PreemieTwins.com Resource for Parents of Multiples and/or Premature Infants

Preemie Twins Stories Submitted by Visitors - 2002

December 28th 2002
02:27:41 PM

Name:

Angel in Michigan

How did you find our site?

browsing

Your Story:

our dear freinds just went into the hospital and are undergoing a c-section to deliver their 26 week +5days, twins. if you have some referrals for the best websites, books and support chapters please email us so we can relay the info. we are praying for them

December 28th 2002
08:43:44 AM

Name:

Poppy

How did you find our site?

surfing

Your Story:

I had a textbook pregnancy until 20 weeks except for being horribly mrning sick(all day) which I thought was strange because with my other two I was only sick one time each pregnancy. At 20 weeks my us revealed two babies after a visit to a specialist we found out that they did have a very thin membrane between them but they shared a placenta I went into labor at 26 weeks and after 24 hours they stopped it and sent me home on bed rest. My dr.let me up at 35 weeks and I immediatley went Christmas shopping in a wheelchair and started having contractions

after I wrapped the kids presents I went to the dr. to discover that in the 2hours I had dialated to 4 so I went to the hospital and had a c-section with the drs reassurances that they would be fine they were completely developed. Paige cried very weakly but I didn't hear Brooke cry and was terrified because I couldn't see anything and noone would tell me anything They were sent to a hospital 75 miles away and I was left with 2 polaroids. At first They were on cpap for the trip up there and thenthe ventilater for 2 days they had 2 doses of surfectant and then they put them back on the cpap now they are off their IVs and cobedding they are learning to eat from a bottle I really hope that they will be home soon

December 27th 2002
03:47:28 AM

Name:

Trudi Penrose-Starr

How did you find our site?

friend

Your Story:

Hello,

I have been reading through the posts and noticed many babies were born premmie and with TTTS. We have a TTTS website and newsletter.. Many parents currently going through a TTTS pregnancy are looking for hope. If any of you would like to have your story put on the TTTS website or in the newsletter please let us know..

Thankyou
Trudi

Website

December 17th 2002
12:23:59 PM

Name:

Amanda

How did you find our site?

preemie twins.com

Your Story:

I gave birth on Nov. 19 2002 at 24wks. gestational age. I have twin boys. Twin A is Joshua Lee Twin B is Caleb Patrick. Joshua weighing in at 1lb. 6oz. Caleb at 2lbs. They are both in isolettes. Caleb seems to be doing fine, he is on a CPAP and tolerating his feedies. Joshua on the other hand is not so lucky. He's still on the ventilater, has been treated for NEC, and now they are talking about surgery for his PDA. If that's not enough yesterday i'm told about a shunt that may need to be placed in his head, and he is going to have cerebral palsy they just don't know to what degree. All of this to absorb in 4 short weeks.

November 20th 2002
10:49:55 PM

Name:

Timothy and Telisha

How did you find our site?

browsing

Your Story:

We had triplets July 11,2002 Tatyana, Treasure, and Timothy they weighed 3lbs 5 ozs, 3lbs 6ozs, and 3 lbs 7ozs. We did not use fertility pills they were all natural. They stayed in the NICU for almost a month they are all doing well and sleeping through the night sometimes. The challenge now is going to places as a family. My husband and I are use to going places together, but now we must really have things
planned in advance. It has been a rewarding experience I would like to talk with more families in this situation.

November 12th 2002
02:18:59 PM

Name:

Alyssa

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Your Story:

Abbigail Emily Grace Johnson was born first on 11-04-02, at 11:51 pm, she weighed 3 lbs. 1 oz., and was almost 15 in. long, she cried when she was born, and everything appeared to be fine....Britanie Kryssah Marie Johnson was born 6 minutes later at 11:57 pm, she weighed 2 lbs. 9 oz., and was almost 15 in. long, although she didn't cry until 7 minutes after birth, in which the doctors finally got her to breath. Abbigail (Abbie) and Britanie (Britah), now have their own separate NICU room, in which they share. As of today, November 12th, 2002, they are almost 8 days old,Britah, during the past week lost almost 9oz. of weight, but now, is back from her low of 2 lb. to 2 lb. 4 oz., she is still in an incubator sometimes, and is on 20% oxygen. Abbie, was diagnosed yesterday with a weak detiriorating heart, we are looking for heart donors and Abbie, doesn't have much time, she is also on a breathing machine, and a heart rate monitor. Britah is doing great, and the doctors think she'll continue to do well. They both have screenings for their vision and hearing tomorrow afternoon, so please pray for the best for me and my girls!
I know I am young and scared of what is to happen, where this road will lead, what will happen to Abbie, to Britah, how this will all affect my life, but I do know, within my heart, that I will love these girls more than anyone else ever could and that I will make something of my life. Abbie and Britah might not have been planned, but I have loved then more than ever since the first day I knew I was pregnant and I always will. These girls are my life and will continue to be my life, Logan's spirit will live on through his two little girls, and I will always believe that...God doesn't give us anything that we can't handle...He doesn't just throw something in our path and hope that we can deal with it, it's put in our life for a reason, and God knows we can handle it and we can make it through, He believes in us

November 12th 2002
02:15:56 PM

Name:

Logan and Alyssa Johnson

How did you find our site?

through the preemie portal (www.preemie.com)

Your Story:

I am Alyssa, and I am the mother of two identical twin girls. I sometimes regret to say how old I am, for a am a very young mother, I know, at the age of only 16. And I know how that can be looked down upon to many people. But I do not regret anything beyond that. I hope people will understand, that even though I am a young mother, I am still a person, a human being, and I do have the ability to love, and I love my girls with my whole heart.
My bf, Logan, of 4 mo. got me pregnant in July 2002. although I didn't know I was pregnant at that time. Logan unfortunatley didn't ever find out that I was pregnant, as he was away to CA, getting ready for college in Santa Barbara. I know what I felt for Logan was real and that I loved him with all my heart, and could never love anyone quite the same. August 17th 2002, he flew out to CA, to be with his future roomates of the new college school year, He was there for a week and was scheduled to fly back on a night flight on August 23rd 2002. I was on the cell phone with him, talking to him as him and his three three roomates were driving to the airport, the last thing he said to me was, " I love you, and I'll see you soon." Then 7 minutes after we hung up the phone, Logan was involved in a fatal car accident, that ended up killing 4 of the 5 people involved. The one who survived was not Logan, Logan died almost immediately after the crash, but his last words to a paramedic were, "tell here I love her, and I'll see her soon."Logan would have been the perfect daddy.
October 16th, 2002, I found out I was pregnant and with twins. And from then on, it was a bumpy road. I went into labor, two different times, but luckily they stopped me from delivering. But then on Nov. 4th, 2002, I had contractions for 17 hours until I finally delivered twin extreme preemies,....I was almost 16 weeks when I delivered, but the doctors said they were "extreme preemies" because they looked like they had been born later then they were....Abbi

November 9th 2002
10:39:06 AM

Name:

JAN AND CHAREASE OLIVIER

How did you find our site?

surfing

Your Story:

MY BABY GIRL WAS BORN AT 26 WEEKS. WEIGHING AT 1KG. SHE BREATHED ON HER OWN FOR 2 WEEKS. THEN AT 800G SHE STOPPED BREATHING. SHE HAD TO BE TRANSFERED TO A PRIVATE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THE IUC WAS FULL IN THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. SHE WAS IN HOSPITAL FOR 3 MONTHS. TODAY SHE IS THE LIGHT OF OUR LIVES I THANK GOD FOR THAT SHE IS 2 AND HALD NOW AND HAS CAUGHT UP NICELY HER DR SAID THAT HE WISHES THAT ALL HIS PREMIES WERE LIKE HER. WE HAVE NO MAJOR PROBLEMS. SHE IS BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY. IF YOU NEED TO CHAT E-MAIL ME.

November 2nd 2002
04:53:05 PM

Name:

Michelle

How did you find our site?

surfing

Your Story:

My twins boys were born January 2,1990 at 30 weeks. Shawn at lbs. 12 oz. and Shane at 3 lbs. 2 oz. Shane was put on a respirator right after birth due to complications of twin to twin transfusion. He was off the respirator and oxygen in 3 days. Shawn remained on oxygen for 1 1/2 months. They stayed in the hospital 2 months 3 days. Aside from gaining wight at a much slower than usual rate, they have had no setbacks due to their early birth. They have just entered 7th grade and at the top of their class. Miracles do happen.

November 1st 2002
09:41:24 PM

Name:

Trina

How did you find our site?

search for preemie twins

Your Story:

Oct 26, 2001!I had my twins at 28 weeks. They were born in a littlehospital, I was 8cm when I went to the hospital. I was in denial that I was in labour! It was too late for mag, and too late to fly me to the nicu to deliver, which was 1hr flight time away. The babes were born weighing 2lb, 8oz., and 2lb, 12oz. I have a boy and a girl. We found out recently that my son wasn't expected to make the flight, but he did, and they spent the next 2 months in the scn in vancouver childrens hospital, and another month in the nursery of our regional hospital. The babies had all the usual a's, b's and d's, as well as pda's needing to be closed. They both had many septic attacks, as well as feeding problems. Thankfully the one thing that didn't affect them was nec. My son had laser surgery on both eyes, and we have been blessed that his vision is great. My daughter had a grade 3 brain hemmorhage, and thankfully again we were blessed that she diidn't need a shunt. We still monitor her head growth and I am still paranoid about syptoms of cranial pressure, but I am starting to ease up. I stayed with the babies the whole time. My brother in law lived only an hour away from the hospital, so they drove me there every day. My husband would drive down on weekends, and get in as much kangarooing as he could. I pumped for 5 months, but wound up only nursign one baby, the one who I figured would enver get the hang of nursing. My babies just turned one last week, and are crawling, sitting and one is standing. They dont talk yet, using actual words, but definately talk to each other!! My husband and I would love to have twins again, but the since my labour wasn't officially diagnosed I am too nervous to go through another pregnancy again. I believe that my labour was caused by a prenatal massage that I had the day before, in which I had an obdominal massage that felt strange, the paisn started right after. I unfortunately don't beleive in my theory enough to be confidant that anot

October 22nd 2002
01:30:52 PM

Name:

Elycia

How did you find our site?

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Your Story:

I Had a very difficult pregnancy. I found out I was pregnant at 7wks due to spotting I had an U/S and discovered I was pregnant with twins, at 12wks I started bleeding heavily thought I was miscarrying and found out I had a subchorionic hematoma continued to bleed until I was 18wks. Thought everything was better until my water broke at 24 wks Dr. told me I was incontinent and that I just had to much pressure on my bladder(I knew it was my water, incompetent doctor)at 25 wks and 5 days I went into labor and when I got to the hospital I was 3cm dilated they administered mag sulfate tributaline and bethamatasone for lung maturity and exactly 48hrs later Ryan stuck his feet out and I had an emergency C-section at exactly 26wks Ryan Cole was born at 2lbs 6oz and Nathan Tyler was born at 1lbs 13oz. They were in the NICU 69 and 71 days. At 4 days old, the day I left the hospital Nathan had a massive rectal hemmorage Doctors told me I had an hour to get to the Hosp. to say goodbye to my son, that he would not make it through the night. He survived Thank God and both boys are doing great They are 5 months old today and are 12lbs and 10lbs respectively and are smiling and cooing and working with developmental specialist monthly So far everything is great. We are so Blessed!

October 8th 2002
04:59:00 AM

Name:

Suzanne

How did you find our site?

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Your Story:

My twins were born May of 2001 at 31 weeks gestation by c-section after my waters broke. Sara was born at 15.55 weighing 1.230 kilos and Samuel was born at 15.57 weighing 1.960 kilos. Samuel was intubated for nearly 48 hours and spent over a week afterwards on oxygen. Both Sara and Samuel had episodes of apnea but thrived and Samuel came home 3.5 weeks after his birth and his sister arrived home 5 days later. I stayed in hospital with the twins for the duration which was difficult but I needed to be there with them. My husband came every evening and all day on weekends. It seems a distant memory now but at the time I felt no-one understood what I was going through and looking back it was one of the most difficult adaptation periods I have been through ever. I was so happy to have them home with me but spent weeks being over-protective and paranoid, I used to check every 5 minutes that they were still breathing.

They are now 17 months old and are the most beautiful children I've ever seen! They seem to have caught up with their development but are still not really talking, only "ma-ma" and "pa-pa". They both walked at 12-13 months and crawled at 10 months which I understand is normal anyway. Does anyone have any experience with corrected age-starting to talk as I would love some advice re: this.

September 24th 2002
11:54:48 AM

Name:

Romy

How did you find our site?

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Your Story:

My water broke in the doctors office during an ultra sound. I was rushed to the hospital. I was only 32 weeks pregnant and so very terrified. The doctor and nurses didn't want to check to see if I was dialating because they didn't want to speed things up. So I sat in the hospital crying. By the evening family and friends knew and people were coming to visit. At about 10:00 pm my mom (who lives 4 hours away) arrived. My husband and her fell asleep as I started hard labor. Long story short I delivered my wonderful son Griffin William at 9:25AM weighing in at 4.0 lbs. Then came my wonderful daughter at 11:04AM weighing in at 4.1 lbs. They never needed a vent so I had it in my head that we would be in the hospital a week max. I was wrong. After my 2 day stay in the hospital we went home woith out our babies. Every day we would drive to the hospital and stay until midnight. We would do the Kangaroo care (skin to skin) care every night. We called it a date with our babies. My husband and I would switch babies each day. After three weeks Kendal was able to come home. They say girls are stronger. Griffin still continued to forget to breath. He also had a hard time eating. He'd stop breathing while eating. So, they would put O2 on him while we fed him. It was so sad to see the tubes in his nose. It was also so hard to have one at home and one in the hospital. We kept waiting for the news that Grifin was fine and could come home. They kept saying that if he'd have 5 dys with no episodes he'd go home. After 4 days he ended up with a hernia. So, we had to drive three hours away to a "better" hospital and pray as he went through surgery. Two days after surgey he was fine and they let us take him home. So he was 5 weeks old. That first week was terrifying. I was so afraid they woulod stop breathing. I'd watch to make sure their lips were pink and not dusky. It was so scarey. They are 3 months old now. I am a zombie still trying to adjust

September 12th 2002
09:49:17 PM

Name:

Wan Sze Broda

How did you find our site?

Msn Search

Your Story:

Our boys, Olinga and Qurban were born 8 weeks early with complications as many preemies have.

For 4 months I laid on my left side, assigned to bed rest in order to maximize the rate of growth to my severely growth restricted fetus, Qurban. No one had any idea why this was happening until after the birth.
It was Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome and it almost cost the life of both my precious boys.

At first the outlook was bleak. We were told there was a 50% chance that the growth restricted twin would die. A 30% chance existed where we would lose both. After weekly visits to the ultrasound, at 4 1/2 months, I was told to stop work, and get in bed for an undetermined amount of time. In the end, I was on bedrest until they decided to deliver the boys at 32 weeks gestation.

At 2 and 4 pounds, the boys came screaming into the world like a piglet and cat, one being put on the respirator and the other luckily, was fine. Their birth was a success and all was worth sacrificing to have seen their beautiful little beings for the first time.

I prayed to God that I would endure any other test related to the twins as long as they lived through this first ordeal of their life. This I have but not without great difficulty.

After a 3 week incubation period for the heavier twin and an 8 week incubation for the second, we were finally altogether as a family. My husband had started a new job in another city, and performed a move while I was recovering in hospital.

During the recovery period, the wound of my cesarian opened and an additional 6 weeks was required for it to fully heal. In the meantime, my boys were in hospital receiving pumped milk and the breast as much as possible. Upon discharge from the hospital however, at 3 months, I developed mastitis and discovered from my doctor that Qurban was losing weight because he was not properly latching.

By their 9 month birthday growth challenges continued to persist. Our children are growing at the

September 12th 2002
04:44:17 PM

Name:

Susan Callender-Bohman

How did you find our site?

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Your Story:

I started having contractions at 24 weeks, but they were dismissed as Braxton-Hicks. A few days later, after being on bedrest for 3 days, the contractions were still continuing, so I went to the hospital for a checkup. I was found to be 3cm dilated and there was a foot and intact bag of waters protruding. Medications were started to stop the labor, and arrangements were made to transfer me to Anchorage where there were specialists. A second exam a little later found two feet down, and it was decided the girls would be born by emergency C-section, and they would be transported to Anchorage. The girls, Emma and Hanna, were born on July 26th, 2002, and have been at Providence Hospital ever since. We haven't adjusted to the NICU roller coaster ride, even to the fact that we are parents since our children are over 6 hours away and we can only get to them a few times a month. The nurses and doctors there are the best, and your stories help to feel less alone. If you can offer any advice please share it with us - we are very overwhelmed by all of the therapists and agencies and doctors. The girls are doing as well as can be expected, you can find updates on their website.

Website

September 11th 2002
03:08:51 PM

Name:

Lynne Sperrin

How did you find our site?

search engine

Your Story:

I had triplet boys at 30 weeks March 1999, Joseph 2lb10oz, Harry 2lb14oz and George 3lb4oz. My miracle boys were in nicu for 7,7 and 8 weeks Joseph came off the ventilator after 2 days, Harry after 3 and george plodded for appx 7 days. Joseph was the fighter out of the three but had more set backs than his siblings. George had no set backs at all!! I cannot beleive how lucky I am each day to have such healthy beautiful boys. They are 3 1/2 yrs old now and you would never know that they had such a rough start in life, they have caught up with their'corrected age' and have just started pre school(every day) Life is good!!!

September 8th 2002
10:39:07 AM

Name:

Karen

How did you find our site?

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Your Story:

My twin boys were born June 1st 2002 at 35 weeks. Tyler James Quinn and Cayden Trystan Brandon. Tyler (baby A) water broke and subsequently both babies were born five weeks early. I had been in hospital a few days earlier and all was well. Tyler has issues right now, he is crying constantly, they are doing tests to find out whats wrong, we go back to the hospital tomorrow to find out results. I thank God everyday for my boys, I am a young mom (23 years old) and am doing my best for these two boys, I am so blessed to have them in my life.

September 4th 2002
04:43:46 PM

Name:

Brian & Laura Herren

How did you find our site?

surfing the web

Your Story:

This is the story of three beautiful premature babies born into our family. Our first preemie Joshua was born three days after Christmas 1998 at 28 weeks gestation, weighing in at just 2lbs 14oz. After subsequent hospitalizaitons for pre-term labor, my membranes ruptured and was able to hold off labor with mag sulfate and terbutaline for 11 days until an infection forced the doctors to deliver him. Amazingly he was only on the ventilator for 12 hours and could breath on his own with the help of the CPAP. He did not have any major complications other than the typical Apnea, Brady's, Jaundice etc. He came home to join his 2 year old big sister on the following Valentine's Day. Today he is a healthy, active...almost too active...three year old boy with no developmental delays

.
Our twin daughters were also born into this world prematurly on August 18, 2002 at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Madisyn Ann 1lb 13oz and Kylie Marie 2lbs 2oz were born at 27 weeks gestation due to Twin A's bag of water breaking. Both are still on the vent and had PDA surgery one week ago. The surgery went very well and we are expecting both girls to be taken off the vent and put on CPAP later this week

. Although they are still really small and unstable, they are strong and I hope and pray they do as well as their brother did.
It is a long, hard and sometimes lonely struggle for parents when their child is born so tiny and is so helpless. Even though this is my second time in the NICU, it is still just as painful and scary. If you want to talk to someone who is going through this with you please do not hesitate to e-mail me.

August 29th 2002
05:39:47 AM

Name:

Shannon

How did you find our site?

looking for information on nec

Your Story:

December of 2000 I had my second preemie at 26 weeks weighing 2pds. 1oz.I was excited considering my first preemie was 1pd 6oz.So anyway at 5 days old son had a routin chest x ray,and at he bottom of the x-ray it showed some of his stomach.They found aconsiderable amount of air in the abdomen and had to rush him and hour away to a medcal center,He was diagnoised with nec and had his surgrey that night .The roller coaster keep going when after the surgrey he developed phenomania and styed on the vetalater for a month.Then his colostomey was giving us problems and his intestines where not absorbing so they took away the breast milk and gave him formula and it helped. After three months he finally gained to the 3pds he needed to have his surgry done to reconnected . after alost 4 long months My babycam home the doctor said he wasa big boy now and needed nothing. I felt somethin was still wrong , i staed up three nights straight thank god cause i steped away for a momment and came back to my baby who was blue . I revived him myself and took him straight to the hospital where we spent another month and ten came home wit apnea monitor and o2 .My son is now gonna be 21 monthes and he is just starting to talk,has been walking for 2 monthes.He has severe bpd and needs his nebulizer often and over the last 6 monthes we have been having bowel problems, Now the doctors say he is impacted again and all the medicines to clean him out are not working .Im so scared cause im afraid his intestines wil perforate again. When i speak with the specialist he tells me people really are not sure of the after effects of the surgrey since children are now more and more making it through the surgrey.If anyone has ever had problems after the surgrey i would love for anyone to fill me in ,My husbandand i are wondering if children with nec fully heal or do they go on o have bowel problems.

August 24th 2002
11:29:19 PM

Name:

Claudia

How did you find our site?

looking at twin sites

Your Story:

My twins will be 5 years old next weekend. They were 1 pound 10 ounces and 1 pound 11 ounces. They still have issues like gaining weight VERY slowly but I am glad to have them here. Kindergarden starts on Monday and I thank God for my blessings. Please write if you need someone to talk to or share a story with.

Website

August 1st 2002
08:09:08 PM

Name:

Amy

Your Story:

I have twin boys that were born at 30 weeks. Dylan (baby a) weighed 2lbs 9oz and Ian weighed 3lbs 3oz I sat in the hospital prior to that for 3 weeks because my water broke with Dylan. When they born dylan had a blood transfusion, the whole nine yards. That is pretty scary. They were in the hospital for 6 weeks and were able to come home healthy as can be. No monitors or anything. They are 7 months and are weighing almost 17lbs and almost 19lbs.

July 28th 2002
04:43:21 PM

Name:

melissa adams

How did you find our site?

surfing

Your Story:

Well it is a week since i left my twin girls in icu,this has been the hartest week ever. sara christine harrison 3lbs 5 oz and hannh michelle harrison 4lbs 5 oz not as small as some i have read but they are on incubators because of apena in both. i hope they move along quickly pray for my girls and i am praying for all babies in scaring situations too.

July 23rd 2002
04:33:42 PM

Name:

Jennifer

How did you find our site?

surfing

Your Story:

2 years ago on Mother's Day to our surprise I gave birth to a tiny little boy of 638 grams (1 lb 6oz). Nothing prepared us for this rollercoaster ride we would experience having a baby at 24 weeks. He was born in a small community hospital where they didn't have small enough tubes. It took our "angle nurse" Melissa 3 hours of bagging him before the helicopter got there to take him to a bigger and better equiped hospital. 6 hours after he was born, he was flown to the bigger, more equiped hospital in Victoria, BC. We didn't know what to expect.
When we arrived we were immediately overwhelmed. The nurses in the SCN (Special Care Nursery) were very nice in helping us understand what was going on. Nothing can really prepare one for the ups and downs of having a preemie. Through all the apnea's, hernia surgery, retina surgery and many MRI's we came out all right. He is now 2 years old and doing amazingly well. He is doing what a full-term 2 year old would be doing and more. He is talking and picking up on so much and getting into everything possible. We will always have a place in our hearts for the nurses and doctors at Victoria General Hosptials Special Care Nursery.

We have our special guy to remind us of them each and every day.

July 21st 2002
09:00:51 PM

Name:

E. Yates

How did you find our site?

search engine

Your Story:

On Feb 10 2002 I had boy-girl preemie twins at 28 weeks. April Louise was 1lb 9oz and Eric Matthew was 2lbs 9oz. They were in the hospital for two months and 2 1/2 months. Eric came home April 10 2002 and April came home April 21 2002. They are now 5 months old and doing well. April is now 8 1/2 ls and Eric is 9 1/2 lbs.