medical team helping pregnant woman deliver child
Leah Berenson
Leah Berenson
January 30, 2023 ·  4 min read

Mom Gave Birth After a 40-hour Labor, with a Surprise on Tow.

Having a child is an exciting time for parents until labor pains kick in. A woman’s body undergoes a series of uncomfortable or painful sensations. Fortunately, by the end, they’ll have welcomed a beautiful new baby into the world. After that, cute baby clothes and celebrations await the new family as they bond with and enjoy each other. However, occasionally surprises occur. While some surprises are off-putting or nerve-wracking, some change lives for the better.

Everything was Going According to Plan

In 2017, 34-year-old Matthew Ziesemer and his wife, 31-year-old Nicole, were preparing for the birth of their first child. Despite severe morning sickness, Nicole had opted for a natural pregnancy. She chose yoga balls, breathing techniques, and cool showers to manage her discomfort. The holistic route didn’t end there.

During her pregnancy, she hadn’t had any ultrasounds done and opted out of painkillers during labor and delivery. In the end, Nicole did opt for an epidural after 45 hours of labor. Due to not having ultrasounds done before she entered labor, the family was still waiting to find out the sex of their new baby.

Long and Painful Labor

On December 30th, Nicole went into labor, and the couple went to the hospital excited to find out if they were having a boy or girl. At 10:06 PM, they welcomed a baby girl into the world, and they were ecstatic to meet their new bundle of joy. Blakeley Faith Ziesemer was born at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial Hospital in Fremont, Michigan. Weighing only 4 pounds, 4 ounces, they finally had their tiny bundle of joy. “It was unbelievable, there is not a moment like it,” Matt said. However, after labor and delivery, something unusual happened. Nicole said, “We thought the biggest surprise was going to be the sex of the baby, little did we know.”

Following the first delivery, it became apparent that Nicole was still in labor. Megan Forshee was the doctor helping with labor and delivery. She took diligent care Nicole, and checked to ensure there was no severe internal damage. “I reached in to check the patient and realized there was a head,” Forshee said. It turns out, the second baby is believed to have been hiding behind Blakeley when they did the ultrasound. Therefore, everyone assumed there would only be one baby delivered.

Read: Pregnant Teen Chose Adoption – 33 Years Later, She Reunites with Her Son

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A post shared by Nicole Ziesemer (@ziesemernicole)

Basking in Joy After Labor

The Ziesemers were stunned. They had no idea they would begin this new chapter with two babies! “We thought she was joking, and she was like, ‘I don’t lie about these things’,” Nicole said. “It was crazy. We were over the moon but in utter shock. I just couldn’t take it all in and was still in so much pain that it was almost impossible to process. There were really no signs that I was carrying more than one baby, in fact people said how small I was.”

Nicole went through 59 more minutes of labor and at 11:05 p.m., Cade Matthew Ziesemer made his way into the world. Nicole recalled, “My first thought after delivering the second baby, ‘oh crap!’ we need a second crib, a second car seat, a second everything. But I really can’t imagine having just one baby now. It’s like they were meant to be. I love the thought that they’ll always have each other.”

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A post shared by Nicole Ziesemer (@ziesemernicole)

Strong Genetics

Nicole has since learned twins and triplets run in her family. She said: “It was amazing to hear that it’s a bit of a family tradition, my grandma’s cousins apparently had twins and triplets.” She also said, “Unless there were any clear medical red flags,” they would likely do things the same way. “People do ask us if we were to have another baby ‘would we have ultrasounds this time?’ but I honestly don’t think we would.”

Adventure of a Lifetime

Matt gushed over his wife and the birth of his new babies. He said: “‘It was truly just such a surreal moment. I could not believe that my wife was carrying two children that entire time. He now says, “My wife does an amazing job with the two of them. I really don’t know how she does it all day every day.

Children bring so much joy and light into the lives of those around them—the pitter-patter of tiny feet, adorable clothes, and the magic of watching them discover the world. There are so many precious moments that follow pregnancy, then labor and delivery. Alternatively, there are sleepless nights, runny noses, and BIG feelings. Unexpectedly having twins is a major and life-changing surprise, and the couple will unquestionably have their hands full. They will also likely experience more love and joy than they ever imagined.

Keep Reading: Pregnant Mom Has Baby with Rare Condition, Is Baffled When Adoptive Family Won’t Take Her

Sources

  1. Michigan couple expected one baby. but, after delivery, the doctor saw a second head.” USA Today. Amir Abbas. January 5, 2018.
  2. Mum discovers she is having twins when nurse stitching her up spots second head.” Mirror. Hattie Bishop and Lucy Clarke-Billings. February 1, 2019.