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1 week old!
The girls are 1 week old today! I'm so thankful that this week has flown by! Hopefully the next few weeks at home without them will fly by too!
The girls-
Katherine "Kate":
-weighed 3lbs 12.2 oz today! That is .2 oz above her birth weight! ;)
-always alert and looking around
-loves to be in a ball with her legs tucked under
-got off her IV Saturday!
-blood sugar was high late last week, but has lowered
-getting majority of feedings through her NG tube, except for what little she takes from a bottle once a day
-NO interest in really working to get her food from a bottle
Madeline "Maddie":
-weighed 4lbs 4oz today (this was up from yesterday!)
-She has had problems with her different blood levels. In the womb she was getting too much blood (Kate was getting too little), this has made he blood thick. The nurse explained that this often makes babies more tired and less alert. Today she was much more alert, and her numbers have leveled out!
-loves to sprawl out
-got off her IV Saturday!
-Took a bottle like a champ today!
-close to being in an open crib
Mom and Dad:
This week has been filled with ups and downs. I was discharged Thursday which was extremely hard. We had a moment in the Chick-fila drive through line after leaving the hospital! haha It felt so weird to go home without them. We were both so thankful they were safe and overall healthy, yet felt empty without them with us. Some days it is easy to leave them, others I fight back the tears. It has been SO wonderful to hold them, try to feed them, change diapers, and feel like we are bonding with them. I'm pumping every 2 1/2-3 hours to match their feeding schedule at the hospital. It is not fun to wake up all hours of the night only to be greeted by a machine. No sweet faces, cries, or cuddling...just a yellow pumping machine! I've given up breastfeeding them until they gain weight, and I will work with them at home. Right now we need to know exactly how much they are getting. I know that ALL new moms deal with the fears of not knowing what to do, or if they are doing things right. Yesterday I had a tough time at the hospital. Maddie would not take a bottle, then spit up what little she took everywhere. I was already a little emotional because I couldn't figure out what to do. Premies do not have suck, swallow, breath down like term infants. It is a laborious process at times to train them to feed. The nurse was trying to be realistic with me, but it didn't help. I felt like someone else was taking better care of my babies than me (which they are...haha), but that isn't a good feeling. I wanted them home with me, I wanted to be the one to feed them, I wanted to be the one to console them. It was a moment...but today I redeemed myself! haha Maddie took a bottle like a champ! :)
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| He is so in love... |
Matt and I both know that this is just a season and it will pass. We will get the rest of our lives with them, but anxiously await these early days of their lives at home with us.
Hi! You don't know me, I stumbled upon your blog through Kelly's Korner, through Julee Turner's.
ReplyDeleteI have twin boys - they are 4 now, but they were also in the NICU for about 10 days. I ended up nursing them for 13 months (each feeding, they fed at the same time)
DO NOT STRESS ABOUT IT!!! I think you are on the right track of just pumping now, and waiting until they get home. Once my boys came home, it took us another month or so to get it going and to have them nursing at the same time. One thing I wish I didn't do was stress about it, and looking back I realize that it all works out, and 13 months later we did it!
If you need any tips (I battled EVERY breastfeeding issue!) or any twin tips please let me know! You can find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mollyspivey
Or through my blog: www.mnmspiveyplustwins.blogspot.com
They are beautiful and you will have so much fun! I always thought my friends with singletons were missing out on the fun! :)
You're doing great Amy, hang in there! They are beautiful! You'll have to bring them to the salon next time you get a free day to get your hair done.
ReplyDeleteHi Amy,
ReplyDeleteI don't know you, but somehow found your blog. I will pray for you, your husband, and your babies. I am a first-time mom too and my daughter is 10 months old. She was born at 33 weeks and spent two weeks in the Baptist NICU. I just read your post and is exactly how I was feeling a few short months ago. I also had difficulty breastfeeding and had to pump for her. I distinctly remember leaving the hospital one night and my husband and I both broke down in the elevator. We were also very scared when they said we could do the room-in and bring them home. I almost wanted her to stay a few extra days even though I wanted her home so badly too! The 24 hour room-in was hard (I won't lie) because we had to get her to eat without any help in that short time period so she wouldn't burn calories. My husband was pleading to her to "eat baby eat" so they would think we were fit enough to take care of her on our own. I tell you these things not to worry you, but to let you know that you and your husband can do it! Others may not understand what it is like to be a mom to a premie and think you are crazy when you won't let anyone come visit b/c you are worried about RSV, but trust me they will grow fast and thrive very soon. Just tell them to be patient and that they will get to cuddle those twins very soon! My daughter is now a healthy 17 pounds and almost caught up with her motor skills. However, I'll never forget those hard days when she was so tiny because they made us realize how strong you can be when become a parent. God bless your new family!
Praying for you and the girls Amy! I know the feeding thing is so tough right now but they will get it. I am just amazed at how great they look. So pink and perfect. Pretty amazing for being so tiny! Hang in there girl, you're doing great!
ReplyDeleteI do not know you personally but I am a friend of Julee's. I am a NICU mom of boy girl twins. We were at St. Ed's for 18 days. I understand every feeling you have b/c I have been there and walked in your shoes. My babies were born at 34 weeks. They will learn to eat one day. I am not a drinker but I tell people Nora just about caused me to become one over her not eating. We would practice sucking on the paci to help her learn to suck. It was not that she did not know how it was she was not strong enough. She weighed 3.13lbs. I highly suggest not taking one home without the other. As a mom of preemies just know they will get it all together and come home. If you would like to email any questions to me please do. Praying you go home soon. clcollyar@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteI knew a tiny one born at 8 wks early. She was in the hospital for about 2 months!!! She eventually learned all of the troubles you are explaining (taking a bottle). When I would feed her I would make sure my hands were clean and she would actually start sucking on either my palm or my pinky...I would slide the bottle in her mouth. I also wanted to let you know that was 21 yrs ago, now in her last year of college in which she is on a bball on a scholarship and also plays sball. So your tiny ones will grow to be strong kiddos. My BEST advice is I know how bad you want them home with you, but take your time and make sure they are where they need to be before you bring them home! Take the time to get your rest right now, so when they do come you are even a better Mommy!!! Prayers for all of you!!! ~SS
I stumbled across your blog today. I too have twins. They are boy/girl twins that were born at 24 weeks and weighed 1 lb 12 oz each. My son was in the NICU for 4 mos and my daughter for 5 mos. They are now 7 years old and doing great! I know too well what you are going through. You are in my prayers. You are doing a great job and stay strong!
ReplyDelete