NICU Awareness Month

September is NICU Awareness Month so I wanted to share about the lead up to the 3 and 4 weeks Sam and Zelda spent in the NICU. We were shocked to find out that we were having twins, but the idea of holding two babies in my arms at birth was something I dreamed of doing. Every twin pregnancy is high risk (especially with my history of needing bedrest) so we knew we had to be prepared for a likely NICU stay. At 31 weeks pregnant, I found out that I had gestational diabetes AND that Baby B (Zelda) was IUGR. So after a myriad of appointments and an eventual failed BPP scan and stress test at 32 weeks, I was sent to the hospital for a possible c-section. Things stabilized overnight, but I contracted the flu! So I spent 8 days in the hospital hoping and praying to keep these babies inside while living in isolation. Thankfully, my mom had flown in the week before so she was there to help Michael with the girls at home (who were only 21 months and 3.25 years old at the time).

After my discharge, I was home for 5 days before returning back to the hospital for the real delivery. That morning both Baby A (Sam) and Baby B (Zelda) failed their BPP scans so straight to the hospital I went.

Here I am meeting Sam (5lbs - top photo) and Zelda (3.5 lbs - bottom photo) for the first time, about 3.5 hours after they were born. Of course I never got the experience of holding the babies together in my arms after birth since they were immediately whisked away to be put on oxygen. I would have to wait a few weeks before getting to feel the joy of holding two newborns at once!

Our time in the NICU feels like a distant memory now that it has been 2.5 years; however, I’ll never forget what it felt like to have my heart split in half with two toddlers at home and two preemies in the hospital (and then it was even harder once Sam was discharged 5 days before Zelda). Sending all my love to all the NICU babies and their families today and all month long!