URGENT- my sister's twins have to be delivered tonight- 27 weeks- 1 twin is potentially dying-worried sick- please help with any advice

[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.

I have no idea, but I will pray for your sister and her darling children.

xxx

oh, fingers crossed here

such a worrying time

the only thing i can think to say is that i recently met twins that live in the village. they were born at 24 weeks

no advice but am thinking of your sister and the twins x

hi.

No advice for you, but you could ask the same question in the multiples section - they've all had twins and more, they may have more advice for you.

Thinking of your sis tonight.

xx

I don't think there is anything she can do - or much advice to give. It is going to be scary and probably a rough ride for a few months.

All you can do is be there for them as much as you can - let her talk whenever she needs to. Offer to help as much as you can - not best timing for you I guess.

oh MM how scary for her one of my twins had slow growth at 34 weeks (poss before, that was the scan that picked it up) they were going to induce me the following week or so if no further growth but I went in to labour naturally at 35 weeks, which I know is alot later, but 28 weeks is not unheard of for twins. Mine were 4lb 2 and 4lb 6, skinny and long. It is terrifying but she is at least in the best possible place for them and the docs will do everything they possibly can. Fingers crossed for you x

by the way - there is a prem birth topic - maybe try over there as well.

yes fingers cross that they will pull through xxxx

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Sometimes twins are better out than in.

I hope everything turns out well.

Try not to worry (hard I know).

I will be thinking of you all xx

my friend had a bay at 27 weeks and he is alovely strapping healthy lad at 6 yrs with a slight delay. Its not the perfect time to have a child and the hospital will be realistic with them, so it wont all be the new baby experience one dreams of but things have moved on and they have more chance than they would have in previous decades. Good luck to your sister.

I am so sorry about your nan too. How is your dp doing?

god, you've got it all happeninghaven't you. you poor thing.

27 weeks isnt great. but a planned delivery at 27 weeks is better than an unplanned one.

Statisics on survuval are no help - because if you are in the percentage that don't make it, it makes no difference.

With good care, and a lot of luck they should be ok.

We'll be thinking of you.

xx

sorry no real helpful advice, but keeping everything crossed that all goes well.

Let us know how things are as soon as you are able x

No advice here either but just wanted to know you and your sister and the twins have my prayers and support.

MM - I'm really sorry to hear about your sister's problems. I don't have direct experience (and none at all of twins), but I was hospitalised at 27 weeks when I had dd1 (due to heavy bleeding) and was told that there was a very strong chance that she'd be born there and then (luckily she hung on!). I was told two things that might reassure you a little bit: (a) that her chances of survival were very good at that stage, and (b) that the steroids that they give to mature the baby's lungs really do work. We were taken around SCBU and the nurses there all said the same thing - the steroids make a huge difference to the prospects of babies born prematurely, and even one dose is enough to help a lot.

I am thinking of you and your sister. Good luck.

As they don't have a bed for her at the hospital on the other side of the country, they're keeping her here for now and giving her the steroid injection again tomorrow, so hopefully the twins lungs will mature!! Then tomorrow she has to go to a hospital (even if it's not the preferred one) and have the babies.

Is this a good thing? As even though it's getting left longer until they;re born, they're getting that injection again.. so hopefully a higher chance of survival?

i was born at 26 weeks and i'm 24 yrs old and having my first baby. my advice-- THINK POSITIVE and have your sister think positive also.

in the meanwhile, the rest of us will pray for your sister and the rest of your family. hang in there!

Thanks Eandz, fantastic to hear from someone who survived it!! Lots of prayers being said at this end too.

xx

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no problem!

Personally, don't have any advice but wanted to say I'm thinking of you all and sending all my best. Do pop into the multiples thread if any of us can help, we're a friendly bunch. All the best tomorrow, and keep us posted. Lots of love xxx.

Your poor sister. Scary times but this is a fighting chance for those babies. 27 weeks is early, but if the placenta/cord is failing then it really can be a case of better out than in.

The steroids will help hugely, especially as she will get two doses of them over the course of a couple of days. The babies will end up in Special Care and they will be small but I think by 27 weeks they are in with a good chance. I know by 28 weeks it's an 80% chance of survival and that's based on non-steroid treatment prior to delivery. So your sister's twins have a very good chance.

I went into early labour several times during my twin pregnancy (all blocked thank goodness) but I had steroids at 25 weeks and 31 weeks which made a huge difference to my twins' lung development. They were born at 35 weeks and totally avoided special care, which is quite unusual. So steroids make a big difference.

I shall think of her though - all of you in fact - and wish your sister and her babies all the best.

Kx

Not sure what to say. Agree with Frumpy to go to the multiples thread - the ladies there are just wonderful. Thinking of all of you tonight and holding you close in my heart and mind.

Good luck and the best of warmest wishes to your family.