Blessing and Curse

The Curse:
The hardest part about this process so far has been the inability to hold the girls. Due to their need for increased growth, physical maturation, and other metabolic processes we are advised not to touch or otherwise disturb them other than at their feeding times. They are both in incubators so we are able to look at them and watch them, but no physical contact. When they are fed (every 3 hours) we can touch them, change their diapers, feed them, etc. We will begin to kangaroo them (holding them against our chest skin to skin) later today, hopefully. If not, we will definitely try to coordinate our schedule to start tomorrow. We'll have to get further clarification, but initial indications are that this type of contact is only encouraged once a day at this point. As they get stronger we'll be able to increase the frequency of all types of contact.

The Blessing:
Henrico Doctors Hospital has the highest rated NICU in the entire metro Richmond area; the girls are receiving exceptional care. Several of the nurses work here part-time from other hospitals including UVA and VCU to gain the experience from a center of this level. Gwynne and I prepared ourselves for this possibility and have been delighted with the care all of the nurses have given our girls, and how attentive they have been to our needs and questions. All of this is for the better!