Sharing Complicated Stories After having a baby, sharing their birth story is something many women like to do. However, if that birth story involves a preemie or NICU baby, sharing complicated stories can be very hard. Not only can it be extremely difficult for the mother to tell, but it can be hard for her family and friends to hear. Do people want to hear about your … [Read more...]
Support System While in the NICU: Haven’s Journey
Support System I'm not sure how we would have made it through our NICU journey without a support system. The people that drove us to the NICU, watched our oldest son, brought us meals, listened to us cry, and prayed with us made an unbearable journey a little more bearable. The biggest part of our support system was our parents, and the twins' grandparents. They would visit … [Read more...]
500 Grams: A Small Amount Makes a Huge Difference
500 Grams 500 grams is approximately 1.1 lbs. It seems like a very tiny amount, but it is such an enormous milestone when it comes to premature birth. Before having my twins, I had always measured in pounds and inches. It wasn't until I started having complications that I realized how important every single gram was. I will never forget when a doctor told me that my … [Read more...]
25 Weeks Gestation: Ephraim’s Story
25 Weeks A full-term pregnancy is roughly 40 weeks. When a baby is born at 25 weeks, which is about 15 weeks early, they miss an entire trimester of development in the womb. It is a very scary time for everyone involved, and these babies have the odds stacked against them. My twins were born at 25 weeks, 5 days. I still remember the neonatologist giving us the statistics on … [Read more...]
Identical Twins Bentley and Oakley
A single baby or identical twins? I found out at 8 weeks that I was carrying identical twins. My doctor had a small, portable ultrasound machine, and she was experienced with twin pregnancies. She could not see a dividing membrane at the time, and sent me to a high risk specialist for my 12 week appointment. Many obstetricians do not have portable ultrasound machines. In my … [Read more...]
