My preemie twins are now teenagers! Macy and Mallory turned 13 on Saturday, complete with a slumber party of a dozen screaming, whiny girls sleeping over.  Hard to believe it’s been that long since they were teeny tiny babies in the NICU.  They are still tiny for their age, but for girls that’s not a bad thing. They are still developmentally delayed, and it tears me up to go to their IEP meetings and being told that they will probably never measure up academically to their peers.  It doesn’t help that their little sister (age eight) teases them that she is smarter than they are.  I have to remind myself that they are miracles for actually living through all the trauma and turmoil they did and that they don’t have more disabilities.

March of Dimes now has an official online store. A percentage of all the sales (ranging from 10% - 60%) go directly to the March of Dimes to help save babies. Shop Now for Onesies, shirts, postage stamps, tote bags, mugs and more!

Reposted from PREEMIE e-NEWS…

Each year, hospitals across the country eagerly await the first baby of the year. It seems the first baby is considered somewhat exceptional. The first baby born in 2007 was indeed special — she was a preemie!

Nalaysia Raymond was born to Shaquencia Raymond at 4:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital in Savannah, GA. She was born a little over 2 months early and weighed only 2 lbs, 13 oz. Nalaysia is doing quite well, is breathing on her own, and is expected to go home in February.

Premature births are a growing trend throughout the world and it is estimated the number has risen by 30 percent in the past 20 years. This year, Nalaysia has reminded us all to focus on the needs of premature children.

I was watching the Dr. Keith Ablow Show today about twin psychics, Terry and Linda Jamison.

The identical Psychic Twins predicted the simultaneous terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Towers and on Washington, D.C. by Bin Laden. The Psychic Twins made this prediction to 20 million listeners on the Art Bell Radio Show in November 1999. While they primarily focus on psychic counseling for individuals and businesses, a sideline that they have become known for is world predictions (medical breakthroughs, national and natural disasters, the U.S. economy, stock market, etc.)  It was interesting to watch them, as they are 100% identical and even speak the same words at the same time.

No one told me about Kangaroo Care when my twin preemies were in the NICU.  I first heard the concept of placing the child’s ear on the parents bare chest above the heart a couple years later when a friend of mine had premature twins, and it seemed to prove beneficial.

So, I was reading my Preemie Magazine (subscribe for free) this month that offered Kangaroo Care Tips.  I thought I would share them online for others…

1. Ask your baby’s doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider when you can start Kangaroo Care.

2. Before you leave for the hospital, shower first, and then wear a button-down blouse.

3. Remove all clothing from your baby except the diaper and the hat.

4. Do not remove any wires, tubes or hookups to machines.  If your baby is intibated, ask the nurse for assistance.

5. Place the baby on your bare chest, between the breasts, with a blanket over your baby’s back.

6. Turn the baby’s head so that his/her ear is near your heart.

7. Dads can also practice Kangaroo Care by placing the baby on his/her bare chest.  Be careful baby’s fingers don’t get entangled in chest hair.

To order a free DVD on Kangaroo Care, send a self-addressed, prepaid, priority mailer:

Diane Spatz, PhD, RNC
Newborn Infant Center
2nd Floor, Main Building
34th and Civic Center Blvd
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia PA  19104