UK Mom Expecting Rare Conjoined Twins: 2 Heads, 1 Body

Lisa — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:22:16 +0000

A British woman plans to make history by becoming the nation’s first mother to give birth to Siamese twins with separate heads but only one body.

Lisa Chamberlain, 25, is determined to go through with the pregnancy despite medical advice that she should terminate the pregnancy.

She was told she was expecting the extremely rare set of twins during a routine scan and insists they are a miracle after years of trying for a child.

‘Some people might look at me and say “You’re going to give birth to a freak” but I don’t care because I feel blessed,’ she said.

‘To me, my twins are a gift from God and we’re determined to give them their chance of life.’

The babies have already been named Layla and Kelsey because the majority of Siamese twins are girls.

The couple are taking comfort from the example of Americans Abigail and Brittany Hensel who were born with separate heads but one body 18 years ago.

The pair, who share organs below the navel, have stunned the world by living virtually normal lives.

SOURCE

Couple Looses Remaining Conjoined Twin

Lisa — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:28:14 +0000

I am sad to report that conjoined twin Faith Williams lost her fight yesterday, just 23 days after the death of her sister.

Faith and sister Hope were joined at the chest when they were born on 26 November. Hope died in an operation to separate them on 2 December.

Great Ormond Street Hospital said it was a sad but not unexpected outcome.

A hospital spokesman said: “We were always clear that Faith was very sick.

“She required the full range of skills of our intensive care staff, and underwent a number of further procedures. However, she succumbed to the complexities of her condition.”

Faith underwent surgery earlier this month to assist with her circulation.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said: “The aim was to ensure more blood flowed to her body and less through her lungs.”

When Faith and Hope were born they weighed 4.8kg (10.5lb). They were joined from the breastbone to the top of the navel and had a shared liver but separate hearts.

Hope did not survive because her lungs were too small to support her breathing.

Conjoined twins are rare and take place at the rate of about one in 400,000 live births.

Separating a pair involves an intricate operation and success is heavily dependent on which vital organs are shared.

Great Ormond Street, where the surgery on Faith and Hope was carried out, is the most experienced centre in Europe for separating conjoined twins.

SOURCE

Growing Your Baby - Parenthood from Pregnancy to Pre-school » Siamese Twins

UK Mom Expecting Rare Conjoined Twins: 2 Heads, 1 Body

Couple Looses Remaining Conjoined Twin