I am 32 weeks and have been on bed rest since 26 weeks due to being dilated and a positive FFN test. I am thankful to be this far but something tells me I'm not going to make it much further. If you delivered your twins between 32-34 weeks...were they ok, long NICU stay? Just trying to prepare.
Re: Moms who delivered twins between wks 32-34...?
"I have four children. Two are adopted. I forget which two. -Bob Constantine
"All for Love,' a Saviour prayed 'Abba Father have Your way. Though they know not what they do...Let the Cross draw men to You...."
i had been on hospital BR at 26 wks for preterm labor issues and also had positive fFN. I'd had my second round of steroid shots at 31 weeks. I went into labor at 34w4d and the girls were born the following day at 34w5d via c-section.
Their weights were G=4-13 and J=4-9, exactly what the estimate was on the last ultrasound. G had difficulty breathing ( I didn't get to hear her cry in the OR) and was rushed to the NICU and J was okay breathing at first, got to see her for a few seconds after she was born, and was rushed to the NICU. G was on CPAP for about 36 hours and J had to stay on it for a little bit longer. After that, J had feeding issues and had to get a tube through her nose for feeding. G was a little yellow, but J actually tested high for jaundice and had to be put on the billi blanket. They had issues maintaining body temp and went from the warming bed to isolettes. They were also having trouble gaining weight. On day 6 in the NICU they were able to be weaned from the isolettes and were in cribs. Day 8 they were a few ounces shy of their birth weights and the neonatalogist discharged us with orders to take them to a pediatrician within 36 hours for weight checks.
There were many other babies in the NICU with us that were struggling much more and it was so heartbreaking to endure all of what we were dealing with as well as seeing the other sick babies, some of them without ever getting visitors. We got to know some of the other parents and since we lived over 45 miles (2 1/2 hours drive, actually) from the hospital, we were able to get a room at the Ronald McDonald House which was next door to the hospital and that made it not so bad at night when we had to leave.
Good luck and I hope you are able to stay pregnant for a lot longer!
Mine were born at 33 weeks. I had the steroid shots, so that was good.
Abby was 5lb 4oz. and she had a really hard time breathing at the beginning. She needed a breathing tube for a day and then she graduated to a CPAP. She stayed on that for a few days. Once she was able to breathe on her own, she just needed to get the hang of eating.
Lily was 4lb. 5oz. and needed no breathing support. She screamed like a banshee when she was born. She had a tough time learning to eat and she struggled with apnea for the majority of her stay in the NICU.
Abby stayed in the NICU for 28 days and Lily stayed for 33. Now they are very healthy babies. In fact, they have caught up to their peers quite nicely and are almost average sized.
I had my older girls at 34 weeks and 5 days due to pre-e. I did get steriods the day before delivering. Anna was 4lbs 15oz, Bailey was 5lbs 1 oz., they were in the NICU for 2-3 days. They were on room air no breathing issues. The only issues they had were that Anna was very exhausted right after birth and they put an IV on her head (her arm and leg veins were too tiny). They both had jaundice but it was mild. The hospital but them both in the same bed after the first 24 hours and they did very well, they were in better health than me at that point.
My younger twins were born at 38 weeks and 6 days, I was induced after my labor wasn't progressing. No issues at that point and they were in my room the whole time except when the hospital did testing or if I asked the nurses to take them to the nursery for me to sleep. Kayden was 6lbs 3 oz and her identical twin Madison was 4 lbs 14 oz, they had twin to twin transfusion syndrome with a underdeveloped umbilical cord.
My suggestion is put faith in your doctors and take it one day at a time. Everyday you can keep them inside the better they will do outside. It's a tough thing to do, but you are sooooooo close. My doctors would say...just until 34 weeks, then they will be ok. That was almost 10 years ago and technology is even better than 10 years ago. One day at a time, and just know you don't have control over what your body does, you've made it this far and that is great!
My girls were born at 33w 4d. My water broke at 33w 3d out of nowhere. I was able to get one round of steroid shots and 6 hours after my water broke, the girls were born. Baby B was on CPAP for a few hours, Baby A was just on room air. They were both in the NICU for two weeks as feeders/growers and some jaundice.
Good luck to you!
Mine were born at 32w5d and are perfectly healthy now (at almost 8 months). My DD was in the NICU for 24 days as a feeder/grower. She was 4lbs, 15 oz at birth and came home well over 6 pounds. My DS was in the NICU for 30 days. He had an issue with his blood that was unrelated to his prematurity. The condition made him lethargic and made his jaundice worse (almost all preemies will have some level of jaundice), so it took him much longer to learn to eat and pack on the pounds. He is perfectly healthy now though and came home from the hopsital at almost 6 pounds.
At almost 8 months, my little preemies weigh 19.7 and 18.13 pounds each and have hit all major milestones on time. The NICU is rough, but once you hit 32 weeks, your chances of major complications go down significantly.