28-2-11

Monday 28th February 2011


I'm 25 weeks and 4 days today, and we had a meeting to discuss our boys' birth. As you will probably know from the first 'note' I did, Christopher has anencephaly. He is measuring around a week and a day behind his brother Harry who we know as 'normal' and who is exact with my dates. They are both growing at the average rate, Christopher below tiny and Harry just right.

We've had a few scares- to say the least! Possible twin to twin transfusion syndrome (where one twin has no fluid getting to him and the other has it all, which causes pressure on the heart)- which was a month ago now was spotted by the sonographer over here when she was doing one of my fortnightly scans and she spotted early signs. We (Lee, mum and me) were sent to Liverpool Womens' Hospital that afternoon where we were kind of shunned into a room while people tried to catch up with who we were and why we were there! Very unsettling.


Finally we got to the scan room and the trainee expert did his measurements and gave us the relief of telling us there was no TTTS! And then he switched on the 4D! We got to see Harry and Christopher in 4D and we were so happy, they are both so cute. Even though we had to persuade the sono to show us Christopher, and he said 'No' at first, because it would upset us. But we insisted, and we got a picture of his back (and a beautiful one it is!). The sono also told us if we'd have gone to him, he would have told us to get a termination, if not the whole pregnancy then a selective one, which would be a huge risk to both of them. The expert came along and did a check over all the scans and explained everything, and again gave us the choice of a selective termination- again, I declined.

Thankfully, I didn't have to stay overnight and I could go and stay with my Aunty Patty and Uncle Frank (thank you again!!!) and I got a restful night's sleep and went to the hospital in the morning to confirm my decision and sign the papers. We were looking at a 32 week delivery, preferrable natural birth and telemeds every week now to monitor the babies as close as possible.



We got the flight back that day, and arrived safely home- barely able to contain my excitement of sharing the pictures of my little boys!!! Harry has his daddy's nose and looks so cute, I just wish we had gotten more of Christopher, too.

So, now we live from scan to scan. The trainee sono who did my scan in Liverpool now calls the boys by their names! He also told us about a possible 36 week delivery, though, which my doctor isn't too happy about (he wants to get Harry out as soon as possible) and so it's a 32 week caesarean section delivery- I don't mind, whatever's best for my boys. After the meeting today which Mum, Dad and me attended (Lee was at work) with the paedetrician, doctor, nurse, and the head of SCBU we were shown around the SCBU which was very emotional.

I will want Harry and Christopher to meet outside of my tummy, and they will have a picture together straight after birth, Harry will then go on to the neonatal unit to be monitored and stay for about 6 weeks, and Christopher will stay with us so we can savour the time we have left with him.

It's going to be tough on me and Lee, and of course our families. We love our boys so much, and fingers crossed they hold on. Thanks to everyone for your support, we couldn't have done it without you and now it's getting harder and harder and I'm starting to realise it's all so real.