Birth Announcement - Awful Outcome

[meglet]

So I had my c-section last Thursday. Twin 1 came out first at 7lbs 5oz and we heard him cry then take him away to the resuscitation unit, but they didn't show him to us first. Then Twin 2 came out two mins later at 5lbs 1oz. He cried too and then they brought him round for a quick peek.

What we didn't know was going on whilst we were concentrating on Twin 2 coming out was that Twin 1 had crashed and had to be resuscitated 3 times. The alarms had gone off and the paediatric docs had all rushed in but we were kind of oblivious to it all as we were behind the screen (and alarms go off in hospital all the time and could be something or nothing). The first we know of any problem was the paediatrician popping her head round and telling us they had had some issues with him and they were taking him off to SCBU.

They established there is nothing wrong with his lungs so it must be his heart. They did an echo and found that his pulmonary artery and his aorta are swapped round and he has a hole between the upper two ventricles. That means that the deoxygenated blood is not going to the lungs. Thankfully the hole in his heart is allowing enough oxygenated blood to mix with the deoxygenated blood to keep him alive. Nothing was picked up on any scan - and I had about 6 of them. Henry was blue lighted to the Royal Brompton hospital where they gave him an emergency stent to widen the hole and he and has been getting strong enough since then to get through the open heart surgery he needs to correct the defects.

I at least have Twin 1 with me but my BP is sky high and I'm back on the post natal ward now trying to get the drugs dosage right. I'm only just about coping, although I keep being told how strong I am as I do my crying in private.

I just wanted us all home. I'm devastated.

[DaisyNonna]

Meg, my heart goes out to you and your family

[marval]

I am so glad you will be able to see and hold Twin 2 tomorrow. My best to you all.

[jourdain2]

You poor darling, meglet. Remembering birth, I can understand a bit of how you are feeling. They are both alive - you will hold twin 2 tomorrow, hold on to that. Of course you want everyone at home together (I had a similar sort of thing, not twins, but a placenta previa). It is one day at a time. :0) XXX

[jourdain2]

^^^^ PS - You should cry as much as you like, it helps you to cope.