Our Story: Delivering Premature Twins, Staying In The NICU And Having Open Heart Surgery

​

 Two years after having a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy, my husband and I discovered we were having twins. I guess in the back of my mind I knew they would most likely need a little time in the NICU. But in my mind, it looked like the hospital nursery where my daughter spent her first couple days. After all, they were going to be healthy and “feeders and growers.”

When we went in for our 18-week ultrasound, we were certainly not prepared for what we heard. We were ecstatic to find out we were having boy/girl twins, but the joy was overshadowed by the news that our baby boy, Ethan, had a heart defect. Instead of spending our time picking out furniture and bedding for our sweet babies, we were researching Ethan’s diagnosis of tetralogy of fallot and setting up meetings with cardiologists and surgeons. We even made an appointment to tour Texas Children’s Hospital NICU. Very few of those meetings ever took place because I went into premature labor with the twins at 23 weeks. I was admitted to the hospital and put on total bed rest for the duration of the pregnancy. If the twins would have been born at 23 weeks, our little girl, Lauren, would have had many challenges but sweet Ethan probably would not have survived. Our focus turned to growing the babies and keeping them inside for as long as possible. With a support network of friends and family taking care of my husband and daughter, prayers from all across the country and close monitoring by a fantastic perinatologist, the babies stayed safe inside for another 9 weeks. They were born at 32 1/2 weeks. Little Lauren weighed 3 lbs. 14 oz. and Ethan weighed 3 lbs. 8 oz. Both babies were admitted to the NICU, and while it was not the quiet hospital nursery that I had pictured, it was an incredible experience. There were sights and sou

nds that were certainly stressful for a new mom but I was continually amazed at how the doctors and nurses, who were so skilled at their jobs, were also focused on making me feel comfortable and a part of the process. I felt included in my children’s care and was welcomed at the bedside at any time of the day.

​There were many ups and downs during our NICU stay. Sweet Lauren was mostly a “feeder and grower” with a few bouts of apnea along the way. She was discharged after 5 weeks at just over 5 lbs. While it was complicated having one baby at home and one still in the hospital, Texas Children’s helped me through the transition by allowing Lauren to tag along to the hospital so that I could spend as much time with Ethan as possible.

​It was then determined that Ethan was stable enough to grow for a few months before surgery and would actually be coming home to do it! He was discharged one day after his due date, also just over 5 lbs., making our total NICU stay 8 weeks. Since then he has been through many procedures and tests including 2 open heart surgeries. He has more surgeries in his future but right now, he is a happy, healthy and active little boy. I am so thankful for the doctors and nurses in the NICU that educated me and helped me gain confidence to be an ambassador for my children and their future medical care.

Now, 4 years later, I am a member of the Newborn Center Family Advisory Committee (NFAC) at Texas Children's Hospital. Our goal is to be a voice representing current and future Newborn Center families in the hospital’s continually developing family-centered care practices. If you have a passion for helping to make the Newborn Center experience the best that it can be, please contact Texas Children’s Hospital and find out how you can make a difference.​

​