HOw often do you send twins home together?

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2005

We tells parents from day 0 that one twin will likely go home before the other.
And come that day they act surprised and tell us, "We want them to come home together."
I think maybe 20% of our twins go home together, and those are mostly later term kids.
How about you?

Same as you. The earlier the twins are born, the less likely they are to be ready for discharge at the same time.

We had parents take home triplets together the other week. That's gotta be tough! It seems to help if one goes home earlier, to transition the parents into their new role as caregiver to multiples.

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2005

I agree, it's not very common for twins to go home together. If they do, they were probably an older gestation to begin with. And if one preemie twin is a boy and one is a girl... you KNOW that the girl is probably going home first!

BamaGirlRN · Jun 20, 2005

Lets see here, we have sent one sent of triplets home at the same time (mom was an RN) and since I have been a NICU RN (1 yr) we have sent only one set of twins home at the same time. We always have atleast two sets in our unit if not more and most of our parents understand that one may go home first. Usually the parents know which one it will be by the time they are stable. Of course there are always the set backs and the other twin suprisingly goes home first.

So do you all have the parents room in with the second twin or do you just let them go home if they have RI'd with the first? Our docs vary depending on the parents and baby.

ssixsullys · Jun 20, 2005

We tells parents from day 0 that one twin will likely go home before the other.
And come that day they act surprised and tell us, "We want them to come home together."
I think maybe 20% of our twins go home together, and those are mostly later term kids.
How about you?

I am very blessed to say that I had very healthy twins induced at 38 weeks. One was 6lbs. 10oz. the other 7lbs. 1 oz. They both came home the same day. They just turned 9 on Monday. Wow time flies..... Hello to all, I am new to the boards. I am hopefully entering Nursing school this fall. I have to pay for these twins college soon. tee hee

JenKatt · Jun 21, 2005

I'd say 20% sounds right for twins and triplets. We had a rash of multiples not that long ago. only one set of twins went home together, the other 6 or 7 sets of 2 and 3 went home at different times.

sparkyRN · Jun 21, 2005

For us I would say even less than 20%. The babies are treated individually. Unless there is a transportation issue and the twins are within a day or two of going home together, each baby will go home when she meets her goals.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jun 22, 2005

We do treat multiples individually and sometimes they get to go home together, those that do are usually 34+ weeks. We did have a set of 35 week triplets that went home together but I can't think of any other triplets that did. I think the earliest gestation twins I ever saw go home together were originally 27 weekers, that was a busy rooming in with both going home on oxygen, monitors, breathing treatments and meds. Very good parents though. Sometimes the docs will let the parents take the 2nd twin home without rooming in and sometimes they will allow the 1st twin to come back to the unit but it can only be in the rooming-in room and once the 2nd twin starts rooming in it must stay in the rooming in room as it has had contact with the "dirty" twin.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Jun 23, 2005

I'd say 20% sounds right.....I know parents get upset and it is hard to come visit the other one, but unfortunately that is how the ball bounces. Our parents are required to room in..they have to stay for 12-16 hours usually. A lot of the time the moms want the babies to stay together, but the insurance is like, nope, no can do, off you go.

SarasotaRN2b · Jun 24, 2005

Can someone explain rooming-in to this novice soon to be NICU RN?

TIA,

Kris

JenKatt · Jun 24, 2005

Can someone explain rooming-in to this novice soon to be NICU RN?
TIA,
Kris

Before an infant can go home, often NICUs will have the parents sleep overnight at the hospital with the infant. This is to ensure that the parents are able to care for the infant and whatever medical needs it has, feeding, monitor, etc.