A Utah woman who captured the nation with her news that she was pregnant with quadruplets after spending eight years trying to conceive has undergone emergency surgery to save them at 19 weeks.
Ashley and Tyson Gardner, from Utah, flew to see a specialist surgeon in California yesterday following a meeting with their doctor about their two sets of identical twins, according to a Facebook page which updates their followers.
They were forced to make the emergency trip after finding out that one set of twins have twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition which affects identical twins, causing an unequal flow of blood between the twins.
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Ashley Gardner, a Utah woman (pictured here recently) who captured the nation with her news that she was pregnant with quadruplets after spending eight years trying to conceive has been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery – it was a success according to the family
Ashley pictured in a photo last week at 19 weeks. According to a Facebook page which updates their followers Ashley and Tyson Gardner, from Utah, flew to see a specialist surgeon in California yesterday following a meeting with their doctor about their two sets of identical twins
The family posted this message to their Facebook today after the successful surgery
The couple also found out that Ashley’s cervix is opening prematurely as a result of the condition.
Ashley underwent surgery today and was given ‘meds to halt any contraction that might occur.’
A few hours later the anxious family revealed the surgery went well.
They posted on Facebook: ‘It went great. Dr. Chmait smiled and said, “This has been a good day!” Our tears have been replaced with relief and continue to pray for the babies safety and continued ‘baking’ for a good long time!!
Stunned: This is the moment Ashley and Tyson Gardner, for Utah, found out they were having quadruplets in the summer after spending eight years trying to conceive. Above, Mrs Gardner stares at the screen in the ultrasound
70-million-to-one odds: The couple were delighted to learn their first round of IVF was successful in July following a long battle with infertility. But they were later stunned to discover they were having four babies
Caught on camera: Their incredible reaction to the news was captured in hospital by friend Alicia Hallock
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WHAT IS TWIN TO TWIN TRANSFUSION SYNDROME?
Twin to twin transfusion is caused by an abnormal connecting of blood vessels in the twins’ shared placenta which results in an imbalance of blood flow from one twin to the other.
It affects approximately 15% of identical twins who share the same placenta.
One twin is often larger than the other twin and receives more blood than usual from the placenta.
This can put a strain on the baby’s heart and makes this twin produce more urine than normal, resulting in extra fluid around the baby, within the amniotic sac.
This can be uncomfortable for the mother and also increases the risk to the pregnancy by causingpremature labour due to the extra pressure on the neck of the womb (cervix).
The other twin is usually smaller and may become anaemic due to receiving less blood from the placenta.
The treatments for TTTS pregnancies depend, in part, on when in pregnancy the twins become affected.
If the twins are mature enough to survive outside the womb (beyond 25 weeks), immediate delivery is an option for TTTS babies.
Fetal laser surgery may be done to stop the flow of blood from one twin to the other.
Another treatment is amnioreduction – a procedure whereby fluid is taken from around the twin with polyhydramnios to try and prevent premature delivery. A needle is passed through the abdomen into the sac of the recipient twin and fluid removed.
Source: Liverpool Women’s NHS
