Just Being a Mommy: Prematurity Awareness Day 11/17

In honor of Prematurity Awareness Day, I thought I would post about the journey I had with the boys. I typed this up for one of my friends, who is using it for a presentation on TTTS, Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Thought I should share, since a lot of you don't know the whole story!

I had my first ultrasound at 8 weeks, where they told me that I was having twins, and referred me to a high-risk doctor here in BG. The next week, I went for an ultrasound with the high-risk dr., where they told me that my twins were identical twins. While, it is a great blessing, it also came with great risk, including TTTS. Dr. Lombarti sat my husband and me down and explained to us what TTTS was, and what could happen if it were to happen to my babies. After further ultrasounds, they found that my BOYS had their own amniotic sac, but of course in the same placenta, so I was not AS high risk as I could have been, although TTTS was still a great possibility. From 8 weeks on to week 30 weeks, I had an ultrasound every 2 weeks and after that every week to check the growth and fluid levels. I was already scheduled to have a c-section on May 2^nd and would have been a little over 37 weeks, which is a week past full term for multiples. I went in for a untrasound with Dr. Lombarti on April 26^th, where they discovered that Brady (Baby B) had gained nearly a pound in a week, and Conner (Baby A) had remained the same. I knew as soon as the US started that something was wrong, because she measured Brady several times over and over, and I noticed that he was measuring nearly a week ahead of Conner. The ultrasound tech left me to go call Dr. Lombarti, who then called my OBGYN, Dr. Stice, who told me to not eat or drink anything for the rest of the day, because he had to deliver the babies TODAY! I, of course freaked out!!! I called my mom, who started crying and then had her call everyone else, because I couldn’t talk. So my husband and I went to the mall and walked for 2 hours before we had to be back in Labor and Delivery.

At 3:00, I checked in and by 5:00, the anesthesiologist had been in to tell me how everything was going to happen, my OBGYN came by to check on me and let me know what was going on, and of course ALL of my family was there. At 6:00 they took me to the OR and gave me my epideral, and at 6:35, I heard the most amazing sound ever!!! Conner (Baby A) had entered the world. They immediately gave him to my husband as they took out Brady (Baby B) at 6:36. I noticed that Brady did not cry, and later found out that he was not breathing when he came out. They rushed Brady to NICU and Phillip and Conner left, as I went to recovery.

They were diagnosed with TTTS, and I was told the Conner was the donor and Brady was the receiver. Conner was born 4 lbs. 8.5 oz. and 17 ¾ inches long and Brady was 5 lbs. 10.3 oz. and 18 inches long. Although Brady was bigger, he had to spend 4 days in NICU, while Conner got to stay in the regular nursery. They told me this was due to the fact that while in the womb, Conner had to fight to survive, because Brady was taking all the nutrients, therefore he was stronger, and Brady was “fat and lazy”, because he did not have to fight as hard to survive. He only had to spend 1 day on a C-Pap, the rest of the time was observation and teaching him to swallow. My boys were born at 35 weeks gestation, and luckily only had to stay in the hospital one day past the typical time for c-sections. I am extremely lucky that they did not develop TTTS until later on in the pregnancy, and I am so thankful for the wonderful people at the high-risk facility and NICU for taking such great care of my babies. According to their 4-month checkup, they weigh 14 lbs. 15 oz. and 15 lbs. 14 oz. They are now nearly 7 months old, and growing and learning new things every single day!