Lauren’s Story, Part 2

In Part 2 of the Healthful Woman episode, “Lauren’s Story, Part 2: Pregnancy and Delivery of Twins Following Treatment for TTTS,” Dr. Nathan Fox continues his conversation with Lauren Burstein. She recounts the second half of her high-risk twin pregnancy, including the aftermath of her laser surgery for Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) and the delivery of her twins.

Lauren’s Twin Pregnancy History

In part one, Lauren discovered she was pregnant with twins and was diagnosed with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). She traveled to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where she underwent laser ablation treatment. Following the procedure, her twins developed some cardiac concerns, and doctors closely monitored her.

Lauren’s Laser Treatment Results

By 20 to 24 weeks, Lauren had officially joined Dr. Fox’s practice and began feeling more hopeful despite lingering concerns about Baby A. At 25 weeks, her final CHOP appointment showed that her fluid levels had improved, and cardiac concerns were resolving after her laser procedure. Doctors confirmed that the twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) had been effectively treated, and mentioned the goal of sending the babies to the nursery rather than the NICU. This was the first moment Lauren believed things might be okay.

Once she reached 28 weeks, she felt more confident, as she had learned outcomes are typically much better for babies born at that stage or later. She returned to teaching with a big welcome from her students and transitioned to biweekly appointments. By 32 weeks pregnant, a C-section was scheduled for 36.5 weeks due to one baby being breech, though vaginal delivery remained an option, depending on how labor progressed.

Lauren’s Labor

The morning after her 32-week visit, Lauren felt a sensation of fullness and waves of pain and realized she was having contractions every minute, meaning she was in preterm labor. She called her husband and the hospital from her home in Teaneck, NJ, and was told to get to Mount Sinai West as quickly as possible. During the 26-minute car ride, she continued timing contractions and texting Dr. Fox.

Once at the hospital, Lauren urgently shared her medical history with the triage team. Dr. Jessica Spiegelman, who she had just met the night before, was on duty and checked her, and she was 10 cm dilated, urging her to make a decision about how to proceed with delivery. Her doctor told her, “You have a really good shot with the vaginal. But really, this is your choice, your decision.” With a trust in her doctor, she decided to go for a vaginal delivery.

Lauren’s Twin Delivery

A low-dose epidural was administered in case a breech extraction or C-section became necessary during her twin delivery. As Dr. Fox rushed to the hospital, the labor was progressing. Soon after Dr. Fox arrived, delivery went smoothly, and Baby B (now Baby A) was born headfirst and crying. Dr. Spiegelman and Dr. Fox performed a “windshield wiper” maneuver to deliver the breech twin, who also arrived crying. Because they were born prematurely, both babies, named Jonah and Ethan, were taken to the NICU for further care.

Lauren’s NICU Experience

Jonah stayed in the NICU for 25 days and Ethan for 27, later transferring to Englewood Hospital for an additional 10 days due to feeding and kidney issues. Lauren described those weeks as both emotionally taxing and filled with gratitude. Her daily routine became a cycle of daycare drop-offs and NICU visits. Despite the challenges, especially the stress of Ethan’s blood draws due to kidney issues, she remained grateful that both babies were stable and progressing well after a high-risk pregnancy.

Learn More

Listen to the full episode of the Healthful Woman podcast to hear Lauren’s story. For pregnancy care, contact Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates by completing our online contact form.

Maternal Fetal Medicine blogs are intended for educational purposes only and do not replace certified professional care. Medical conditions vary and change frequently. Please ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding your condition to receive a proper diagnosis or risk analysis. Thank you!