How early were your multiples born?
My twins were born at 24 weeks (16 weeks too soon)
How long did your babies stay in the NICU (if at all)?
Ivy stayed in the NICU 106 days and Kenny stayed 115 days
How old are your children now?
2 months and 26 days 'adjusted age' and a little over 6 months 'birth age'
My Preemie Twins
My preemie twins are not only miracles, but they are fighters as well! When I was 20 weeks pregnant I was put on modified bedrest. At 23 weeks my water broke due to PROM. I was put on total bedrest in the hospital and given antibiotics immediately. Over the next week I got two steriod shots (to help develop the lungs) and a 12 hour mag sulfate drip (to stop labor). At 24 weeks I went into labor and had an emergency C-section. Ivy weighed 1 lb 2 oz and Kenny weighed 1 lb 4 oz. I didn't hear them cry but I did see them briefly before the NICU doctors wrapped them up and immediately began working to keep them alive.
The Early Days
The first days were the hardest days. Memories flooded back of my firstborn son, also a 24 weeker, who only survived 10 hours in the NICU just 3 year earlier. My world got rocked a second time. I could not believe this was happening again. All I could think for the first 48 hours was "Please let my babies live." To be honest, the first couple of days after the babies were born are hazy because we were in survival mode. Fortunately, history did not repeat itself. Some of the challenges/problems our babies faced were: both babies being on the ventilator for over 7 weeks, not being able to touch our babies for weeks, both babies being fed through NG tubes for weeks, numerous blood transfusions, my son having a grade 1 brain bleed (this later reversed), both babies having ROP stage 2 and 3 (this also reversed eventually after many, many weeks), my son had bilateral hernia surgery, both babies have acid reflux, both babies have umbilical hernia, and my girl having very high blood sugar (over 500) for over a week, and there were many other things that changed on a daily or weekly basis but have now since gone away. Additionally, there were numerous ER visits once they came home and both of them had to be readmitted into the NICU for a short period of time.
Advice
- take lots of pictures
- create a Caring Bridge website
- get a spiral notebook and bring it everyday to write important info - keep track of each baby on different sides
- ask questions until you understand the answers
- get to know your babies primary nurses
- let your social worker help you
- take the CPR class
- don't read about a problem if it has not happened yet
- you are your babies advocate
- some days are better than others
- it's ok to feel angry, sad, depressed, cheated out of a 'normal' situation
- don't compare your situation to those around you
- one day at a time
