Welcome to our world, Daniel and Joshua!

The twins were born via emergency csection today!

I’m doing well, babies are stable. Joshua Matthew was born at 12:36 PM weighing 3 pounds and Daniel Joel was born at 12:37 PM weighing 3 lbs. 8 oz.

Joshua had gone into fetal distress with acute TTTS and had to be delivered immediately after the ultrasound today; They couldn’t even wait for Mark to get to the hospital. Joshua is on aortic watch and they’re carefully observing him, already he’s showing signs of improvement but having done trouble with his breathing. We’ll find out in the coming days id his heart will function outside the womb and if he needs open heart surgery via transfer to Seattle Children’s. Daniel is doing very well. The neonatologists say preemies tend to be released on their due date (6/20/21) or if they do really well, sometimes earlier. They absolutely cannot be released until they’re at least 4 pounds because car seats are not rated under 4 pounds. They also have certain skills they must master, milestones to complete, before they can be released. For example, their breathing has to be on assisted with no apnea events for a certain amount of time. Then they have to learn to suck swallow and breathe in order to feed properly. So they have a bit of a journey ahead of them.

We’re under no delusion that will be fast for either of them. If Joshua has to be transferred to Seattle children’s that will extend his stay in the nick you but it will likely be at the other hospital. Daniel will probably go home much earlier than his due date; we think maybe 6 to 8 weeks for Daniel and probably longer for Joshua. But it just all depends on how they improve and how they’re doing. I wIll update with more as details are available.

The unbelievable, miracle of how Josh even survived!

After delivery, our fetal surgeons examined the placenta. They found a stunning fact. Instead of the previously estimated placental share which wqs that Daniel was receiving approximately 80 to 85% of the placental share and Joshua receiving approximately 15 to 20%, Joshua had actually received 0%! You’re reading that correctly: Joshua had no access to the placenta at all- none, denada, zilch!!! His umbilical cord was connected to an artery that ran to Joshua’s umbilical cord from Daniel’s – the “inflow” of blood and nutrients. Then from Josh’s umbilical vein or “outflow” went back to Daniel’s umbilical cord, forming a loop. Daniel has been keeping Joshua alive since week 12 when their egg sacks were depleted and it becomes the placenta’s job to take over to sustaining them! Daniel kept Josh aliv for 17+ weeks, which explains Daniel’s fall from the 98th percentile to approx 70th!!! Just amazing. My doctor thinks a clot must have occluded the cord today, causing a full reverse flow to Joshua- causing fluid in his body cavity which put him jnto dangerous velocity of blood in his brain and headed for heart failure. Because I didn’t feel quite right, the dic ordered ultrasounds which normally wouldn’t have been done till Monday. We would’ve likely lost both twins within 12 hours – by 4pm today if we hadn’t had a reason to get those ultrasounds. Just miracle on top of miracle on top of miracle.

Thank you, thank you, thank you all!

Again, I am compelled to repeat how much we’ve appreciated your positive energy, support and prayers. Thank you isn’t enough but just know I couldn’t be more grateful.

💙💙🍼🍼👣👣

Pamela

#boymom