiful video. congrats on one year of parenting. hope the birthday party was a smash!
Hearing how you advocated for yourself sounds so empowering! It's great that the team respected your choices too. I don't think I've ever heard a birth story from someone who was so well informed about their condition & the options/risks etc. I'm guessing you'd been watching MamaDoctorJones amongst others.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDDOS!!!! You have wonderful parents 💚💚💚💚
Happy Birthday Ashton.
was not expecting to start balling, oh my god. so happy for you guys
This is amazing, thank you!
I'm so glad you were able and aware to advocate for yourself! My sister in law was in the same position as you, pre-eclampsia and all, and allowed the manual water breaking and the continuation of medicated labour for far too long, and eventually had a c-section anyway. And while I can't relate to pre-eclampsia or the c-section, I can absolutely relate to going well past 30 hours of labour on induction meds. 36 hours for mine and they were trying to talk me into a section that I didn't want at hour 35 but luckily they checked me one more time and it was go time anyway.