Close monitoring and NICU care bring twins safely into the world

Heather Merin and her husband, Jonathan, were thrilled to be expecting twins. Because of her age, she was considered a Geriatric pregnancy, and she had monthly maternal-fetal monitoring. Early on, she and her husband were informed that Baby B's blood flow and pressure were slightly low. The doctors planned to monitor them closely and prepared to administer a steroid shot to help the baby's lung development if things changed.

"They mentioned there was a possibility we might need to deliver early, but there was also hope we'd carry to term," said Heather.

However, on September 7, during a routine scan, the nurse informed them that the doctor would need to speak with them. After the scan, they were told that Baby B's blood flow had dropped further, and it was time to get the lung steroid shot in case the situation became more critical.

"We headed to Paoli Hospital, only to be redirected to Bryn Mawr Hospital, which has a level III NICU to care for micro-preemies," she says. "To our surprise, our doctor informed us we'd need a new obstetrics team affiliated with Bryn Mawr Hospital to monitor and eventually deliver our babies."

Safe delivery for twins and mom

Heather and Jonathan quickly met their new doctor and were told they would not just receive the steroid shot but also stay in the hospital until the babies were born. This could mean days or even weeks of waiting.

"On top of that, my husband had just been laid off. We were overwhelmed, facing the possibility of premature twins and unemployment. But, in a way, this turned out to be a blessing," she says. "My husband moved into the hospital with me, and they even set us up in a room with two beds. When the time came, he would be there to support me and the babies fully."

While in the hospital, Heather had maternal-fetal monitoring every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. After one week, on September 14, the doctor informed them that they'd reached a critical point, and it was time for an emergency C-section.

"Before we could fully process the news, I was prepped, Jonathan was brought in and within minutes our boys were born," says Heather. "The operating room was crowded with the NICU team ready to care for our premature sons, who were quickly placed in specialized plastic bags to help stabilize them before they were whisked off to the NICU."

Meeting their twins boys and navigating the NICU

Later, after Heather had recovered a bit, she and Jonathan were taken to see the babies. Jonathan was terrified by the sight of their tiny sons in clear incubators, surrounded by wires, monitors and alarms. The NICU team reassured him that both boys were stable. That night, Heather was wheeled in to meet them. While it wasn't the picture-perfect first meeting she'd imagined, she was filled with relief just to see them and know they were okay.

The next day, Heather was able to visit the boys again. Baby A weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces, while Baby B, who had the blood flow issue, was just 1 pound, 9 ounces.

"They were so small and fragile, hooked up to machines with alarms constantly sounding," says Heather. "After two days, I was discharged, but leaving the hospital without our babies was heartbreaking. Still, it allowed me to heal, both physically and emotionally, as I also battled postpartum depression."

Every day, she and Jonathan drove to the NICU, spending hours by their babies sides. They practiced kangaroo care, holding their babies skin-to-skin to help them bond and find comfort.

"Holding them for the first time was an unforgettable experience — they felt so fragile yet were incredibly precious," says Heather.

The NICU journey was long and challenging. But they became accustomed to the wires, alarms and routine care that came with having micro-preemies.

"The NICU staff at Bryn Mawr Hospital were phenomenal, not only caring for our sons but also supporting us as parents. They made sure we were comfortable, fed and knowledgeable about holding and feeding our babies. They became like family, and we still keep in touch with many of them today," says Heather.

By late November, Heather and Jonathan received some joyous news: Baby A, Danny, was ready to come home. It was a bittersweet moment — they could finally take one baby home, but had to leave Donovan in the NICU.

"He was our 'Black Friday special.' Bringing Danny home was a beautiful introduction to parenting, and we continued to visit Donovan every day, bringing Danny along," says Heather.

Donovan was seamlessly transferred to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), as he needed a hernia repair and additional evaluations. He did well, and after months of growing stronger, he was finally ready to come home in February. He came home without monitors, as the medical team felt the alarms would be more stressful for my postpartum recovery. They taught Heather and Jonathan how to handle any situations like bradycardia if they occurred.

"Today, our boys are six years old — strong, vibrant and full of life. They're in kindergarten and loving it. While they have some delays, early intervention and support through CCIU HeadStart have helped them make incredible progress. Their journey started as tiny preemies, but they have grown into resilient, joyful boys who amaze us every day," says Heather. "Jonathan and I visit the NICU to this day with others in the Parent Advisory Network (PAN) to talk to current NICU parents and pass out gift bags. During the holidays, PAN craft Halloween costumes and knit little cats, stockings, etc. for the babies receiving NICU care." 

Next steps:

Learn more about pregnancy care at Main Line Health
Learn about maternal-fetal medicine at Main Line Health
Learn about pediatric care at Main Line Health