really not sure what to think of this, I mean will the baby live?

[Saint2shoes]

here

i agree with CDA - i had a scan at 6 weeks. The baby was tiny - just a tiny little blob but with a beating heart. There would mostly definately be another heart by now if there ever is going to be - it's not just suddenly going to develop these things happen in an exact sequence. The embryo looks about 8 weeks old in the photos I've seen. It is quite clear that there are two heads coming out of only one body. Obviously, what is not clear atm is whether both heads have brains and are functional.
There was a case where a baby was born with 2 faces, one on either side of the head. The second face was under developed but used to root for milk when the working head was fed - i think the child died - someone will correct me if i'm wrong i'm sure

i agree wannaBe

FAQ - Which "experts"?

That has to be the newspaper misquoting someone. Look it up. Heart starts beating at 5 weeks (22 days after conception).

I wouldn't have a baby only so I can hold him while he dies minutes after birth. Obviously a personal choice, but I would think it unnecessary trauma for everyone involved, including the baby.

Here, choose a video to watch among 6 week ultrasounds with heartbeat.

My take on it is not that there is one heart and that another one might appear, but that they don't know yet whether what they are seeing is one heart or two and that they are awaiting further scans to see whether they can distinguish a second heart. I remember my 8 week scan on ds4 and it really was just a beating blob inside a bean! No real detail.

Except that if there was a second heart, there would be a second heartbeat. Like with twins.

But if they were totally in sync?

even if they were in sync it would be clear there were two. It is quite clear in the photo that there is one body, one heart.

Sorry - haven't read the whole thread, so apologies if this point has already been made.

These babies, who are probably not going to survive, will (I imagine) have to be born by c-section if they go anywhere near to term. Women who have had a previous c-section are less likely to have another baby afterwards, and if they do get pregnant, are more at risk of complications and stillbirth. I think those risks are worth considering for this mother, given her longing for a baby.

That said I completely understand why the mother would not wish to terminate the pregnancy. I admire her strength and her certainty that these babies deserve a chance, though in my heart I feel very sorry for her and her partner as I'm sure it will all end in a lot of sadness for both of them.

Wannabe - there is no evidence that normal birth is an unpleasant experience for babies.

I don't think the chances of conceiving are significantly reduced after a CS though, are they? And they can also be reduced by a termination so could be swings and roundabouts really.

Well, apparently nearly half of all women who have a c-section with their first birth don't go on to have another baby. Complex mixture of factors involved I think - not all physical.

And yes - it is significant. You're a good third less likely to have another baby after a c-section than after a normal birth.

I'm obviously just lucky then! I've had 4 CS's!

I have no problem believing that. Anyone seen a baby coming out all serene and happy?

Well, every one of mine came out howling, and that was without the pushing and shoving!