5 Tips for Getting Through Your Twins’ NICU Stay
With our first set of twins, we knew early in the pregnancy to expect a NICU stay. I had been diagnosed with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion at 16+4, and we considered ourselves lucky to have made it until 30 weeks before delivering. Our boys were tiny, at 3lb8oz and 2lb15oz, but they were overall stable and healthy. For the 7 weeks they were in the NICU, I made the 1.5-hour round-trip each day to spend every possible minute with them. We were blessed with wonderful nurses and few complications, but it wasn’t always easy. I learned a few tricks and helpful things along the way and am happy to pass along to any new parents navigating this challenging time.
Tip # 1: Don’t forget self-care.
It is easy to put your needs on the back burner with little ones in the NICU. Contrary to what you may think, taking care of yourself doesn’t mean the time you spend visiting with them will be compromised. Start with basic nutrition – try to take the few minutes to prep something healthy to bring if you will be at the hospital during mealtime. I got in the habit of grabbing something quick at the hospital cafeteria and I wasn’t getting nearly enough fruit, vegetables, and lean proteins.
Make sure to hydrate especially if pumping or nursing - most hospitals have water bottle refill stations, so bring a reusable water bottle. If you are pumping, one tip I would give as a lactation consultant is not to skip the middle of the night sessions, as tempting as I know it is! If overall pumping is going well, giving yourself one 4-hour stretch should be fine, but try to keep the others every 2-3 hours throughout the day. You can find everything you need to know about pumping for multiples in a blog post I wrote for www.exclusivelypumping.com on that can be found HERE.
Tip # 2: Accept help when it is offered.
Neighbors offered to help with errands or meals during our NICU stay, but I stubbornly refused thinking we’d need the help much more once the babies came home. I am notoriously bad at taking (or asking!) for help, but this is a situation where I wished I had accepted. One neighbor randomly dropped a home cooked meal off one day without asking first, and years later I still remember how delicious that basic chicken & vegetable casserole was!
The last thing I wanted to do was spend time at home cooking, so we were living on frozen Trader Joe’s meals and hospital food. If friends and family are offering to help, they mean it! The offers will still be around once the babies come home, especially when they are lured by the prospect of a peek at your little ones.
Tip # 3: Have a dedicated NICU tote to bring with you each day for essentials.
Depending on your NICU’s set up, you may not have any dedicated spaces to leave a few items – or you may not feel comfortable doing so even if there was space. Every day I brought my tote containing some key items: Pump parts in Ziplock bags, phone charger, nice-smelling hand sanitizer, lotion for hands made dry by constant washing, a notebook to record thoughts & daily happenings, books to read to the babies, and a few other items.
I also brought a lightweight bathrobe with me, which was great for putting on during kangaroo care. I would take off my top, put on the robe, have both babies placed on my chest, and then pulled the robe around all 3 of us. It kept us warm, and I appreciated what modesty the robe provided. Any bag will do to hold all your things, but one with lots of pocket will help keep everything organized.
Tip # 4: Utilize the NICU’s resources.
If you are a first-time parent, the NICU is a wonderful place to learn all about newborn care. The NICU nurses are literal pros at feeding, burping, bathing, swaddling, soothing, diaper changing, etc., and are happy to share their expertise with you. Use them as a resource to ask all the questions you can think of. If you are breast/chestfeeding and you have access to an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) while visiting, take advantage of this benefit.
I had a standing date with the NICU’s IBCLC when she would come help me with latching, and eventually practice tandem feeding. Over the course of the NICU stay, I got to spend one-on-one time with her at least 2-3 times per week. Our NICU also offered parents a free CPR & basic safety class that my husband and I signed up for. Do a little research and see what your hospital has to offer!
Tip # 5: Bring books to read to your babies.
When my twins were brand-new, the time I could hold them was limited to focus their energy on growing. I spent a lot of time sitting by their incubators, unsure of what to do with myself. I started bringing a few books each day that we had been gifted at our baby shower. Reading quietly to them each day became part of our daily routine and I really enjoyed those special moments. It was another way I could participate in their care and helped me feel more bonded to my tiny miracles.
While it was difficult emotionally to be separated from my newborn twins during our NICU stay, there were a lot of positive aspects of that time that I am thankful for. In my Expecting Twins and Breastfeeding Twins online classes, I cover these tips & other NICU basics - but always stress my hope for each family is zero NICU time.
I hope the tips I gave above will help another new twin or triplet parent while navigating this challenging time. For more information about the prenatal online Twin Courses offered by Full Hearts Collaborative, I invite you to reach out to me personally at lindsay@fullheartscollaborative.com, or click on the Twin Online Courses tab above.
Hello parents of multiples!
I’m Lindsay Castiglione, your go-to source for all things twins and breastfeeding.
Long before becoming a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) and parent educator, I was a new twin mama just like you. After having our second set of twins I discovered my calling, and now help families all over the world optimize twin parenthood through online prenatal classes and virtual consultations.
