Will you please share stories/tips on how you dealt with one twin home other NICU?

[Danasingle]

Thank you!

Dana

[BC-Sparrow]

Hi Dana,
Nice to see you here on the boards again. I have been thinking of you.

I'm sorry one of your little ones is still in the NICU. Hopefully someone can give you some good advice, it must be so hard.

((((hugs))) to you!

[Lois]

One of mine was in NICU for a week (8 days). I was discharged after 4 days (csec). My other dd was kept in the regular nursery longer due to problems keeping her temp stable and a bit of jaundice. We were able to stay and "board" on the mother baby unit the extra days and all went home together. "Boarding" meant you can use the room, but the bedding isn't changed, you have to get/buy your own food, empty your own trash, etc. It is difficult having them in different places but I know many multi families do that. How far would the distance be?? that would make a big difference. How are things going?

[TwoQTs]

I just dragged Alison with me. I was beyond exhausted, but it only lasted one week. I took her with me & stayed the entire day. I'd go home for supper then drag her back with me again. I had to pump for both of them anyway, so it made sense & the nurses/ped had suggested it. They were used to one going home & one staying.

A coworker told me she had to do the same--it was easier pumping for both at NICU on the hosp. grade pump anyway. When they were both at home I rented a pump from the Safeway pharmacy.

[Lisa Canoe]

Do you have the option of a "care by parent" area? Our hospital had that, and in hindsight I wish I had taken that option. But after 10 weeks on the antenatal ward, I was not mentally prepared to stay in the hospital any longer when they asked me if I was interested. I could have stayed there with M who was ready to be released while J was in the step down part of the NICU to eat and grow.

M was released with me and we were mostly at home while J was in the NICU. DH and I did not visit J in the NICU for very long each day. I pumped what little breast milk I could and gave most of it to J. My mom and MIL were able to help take care of M at home while DH and I went to the hospital. M was not allowed to go into the NICU area. If we brought him, someone had to wait in the waiting area with him.

Unfortunately M got sick at 8 days old - just 3 days after being home. He got a UTI and dehydrated very quickly. Not sure what caused it. He had to be admitted to the Children's hospital for IV antibiotics. This meant that for a week, the boys were each in a different hospital because J was in the one with a level 3 nicu, but it did not admit infants for care.

We could have had J moved to the hospital with M, but after M was released J would be in the hospital that was farther away from home.

J ended up being separated from us for a month before he gained enough weight and was released. I dealt with it by knowing that he was in very good hands and he truly did sleep a lot of the time. He would fall asleep while he was eating all the time. It took a long time for him to be weaned off the ng tube.

I also knew that I was exhausted and had suffered blood loss enough to require a transfusion. I had also lost a lot of muscle while being confined to the hospital for so long. (It took 5-6 months for me to start feeling 'normal' again.) From previous periods of stress and exhaustion, I knew that could lead to depression and I really wanted to avoid that. So it came down to doing as much as I could without really 'going crazy'.

Don't know if that helps, but that was my experience. Lots of luck to you! I hope your NICU time is uneventful and ends quickly.

[Danasingle]

Yes, thank you, your experience you shared does help.

I'm 15 pounds below my pre-conception weight and am astonished at how much muscle tone I have lost since they were born almost five weeks ago! Flab city and I'm exhausted. Considering how strong my muscles were just in October, I didn't expect this---other than my tummy muscles.

5-6 months, eh? Ouch. My inside incisions are still hurting as I kept using them to transport our belongings from hospital to hospital and now with full responsibility of being home and parenting three children. The pedi cautioned me to get replacement for the help I lost. He says two pairs of competent adult hands for one baby, three for twins and five for triplets. So that leaves me short two! LOL

The nurse called me today and asked me not to bring Baby B as Baby A may have RSV. Hope Baby B didn't catch it yesterday.

Wow, twins in two different hospitals...that sounds dreadful for a sleep-deprived couple.

[pedsnurse]

I had triplets and brought one of my girls home after a two month nicu stay, it was hard leaving the other two behind. I spent the day at home with he and when dad got home i rushed off to be with the other babies in the nicu. It was so hard being torn like that i hope it doesnt last wo long before you know it discharge day will come.

[Danasingle]

thank you for understanding Ped. How did the transition at home go once they were together at home?

My twins are 7? weeks old. They have only been together three or four nights since birth. Hoping to get word in a week or so at a possible discharge date for Baby A.

[Lisa Canoe]

Dana, I hope things are going well for you and the babies.

[Danasingle]

Yes, thank you. They are both gaining weight and growing. We may find out this week if Baby A needs surgery to feed. If yes, she will definitely be home in Jan....thank goodness!

Both babies are very, very sleepy. Were yours sleepy at this stage? (41 weeks gestation)