Babies arrived / how early were your twins?

minirella

My twins were born on Monday at 31 weeks. I came down with the stomach virus, it kick-started my labor, and they weren't able to stop the contractions. They both are doing really well. I keep doing the what-if game with myself...I just wasn't ready for them to be here yet and while I'm so happy they are doing well, it tears at my heart to see them so tiny in the NICU.

APRILMW

Praying for NICU time to be short & uneventful! No experience as I'm still expecting my twins, just wanted to say congrats & hoping for them to thrive & be home soon.

twins4kim

CongratulAtions and good luck with the NICU! Mine were 35.5 weekers only had one week in the NICU. Just try to stay calm and hope everything works out uneventful!

Mrs.McIrish

Sending T&Ps that their nicu time will be short and that you will all be home together soon. Mine are still inside babies at 36 wks + and I know I've been lucky to get that time. Hugs.

persephonerose

My twins came at 37 weeks, by my choice. I just could not be pregnant any longer. I could barely walk so I begged for my c-section to be moved up by a week.  When my twins ended up in the NICU I felt awful for selecting to go early, although it probably saved my life as I ended up admitted into the hospital afterwards unable to breathe. Turns out I have pulmonary edema and a torn mitral valve.

Some things are out of our control. You do the best you can for you and your babies and before you know it they will be home with you.

carrotcake06

Congrats! Hope your NICU stay is short sand uneventful.

My twins were born at 34w after baby A's water broke. They stayed in the NICU 13 days and are active, thriving 16mo olds now!

sasky

Congrats! Best of luck and positive thoughts for a short NICU stay.

I was very lucky to go 38 weeks. But I hear if many MOMs who go early. And while it's so scary, their babies were eventually perfectly healthy and thriving.

wille2b

Mine at 33 weeks and spent 3 weeks in the NICU. Hoping you guys have a short stay!! And congrats on your babies!

RayRay007

Congrats! Wishing your babies a short NICU stay!

minirella

Thanks y'all. The neonatologist is estimating 5 weeks based on how well they were doing when born but we know it could be longer.

spin25

It's so hard to have them in the NICU even when you know they are being well cared for. Mine were born at 30w4d and came home after 29 and 38 days. I hope their stay is uneventful.

morrkim

Congrats! I hope your NICU stay is short and uneventful. I was lucky my twins made it to 38 weeks.

BabyKsMommy

Congrats! Mine were born at 32weeks, I went on hospital bed rest at 31w2d, baby a's water broke. I did receive the steroid shots for their lungs. They were in the nicu till they were 35w3d gestational age. Mine weren't on breathing support but they did have an IV for antibiotics and lipids. They also had an NG tube to eat. But the weeks pass quickly and every week they make so much progress.

I really wasn't ready for mine to come so early either. I wasn't prepared at home and to have such little babies. I'm sure your babies will be home before you know it.

If u haven't I would ask the dr/nurses what particular requirements their hospital has that the babies have to meet before coming home. Ours wouldn't let the babies come home before 35w, car seat test, eating on their own, regulate body temperature and no apnea/"Brady's" for 5 days.

CaliCarly77

Mine were born at 37.2 and I too did the what if game - they were only 4.14 and 5.2 lbs each. I thought they were bigger so I didn't protest when my OB wanted to c section them out. They didn't spend any time in the NICU though so for that I am grateful. 

I think as a new mom you will be full of what-ifs and second guessing everything you do or don't do. I can't tell you anything that will change that, but just know you will slowly come to terms with it and stop doing it. At 10 months with mine, I am so much less over-protective. It's really hard - just hang in there, you will be ok!!! 

SereJane

Congrats!
Mine were born at 33+1 last week and we're looking at 2-4 more weeks in the nicu.

minirella

They have to meet 3 main requirements: (1) maintain body temperature, (2) be able to suck/feed from breast or bottle, and (3) steadily gain weight. They still have to do the car seat test but the neonatologist said that isn't something they consider as a main requirement. There is no weight limit and I was told they actually send many babies home under 5 lbs - if that becomes the case with us, we will be required to have a car seat that accommodates a 4 pounder. I did get 1 of the steroid shots and only 1 of them was on oxygen via nasal cannula for the first night in the NICU as a precaution due to meconium in the bag of waters. Her bag was bulging and they said she was stressed. They are doing amazing and were taken off the warmers today and are on air circulation so they have to work a little bit at maintaining their temperature. They are in the growing stage right now (they were 33 weeks as of yesterday) and will start breast nuzzling late next week.

I'm actually doing well myself but it is because they are doing so well. Thank y'all.

mylittleladies1229

Congratulations! Mine were 30w2d.  They were small, but healthy otherwise and we had a relatively uneventful NICU stay.  They were called "grower-feeders" (growing and learning to feed) and it sounds like yours are in the same situation.  Good luck to you and them!  

greks84

Congrats! Praying for them to graduate from the NIC soon! Do they let you stay at the hospital with them or do you go home?

minirella

Growers-feeders is probably the correct term. They are being fed by the NG tube right now but they were approved for breast nuzzling yesterday. Sadly, my husband and daughter are sick so I've excused myself from the NICU yesterday and today so that I'm not spreading germs. Hopefully we can try it tomorrow and see what they do.

I was offered a "boarder" room but we live in a subdivision behind the hospital (literally a 3 minute drive) so I declined it.

jennyshawn0808

Congrats! I was super lucky & mine were born at 39w after induction.

minirella

The pathology came back on my placentas, turns out I had chorioamnionitis or something like that. Basically, I had an infection in one or both of the placentas. They are pretty certain this was the cause of my labor.

APRILMW

Glad to have answers- it's always nice to know the why behind things! Hope the babies are doing great!