We are honored to share the story of preemies Imani & Penzi who were born at 28 weeks (though this may have been later due to a variety of factors) and weighed 4 lbs (Imani) and 3.8 lbs (Penzi) and spent 5 days in the NICU before coming home. Read more in an update by their mother, Paula.
by Paula K.
Having lost a son when I was 32 weeks pregnant due to high blood pressure, our twin daughters came at 28 weeks. The blood pressure was very stubborn to the extent that I was on medication but it refused to be controlled. The doctor was not taking any chances hence carried out a C-section to save all of us.
The twins looked so tiny and even shared the same incubator. They had been given steroids to enable them breath on their own once they are born, so they did not experience any breathing issues as previously feared. I thank God because they were tested for all suspected issues that they could develop as preemies and all tests have been negative to this day.
I truly believe that they are a miracle and also fighters because just after 1 WEEK, actually 5 days in NICU, we were all discharged. Even the doctors and nurses were amazed at how determined they were to beat the odds and how much they wanted to live!
We were advised to always keep them covered and not expose them to many people so as to prevent them from getting any sort of infections. They did not experience any health issues whatsoever and today they are healthy happy 9 year old twin girls.
Having gone through this experience (Not just having twins but also having them when they were premature), we found it as a need to start the Twins and Multiples Initiative (TAMI); the first of its kind in my country. TAMI supports families with ‘multiples’, whether twins, triplets, quads or more! The Initiative acts as an all-encompassing support for individual multiple birth families and support groups throughout the country. Our Mission is to provide advice, information and support to multiple birth families so that they can become self-sustained. We have a Facebook page at the moment. You can visit us here.
Proudest Moment in the NICU: When I saw and breastfed the twins for the first time on day two.