Twins Doing Well
After Rare Procedure Performed Prior to Birth
|  Madison and Joshua Spillett |
But amid the diapers, laundry and late-night feedings, Mrs. Spillett says the twins are a constant reminder of the wonders of modern medicine.
Difficulties Early In Pregnancy Originally, the Spilletts were expecting triplets, but Mrs. Spillett went into preterm labor at 16 weeks. Sadly, one of the triplets was delivered stillborn.
Usually, when one baby who is a multiple is delivered, the others follow. However, the Spilletts, who had suffered three previous miscarriages, opted to have a delayed interval delivery procedure. Performed by Laura Gorski, DO, of the Center for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the procedure involves stopping labor, closing the cervix with a stitch called a cerclage, and taking medications to prevent infection and preterm labor. Mrs. Spillett then spent the next 14 weeks in Valley Hospital's antepartum unit on bedrest.
"The procedure is performed infrequently and has been successfully performed with triplets only a handful of times in the U.S.," says Dr. Gorski. "The greatest risk was infection, which could threaten the mother and her babies."
A Double Celebration
The twins were born in late December at just over 32 weeks gestation. After spending some time in Valley's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, both babies are now thriving at home.
"They're doing great," says Mrs. Spillett. "They smile all the time. Every day I look at them I'm so grateful. I don't think the twins would be as healthy as they are if it wasn't for the doctors I had and the expert medical care I received."
Incidentally, Joshua and Madison were the 3,000th and 3,001st babies born at Valley Hospital in 2002, representing a record number of births during one calendar year at the hospital.
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The Valley Health System c/o Valley Hospital Medical Center 620 Shadow Lane Las Vegas, NV 89106 |
