Impact Stories

The fraternal girl twins arrived 6.5 weeks early, both viable and relatively healthy with each weighing more than 4 pounds. Within hours of their birth, one twin was transported to the NICU at Mass General in Boston as her lungs were working too hard. The doctors wanted to intubate her to allow her lungs to rest and further develop. The father headed to Mass General to be with one twin, while the other twin remained at Newton Wellesley Hospital where the mother recovered from an emergency C-section. After spending 15 days in the hospital, the mom was able to go home with a few nights to rest and recover. They also needed the time to complete necessary preparation to welcome the twins home including stocking up on diapers and formula.

Initial visits to the pediatrician confirmed both girls were gaining weight and doing well. Having a large local family provided mom and dad with the help and support they needed as they settled into their new routine.

At one month old, one twin stopped taking her bottle. Both girls were being bottle fed as the mother could not use her breast milk due to medications she was taking for her continued healing. The parents were understandably concerned to risk their girl losing weight given how small she was, and sought help from their pediatrician. The mother was disappointed to learn that there was no specific support or solution to address their concerns, but was relieved to be referred to Early Intervention Services at Partners in Child Development for an evaluation.

Early Intervention Services

Within a week, a nurse evaluated both twins and confirmed that both girls qualified for Early Intervention Services to help them meet age-appropriate developmental milestones. An individualized plan was established for each girl by a multidisciplinary team and weekly services began at their home.

In parallel, a change to soy formula helped the twin start to eat again and gain back lost weight.

Early Intervention Services began with a physical therapist coming to the family’s home in Andover, MA weekly. The girls loved Mary Ellen as did their mom who was so appreciative of her support, suggestions, and reassurance. She remained a constant in the family’s life, providing early intervention services from just over a month old until the twins were three.

Throughout the girls’ developmental journey, both the physical therapist and occupational therapists would work on channeling the twins towards their next developmental milestone including feeding and motor skills. They explained the importance of strengthening their necks and the importance of each milestone such as learning to use their arms to crawl, and developing balance by reaching out for a toy.

“The hands-on coaching to help me understand what to work on with each of the girls was so helpful and reassuring. The specialists from Early Intervention were my coaches, modelling what to do, patting me on the back, giving me suggestions, and reassuring me of progress being made.”  Anne, mom, Andover, MA

Benefits to Child and Family

The benefits to both girls and their family were significant. At one year old, the girls were six weeks behind, consistent with the difference between their birth age and their adjusted age. When the girls were a little more than two and a half years old, both girls were meeting all developmental milestones! They joined a 2×2 play group at Early Intervention and they were the model children for others not meeting age appropriate milestones to learn from.

The mom readily highlights the effectiveness of the family-focused Early Intervention Services approach. While it was expected that the therapeutic services would be focused on the twins, the focus extended to Anne, their mother, and how she was doing, which she was incredibly grateful for. Like most new mothers, Anne was adjusting to a new, full-time role of being a mother with the added challenge of having premature twins. She was also recovering from major traumatic surgery.

Today, both girls have graduated from college and are independent and healthy. One is in graduate school to become a psychologist for children with special needs and the other is contemplating law school as she works in Boston.