Twin loss devastated mum but baby George's heart refused to give up

Laura Pridding knew something was wrong with her babies as soon as her sonographer began her scan.

At 20 weeks pregnant, she feared her twins Henry and George had died in her womb until a faint heartbeat appeared from George.

They were diagnosed with severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a dangerous condition affecting identical twins who share a placenta.

After a "horrific" pregnancy, Laura, 33, from Wrexham, said medical staff and Cuddles charity workers at Glan Clwyd Hospital "saved us" when she and partner Ali "were in our darkest time".

This article details the process of baby loss, which some people may find upsetting

Laura said her pregnancy was painful from the start and she was taken to hospital in July 2023 with "really bad cramping pains" in her legs.

She was told her human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels, a hormone that increases rapidly in pregnant women, were so high that doctors said there was "either something wrong with the baby or you're carrying two".

The scan confirmed identical twins and the couple were shocked but excited.

As it was classed as a high-risk pregnancy, Laura had fortnightly scans and it was at 16 weeks when it was discovered the twins had TTTS.

After laser surgery in Liverpool, the couple were told the boys were improving until their 20‑week scan, when everything collapsed.

The sonographer scanned Henry first and Laura began crying - she had seen so many scans she knew what the screen was showing her.

"All [the sonographer] said was 'I'm really sorry'."

But then - at their lowest point - came a glimmer of hope.

"Oh, wait a minute, your other twin's heartbeat is still going and he looks quite healthy," the doctor said.

Laura was told Henry had died, but she would need to continue carrying him so George could survive, which was "absolutely devastating".

After returning home on 16 November, her waters broke on Christmas Day.

Unsure which twin's sac had ruptured, she was transferred between hospitals before being sent home after two weeks, but just 24 hours later she went back to hospital.

"I said 'look, just get them out now. I physically and mentally can't do this anymore'."

Now "the most scared I've ever been," Laura was sent to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl, Denbighshire, still aware there "was always a chance George could die".

After an emergency Caesarean section on 7 January 2024, George was born, weighing just 2.5lb (1.1kg), followed by Henry.

"Luckily, they were born together and we've got Henry's ashes at home."

Laura said it was "lucky" George was born when he was as doctors would otherwise have had to amputate his toes as they had amniotic bands.

George was born crying, a sound Laura and Ali had been warned they may not hear, Laura but the couple were told George could still die and would be very unwell.

"I cried my eyes out because I didn't expect that," Laura said.

After the boys were born, it was still not over.

Laura had problems with her blood pressure so had to be taken to recovery while George was whisked off to neonatal care.

Within 48 hours, he was put in an incubator because he was not breathing well.

Angela Hannah, a trustee of the volunteer-run charity Cuddles, sat with Laura and explained what was happening and gave her a mug and a teddy for George and Henry.

Cuddles, which supports the special care baby unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Their fundraising provided the unit with a life-saving body cooling machine that helps to reduce the extent of neurological damage when there is a lack of oxygen and blood flow to a baby's brain before, during or after labour.

Cuddles staff sat with Laura on her daily visits to see George - an hour-long journey she did alone as Ali could not get time off work.

George was at Glan Clwyd for five weeks before being transferred to Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

There, he faced a series of medical scares involving his brain, heart and lungs.

At times, doctors warned he might not survive, but George is now three and is walking and talking, despite his parents being told he would not be able to.

"He's incredible," said Laura.

"I've got friends and their children are still on oxygen, need walking aids, need physio and although we've had probably the worst time with the twins, I feel lucky to have him how he is."

The past three years have still been "difficult" because George gets very ill.

On Christmas Eve, he had a seizure, causing him to stop breathing and froth at the mouth, a "petrifying" experience for Laura.

She has been diagnosed with PTSD, which is triggered whenever George becomes ill and it leaves her unable to eat, sleep or even function properly.

The couple's other children, Harry and Isla, were five and six respectively when Laura got pregnant with Henry and George.

When they were old enough, they were told that Henry had died and they began drawing purple butterflies, which are symbols of twin loss.

Harry, now eight, says to George: "Look in the sky and you can see Henry."

"It's beautiful", said Laura.

The family has since raised nearly £3,000 for Cuddles who Laura said supported them through their darkest days.

"I owe them everything."

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, information and support can be found at the BBC's Action Line