Lindsay’s Story
Mono-mono twins.
Eight weeks on 3-1200.
More than 160 NSTs. Five hospital rooms. Thirteen roommates.
Two tiny, strong girls arriving at exactly 32 weeks.
One hundred days in the hospital.
A story that finally felt safe to share.
If this feels familiar, you’re not alone.
My husband, Tyler, and I got married on Sept 14, 2024. We were blessed with a positive pregnancy test just 4 months later. We were in awe and ready to be parents. What we weren't ready for was the challenging journey that was to come. On March 11, 2025 we went in for a viability ultrasound after I had experienced severe cramping at about 9 weeks pregnant. We also happened to have our first OB appointment scheduled that day too. Thankfully the pregnancy was viable and nothing was wrong with the baby or as we quickly learned... babies. With this being my first pregnancy I wasn't fully versed in reading an ultrasound so imagine my surprise when the sonographer announced "here is one head and here is the other." The response that followed was one of pure shock, joy and a couple of expletives. After the ultrasound we headed upstairs to meet with my OB. During and after that first OB appointment, complete and utter fear set in.
We were told that I was carrying Monoamniotic-Monochorionic twins (Mono-Monos) meaning the babies were sharing one placenta, one amniotic sac and are identical. Not only is this type of twin rare, but also the babies were at a whole lot of risk due to the shared space in utero. I was sent down to the lab that same day for blood work, genetic testing and glucose monitoring. With the known risks of carrying mono-monos we wanted to get ahead of any other complications that might be a part of our story. I got my pre-eclampsia testing that same week as well. With twins everything moves quicker, including the preventive medicine. Thankfully my blood work came back within normal limits, there were no positive genetic conditions and my glucose was exactly where it was supposed to be. There were also no signs of pre-eclampsia. We also found out during these tests that I was carrying girls.
Fast forward to March 31, 2025 my first telemedicine visit with the high risk Maternal Fetal Medicine team. During this appointment we began planning for what was easily the hardest thing I have ever done. Along with close outpatient monitoring, hospital admission was highly recommended between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy for even closer monitoring of the babies with 3 times a day Non-Stress tests, weekly ultrasounds and goal of a 32 week C-Section. One of the things I am most grateful for is that planned admission. I wanted to be admitted as soon as possible so we were right there if the girls needed to be delivered early or to be taken care of if there were any additional complications. More to come on this.
On April 14, 2025 I experienced my first bleed and overnight stay in Unit 3-1200. This would be the first of several trips to Strong Memorial Hospital's high risk OB Triage in the coming weeks and months. I was found to have 2 subchorionic hematomas which could impact the babies growth or could just go away on their own. During this time I also started to develop severe carpal tunnel syndrome in both of my hands and arms. I was in chronic pain from this and just added it to the list of things that were completely out of my control.
As I noted above, I wanted to be admitted as soon as possible. It felt safer than being home. It was safer and much harder. I will forever be thankful that I was able to thoughtfully plan for my admission. I also wasn't too far from home and was able to have company almost everyday. While I had my things from home and loved ones at bedside; the 160+ NSTs, the weekly ultrasounds, routine lab work, countless IV placements that my body would reject, 5 different rooms and 13 roommates accounted for an incredibly long, trying 8 weeks. My body physically hurt from carrying the twins and my heart ached for the women and their families that seemed to be in a revolving door to the unit. I heard codes called, watched babies flat line on monitors, spent 10 days in isolation from COVID and listened to the NICU "what if the baby is born today" planning at least 5 times.
I was living my own trauma while experiencing others daily. It was draining, scary and seemingly never ending. My true saving grace were the people that showed up for me. The nurses, the doctors, the high risk teams. The NICU team that took time to meet with us and give a tour of the NICU. The other mono-mono mom who took time to visit with me. The twin mom roommate that I had for one of my weeks admitted that I get to call a dear friend to this day. Without them, I don't know how I could've made it.
Penelope Jean and Genevieve Renlee were born via C-Section at 32 weeks on the dot, August 18, 2025. Penny was 3.12lb and Ginny was 4.2lb. They both needed some respiratory support, light therapy and time to gain and grow in the NICU. We avoided any additional complications with the pregnancy and the girls were NICU graduates after 47 days. Total we spent 100 days in the hospital last year. Looking back now it all feels like a weird dream.
I work in the field of social work and by nature am a helper. I wanted so badly for things to be different for the mom's on this unit. This foundation IS making change everyday. Over this past weekend I was able to attend the foundation's Inaugural Dinner Under the Stars. I felt seen, heard and overwhelmed with thanks. It took me a long time to share my story here as it is hard to relive it. The WWYF and the dinner together helped give me the strength to share. I was reminded that I was never alone and neither are you, Momma.
