I've started this page as a first time father to my twin girls who were born at the end of July 2016 at 23 weeks and 5 days. My daughters were born weighing 592g (1lb 5oz) and 651g (1lb 7oz).

Until a few months ago, I didn’t fully appreciate what Neo-Natal Intensive Care meant. I knew that it was intensive care for babies but know I know that “intensive care for babies” doesn’t come close to describing what having a baby in intensive care actually means to a parent. Neo-natal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are there for babies who are born too early or too sick. My daughters were swiftly taken to a level 3 NICU after birth and remained in NICU for 10 weeks in different hospitals. One has now made it to the Special Care Baby Unit and her sister is in the High Dependency Unit. Between them, they have a few more months of staying in hospital ahead of them.

Without the specialist equipment supporting them and the amazing staff caring for them, my wife and I know that our daughters likely wouldn't have lived for more than an hour. However, today, they reached their 13 week milestone.

The funds raised will be split between the NICUs at the Royal Bolton Hospital (where the girls were born and initially cared for) and the Birmingham Women's Hospital (where they will stay for the coming weeks, if not months). The funds will be used to buy life changing equipment for neonates and to improve the parent's accommodation and facilities to make the days and weeks parents are there slightly more comfortable.

If you wish to help in other ways, please consider donating some time to give blood. On average, 1 adult donation is enough for 4 neo-natal blood transfusions. In their first 10 weeks, our girls have had a combined total of 21 blood transfusions.

If you would like to understand more about our journey so far, please visit www.thefirst6weeks.com.