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Twin girls born at 22 weeks were discharged from a hospital this week in Florida after spending over 100 days in the newborn intensive care unit or NICU.
Their mother, Taylor Davis, told Good Morning America she felt “blessed” that Avery Reign Davis and Emersyn Gray Davis were finally home.
Last October, Davis found out her cervix was shorter which can lead some women to have premature births. She was told by her doctor to go on bed rest, but two days later she felt herself go into labor.
She was taken to Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida where staff found she was completely dilated at only 21 weeks and three days.
The doctors explained if the twins were born that early they could suffer long-term health ailments like autism, blindness and cerebral palsy, according to the outlet.
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In an effort to save her daughters, Davis went in to the Trendelenburg position, where the body is tilted with the feet above the head, in order to keep the babies in the womb.
On Oct. 29, Avery was born weighing 1 pound. Her sister was born via C-section three days later on Nov. 1.
“Had I not stayed upside down for those six days, they wouldn’t have made it,” she said to GMA. “I’m very happy with my decision. I was not going to just give up.”
Both twins suffered from bilateral brain bleeds and sepsis. Davis also developed sepsis, a blood clot and chorioamnionitis – an infection of the placenta and amniotic fluid.
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Despite the challenges, Davis and her husband Mark Davis told WINK News that their faith in God combined with help from nurses and doctors saved their twins.
Each twin spent over 130 days in the NICU. The hospital told USA TODAY the babies were the youngest twins to survive at Golisano.
According to Guinness World Records, the world’s most premature baby was born at 21 weeks and one day last November. Baby Curtis weighed 14.8 oz. and was a twin, but his sister C’Asya was not as developed and died a day after birth.
“I will always remind them how strong they are and show them their journey because it is so special,” Taylor told WINK.
Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com.
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