Days after learning she was pregnant, Carrie suffered an ectopic pregnancy that resulted in a ruptured fallopian tube and required emergency surgery. Only four months later, upon conceiving again, she soon learned that she had another ectopic pregnancy in her remaining fallopian tube. While she was fortunate to be able to be treated non-surgically this time, these back-to-back experiences were traumatic. She was diagnosed with “tubal infertility,” and IVF was recommended as a safer means to minimize the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
After a round of egg retrieval and a single embryo transfer, early monitoring revealed that this pregnancy implanted successfully in her uterus. And at her second ultrasound, on week 8, she and her husband received the biggest surprise of their lives: their single embryo had split into two.
They learned that their twins were “modi”– having two amniotic sacs but sharing a single placenta. Her high-risk pregnancy was mentally challenging, and both of her twins were growth-restricted throughout. When her 35 week appointment showed their growth had stalled dramatically, her doctor decided to induce her that evening. While this was an unexpected turn of events, her body responded well to the induction. With the help of her husband, her doula, and her medical team, she was thrilled to be able to deliver both babies vaginally and felt empowered throughout the process.
Carrie’s postpartum journey involved her healthy but low birth-weight boys spending three weeks in the NICU as they grew stronger and capable of oral feeding before coming home. Bottle feeding continued to be a longtime challenge, but Carrie managed to pump for over a year.
Whether or not you are expecting multiples, Carrie hopes that all listeners can find something relatable in her story. She is particularly passionate about speaking openly about ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and IVF.
Carrie Rosenblum Bio
Carrie lives in Cambridge, MA with her husband and her identical twin boys. She works in higher education. When she isn’t chasing her kids around the playground, Carrie can be found running or cooking a new recipe from her latest farmers market haul. Connect with Carrie at @herbaceous_kitchen on Instagram.
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