NICU stay

This may actually be a topic I should post in the "first year" forum, but I was wondering if any of you know who decides how long a newborn stays in the NICU? Is it the pediatrician? A set of NICU doctors?

I am 29 weeks and my mom (who is in IL) is trying to figure out when to come up to AK to help me with the babies. She doesn't want to come super early only to see her grandbabies in the NICU and then not really be of much help to me. She figures she would be more helpful if it is while they are at home. After last night's birthing class, where even the teacher (a nurse who has been in the maternity ward for years) was acting nervous about how I was going to be able to pick up two newborns at one time, I really want my mom to be here fairly soon after they come home because I know my husband just won't be able to take much time off.

 

If your babies are in the NICU, they will tell you to expect them to come home around their due date. Sometimes they come home earlier, but sometimes they do not. It really depends on how early, what complications they encounter, how well they feed and grow, etc.

My girls were born at 31w0d, and came home at 36 and 37 weeks gestation. Up front they told me to expect them home around their due date, and not until about 2-3 days prior to their homecoming did I know any different.

 

the Dr's decide if they go to the NICU.
Believe me.. you can pick up 2 babies!!! I still do it and they are 4 months old. DH was only home with me for 2 days and then i had no help. and mine survived... they both had colic... Lets just say my house was LOUD!!! My DH would get home from work at 9pm and i would be sitting in the rocker with 2 screaming babies..

 

Mine were born at 30w4d and they've given us a discharge goal of Jan. 23-29 which would put them around 35 weeks. That is subject to change based on how they are doing, but it's nice to have a guess of when it might be. Their due date wasn't until Feb. 27, so they are expecting them home quite a bit earlier than that.

 

Unless that nurse had twins herself, I would tell her to keep her opinions to herself. Sorry if that is harsh, but I get upset when people who don't have twins tell me how difficult it is going to be. Like I don't know that or you (the nurse) even has a clue, but that is whole different post that I could right. You manage with twins and find creative ways to do things. Whether that be carrying them at the same time, feeding them at the same time or whatever. You will find what works for you and your babies.

Are you having complications with your preganancy that you think you might deliver early? I delivered my kids at 38 weeks via a schedule c-section, so they came home 4 days after they were born. I know that doesn't happen for every twin mommy, but keep postitive and believe that can happen for you. I live in Michigan and my parents are in Illinois and my parents were just on call for when I went into labor. When they got the call they were going to hop in the car and drive over (only 6 hours). That might not be the case for you because your mom might have to fly, but I would maybe play it by ear and see how your dr's appointments are going. If she is flying maybe make a reservation for around your due date and you can always change. I also agree that your mom will be a lot of help once you are home with the kids. My parents stayed for almost two weeks and it was nice to have them there and they got a chance to bond with their grandkids. Good luck on the rest of your pregnancy!

 

The NICU drs. decide when they come home. But I agree with Susan, you can *expect* them to come home around their due date, but it could also be earlier or later, it just depends on how they are doing. In order to come home in the NICU we were out they needed to: take all feeds by mouth, maintain their own body temp., and be free of apnea/bradys for 7 days (or they come home with a monitor). That said mine were born at 25w3d and 26w6d and came home when I would have been 35 weeks pregnant with them, so they came home 5 weeks before their due date.

There really is no way to know for sure because you have no idea what will happen, how they will be after they are born, etc.

ETA: On the holding 2 babies, that was never really an issue. You somehow figure out how to do it.

 

I delivered at 37.5 weeks via scheduled c-section. No NICU time for the babies and they came home with me 4 days later. If you aren't having complications, you may just deliver on/around your due date . I can't answer your question about how long NICU babies are in the NICU before they come home, but I was able to hold 2 babies on my own. You will actually get really good at it!

Good luck!
Mendy

 

QUOTE
Unless that nurse had twins herself, I would tell her to keep her opinions to herself. Sorry if that is harsh, but I get upset when people who don't have twins tell me how difficult it is going to be. Like I don't know that or you (the nurse) even has a clue, but that is whole different post that I could right. You manage with twins and find creative ways to do things. Whether that be carrying them at the same time, feeding them at the same time or whatever. You will find what works for you and your babies.

completely agree!!! Its totally doable. I held mine together the same time the day we left the nicu and walked all around with them. I have continued to hold them together and still do at 2.5 yrs old. You make it work.

Mine were born at 28w6d and one came home at 39 weeks and one came home at 42 weeks. Hope you are able to carry to full term!

 

Thank you everyone for answering my questions. Honestly, I am having no complications so far, but also got a little freaked out when the birthing class teacher/maternity nurse said that last night. She was actually just refering to one evening when she went to visit her sister in law who had twins. So, even though she was talking about twins, it seems like she really had no serious experience holding twins at the same time.

I'm also in contact with a friend who sells slings and wraps. I just talked to her this morning. She has me sold on the Moby wrap for when they are first born and said that even if I put one in the wrap I will still be able to carry the other one. There is also a way you can carry both of them in the same wrap, but I think I will start with just one.

Although my husband tells me to not worry and that everything will be just fine after the babies are born, I'm still just a tad freaked out about doing this by myself for a few weeks until my mom comes up. Ironically, my sister is due a week before my due date and my brother's wife is due three days before my due date. (What do you think we were all doing in July last year?! LOL!) Anyway, I know my mom is just trying to coordinate with their pregnancies as well. Although my sister already has had a child, I know she's freaking out a little bit about having a 3 year old at home and an infant at the same time. She lives about 20 minutes from my mom though, so I say these two munchkins come first... I have a peri ultrasound in about an hour today though and will be interested to hear what she has to say since my OB seems to think she will be able to say whether the one that is transverse on every other ultrasound up until now will go head down. Baby A is already head down. If both are head down, then I am hoping to not have a C-section and will do everything I can to keep these two in until my due date of April 5th.

Thanks again for listening and responding though!

 

You may not need the NICU at all. But the neonatalogists will decide when the baby(or babies) can come home. Mine were born exactly 35 weeks and spent 12 days each. They came home just a couple days shy of 37 weeks gestation.

Picking both the twins up at the same time is no problem.

 

Both of our girls got out based on what the head doctor in the unit decided. We had a one day notice for each one. The girls were born at 35.3 weeks and Sierra was out at 36.3 and Ainsley at 36.5 weeks.

BTW, the way I felt safest carrying my babies at the same time was to put one in a sling or carrier and then the other in my arms. Running them around in the stroller was also very soothing for them.