A couple questions for twin mommas...

amd1982 · November 2012

hi ladies...we just found out yesterday that we'll be having a c-section in the next 2-4 weeks, depending on how the cord flow is on baby girl. as long as its stable, we keep them in. however being realistic, the mfm told me that usually after 30 weeks the cord flow can begin to diminish. the good news is that baby girl gained 10 oz and is now 1200g (or 2.7 lbs give or take) and baby boy is 3.9 lbs. i feel really good with their recent weight gain so i'm just hoping for the best over the next few weeks.

here are my questions:

1. i've heard that it's "protocol" for multiples not to return home from the NICU until their EDD. however i'm curious...if i make it to 34 weeks and each baby is a decent weight and their respiratory system is stable, is there any reason why they have to wait until 1/29?

2. this is a stupid thing to be concerned about, but i'm only asking because this may be my one and only pregnancy. i want to have the same experience as everyone else (as much as possible). in terms of newborn pictures, how did you work that once they came home from the hospital/nicu? did you do them right away, or did you wait a while? i want to have those adorable photos but don't want to put my babies at risk for anything...

3. lastly, for those who had planned c-sections, do you still have to get the Group B strep test? i've read conflicting posts on google. Thanks ladies!

Brummy14 · November 2012

I'm no expert on all of this -- but our NICU will certainly send the babies home once they're ready. I believe there are insurance requirements that won't allow NICUs to keep babies after they've met a set of milestones. The biggest for most will be the feeding -- ensuring the babies are strong enough to take all feedings via bottle, and don't tire out, and then require the rest to be fed via the feeding tube. Usually the NICU requires that the baby take all feedings via bottle for a number of days before being sent home. Of course, they also need to be stable cardiovascular and respiratory-wise, but from what I've seen, feeding tends to be the hang-up.

The docs have told us to expect they'll be in the NICU until at least 38 weeks in our case -- potentially earlier if one or both of them decide to be rock stars -- but it could also be longer.

We're having our photographer come into the NICU to take photos (check out https://www.picturesofhopefoundation.org/ for complimentary NICU photos in your area), and then having her come to our house once the girls are home in January. For the record, thinking about photos is not stupid - you want to remember this process via photos as much as possible (or so I've heard from fellow preemie moms) As long as our photog has been symptom-free of anything for 5 days and washes her hands when she comes to our home, we're fine with it (those are the same restrictions we'll apply to our family when they come to visit -- we'll be limiting visitors strictly to family and maybe a couple of very close friends).

sweetsugarmama · November 2012

1.There's really no telling how long they may have to stay. They need to normally be doing nipple feedings (eating not through a tube) and breathing ok. Mine were born 9 weeks early and went home after 6 weeks in the NICU (they went home with apnea monitors). We saw plenty of babies born later and earlier who went home before us. Most weren't there until their due date but there were a couple exceptions.

2. There are photographers in most hospitals who can work with the NICU to do pictures, there also might be some in your area who come to the NICU photos. We had a mix up and didn't get to take them in the hospital (ours offered to do it as we were leaving but there was a mix up and we didn't get them). When we got home we had a photographer come over but it was too late to get those cute squishy babies holding their chins up. You want those in the first couple weeks. And check with your NICU on their rules, I'm willing to bet mine wouldn't let a photographer in but I know others do.

3. I think I did need the group b strep test. My c-sec didn't get the chance to be scheduled but they knew I would have one (had a previous one). When they realized they couldn't stop my labor and I needed one right away they still did the strep test then.

And good luck!!

emilyec1 · November 2012

Not sure about the last 2 questions, but I agree with PP on #1 that the babies will be sent home as soon as they are ready. My little guys were born just a little over 5 lbs. (and were technically under 5 lbs. when they left the hospital), but they were able to go home on time. So if there is no medical reason for them to stay they will likely be able to send them home as long as they are big enough to safely make the trip.

lovemygs · November 2012

My boys were born at 35w2d and came home 9 and 10 days later, which made them 36w4 and 5 days at home.

Hospital does pics for everyone, but I declined and had a newborn photographer come to our house when they were 5 weeks old.

No idea about that test.

Ruthie04 · November 2012

1. Our NICU will send babies home when they are ready. The social worker told us they tell families to prepare themselves for the babies to stay until their due date, but that many babies are discharged before.
2. We had a newborn photographer come to the house when the boys were 3 weeks old. We didn't have NICU time, but I didn't want someone messing with them when they were so tiny. Both of our boys had IUGR, so they were still super small.
3. I still had a GBS swab, but the hospital did not have the results and I didn't know the outcome of the test. I didn't make it to my scheduled c/s, but they asked me about it when they were prepping me. After delivery, I remember them telling me they boys needed some extra bloodwork because I was GBS unknown, but I was too out of it to remember what it was!

MelleTX · November 2012

Our neonatologist told me that with twins, the average is to send them home around 37 weeks but it's really entirely up to the babies and when they meet their milestones.

Some 34 weekers never need NICU and some 38 week babies do. You never know and there is no "standard".

FWIW, when I checked into the hospital at 32 weeks, I was told to plan for delivery in the next few days. I hot 34 weeks today and now the talk is about rescheduling my c-section for 37 weeks. You just never know how long your body or the babies will hold on.

Jen0204 · November 2012

sweetsugarmama:
1.There's really no telling how long they may have to stay. They need to normally be doing nipple feedings (eating not through a tube) and breathing ok. Mine were born 9 weeks early and went home after 6 weeks in the NICU (they went home with apnea monitors). We saw plenty of babies born later and earlier who went home before us. Most weren't there until their due date but there were a couple exceptions.
2. There are photographers in most hospitals who can work with the NICU to do pictures, there also might be some in your area who come to the NICU photos. We had a mix up and didn't get to take them in the hospital (ours offered to do it as we were leaving but there was a mix up and we didn't get them). When we got home we had a photographer come over but it was too late to get those cute squishy babies holding their chins up. You want those in the first couple weeks. And check with your NICU on their rules, I'm willing to bet mine wouldn't let a photographer in but I know others do.
3. I think I did need the group b strep test. My c-sec didn't get the chance to be scheduled but they knew I would have one (had a previous one). When they realized they couldn't stop my labor and I needed one right away they still did the strep test then.

And good luck!!

I agree with everything above. They'll send them home when they're ready - usually from what I've seen the last barrier is them eating well on their own. We had newborn pictures done while they were in the NICU. We waited until they were off of the machines, tucked the couple of wires they had into their clothes and did their pictures the day before they came home with a photographer that came to the hospital. They automatically go to the rooms with newborns in the regular hospital but I had to ask the nurses to have them come to us. I was shocked that they let them in because they were really strict about visitors. I love those pictures and you can't tell they were in the NICU (or that they were even taken in a hospital). I had the strep B test even though we knew I would be having a c-section. Didn't think to ask why.

pea-kay · November 2012

They only tell you that they'll be home "around their due date", but in actuality, later preemies are usually home well before that. Mine were born at 33w2d and were home at 34w6d and 35w1d.

PregoAnja · November 2012

I can't answer the first 2 questions because my babies are still cooking, but I did have the strep B test at my doctor's office on my first visit. She told me that strep B can cause pre-term labor. I found out that I have a really aggressive strain of it and have been put on antibiotics for the remainder of my pregnancy. Otherwise, I have no signs of pre-term labor. It's just preventative.

Also, in my case, it has nothing to do with how I'll deliver. I'm having a c-section because they are identical and therefore higher risk.

LegallyBlonde217 · November 2012

1. Definitely not. My twins were born at 33w4d and needed no help breathing. They were under the bili lights for about a week for jaundice, but the rest of their NICU time was just for growing and learning to take their bottles. They were released a day shy of 37 weeks.

2. Our hospital had Bella Baby Photography come to the NICU and do newborn photos the morning the babies were released. I bought those, which was expensive but worth it, IMO. I didn't do other newborn photos because once we got home it was pretty hectic and I just didn't get around to it. Instead, I did professional pics at 3 months.

Best of luck!!

shaunah816 · November 2012

I had a scheduled section and was tested for GBS. If my water had broken prior to my scheduled date, the hospital needs to know whether you're GBS positive so they can administer antibiotics depending on how quickly you get to the hospital after your waters have ruptured, is what my doc told me.

macchiatto · November 2012

1. I've never heard this and can't imagine why there would be a blanket policy like that for multiples. I've known lots of preemie multiples who came home before their due date. My boys were born at 37w6d and came home at 38w1d so they were home two weeks before their due date (and yes, I know they're not preemies but still, that just seems like it would be a silly rule since most multiples are home before their due dates!).

2. I so wish I had done pro newborn pics! I would do pro ones about 2 weeks after they come home. Have a pro photog come to your home.

3. na

thetwinkies&Vivi · November 2012

I had a planned c/s at 36w2d (due to my health complications) we had been battling PTL aggressively until that point. We were able to do a full course of Celestone shots between 34-35 weeks which helped a ton. One of my girls needed transitional breathing help and they both took awhile to be efficient feeders. However they both came home with us after a normal 72hr stay. How long they stay in NICU (if any at all) will depend on how they are doing.

I had already been tested for GBS earlier when dealing with PTL,but they would have tested regardless.

Mrs. Alice · November 2012

Looks like you already got a bunch of good answers but this was my experience:

1. No. They usually tell you this as a guideline but it's very common, especially with late term or moderately premature babies to go home 2-4 weeks before their due date. Mine were born at 28w4d and came home at 38w4d gestational age.

2. Planning for pictures is a great idea - I wish I would have done newborn pictures early and had a pro come do some in the NICU. I was so overwhelmed at the time I couldn't think about it. I've found that you will find that it is pretty much impossible to have TOO many pictures of your babies. They grow fast and you will want to cherish every stage.

3. I knew I would be having a c-section on way the other, but I still had a GBS done because I was having contractions while on hospital bed rest and it was "just in case".

myheromyworld89 · November 2012

I can only answer a couple questions because my babies were never in NICU. But as far as pictures are concerned, we only had the ones done in the hospital, which were really good but we could only pick a couple poses and we never got around to doing the ones after we got home that everybody else gets done and I wish we had.

For the c-section, mine was planned and I never had the test done. They said I wouldn't need it since it really only affects babies that pass through the birth canal.

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