Meet Jimena, Preemie Parent Mentor
My preemie(s) was born at: 28 weeks
Days spent in the NICU: 122
Current age of preemie(s): 3.5
Parent of Multiples: Yes
Our NICU Journey included: Multiples pregnancy, strict bed rest, placenta previa, hemorrhaging, oral aversion for preemies, NG tubes, changing NG tubes, bringing home one preemie twin before the other, inguinal hernias in preemies, PDAs.
The first time I held my preemie multiples together was one of the most incredible moments of my life. It took over a month before that could happen, and so it was very special. One of my twins was on O2 for quite some time, which meant he wasn’t able to be taken very far from his incubator, and the tubes weren’t long enough for me to sit next to him with his brother. We had to be patient and wait until they were both ready.
Having multiple preemies in the NICU is exhausting and overwhelming. The journey may feel like it’s never going to end, but I promise it will be over soon. For better or worse, you’ll never have this time back. Live it fully, without regrets. Speak up, respectfully. Ask questions, voice your concerns. If you feel strongly that something is in the best interest of your baby, insist on it being that way.
As a Graham’s Foundation Parent Mentor, I want to help other parents riding the NICU rollercoaster – specifically those moms and dads who are parenting multiples, coping with feeding issues, and bringing a preemie home with complications. When my twins were in the NICU I didn’t have someone who’d been there to talk to, which is why I want to be that person for families who are going through what we experienced. I want to help them understand they are not alone.
Preemie Multiples in the NICU and Beyond
Multiple birth and prematurity often go hand in hand, so many preemie moms and dads are also parenting twins, triplets, and quads. While all parents of preemies face incredible challenges, multiple birth can bring with it unique struggles and joys. Connecting with other parents of multiples is so important when it comes to coping with prematurity and then thriving at home.
The resources on this page are just for parents of preemies who’ve been blessed with twins, triplets, or more. Check out:
