Little Fighters

Hi,

I have been lurking a bit on this forum and have been posting to some threads, but today I need ot start my own! I am 29 years old and this is my second pregancy - I have a beautifuyl 2 and a half year old girl. I am also 18 weeks pregnant with fraternal girl twins.

We have had complications along the way. I was told I would lose one by 12 weeks as it was smaller by a week then the other and I had some bleeding. I was told at 12 weeks they though my little one had trisomy 18 as it has an omphalocele (umbilical hernia) and was measuring much smaller. We were pressured into a CVS (long story) which I had just so I knew what we were dealing with (termination was NOT a possibility despite the doctor's thinking it was the only solution). Now, today, at 18 weeks I have had other scan. We went for a second opinion else where as we had such a bad experience wiith our first scans (and were treated poorly).

Today's news has not been great. Baby A is doing great - perfect in every way!. Baby B (although I think she is perfect) is growing well but still has a hernia which we were told today will need to be operated on when she is born). We were also told she had a heart defect. She wouldn't move into a position that gave them a great look, but they think she has a VSD or hole in the heart. This will also most likely need surgery when she is born. We will have another scan in two weeks time and will be probably off to see a pedeatric cardiac surgeon. Although this is super scary we are staying positive as these two things can be fixed.

My question is though, has anyone had this with their twins - either as VSD or omphalocele? If so I would love to hear from you and get any info/advice you may have.

Thanks for listening and thanks for creating such a great forum with loads of great advice!

Kittymumxx

 

My 5 year old Daughter was born with a VSD. They did not see it in utero but found it after she was born. She did not need surgery on it, and most children don't so I would make sure you really sit with the pediatric cardiologist about all of it.
She is a happy, healthy, active, "normal" little girl that just sees the cardiologist once a year to get checked....

Hang in there Hon - I know that is hard to hear but my Kelsey is proof that it can be OK.

As for the hernia, I don't have personal experience but a prior boss of mine's son was born with one, did have the surgery, and went home a couple of days later also perfectly healthy....

:hug: 's to you.....

 

Hi and welcome to Twinstuff! :welcome: Congrats on your twins. :Clap: You have been through a lot this pregnancy so far, hand in there. :hug:

 

:hug: I just wanted to send hugs your way.

 

Hi there & :welcome: to Twinstuff!!
Sorry to hear you have had some difficulties thus far ~ sending :hug:s to you.
Please keep us posted on how things are going

 

One of mine was diagnosed with VSD at 19w - doc said it is very common and will not affect how your fetus develops in utero. When she is born they will observe and you may choose for elective surgery, although it is often not needed as the VSD can correct on its own.

Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate - just wanted to let you know that the VSD is very common and treatable!

 

Sorry you are going through this .. I'll be sending you positive thoughts for both babies. I can understand how scared you must be. One of my twins, Jayden, was diagnosed with a heart defect (Tetralogy of Fallot) at around 20 weeks gestation and I was forced to enter the world of cardiologist and CHD's and tried to educate myself as much as I could. Luckily that was his only serious problem. For us though, surgery wasnt an option it was a must. So at 12 weeks old he had open heart surgery to try to correct some of the problems his heart was having. The surgery was a success as far as closing the VSD. My only advice is to try to find out as much as you can .. and find a cardiac surgeon you're comfortable with. We are lucky enough to live near Boston and received the best care possible at Boston Childrens Hospital. It was reassuring knowing we were going to a very reputible hospital.
Hang in there !

 

I'm sorry you are going thru so much this pregnancy. I don't know how bad her umbilical hernia is, both my kids had small umbilical hernia's found after birth, my son's went away by the time he turned 2, my daughter's is still there (she's just over 2), but it's very soft and our ped is confident it'll go away on it's own by the time she's 5. For now we just check it each well child appt and I keep an eye on it at home. So it really depends on the severity as to whether she will need surgery or not! :hug:

 

One of my girls was born with a VSD, it eventually closed on it's own and she did not need surgery. I know it all sounds very scary but there's a good chance everything will be alright.

 

:hug: I just want to say I am sorry about all the stress you are dealing with right now. I hope things continue to progress well, and all is ok for you and your babies. Welcome to TS! And congratulations on your twins!!

 

Thanks for your positive words, advice and support. We are remaining optimistic about the outcome. I suppose we just need to wait for a couple more weeks before they can determine the extent of the heart problems. I know both of these things can be repaired, I am just crossing my fingers that there isn't a larger underlying problem causing them. This journay is so scary but exciting to think we might have two beautiful girls at the end of it.

Love and thanks to you all,
Kittymum

 

my hubby was born with a hole in his heart, which they thought would close on it's own. At age 21 he had open heart surgery to close it as it hadn't, but only because he was advised to. He had had and continues to have a very healthy life, playing sport, surfing etc. Fingers crossed your little one does well too.

 

Sorry you're dealing with all this stress right now. Big hugs for you. I don't have experience with either of those with my twins (though my Baby B had left ventricle echogenic foci--spots on his heart--so they sent us to a pediatric cardiologist for a fetal EKG and it checked out OK). My BFF was born with a hole in her heart and it closed up after a month or so. Hang in there, and congratulations on your twins. I know it's hard, but keep up that positive attitude and take good care of yourself!

 

Hi! I am also pregnant with fraternal twin girls. We have been told since the very first ultrasound at week 8 that baby B would not make it. Each doctor appt we went to we expected her not to be there and now at 26 weeks she seems to be doing well. The whole time she has measured roughly a week behind her sister. We went and saw a specialist and he told us that her heart was not developed correctly and was pumping blood the wrong way and would not be able to support her once (and if) she was born. We went back two weeks after that and our doctor was shocked that nothing appeared to be wrong. Her heart seems to have some minor problems but it does not look like anything that will affect her. I am now on bedrest due to the fact that one of my sacs ruptured but the doctors are very positive that we will make it til atleast 28 weeks if not further. Just pray! Its amazing how strong our babies are and things can change very quickly. I wish you and the girls the best of luck!

 

:hug:
Sounds Like shes a fighter and when she turns 12 watch out!

 

One my sisters twins was always smaller and weaker from her sister, she had 3 holes in her heart and they said they would need surgery as well. She fought all along. They were born at 30 weeks 3 days and twin b had only one whole in her heart and it closed on its own within a fw weeks. I am sorry that you are going through this but miracles do happen!

 

Thanks again guys. Lots of great positive information.

QUOTE(lindsayt @ Nov 29 2008, 02:26 AM) [snapback]1089225[/snapback]
Hi! I am also pregnant with fraternal twin girls. We have been told since the very first ultrasound at week 8 that baby B would not make it. Each doctor appt we went to we expected her not to be there and now at 26 weeks she seems to be doing well. The whole time she has measured roughly a week behind her sister. We went and saw a specialist and he told us that her heart was not developed correctly and was pumping blood the wrong way and would not be able to support her once (and if) she was born. We went back two weeks after that and our doctor was shocked that nothing appeared to be wrong. Her heart seems to have some minor problems but it does not look like anything that will affect her. I am now on bedrest due to the fact that one of my sacs ruptured but the doctors are very positive that we will make it til atleast 28 weeks if not further. Just pray! Its amazing how strong our babies are and things can change very quickly. I wish you and the girls the best of luck!


Thanks for your post Lindsay. It is comforting to hear other people are getting through the same sort of challenges. I hope all goes well for your baby girls and the little one keeps getting stronger and stronger!