A very good friend of mine gave birth to twin boys today. My friend (A) went in for routine monitoring this morning and it was discovered that O (Twin 2) was in distress so the decision was made for her to have a section. Her dh only just made it in time for the birth. They were born early (34 weeks) and very small (O is 2lb 6oz and S is 3lb 5oz) for their dates. O is in ICU receiving help with his breathing and S is in SCBU with a feeding tube.
A and her dh have been trying for a baby for years and have suffered multiple miscarriages. In fact she miscarried twins a few years ago. I am so glad that they are finally being allowed their moment and we are very much hoping that O and S will get bigger and stronger and will be out of hospital soon.
We gave R and G bigger cuddles this evening at bedtime, because we are grateful and lucky that they were born so late and so healthy with no problems. In an earlier journal entry, I wrote the following:
“Many (twin mums) gave birth early (in some cases frighteningly early) and have been through nightmares that I can’t even begin to imagine involving ICU and SCBU. It must be heartbreaking to leave hospital without your child but many…women…had done and spent days, weeks and even months going to hospital every day to see their babies. Sometimes all they could do was ‘see’ their babies as they weren’t allowed to cuddle them very much, if at all”.
This journal entry is dedicated to A and all the other new mums (of singletons twins and more) who don’t get to cuddle their babies after the birth or take them home from hospital with them. A and N are going to be wonderful parents and I hope they don’t have to wait too long for that very special first cuddle with their much wanted and deserved baby boys.