So hope you aren't sick of me sharing NICU pictures, but since I didn't start this blog until they were 18 months old I figured this is a good way to jot down some memories before they are lost in my aging mind! :)
These were taken on March 26th, 2008. Molly had just been moved to the open bed with Luke. The nurses actually co-wrapped them, so they could use each others body heat to keep warm. This is how I found them that evening. I left that afternoon with the nurse telling me she was going to try Molly out of the isolate, but don't be surprised if she didn't last! Well guess what she proved her wrong. It was no returning to that isolate for her. If you look closely she used 3 blankets to wrap them up! Talk about being snug as a bug!
We had just started trying to bottle feed the babies! It was a very slow going at first! I really never thought they would catch on. It was a very frustrating time. We discover a little later that Luke needed chin and cheek support to take his bottles. We would hold the bottle between our thumb and pointy finger. Then use our thumb and middle finger to lightly squeeze his cheeks. We would also use our pinky on the same hand to support his chin. We actually had to feed him that way for several months. His suck just wasn't strong enough to take his bottle within the 20 minute allowed time. Anytime over 20 minutes made him burn more calories than he was taking in. Preemies are complicated business! Molly's main issue bottle feeding was breathing at the same time as eating. She just wanted to suck it down without taking a breath between. We literally would have to remove the bottle from her mouth numerous times, so she would breathe. Craziness!
Just another sweet position of the day!
12 comments:
Oh my goodness- those photos are so precious! I especially love that last one.
Premies do sound like very complicated business. I can only imagine how much work was involved in feeding them in those first few months. And just look at them now! Happy, healthy kids thanks to all your hard work. :o)
LOVE these pictures!! Your little sweeties swaddled up together is just too cute for words!
Isn't it hard to believe the stress of trying to get those little preemies to take a bottle? Crazy how far they have come!
That first photo just melted my heart!!
Such sweet pictures. Please keep sharing. I remember the couple of weeks trying to get mine to take in enough by bottle when they were in for RSV. I can't imagine how difficult it was for longer than we had to deal with it. I remember just wanting them, mainly my daughter, to just drink enough to get rid of the feeding tube. I loved those pictures of mine together, but unfortunately we kept them separated after the RSV issue.
those preemie pics are so cute. I'd forgotten (or blocked out) just how complicated the NICU days are. Sometimes I go back and read things on my blog (using that widget thing at the bottom of each post) and I'm amazed at everything I forget :)
These photos are priceless. They bring back memories of when our boys got to snuggle sweetly together in the NICU. Can't imagine snuggling with your sibling for almost 9 months, and then being separated in different isolettes.
Oh my so cute!!! I love my girls first picture snuggling too! =)
that's is so sweet. there's nothing like looking in the rearview mirror to remind us of how much we're blessed.
How sweet, Andrea!!! I was just in the NICU yesterday (I can't remember if I told you I'm a Support Parent for our local hospital), and I was immediately transported back to when our girls were born. I love that the nurses wrapped Luke and Molly together...I don't think our girls ever really "snuggled" until they were home together.
Our girls were born at 34.5 weeks, so I know we didn't have nearly the trials you did, but I remember supporting the girls' chins with our middle finger to help them suck. That made a huge difference in what they were able to take from a bottle. What a sweet memory. :)
Such adorable pictures! Only one of my twins was in the NICU, but I was able to bring Keira in to visit her brother before we were discharged.
These are so stinking cute!!!
So precious! That first photo is the sweetest thing I've ever seen!
I love the "Way Back Wednesday" idea, although my babies are only 5 months (I guess I don't have to go way back :), I didn't start blogging until just recently.
Your twins are adorable!
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