Twin to twin

After trying desperately to have a child my husband and I eventually fell pregnant with the help of the Perth Fertility Clinic and naturally we were over the moon. A beautiful healthy boy Lewis Joel was born on 15.12.93. We expected to have to go through the same procedure for our next child, but we were blessed with the news that I had conceived with no outside help. Not only had we done it ourselves but we were having identical twins - double the joy!

Our lives were about to turn upside down. A new car was needed, a bigger house, another cot, car seat and the list goes on. It was because of these extra purchases we decided to find out the sex of our babies, so on the appropriate appointment with my specialist we intended to ask what we were having. Instead we were referred to another specialist to examine why I had so much fluid in my womb. The appointment was the next day and it was suggested Darryl accompany me. I still had no idea that anything could be wrong.

From the moment we walked into Dr Phillips office I can remember every word that was said. We were told that both our babies had died and that they suffered from a condition called "Twin to Twin" transfusion which is an abnormality in the placenta where one baby does not get enough blood supply and dies while the other baby gets too much and gets overloaded and dies. They died a week apart.

That night we both lay awake talking, crying and trying to work out what we were going to do.

I remember having to do some shopping before going to hospital and praying that I didn't see anyone I knew in case they asked me how long I had to go before they were born. Thankfully that didn't happen.

After 4 days of induced labour our sons were born at 12.40pm and 12.50pm on 1.8.95 and I thank the hospital staff and my specialist for encouraging us to hold our babies and take photos of them, even though we thought there was something macabre about the whole thing at the time. Our 5 photos are my most treasured possession.

Coming home was a very difficult time and my little boy sensed what had happened as the next day he lifted up my shirt and said "no more babies, Mummy".

Now some 8 months later we are expecting another child due in September and although the feeling is not the same as our first or second pregnancies we will be very grateful and happy when our healthy baby is born.

Darlene Carpenter