This week, I share my chat with Megan, who talks me through her twin pregnancy and the birth of her babies. At her 21 week anatomy scan, Megan was told that while her little boy was developing just as expected but her daughter, Selki, had been diagnosed with a life-limiting condition, spina bifida. Megan shares how the weeks that followed unfolded, including further investigations into Selki’s condition and an MRI. Together with her husband, she met with a multidisciplinary team to discuss Selki’s diagnosis, what the future might look like and the options available to them.
After careful thought, consideration and a decision that took them to depths most of us could never begin to imagine, Megan and her husband travelled to the UK where they made the incredibly difficult decision to have a partial termination. At 32 weeks and 6 days, Megan went into spontaneous labour and later gave birth to her daughter, followed by her son via c-section as he has had turned footling breech. Feilan, Selki's twin brother spent some time in NICU needing minimal support and now thriving toddler.
Thank you Megan
Below I have also included supports for those who need it:
https://www.alittlelifetime.ie A little Lifetime provide emotional support and help and support the decisions that come following a stillbirth or neonatal death.
The HSE have a dedicated resource for anyone who has recieved a diagnosis of a fetal anomaly and is considering termination. It also includes information about travelling to access care: https://about.hse.ie/publications/hcp-termination-of-pregnancy-for-fetal-anomaly-booklet/
LMC provide non directive support and advice for those who have recieved a fetal anomaly diagnosis, in addition to bereavement support: https://lmcsupport.ie/
Féilicáin provide support for all parents affected by stillbirth or neonatal death, including supplying memory boxes to all Irish maternity hospitals: https://feileacain.ie/
https://pregnancyandinfantloss.ie This website is specific to the Republic of Ireland and is aimed at supporting parents bereaved through pregnancy loss and perinatal death.