Introducing EAMBAs Friday Inspiration posts. Every Friday we aim to share a story about parenthood by people connected to EAMBA. Thank you to our first author, Amy. Amys story My husband and I met when I was 18 and married when I was 26. We decided to start trying for a baby just before the wedding. About a year and a half later, four miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy which had to be terminated, we found ourselves sitting in the fertility specialist’s office talking about IVF. The IVF process was stressful but at least it made us feel like we were doing something. The egg collection gave us five usable embryos which unfortunately were all low quality. In the following three months, we put the best three back, without success and were left with two little grade 5 (lowest quality) embryos. I pleaded with my husband to put both in however he wouldnt even toy with the idea because of the risk of twins. So reluctantly I agreed, one embryo was put back, it split in half, and we ended up pregnant with identical twin girls. That’s when the twin pregnancy fun began. At 12 weeks I had a sub-chronic haematoma which is bleeding between the placenta and the uterus. At 13 weeks I started leaking amniotic fluid. I remember the doctor at the time offering me a D&C to terminate the pregnancy. I was horrified that they would even think of terminating the pregnancy when I could still see the tiny flickers of heartbeats on the ultrasound. I knew of course that the chances of these babies surviving was low, the girls were sharing a placenta that had sustained damages and leaking amniotic fluid is always a big issue. As the weeks of the pregnancy progressed, I was having fortnightly ultrasounds and every time I had one there was a new issue – twin A wasnt growing, twin Bs stomach was too small, the SD ratio that measures intrauterine growth restriction wasnt what it should be. But I learnt to ignore all the medical terminology and listen to my body instead. Against all odds these girls were still there, and I owed it to them to stay positive. At 20 weeks I told the specialist that I’d put the furniture on lay-by and his response was That’s a bit premature isnt it? Maybe dont starting buying things just yet. I went to bed with a chart next to me that said what the survival rates were at each week of pregnancy, it somehow made me feel better, and I can remember the relief at 24 weeks when my girls became viable. On 21 November 2013, at 36w+2d gestation Sophie Rae and Bella Jean Whelan entered the world weighing 2094g and 2186g respectively. I ended up having a caesar because both girls were breech and Sophie had stopped growing. They spent the next two weeks in special care just because of their tiny size. They are now just over seven months and are happy, healthy, gorgeous little girls. They are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have met so many amazing people, with amazing stories of their own, through the multiples association. When I get the old saying Glad it’s you and not me I cant help but think to myself Im glad it’s me too. When I was talking to Amy about sharing her story, she said she hopes it gives other expectant mothers having difficulties some hope. It reminds me that miracles happen.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 04:45:31 +0000
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