Born at 28 weeks, Imogen and Max Trounson were in hospital for nearly three months, at times fighting for life. They weighed one and 1.4 kilograms at birth.

Now one-year-olds, the twins are generally healthy, but at greater risk from common illnesses.

Read more: Family steps out to fight like Knox after early birth battle

On Sunday Ms Trounson and Ms Harrington will join in Walk for Prems, an annual event in support of the thousands of babies born premature in Australia each year.

After an emergency caesarean, Imogen and Max were relatively healthy at first. They got Apgar scores of eight and nine, very good for a premature baby.

But born several months early, they still required intubation and intensive care treatment.

At three weeks Imogen developed a life threatening condition, necrotising entercolitis.

Doctors told Ms Trounson and Ms Harrington that she had just a 50 per cent chance of surviving.

Luckily she made it through.

The twins' eleven weeks in hospital were draining for the whole family.

Ms Harrington took as much time as possible off from her work as a teacher, but had to return for the school's production.

Ms Trounson was left in Melbourne with their daughter Harper - then just two years old - staying at her sister's house.

It was hard balancing time with the twins in hospital, with the needs of an energetic two-year-old.

Just four days after her caesarian, Ms Trounson was trying to keep Harper entertained.

She struggled feeling both guilt spending time with Harper away from the hospital and guilt not giving her the time she needed.

Bringing the twins home was exciting, but also overwhelming for Ms Harrington and Ms Trounson.

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For Ms Harrington, after waiting so many weeks, counting down until they were strong enough, the feeling was, "Are you sure?"

"They just felt so fragile still. Imogen had only just gone off oxygen in the last 48 hours before she came home," she said.

"It's really hard when you see these tiny, little fragile people, and you bring them home ... It's really hard not to second guess everything you do."

The family have joined in the annual Walk for Prems in recognition of the support they received from premature birth support group Life's Little Treasures Foundation.

The emotional and practical support made a huge difference for the family.

Walk for Prems will be taking place virtually on Sunday October 25. Find out more online at walkforprems.org.au.

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