In a recent episode of her Barely Famous podcast, Kailyn Lowry opens up about the challenges of managing five kids at home while her newborn twins were in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Lowry, who is 31 years old, shares her experience with her twins' premature birth last fall, shedding light on the emotional rollercoaster she and boyfriend Elijah Scott went through.
The twins arrived five weeks early, and Lowry reveals that they couldn't hold their precious babies until over 24 hours after their birth due to their NICU admission. The couple spent several weeks in the NICU, gaining a newfound appreciation for the struggles that families face when their children require extended hospital stays.
During her time in the NICU, Lowry faced the frustration of not receiving clear answers from doctors. She expressed her longing for understanding if what she was witnessing with her baby girl twin, referred to as Baby B, was normal. Baby B showed no signs of hunger, slept through feedings, and refused to take a bottle—an experience that left Lowry in tears.
While Lowry found the NICU journey to be more emotionally taxing than her cesarean section, she also faced logistical challenges when their son was discharged before their daughter. This situation added stress to an already demanding schedule as one of them had to make the hour-long drive back and forth to the NICU daily while caring for their other children at home.
These struggles took a toll on Lowry's mental health, leading her to breakdowns and a moment when a doctor questioned whether she needed psychological help. Though she already had her therapist, being separated from her infant and witnessing her daughter's separation from her twin triggered an emotional response.
Lowry confesses that she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed, even though she was managing the situation as best as she could. With six other kids, including Lincoln who had basketball games and practices and Isaac with after-school activities, processing the NICU experience became an immense challenge. The weight of it all continued to linger as she admitted, 'I don't think I've processed it to this day.'
Despite the hardships, Lowry strived to make the most of her limited time with her daughter in the NICU. She created a warm and comforting environment for her by printing out pictures to decorate the NICU space. Lowry aimed to ensure that her baby girl didn't feel alone during her hospital stay.
When the time finally came to bring their daughter home, Lowry's worries didn't entirely dissipate. She noticed differences in the twins' bonding experiences as Baby B had spent more time in the NICU alone. Lowry expressed her concern about the NICU stay potentially affecting their sibling bond and actively sought to strengthen it.
In the midst of a busy season, with birthdays and holidays, the joy of seeing her sons meet their twin siblings outweighed the difficulties. Lowry couldn't contain her delight as she recalled how adorable it was to witness Rio meeting Baby A, treating him like a triplet. The twins brought a sense of completeness and fulfillment to Lowry's life, though she jokingly admits that a small part of her feels her daughter is missing out on not having a sister.
In conclusion, despite the challenges and emotional struggles, Lowry feels grateful, thankful, and blessed by the arrival of her twins. The NICU journey taught her resilience and added depth to her understanding of the hardships faced by other families. With a newfound appreciation for the simple joys of sibling bonding, Lowry remains focused on creating an environment where her children can grow and thrive.
