Underwood Twins

“I was admitted and diagnosed with severe preeclampsia at 33+5. My numbers had tripled within days and I was immediately put on a magnesium drip. They gave me two rounds of a steroid shot to help our fraternal twins lung development and try to hold me off for at least another 48hrs. They took our twins via C-Section when I was officially 34 weeks. Amelia was 4 lbs & 15.4 oz. August was 3 lbs & 13 oz.

After delivery, the twins were immediately taken into another room to be assessed and were put on oxygen, placed in an incubator, and brought to the NICU. My recovery was one of the toughest things I endured, but not as tough as not being able to see or hold our babies. I received updates from my husband, but it still wasn’t the same as actually being able to be there. When I finally was able to hold/see them it was an emotional experience to say the least. All the videos & books in the world can never prepare you for what will actually happen. Seeing their tiny bodies hooked up to nasal cannulas, our son needing to be resuscitated, being poked with needles and on IV’s, not eating unless through a feeding tube was HARD. Learning about your own babies through other people was HARD. Having to ask permission to even hold your own babies was HARD. Not being the first to give them a bath, diaper change, take their temperature, do skin to skin, hold their hand was HARD. I knew I had to be brave for them.

The twins made progress quickly and Amelia was able to come home after 13 days and Auggie came home after 19 days with some adjustments with his feedings. Being separated was probably the most difficult part but with all this we knew they were in the best place they could be. The NICU nurses and doctors at Oschner Baptist Medical Center are the the absolute best and they made sure our babies were always taken care of. Our twins wouldn’t be where they are today without the amazing staff. So happy to say they are 15 months old, and both healthy and thriving each day!” NICU Mama Angela