A miracle recovery of twins
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A mother whose premature twins were ''killing each other'' in the womb has shared the story of their miracle recovery. Laura Watson, 29, and her partner, James Weir, 34, were overjoyed when they discovered they were expecting twins in April 2022, reported Express UK.
A routine scan at 19 weeks revealed that her babies were unlikely to survive due to a condition known as twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). This meant the blood flow between the babies was abnormal, leading to uneven development.
Intrauterine laser ablation surgery
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Laura was flown from Northern Ireland to St George's Hospital in London. Surgeons performed an intrauterine laser ablation surgery, a procedure aimed at improving blood flow and nutrient distribution to both babies.
Emergency C-section
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Unfortunately, the surgery did not have the desired effect and Laura had to give birth via emergency C-section, when she was only 23 weeks pregnant, reported The Mirror UK. Laura shared, “The day before, they looked great, we had no idea. Then, the next day, we were told that if we don’t deliver Maebh, we would lose her. Doctors told us they were safer outside — it was terrifying.”
Surgeons performed an emergency c-section and delivered the baby girls. Baby Meabh Weir was born at 1:08 pm, weighing just 1lbs 6oz, at Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital on October 3, 2022. Her sister, Clodagh Weir, was born at 1:09pm, weighing 2lbs 8oz.
“I felt numb, in shock, and in denial’
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The twins were immediately taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and placed on ventilators. The parents caught a glimpse of their newborns before they were whisked away for specialized care. Laura shared, “Seeing them intubated the next day was surreal to me. I felt numb, in shock, and in denial — I couldn’t believe those were my babies. It felt like I was still pregnant, like it never happened.”
“When we finally held them, I don’t even know how to describe it, it was so overwhelming. I had lost hope through pregnancy and couldn’t believe they survived the birth," she added.
Twins have made remarkable progress
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Clodagh spent 63 days in the NICU, while her sister Meabh stayed for 82 days. The pressure in the womb had led to Clodagh developing a congenital heart defect, which will require lifelong monitoring. The twins’ determination and the care they received have led to their remarkable progress. Now, at nine months old, the twins are thriving and showing their unique personalities.
‘They were effectively killing each other in the womb’
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Reflecting on her journey, Laura said, “I wasn’t given any good choices. They were effectively killing each other in the womb. I was told I could do nothing and most likely lose both of them or have a surgery with a 30 percent survival rate. I was even asked if I wanted to terminate the pregnancy. But I couldn’t do that, I had to give them both a chance. I never dreamed I'd get to bring them both home after what we went through. But now they are here, and they are happy, and I still can’t believe it."
"Anytime they're together, they hold hands and play or interact in any other way. They have a clear connection, and it's amazing to see. I can't wait for the bond to grow even stronger," she added.