Searching for a Miracle

by Jessica Hasbrouck
(Portland, OR)

I found out when I was 10 weeks pregnant that I was expecting twins. One week later I went in for another ultrasound and found out I was having mono mono twins. I did my own research online while waiting to meet with a high risk specialist and was devastated in my findings.

My husband and I met with the specialist after an ultrasound. She said my babies looked good as of now, but the cords are already so tangled. She said theres a 68% chance that I will end up loosing them before I hit my 20 weeks mark of pregnancy. And, if they did make it, I would be hospitalized at 24 weeks until I delivered them around 32 weeks. She even mentioned I should terminate the pregnancy and my husband and I could try again when we were ready.

I am so heart broken and I don't know what to do. I am so attached to my babies already I just can't think about terminating the pregnancy when they are fine as of now. I am finding it very hard to be hopeful when she gave us terrible odds of them surviving. I am praying for a miracle, and hoping there might be someone out there that has gone through something similar. All I can do now is pray that a miracle will find it's way to my babies.

Comments for Searching for a Miracle

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Jun 25, 2012
So inspiring!
by: Anonymous

I am currently 7 weeks and 4 days pregnant with mo/mo twins and have been reading stories onthis site just to gain some positive thinking and inspiration. Afte reading your story, I am BEYOND faithful everything will be okay and I am so happy your little ones made it! Gosh, I just cannot wait. Thanks for shairng your story.. as it has truly helped me today in my thinking about this pregnancy :)

Jun 16, 2012
have faith
by: Anonymous

i have a set of twins from my first pregnancy and my second was a momo-mono pregnancy.
i was 16 weeks pregnant and i terminated the pregnancy as i had NO support emotionally from my husband and my family after hearing the complications from the doctors. I did not want to do it and i Regret it to this day. I did it only beacause i had 2 children that were age 3 and could not take the hospitalization and stress and the chance of a unhealthy children. Plese keep up your faith i fell weak. i truly pray all goes well for you.

Sep 08, 2011
My twins mono twins are doing great!
by: Jessica Hasbrouck

Id like to thank everyone who has left me comments and feed back. Its been a rough year and a half. I ended up being admitted into the hospital at 27 weeks for monitoring. The goal was to make it until I was 32 weeks before the doctors would do a c-section. It was very scary being there not knowing if I was going to come home with twins, one baby of none at all. All I could do is pray that everything was going to be ok. One night one of my boys heart had stopped beating, luckily I was being monitored at the time so they were able to reposition me and his heart started beating again. Since that had happened I was put on 24 hour monitoring. If they didnt put me on the 24 hour watch I would have lost both my boys. At 3 am the next morning my sons heart stopped beating again but they were not able to get him to move. With in 3 minutes I was being prepped for surgery. I woke up 5 hours later not knowing what had happened. The doctors had to resuscitate one of my sons. They were born 2 months premature and weighed only 2 pounds each. My son ended up needing a few blood transfusions and they both needed extra help breathing for a while but they both made it!!!! I thank god everyday for giving my son back to me. They are the most amazing things I have ever done with my life and I am so happy I decided to go through with everything. There are still some risks as far as development goes. My mono mono twins are almost a year old now! They weigh 17 pounds each and so far show no sign of disabilities!! My boys are living proof that miracles can and do happen everyday. Good luck to everyone and keep your faith going!

Aug 25, 2011
Mono Twins
by: Anonymous

Hi my wife is 21 weeks today and even though we worry alot they are doing just fine and right on tract and we were to they had a 50/50 chance and she goes in the hospital at 24-25 weeks and will have a 80% chance so if you make it to that the odds are alot better so good luck and try not to worry so much i know its hard not to but its the best for you and the babies wish you the best of luck!!!

Jul 02, 2010
Go For It
by: Cassie

That's the best attitude you can have. Definitely keep us posted, and maybe think about a multiples group. The support they offer is amazing. Especially if you don't know a lot about having multiples!
I look forward to hearing more news, keep us posted about the good and the bad if you can. It helps to talk.
-Cas

Jul 01, 2010
Inspiration!
by: Anonymous

Thank everyone for your inspiring comments and prayers! I have been doing a lot of soul searching, and I just can’t bare the thought of trying to play the role of god. A few days after my posting I had decided I’m going to see how far I can make it. I have had a lot of ups and downs, but my faith is strong. In my heart I know that I am making the right decision. I know that if I took her advice I would regret it for the rest of my life not knowing what could have been. At least this way I will know if it was meant to be or not. I see a different specialist next week. I’m excited but nervous at the same time because I will get to see my two angels again. I am savoring and enjoying every little movement I feel as I’m not sure if it will continue or not. I will keep everyone posted.


Jun 30, 2010
Miracles Happen- Lea's Daughter
by: Cassie

As you've read or will read, my pregnancy has been a roller coaster of ups with a lot of downs. I am blessed to say that flow through my little one's cord is stable right now for the first time in my pregnancy and I am 27 weeks along. Making the decision of whether or not to have a pregnancy decision was equally stressful, but I went with what my heart and gut were telling me. The doctors are very much surprised that I have even made it this far.
The lessons I have learned from my pregnancy are that you take each day as if it were a gift. In both our cases it is.
Don't let the negative overwhelm the positive. Even though your babies are still little they feel the changes your body go through from being happy to sad or angry etc... Be joyous. They have made it this far. Rejoice in everyday. Celebrate their progress. EVERYTHING counts.
Its ok to be angry. Yes its ok to be angry but don't let that control you. There were nights where I just broke down and I had to go to my mom and cry it out. Family support is a wonderful thing.
Stay positive- not only do you need be positive for sake, but for theirs as well. It helps.
They are your focus. Rest a lot!!! It helps. If you find that your emotional burden is too much, lock it up in a closet and throw the key away till you can deal with it at a better time. Let your children be your focus. They are why you rest, they're why you eat when you feel like blah. Focus on the good moments, like when you feel their first movements, even when they begin to kick and sit on your bladder. Smile because they are doing well.
Join a multiples group. It helps talking to women who gone through situations like yours. It is comforting. They have all sorts of good advice.
My sister said that there is a lot you can't control, but you can control how much and what you eat and how much you rest. Start taking it easy. I can't tell you the leaps and bounds my little twin made when I became a couch potato.
Thank God for everyday that you have. It is a blessing.
God's with you and He doesn't give His children burdens they cannot handle. Lean against Him when you are weak and pray. That's one of the biggest things I learned during my pregnancy.
God bless, keep us updated.
Sincerely,
Cassie & Lea

Jun 29, 2010
MoMo
by: Lauren

Hi,
I am 13 weeks today with MoMo twins. I understand the feelings you are having and know this is one of the hardest things a person can go through. This is so different than having any other kind of twin no matter what anyone says. I disagree with your doctor though. Never have my OBGYN or maternal fetal doctor mentioned terminating the pregnancy. Yes, we have a high risk of losing them but there are SO many stories out there that have been positive. I think it is our job as parents to give them every chance they can get. I know you said your cords are already tangle, well 100% of MoMo are going to have tangled cords, its just the inevitable. However, it takes a lot more than a tangled cord to kill them. The cord has to be compressed and cut of supply. So just expect the cords to be tangled but have the faith that it wont get clamped. I know this is all hard, but I dont think your doctors should be telling you to terminate your pregnancy just on the fact they are MoMos, I think that is crazy. I hope this helps.

Jun 26, 2010
God is with you, keep positive throughts
by: Anonymous

i have my twins who were mon, dy. and doctors told me about all the possiablety about TTTS (i think that's what it is called).
God is with you, and your twins. Keep prayering and have positive throughs, just think that everything is normal ( i know it's hard to do) but keeping thinking that your twins are well and everthing will be fine.
I have you in my prayers as well.
God bless your twins and yourself.

Jun 26, 2010
Miracles Happen
by: Lea

Early in my daughter's twin pregnancy she was told that things are not going well. It looked like maybe TTTS or IUGR. The official diagnosis from a specialist in Houston was "No diagnosis" because the babies were straddling the fence about which way they were going and their numbers were not supporting that they were definitely TTTS or whatever. One was little and struggling with a umbic. cord that wasn't placed just right, not passing fluid (urine) well and a sac with little fluid. They are identical twin girls but with significant size dif. We were encouraged to look closely at having the smaller one put to sleep in order to save the larger twin. Elective Reduction. I'd never heard of such a thing! It is a horrible position for anyone. We had a little more than 3 weeks under the law to make that decision. After that point the twins would be delivered at whatever time was indicated to be necessary. The possiblity of interuterine death, muliple handicaps, etc. was very real. Their cords are not entangled but the blood flow to the little one was impaired. The specialist mentioned pomagranted juice as one of those peripheral type of things to improve absorbtion but there have been no tests, etc., to support improvement. My daughter came home, started drinking 10-14 oz a day (ugh!). She also is taking extra C, D, and fish oil vitamins. She began eating, drinking and resting a lot more. We also asked for a lot of prayer and guidance because when we went to Houston, we had two choices and we understood what our choice would be, but God tossed in the wild card with "No Diagnosis". We have been very blessed with the perinatalist, O-GYN, nurses and specialist we have seen but there's no doubt that God's hand has touched this situation with our heart's desire. My daughter is approaching her 28th week, two weeks ago the babies had equal fluid in their sacs (not the case earlier), both girls are moving around well and growing and the flow to the smaller one is stable. Not normal, but it's working. Things are very different than they were at 19/20 weeks. We still have a long way to get to 35 weeks (our goal) and covet your prayers, but this is our story. Our prayers go out to you and your family. It is so impossibly stressful, but be reminded you have this day and pray. God hears you. You are not alone. He is the past, the present and the future.

Jun 25, 2010
Praying for you
by: Anonymous

I dont think I could give up either! I am praying for you and keep thinking positive!

Jun 25, 2010
Thoughts & Prayers...
by: Anonymous

That's horrible to find this out, I hope that all work out for you. I wouldn't give up, think positive thoughts.

Jun 25, 2010
mono mono twins
by: Anonymous

put mono mono twins in to GOOGLE and read the stories of others that have successfully had mono mono twins, i hope this gives you the hope and guidence you are looking for, good luck xxxxxx

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