Raising Premature Twins: My Journey from NICU to Peaceful Nights

Originally published on April 18, 2021 , this honest account— written by a mother who survived and thrived — has been updated on October 2, 2025, to inspire and guide other parents raising premature twins through those challenging early months.

Becoming a mother for the first time is blissful for every woman, and it was the same with me. I was even more blessed to have twins. Actually, mine was not a planned pregnancy, but you see, surprises are the best part of your life. It’s challenging to handle twins, but the memories you make with them will always be cherished.

The First Night Home: A Beautiful Nightmare

One such memory that’s forever etched in my heart is when both my kids were finally home from NICU after a month. Can you imagine the mix of emotions? Joy, terror, exhaustion, and overwhelming love—all at once.

As they weighed only 1.3 kg each, the doctors made it clear: only I was allowed to touch my kids and do everything for them. The first night was nothing short of a nightmare. If I remember correctly, in the 48 hours of them coming home, I slept for only 6 to 8 hours. My body was screaming for rest, but my heart? It was wide awake, watching over my tiny miracles.

The Medicine Marathon

My munchkins had to be given medicines every two hours. I made a timetable of medicines with specific timings and literally set an alarm every 2 hours. Looking back, I don’t know how I did it. But when you’re raising premature twins, you discover strengths you never knew existed.

Related read: Postpartum Depression After Twin Birth: A Powerful Story of Survival, Sacrifice & Strength

The Feeding Challenge: My Biggest Hurdle in Raising Premature Twins

One more thing which was incredibly difficult for me was feeding both babies. My kids never took to breastfeeding. I had to pump my milk and keep the bottles in the fridge as the doctors told me I needed to feed them in specific milliliters. They were on tube and bottle feed from the very first day of their birth, so they never knew what breastfeeding was.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about raising premature twins, it’s that flexibility and patience become your greatest allies.

When Breastfeeding Doesn’t Work Out

I tried to feed them directly so many times. I would hold them close, hoping instinct would kick in, but they never knew how to suck. Each failed attempt felt like a personal failure, even though logically I knew it wasn’t my fault. This is something many mothers of premature babies face, and I wish someone had told me back then: You are not failing. You are doing everything right.

My Feeding Strategy That Changed Everything

I used to prepare 2 bottles and feed them together so that their sleep, hunger, and wake-up timings remained the same. This synchronization became my lifeline.

For the first 2 months, it was 20ml every 2 hours, and eventually, it increased from 20 to 30, then 40ml, and so on every month. After 4 months of my delivery, one fine day, my milk stopped coming suddenly. I cried that day, feeling like my body had betrayed me. But that’s when my kids transitioned completely to powder milk, and honestly? They thrived.

The Secret to Survival: Feed Before They Wake

Here’s something that saved my sanity and gave my babies the gift of uninterrupted sleep: As I used to get up every 2 hours anyway, I made sure that even before my kids woke up due to hunger, I would feed them together while they were asleep. Yes, you read that right—dream feeding!

That was one of the best decisions I made with my kids because even they got proper, continuous sleep of at least 4 to 5 hours. No crying, no disrupted sleep cycles, just peace.

The Reward of Sleepless Nights

And those sleepless nights of mine? They helped me in the long run. By the age of 1 year, both my kids were sleeping a sound, beautiful sleep of 7 to 8 hours straight. When I tell other parents this, they look at me in disbelief. But it’s true—the foundation you build in those early months pays off.

My Husband: The Unsung Hero

A continuous 4-hour stretch of sleep was a gift given to me by my husband every single day. He had to manage both kids, take care of me (because yes, I needed care too), and still show up at his office. I was, and still am, deeply thankful to him for taking care of everything during that time.

Raising premature twins isn’t a one-person job. It takes a village, or at the very least, a partner who’s willing to step up when you’re running on empty.

Also check: Twin Mom Behind TwinsTribe: A Brand Making Twin Parenting Easier

Little Things That Made a Big Difference

We need to take care of every little thing from the very first day of our child’s birth. And trust me, there were many such little things that helped me in handling my twins:

• Synchronizing their schedules – This was non-negotiable for me
• Dream feeding – Feeding them before they woke up crying
• Setting alarms – So I never missed medicine or feeding time
• Keeping a journal – Tracking everything gave me control when everything felt chaotic
• Accepting help – Learning that asking for support isn’t weakness

A Message to All Parents Raising Premature Twins

The truth about raising premature twins is that no amount of preparation can fully ready you for it, but your love and instinct will carry you through.

Always remember, you might feel like it’s impossible to handle your child when they are so young and fragile. The fear, the exhaustion, the constant worry—it’s all real and valid.

But as our ancestors wisely said, a child starts learning from the time when they are in our womb and even more from the very first day of their birth. Your love, your touch, your voice—they feel it all.

So please, enjoy the blessing which comes in the form of your child! Yes, raising premature twins will test you in ways you never imagined. There will be tears (yours and theirs), moments of doubt, and nights that feel endless.

But there will also be tiny fingers wrapped around yours, the first real smile, and the indescribable feeling when they finally sleep peacefully through the night.

Those moments? They make every sleepless night worth it.

Every journey of raising premature twins is unique. This is mine, and I hope it gives you hope, practical tips, and the reassurance that you’re doing an amazing job—even on the days when it doesn’t feel like it.

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