Our Babies Could Use Your Support

['Hamas' Jenkins]

The great news is that I am a dad of two beautiful little girls.

The terrible news is that those girls are in extreme medical duress.
Yesterday, my wife gave birth, via emergency c-section, at 29 weeks, two days. At sixteen weeks, what looked like a normal, but rare, identical twin pregnancy became far more complicated. Our babies were diagnosed with a disorder that happens about 15% of the time with identical twin pregnancies called Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. A detailed medical description isn’t necessary, but a brief one may help to understand.

The placenta provides blood flow and nutrition to a developing fetus. Most of the time, identical twins draw from the placenta with little issue, but in Twin-to-Twin, there is an imbalance. One twin, called the recipient, pulls too much blood from the placenta, and also the other baby. This makes the recipient polycythemic, basically the exact opposite of anemic. With too much blood, especially red blood cells, the blood becomes sludgy, and all the extra fluid which the baby receives from the extra blood puts a great deal of strain on their system, and can lead to congestive heart failure and other problems.

The other twin, the donor, experiences problems due to a lack of blood volume.

As a result of this circulatory imbalance, there is a massive discrepancy in amniotic fluid. The recipient swims in a pool of it, while the donor is, in essence, shrink-wrapped by the lack of fluid as the amniotic sac pulls in around it.

The condition is gravely serious, and without treatment, will usually carry a mortality risk of 100%.

After finding out that what we thought was going to be a normal pregnancy was anything but at 16 weeks, we had a procedure done in St. Louis called fetoscopic laser ablation. Developed a little over a decade ago, surgeons make a small incision in the mother’s abdomen, and with a small endoscope and laser, cauterize shared vessels between the two twins. This helps to establish a normal blood flow between the two babies.
We had this procedure done on May 6.

Initially, everything looked great, as the fluid levels between the two babies balanced out, and blood flow patterns appeared within normal range. About three weeks after the procedure, our specialists noticed that the condition had actually reversed itself. About 10% of the time, the condition will spontaneously reverse itself.

It was apparent to doctors at this appointment that this had happened near the end of May. Fluid levels were imbalanced, but still at the very end of normal. As such, the doctors felt it was the best interests in prolonging the pregnancy, which was not yet at viability, to avoid another event that would require making a hole in the amniotic sac. Thus, we embarked on a pattern of extreme vigilance. At multiple appointments per week, doctors performed an ultrasound wherein they would measure amniotic fluid levels, blood flow across the umbilical cords, and within the cerebral arteries in the brain.

After this second scare, it appeared that things began to normalize. Most of our subsequent appointments looked improved, and everything appeared to be on a healthy, normal trajectory.

Until Wednesday night.

Late Wednesday, my wife began to feel a series of small contractions. While normal in the third trimester, she had enough in a short period of time that it was necessary to call the doctor. He had us come into the hospital for closer monitoring, and after doing so, noticed that one of our babies was in distress. We had three ultrasounds last night and early into Wednesday morning, and after doing so, the doctors felt that it was in the best interests of the babies to deliver them at an extremely early, 29 weeks, but still viable age.

At 5:09 and 5:10 pm yesterday, we welcomed our little girls into the world.

Continued in post #2

[Fritz88]

Some of us were bummed that Moeaki is on the PUP. Well... this thing puts things in perspective.

[cabletech94]

prayers and best wishes to you and your family hamas.

[Mile High Mania]

Prayers for your family, especially those little girls...

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Sending well-wishes to you and your family. Godspeed.

[MIAdragon]

Hamas my heart goes out to you and your wife. When our daughter was born she had serious complications as well and were told to expect the worst, she was a fighter and pulled through. Thoughts and prayers your way, if there is ANYTHING I can do for you guys please let me know.

[CrazyPhuD]

Good luck and best wishes to all involved. You never really realize how much more dangerous having twins are than a normal pregnancy until you see it first hand. My friends gave birth to theirs almost two years ago. Unfortunately in the last few days of the pregnancy there was a placental abruption which caused a lack of O2 to the boy. He suffered significant neurological damage as a result and it is uncertain even now how normal a life he'll have. They are still hopeful he can compensate but the progress is slow.

As much as we give our medical system grief, we still do have the most advanced system around, they can pull wonders and I hope you get one here. Best wishes not just for healthy but no long term effects also.

[stlchiefs]

WOW, prayers.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

We just got back from the NICU. Our less critical baby has had a fairly calm night. They are currently shining a blue light on her to help get rid of jaundice, which can be a byproduct of breaking down all the extra red blood cells she has. Our other girl has had a rough night, but she seems to have stabilized a bit over the last few hours.

Good words!

[Mizzou_8541]

Praying for continued improvement. Sorry to hear about this.

[SAUTO]

prayers and well wishes on the way hamas.

if you need anything shoot me a pm. we have been through a pretty rough situation with our baby also

[CosmicPal]

Wow...that's quite a profound ordeal. Your family is in my heartfelt prayers.

[dirk digler]

That is an incredible story Hamas and my heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to you, your wife and your new baby girls.

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by blaise

It sounds like they must have a fighting spirit to get this far, so that's a good thing.

This

First of all, congrats on the birth of your beautiful daughters. I trust mom is doing well physically.

Prayers for the girls, the doctors and nurses, and for you and your wife to be able to keep your own strength and faith up during these difficult times.

[Lex Luthor]

Very sorry to hear this. No parent should have to go through this.

Your girls are definitely in my thoughts and prayers.

[Dante84]

Good Luck Team Hamas!!!!