Mom of pre-term twins credits Frederick Health NICU “training camp” with her sons’ health

A fourth-grade teacher preparing to become a first-time mom delivered her twin sons via emergency C-section nearly 10 weeks before their due date at Frederick Health. As the twins fought to grow stronger in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), their care team not only provided critical medical care, but also guided the new parents extensively, with the parents calling the NICU a “training camp for parents.” 

After arriving at the Emergency Room around 10 p.m. for her abdominal pain, Courtney Flower was transferred to Labor and Delivery, where nurses determined she was already in active labor. 

“I didn’t even bring my hospital bag,” Flower said. “I definitely had anxiety because it all happened so fast, but my nurses were confident throughout the process, which was reassuring.” 

Flower delivered her twin sons, Brooks and Jax, via emergency C-section nearly 10 weeks before their due date. Each baby weighed just over three pounds and was immediately transferred to the NICU for specialized care. 

“Brooks didn’t cry when he arrived because he wasn’t breathing,” Flower said. “The first time I saw my babies was on my husband’s phone. I just kept asking, ‘Are they okay?’” 

Flower and her husband were told the boys would need to stay in the NICU for two months. Their care team made it a point to ensure the new parents had as many opportunities as possible throughout that time to be close to their sons.  

“The boys had their own team taking care of them, but it was clear that they take care of you too,” Flower said. “They were constantly checking in to see how I was feeling, making sure I had water, and wheeling me from the lobby when we visited after I was discharged. And when the boys would hit their milestones, they would make little banners to celebrate. It was very sweet.” 

As Brooks and Jax received respiratory and feeding support in the NICU, Flower and her husband began learning how to care for their premature newborns alongside the NICU care team. The couple quickly adapted to the NICU’s around-the-clock schedule, visiting during care times every three hours to participate in feedings, diaper changes, and bonding opportunities. 

“It was kind of like a training camp for parents,” Flower said. “I feel like many parents give birth, take their baby home, and wing it. The nurses in the NICU taught us so much: tips and tricks, common threats to watch out for, and how to recognize those threats.” 

Joanna Nickles, a Registered Nurse in the Frederick Health NICU, worked closely with the Flower family.   

“We often bond with parents as we teach and involve them in their newborn’s care,” Nickles said. “It is deeply personal work—I chose this path because I had my own NICU experience. Now, my child is a healthy teenager. I want every baby to get that chance to grow.” 

Both boys continued to grow stronger with the support of the NICU team. Jax was able to go home after 46 days, while Brooks came home after 55 days, both earlier than expected.  

“The NICU staff take care of your babies like they’re their own,” she said. “They made sure we had time to hold the twins, bond with them, and feel like their parents, which was especially important after not getting those first moments with them after I gave birth.” 

Now home together, the Flower family continues following the routines and lessons established during their NICU stay. 

“We follow the sleeping and eating schedules that were set for them very strictly,” Flower said. “I almost feel like we cheated by getting a head start.” 

Reflecting on the experience, Flower hopes other parents facing a NICU journey know they are not alone. 

“There’s no sugarcoating it. It’s hard,” she said. “But there’s so much good that comes from it, too. We’re incredibly grateful for the care our boys received, and we can’t say enough nice things about the nurses in the NICU. They became like family to us.” 

You can read more about Courtney Flower and her family’s story in PEOPLE Magazine. If you’ve had a positive experience with Frederick Health, you can share your story with us.