From Triplets to Twins

Lilia (Baby C 11-weeks)

One of the babies will not make it

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart 
and lean not on your own understanding"
(Proverbs 3:5)

Today at thirteen weeks, we went to the first full scan ultrasound at the fetal imaging in the hospital. They performed a complete evaluation of each baby. They measure height, head size, Femur length, heart rate, heart cavities condition, and determination if the babies share common placenta.

Each of them has their own placenta. Baby-A and C are 6.6cm (2.6inch), and the rest of the measurements are good and healthy. Baby-B has problems. The femur length is too small, all the skin is swollen, there is a big bag around the head, and the heart beat is abnormal. At that point the nurse went and called the resident doctor.

The doctor confirmed the findings, and told us that we have bad and good news.

The bad news is that Baby-B exhibits multiple symptoms of chromosomal defects, and it will not make it. This baby will likely vanish slowly, or it will shrink. The heart beat should cease in about 4 to 6 weeks maximum. Then it would either be re-absorbed by the elements around it, or it will simply shrink, shrivel and stay there until delivery of the other babies. If this doesn't occur, then the pregnancy will get complicated.

Babies A and C, on the other hand are healthy.

The doctor also indicated that the downsized pregnancy from triplets to twins will greatly help to have a more complications-free pregnancy. This will add about a month of being able to carry the babies close to a full term in her womb. Their chances of survival are increased too. And the health of the mother will be closer to single babies' pregnancies. Finally the doctor made very clear that there was nothing on Jessica's control for what happened with Baby-B. And she should not blame herself for this and that this occurs when the cells have incomplete or incorrect chromosome information.

We knew at the beginning that when we found that all 3 embryos did implant, that the fertility doctor indicated that there were possibilities that one or more babies will not survive the pregnancy. So, in a way we were psychologically prepared for the possibility that this could happen.

I still remember, every time that we have an appointment with a new doctor, that all of them always asked us the question: are you going to do a selective reduction? And I'm very glad that we always answered NO! We will not take the decision to terminate a life; we will leave it in God's hands. He knows what to do, and He will guide us. And only God can decide to do a "selective reduction" in His wisdom.

We have found out that many couples that were pregnant with more than one baby might experience the vanishing of a baby during the progress of the pregnancy. And those entire pregnancies outcome were good and healthy children.

In this circumstance, for people that don't believe in God, they will make the statement: "the baby will vanish". But for me I know that this is not the case, I know better that this baby is not vanishing, but instead is going somewhere else. A place where the baby will meet his/her sibling. A place, where disabilities or abnormalities do not exist. This baby will be fully formed and will have perfect body and health, in a place called heaven. Where, on the day that God decides to take me from earth, I will get to meet them.

Jessica and I will never forget this baby. We pray for the upcoming days, continue to trust in God and see what happens…

"Brothers, we do not want you to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope" 

(1 Thessalonians 4:13)