Mother had to carry her dead son in her womb for SIX WEEKS so his twin could survive after they were struck by rare disease

• Laura Pridding, 30, from Wrexham, heartbreakingly lost twin Henry at 21 weeks 
• READ MORE: Mum gives birth to ‘twin’ daughters conceived EIGHT days apart

A mother has told how she had to carry one of her twins in her womb for six weeks after he died so that she could save the life of her other son. 

Laura Pridding, 30, from Wrexham, was told during her pregnancy that her two unborn boys had twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome – with one taking the vital amniotic fluid of the other.

After a consultation, doctors told the mother that surgery at 16 weeks was the best chance of saving them both. 

But, five weeks after the operation, Laura was tragically that told one of the children – a boy named Henry – had died.

Despite being heartbroken over the loss of one son, Laura had to emotionally pull through and try her best to ensure that her other boy, George, could survive by aiming to reach full term. 

Laura Pridding (pictured with her partner and baby George), 30, from Wrexham, was told her two unborn boys had twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome – with one taking the vital amniotic fluid of the other

The mother said: ‘I remember thinking: “How am I going to walk down the street knowing I’m carrying two babies and I’ve lost one?”

‘It was unbearably cruel and the following weeks were the worst of our lives but I had to keep going to give George the best chance of survival.’

Laura was only 15 weeks pregnant when a scan revealed that her babies had twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. 

The rare condition meant that one of her babies was getting too little blood and amniotic fluid after both were sharing the same placenta. 

She said: ‘I knew by the look on the doctor’s face when he looked at the screen something was wrong.’

Laura and partner Ali Davies were told that the twins condition would deteriorate without laser treatment – meaning both could die. 

The mother explained: ‘The procedure was to laser all the arteries the boys shared so they would both have their own blood supply.

‘There was a risk I could go into labour or there was a 60 per cent risk their brains could be damaged. But we had to do it even though I was only 16 weeks. Without it, we could lose them both.’

Laura, from Rhosddu, Wrexham, was only 15 weeks pregnant when a scan revealed that her babies had twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome – which meant the twins were sharing a placenta

Laura and partner Ali Davies – who share two other children – were told that the twins’ condition would deteriorate without laser treatment – meaning both could die

Despite the surgery being a success and a scan showing positive results, Laura later began to feel that the boys weren’t as active.

What is twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome?  

TTTS affects identical twins who share a placenta (monochorionic).

It’s caused by abnormal connecting blood vessels in the twins’ placenta.

This results in an imbalanced blood flow from one twin to the other.

This leaves one baby with a greater blood volume than the other.

TTTS affects 10 to 15% of monochorionic twins and can have serious consequences.

It was at 21 weeks that the mother was heartbreakingly told that twin Henry had died.

She said: ‘The doctor turned to me after looking intently at the screen and I just knew that my worst fears had come true.

‘She told me that one of my babies had no heartbeat. Ali and I just held each other tightly unable to stop our tears. 

‘I felt complete despair and overwhelming sadness but I just had to keep going for George.

‘I was terrified the whole time we were going to lose him too.’

George was born at 27 weeks by C-section in January this year, and, two minutes later, brother Henry was ‘born sleeping’.

Little George weighed just 2lb 40z – barely more than a bag of sugar.

Laura said: ‘George was born screaming and was so tiny he could fit in the palm of my hand. Hearing that scream from him gave me a feeling of pure joy. We cried with relief.’ 

Little George had to undergo a two-hour surgery because he also had ‘amniotic band syndrome’ which meant the sac had fused to his toes. He had to stay in hospital for ten weeks. 

After giving birth to 2lb 40z George via C-section, Henry was cremated and Laura (pictured with baby George) put one of the identical teddy bears she’d bought for him and George in his Moses basket

Survivor George had to undergo a two-hour surgery because he also had ‘amniotic band syndrome’ which meant the sac had fused to his toes 

Henry was cremated and Laura put one of the identical teddy bears she’d bought for him and George in his Moses basket. 

George is now seven months old, healthy and thriving. Laura says: ‘He really is a little warrior.’

She adds: ‘He’s always smiling and is such a happy baby. I feel so grateful but I do think of Henry all the time. We have keepsakes of him in a memory box at home. We adore him but no matter what I will always be a mum of twin boys.’

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