Child's Birth Year
2024

State/Province/Territory
Virginia

NICU Hospital for my journey
VCU Medical Center

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Twins are known for coming early but our twins surprised us at 5am on a Sunday by coming two months early at exactly 31 weeks. Born 3 minutes apart they were both rushed off to the NICU. Both were immediately placed on breathing support. 3 hours after birth I was able to hold my baby girl. 23 hours later I was able to hold my baby boy. 16 days after birth I was able to hold both of them at the same time. Our son had a harder start and was placed in a higher level of breathing support to help support his lungs and tiny hole in his heart. We were told 6-8 weeks when they were born but it ended up being 10 and 11 weeks. My biggest fear at the time was one baby coming home before the other. After 71 days in the NICU on her third attempt of eating without a feeding tube, my daughter was successful and able to come home. While there was so much joy, there was also more pain. It was much harder to leave one baby in the NICU vs knowing both of them were together. My son hated it too and clearly worked hard to prove that exactly one week after his sister was discharged, 84 days in the NICU was enough for him and we left that day with both of our babies without oxygen support, without feeding tubes. Happy and healthy.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
They were both so little, 3lbs and 4lbs. They have grown so much now 8lbs and 10lbs. Their little lungs and hearts have had to endure so much and while they had several set backs, they were both able to come home free from oxygen support and feeding tube!

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
3.9lbs 4.2lbs

Weeks Gestation
31

Time spent in the NICU (Specify Day, Month, or Year)
71 days 84 days