Losing a Twin at 36 Weeks: My Journey as a Twinless Twin Mum
On the 31st January 2024, exactly 2 weeks after my mum’s funeral who passed suddenly, my husband and I found out we were expecting. We were beyond excited.
We were blessed with two heartbeats. DCDA twins, meaning they have their own sacs and placentas.
Quite quickly, I kept saying to my husband ‘I think it could be twins’. On our way to our 12-week scan, I said to my husband once more ‘if it’s twins, we’ve totally got this’. Sure enough, mother’s instinct was right. We were blessed with two heartbeats. DCDA twins, meaning they have their own sacs and placentas.
At our 20-week scan everything was still moving forward nicely. We never found out the genders, they were just known as Twin 1 (who I had a sneaky suspicion was a girl) and Twin 2 (who I thought was a boy).
After 20 weeks, I had scan weekly, there was some concern around Twin 1’s growth, so each fortnight we had growth scans, and in between those they check the flow from placenta to babies.
I also had Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, which I had with my first born also. My bloods were regularly monitored.
On the 10th September 2024, I’d had a growth scan and due to Twin 1s growth, they were going to induce me later that week. This would mean the babies would be born at 36weeks and it was recommended to have steroid inject to help the babies’ lungs. I had my first injection that day.
The next morning, I woke up and hadn’t felt the babies move very much. I had thought to much of it, but always been an advocate for babies’ movements and using kicks count bracelet, I got childcare for my toddler and took myself to triage. I was also due to have my 2nd steroid injection that afternoon, so had a a good few hours to myself and was busy planning where to go treat myself for dinner after a quick check on the babies before the next appointment.
I was so sure as soon as the monitors were on, all would be fine.
On my way there, my consultant actually called to say they would be inducing me the following day. I never mentioned I was on my way for reduced movements; I was so sure as soon as the monitors were on, all would be fine.
The popped the monitors on, and although the midwife thought she had two heart beats, the monitor wasn’t happy. After a couple more reshuffles, she eventually went to get a scanning machine. She scanned my tummy, and then said, we’d move to another room. My heart sank. I knew.
I never thought I wouldn’t be bringing them both home.
We went to a room and she called for a doctor. The doctor before she scanned, asked me if I was alone, I was. She scanned and informed me there was no heartbeat on twin 2, but twin 1 was still going strong. Complete shock, shock that we’d lost twin 2, when all concern had only been for twin 1. Heartbroken we’d lost a baby, that I had to phone my husband to come to the hospital while I figure out how to tell him when he arrives, we’ve lost a baby. Thankful that twin 1 was still alive. It was quickly decided the babies would be born via c section that day. We don’t know why we lost twin 2. At exactly 36weeks they were born.
Twin 1 – Lucinda 5lb
Twin 2 – Walter 5lb 13oz
Mothers’ instinct was right, I knew it was twins, I knew it was a boy and a girl, I never thought I wouldn’t be bringing them both home.
We were so well cared for throughout our pregnancy, I don’t think any more could have been done. DCDA twins, the safest twins to have. Overall, a healthy pregnancy, until it wasn’t.
Navigating baby loss while caring for a toddler and a newborn is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
