After a previous miscarriage, Stephanie Paul and her husband Aaron were elated to learn they were expecting twins. But the joy was soon mixed with worry when they heard that it would be a complicated and high risk pregnancy, with the identical twins sharing a placenta.
When an ultrasound soon showed that Baby A was larger than Baby B, the possibility of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) was brought up, a condition where one baby gets more blood supply than the other. Stephanie was promptly referred to Dr. Burrows and the Fetal Medicine Team at Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre for ultrasounds every two weeks.
Dr. Burrows requested another ultrasound at BC Women’s Hospital and the results indicated Stephanie might be at risk of losing Baby B. She was sent to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Team at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto where the team felt the best option would be to wait.
Back in BC, she resumed her regular ultrasound appointments with Dr. Burrows who became concerned that there was now quite a bit more fluid around Baby A. After consulting with Mount Sinai, he explained to Stephanie that TTTS had developed very quickly. Going back to Toronto would open up more therapeutic options for such a severe case, including selective reduction, which would only save one baby, and laser ablation of the placental anastomoses, which would cause the placenta to function as two, one for each baby.
Determined to save both babies, Stephanie and Aaron chose the second option. They were overjoyed when the surgery was successful. Back at home once more, Stephanie continued careful monitoring under Dr. Burrows’ care. After developing gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and preeclampsia, she stayed in the hospital until she safely delivered her twin girls, Everly and Brinley, via C-section.
Through it all, the kindergarten/grade one teacher tried her best to stay positive and enjoy her pregnancy as much as possible. Her friends, family and medical team certainly helped make that possible despite her fear of losing one or both of the babies.
Stephanie is grateful that Dr. Burrows recognized the severity of her pregnancy complications and helped provide her with the best care in Canada for her babies’ condition. She credits him as the reason that both of her twin girls are alive and well today. She will be forever thankful for his expertise and close monitoring, as well as the attentive care she received from the Maternal Fetal Medicine Team in Surrey.
