We found out we were having twins at 8 weeks, I was inappropriately void of any maternal or polite response when discovering the news of our twins and instead expletives flowed as abundantly as the tears did. The shock was a lot! With no multiples in the family on either side the prospect or had never crossed our minds, not even once!
At that first scan we were also told we were having MCMA twins, whereby they share a sac and also a placenta. With no knowledge of the implications that come with this type of twins we took a moment to try and take in the news that there were two on the way.
What followed from a light google was an onslaught of horror stories around the implications of having MCMA twins; early delivery at 30/32 wks, endless risks and a level of panic and doom over how this was all going to play out set in. Announcements to family members were marred by our panic at how these babies would arrive in the world.
We opted for another scan ahead of our summer travels and miraculously where there had been one sac a second now appeared, the twins we were in fact having were to be MCDA, still sharing a placenta, but in individual sacs. Sharing the same placenta still came with a certain stack of risks and one’s which would require close monitoring and possibly laser treatment and early delivery (should there be a disparity in the blood flow and nutrients between the two babies). Bi-weekly scans and for a proportion of our pregnancy weekly scans meant we were closely monitored. Ahead of each appointment we’d build ourselves up for the possibility of the unknown happening. We were extremely fortunate to have an incredible consultant monitor and reassure us throughout (she also delivered our twins too).
Whilst doctors and consultants constantly reinforced the notion of how ‘very high risk’ this pregnancy was, I ploughed my energy into rewriting that messaging through hypnotherapy and counselling sessions. I was so aware that I needed to stay level and optimistic about our babies arriving here safely. Each week that passed felt like a win. I had felt so well throughout the entire pregnancy and for the most part managed to tune into how my body felt and trust my instincts.
Early into my pregnancy I had experienced a bleed which also kept me on my toes (although implantation bleeds can apparently be quite common its still felt unnerving and it wasn’t something I’d known about). What became so apparent is that our bodies really are miraculous and the best thing you can do to assist them is to be as calm and relaxed as possible, so this became my focus. There’s so much you have no idea about when it comes to pregnancy and beyond so trusting my instincts felt like the only failsafe I could reply on when so much of what you read can be conflicting.
2 weeks ahead of our c section date, I went into hospital to have some mild back pains checked out, only to be told I was having three contractions every ten minutes, we also then found out we had covid. Three long days later we were released from hospital and the babies had stayed put!
Our time post birth was not without complications; 10 days spent across NICU and SCBU to assist the babies with their breathing and various other ailments that are common to premature babies. The boys were born at 35 weeks plus 4 days and weighed 2.4kg and 2.7kg (thank god I didn’t go to full term, these boys would have been huge and probably arrived with teeth!!)
What we experienced in these ten days were for the most part INCREDIBLE people, people that reassured and supported us whilst caring for the boys. We are truly grateful and will never forget the brilliant handful of people that got us and the boys through this period. A memorable Christmas to say the least!
For anyone that’s going through anything similar know that there’s incredible talented people that will support and guide you through what feels like the foggiest of times.
My mother in law also joined various forums and Facebook groups for MCDA twins, she drip fed us the info we needed and shared the positive stories, of which there were many!
The prospect of twins alone is a lot to comprehend so adding this layer of angst to pregnancy felt like a whole other world to navigate and one that I was too nervous to share the details of on here. But we were fortunately proof it can all go to plan and we now have two feisty identical twin boys keeping us busy enough to forget what it took to get them here. To anyone going through the same, stay optimistic and know it can all go to plan. Our bodies are truly miraculous and I’ve never felt more superhuman than I did when these boys arrived into the world!
