A monoamniotic-monochorionic twin pregnancy is a condition where twins share the same amniotic sac. This is very rare dangerous pregnancy, as it can cause the umbilical cords of the two unborn babies to become intertwined. If this takes place the two babies might die or the death of one twin could cause the other twin to endure a significant brain injury. In situations where umbilical cord occlusion happens, time is of the essence for the doctor to identify the problem and do an emergency C-section.
In a certain number of pregnancies concerning twins a condition may happen in which the two twins grow within a single amniotic sac. This predicament is referred to as a monoamniotic-monochorionic pregnancy. There is the potential that the umbilical cords can become entangled placing at risk the health and even the live of the babies. Under certain circumstances in which there is umbilical cord occlusion the two twins die. In other cases one baby survives but sustains considerable brain damage. Doctors generally recognize that these pregnancies should be thoroughly monitored. By doing this, in the event that an umbilical cord problem happens a timely emergency C-section can save the twins.
In the unusual case in which unborn twins share the same amniotic sac there is a considerable possibility that their umbilical cords can be entangled. This cuts off the oxygen supply to the babies. Sometimes neither baby survives. In some other instances even though one baby lives that twin will suffer a severe brain injury. An emergency C-section immediately after an umbilical cord occlusion arises is the one way to save both babies and prevent a brain injury. This calls for diligent checking of the pregnant woman during the pregnancy for indications that the umbilical cords are knotted.
One sort of high risk pregnancy occurs if the woman has twins but only one amniotic sac, a situation identified as monoamniotic-monochorionic twins. This class of pregnancy is correlated with the risk of umbilical cord entanglement. When this occurs the oxygen supply to the twins may be cut off. The babies require a steady supply of oxygen to be health. Exposure to an extended period of oxygen insufficiency may lead to brain damage or possibly the death of the babies. Because this is known to happen in pregnancies involving monoamniotic-monochorionic twins the pregnant woman's doctor ought to carefully monitor the pregnancy for any signals of umbilical cord occlusion. Doctors normally recognize that in order to preserve the life and health of the twins the medically correct course of action is an emergency C-section immediately after indications of this complication turn up.
In this article we examine a documented case in which the pregnant woman was diagnosed with this type of pregnancy. Starting in the twenty sixth week of the pregnancy her doctor ordered twice a week non-stress testing to keep tabs on vital signs of her twins. While it was standard practice to admit the mother and have the twins monitored every day, the physician did not do this and sometime between two tests, one twin died and the other twin sustained considerable brain damage.
The parents filed a lawsuit alleging medical malpractice. While the mother and father had experienced a heartbreaking loss, the defense would not settle. The law firm that helped the family took the case to trial. After the law firm overcame several procedural hurdles and an appeal by the defense, the Appeals Court upheld the jury award against the doctor in the amount of $3,000,000. In the Appeals Court’s opinion, numerous studies and articles were cited which described that to keep the babies alive and healthy it is required to hospitalized the mother at approximately the 26th week of the pregnancy and to do non-stress tests at least daily, if not 2 or 3 times daily, to follow the vital signs of the twins.
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