Mom-to-be Hannah Morris was repeatedly recommended abortion after her waters broke at just 16 weeks, but she refused. Feeling that she was receiving inadequate care and "clueless" advice, Hannah remained steadfast; at full term, she gave birth to healthy twin boys.
Now, the mom of three, from the town of Washington in County Durham, England, is sharing her story in the hope of empowering other women to decide for themselves.
Hannah, 27, and her partner, Mark King, 30, were over the moon to discover they were expecting twins in January 2016. She contracted E.coli just 12 weeks into her pregnancy but was asymptomatic; she was not offered antibiotics.
She was then diagnosed with preterm premature rupture of the membranes, otherwise known as PPROM, when one of her amniotic sacs burst 24 weeks prematurely, and the other burst just three weeks later. She was rushed to Bolton Royal Hospital, and doctors delivered heartbreaking news that neither of Hannah's babies would survive.
"I asked a million questions," Hannah recalled. Both babies were at risk of infection and compromised organ development, and termination was the only healthy option, they said.
She admitted knowing nothing about PPROM at the time, but her gut instinct told her to reject her doctors' advice and proceed with her pregnancy. "[I]f I am going to lose them, I lose them naturally and I'll let nature take its course," she said.
Hannah and Mark were given a private room, where no medical personnel visited for 48 hours. However, Hannah did not miscarry. A scan two days later revealed that both babies were healthy, and the couple was sent home.
But Hannah's doctors, assessing the couple's week-24 scan, recommended termination once again. The babies' limbs would fuse together if Hannah proceeded with the pregnancy, they said. Hannah refused their advice again.
Then, she reached 34 weeks and delivered both baby boys via cesarean. Baby Alfie weighed 4 pounds, 1 ounce (approx. 1.8 kg) and was born with holes in his heart; baby George weighed 5 pounds, 4 ounces (approx. 2.4 kg) and had a weakened immune system. But both twins had survived, and they grew stronger with every passing day.
After her pregnancy ordeal, Hannah condemned her doctors for their repeated dismissal. "[I]t was easier to say get rid of the babies than to actually treat PPROM," she said. "A lot of the doctors had not got a clue what to do with me."
Today, Hannah is relieved that she trusted her gut instinct and protected her babies. Owing to her decision, she is now the proud mother of twin 2-year-olds George and Alfie and has a chance to educate other parents about PPROM.
"Your child can survive this," she said. "They may be poorly at the end of it, but they can get through to the other side."
