Put this on a few different topics as need answers and hope. Sister having twins at 27 weeks. What chance of survival?

[mumblesmummy]

Little bit of background of what's going on:

I'm nearly 38 weeks pregnant, my sister is nearly 28 weeks pregnantwith twins. We row soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much but absolutely adore each other in reality. We're a very close family.

At the moment we've got a lot of stress. Our nana is in intensive care (I've written about it on 'relationships') and my DP is in a hospital 80 miles away having surgery right now. So the family are all trying to pull together for each other.

Today my sister went for a routine scan and found that one baby hadn't grown in 4 weeks. Her BP has been sky high so she has foetal monitoring every week, and it has been fine. However, the scan showed that one baby isn't getting oxygen through the cord, and so tonight, she's being taken to another hospital and the babies are being taken out (c section). She has been given a steroid injection to mature the babies lungs today. Both have heartbeats, but obviously they BOTH have to be born even though it's only one that's poorly. Therefore they're both in trouble.

What are the chances of the babies surviving? She's had IVF and she's been terrified all pregnancy. Now this. Please can someone offer any help/advice/opinions/anything at all.

So sorry to hear this. hope it is all OK.

Sorry I can be of no help x

Oh what sad news. You must be so worried. I think alot of it depends upon the weight of each baby. I'm not sure of the odds of survival but i was just reading on bbc news archives about twins born at 29 weeks that both survived. One only weighed just over a pound and did need surgery. Just remember they are all in the best hands. They can do marvellous things nowadays. Thinking of you all.

I've just read that more than 90% of premature babies who weigh a little less than 2lbs or more survive and even babies born as early as 25 weeks now have a good chance of surviving. It goes on to say that babies weighing a pound or less have a 40 - 50% chance of survival.

I know twins who were born at 29 weeks who are both now perfectly healthy although the little girl had an eye problem that needed surgery to correct.

27 wks is very early though so don't want to give false hope, especially if one has not been growing well.

I wish your family and especially mum and babies all the best.

Hi Mumblesmummy, I dont post very often but just wanted to wish your sister (and you) all the best with your babies. I have been lucky enough to help out with naturally conceived quads who were born at 28 weeks weighing only 1lb 5oz, 1lb 11oz, 2lb and 2lb 1oz.

The quads were tiny, but healthy (ish) and are now thriving. They turn 2 on sunday. They spent the first three months in hospital (different hospitals in fact). One had some health problems and stayed longer, but to look at them now, it is difficult to remember them so tiny and helpless. An inspirational family, and a pleasure to spend time with.

www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/womenfamily.html?in_article_id=386244&in_page_id=1799

It is a very scary time for the whole family, but it sounds like you are all very close. This support will be invaluable to your sister.
Good Luck x

any news Mumblesmummy? x

Any news?

I had my two 4 months ago at St. Marys in Paddingdon.

There was a danger that they were going to be very premature and the consultant reassured me that that hospital has a 100% survival rate for births at 28 weeks.

Not sure how reassuring this statistic is for your sister - but hope things work out well for you all.

I have a friend who had her IVF twins at 30 weeks (I think), similar to your sister in that she was scanned regularly, kept a close eye on, and they realised that 1 twin was not thriving, so they whipped them both out. TBH I think it was touch and go for the non-thriving one for a while (they were in SCBU for a good couple of months), but they are both fine now..... hope things work out well for you all...