The risk of preterm labour and issues during delivery are much greater when you?re carrying multiples. If you?re carrying twins or triplets, you need to be prepared for the possibility that your babies will need to stay in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for a few days or even weeks after they?re born. My twin daughters, Chloe and Claire, who were born at 37 weeks, spent their first two weeks there. The first time I saw them in their isolettes, I couldn?t hold them; I could only reach my hand inside the top of the incubator to touch their small hands. Seeing IV needles protruding from their hands and a feeding tube through their nostrils was terrifying, but the around-the-clock care from experienced nurses and doctors assured me that my girls were in the best possible hands. My husband and I relied heavily on the support, guidance and expertise of our NICU team. In fact, we called the NICU the best baby boot camp ever: We learned more about baby care in those two weeks than at any prenatal class we attended. Whether your twins are born at 25 or 37 weeks, here?s a guide to help your babies thrive in the NICU and help you stay calm in the process.
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As brand new parents, it?s overwhelming to suddenly find yourself in the NICU. You can throw all the basic stuff you learned in baby books out the window. Instead, you?re meeting with a revolving door of nurses, doctors, occupational therapists and physical therapists while trying not to worry about the various b...