Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome happens in twins or multiples pregnancies, when two or more babies are sharing the same placenta and have connecting circulatory systems on the placenta.  Each baby receives an unequal portion of the placenta.... example: one will get 60% and the other baby only gets 40% (or 70/30, 80/20, etc) This causes the babies to get unequal amounts of nutrients and blood.  By no fault of their own! (one myth is that one of the twins is just more aggressive than the other and "hogging" all the dinner, however that is false with TTTS) they exchange blood much like siamese twins have connecting body parts.  TTTS babies have connecting blood vessels.  The baby with the larger portion of the placenta is referred to as the "recipient" twin.  That babies' heart will have more pressure on it because it's getting TOO MUCH blood.  The recipient twin is often born with heart defects.  The baby with the smaller portion of the placenta is referred to as the "donor" twin.  This baby will start conserving his/her blood for his/her vital organs. One of the organs that receives less in the process is his/her kidneys.  The donor twin will have little to no fluid in his/her amniotic sac because he/she will produce less and less urine over time.  (Amniotic fluid= Urine)  Over the course of time the bladder can collapse and the kidneys fail completely.  The only way to stop them from sharing a circulatory system is by performing fetoscopic laser surgery on the placenta.  (Please see Treatment Options here)  During laser surgery, the physician is able to seperate the connecting vessels with a laser.  This is not 100% successful and it's very common to lose one baby shortly after surgery.  However it is the only method that completely stops TTTS.  There are a few other options that you should discuss with your doctor after diagnosed with TTTS.  You can see the list of Treatment Centers here.

 If you have been recently diagnosed with TTTS and need some help please call the Fetal Hope Foundation at 1-877-789-HOPE or by visiting their website.  I also suggest reaching out to the Parents' Coalition and community as we have all been there and can help answer your questions.  Please take some time to look through all the information posted on this website as well... stay informed and make sure you understand everything that's going on.  Jot down all of your medical questions and don't be afraid to ask your doctor every single one.  Fully cherish every single moment you spend watching your babies on ultrasound, or bonding with them in utero, live with the mindset that you will have no regrets. 

The Parents' Coalition simply means that this is a place where everyone is welcome to share their ideas to improve survival rates, awareness, or anything in between.  I am more than willing to add , at all times any new ideas to the website and promote and help get projects moving.  I would like to make the Parents' Coalition an official non profit organization so that us parents do not have to fund all of these projects on our own.  As parents' and survivors (we are all survivors as individuals wether our babies lived or died, we all managed to survive mentally and physically through an awful syndrome)  a lot of us feel it's our duty to help others going through it or to increase chances of survival for someone else.  So, please add any new resources, or ideas in the comments section of each page I've started.  If you'd like a new topic added, please message me the details and I would be more than happy to add it.  The more knowledge we are able to share, the better!  I hope you all join us!  You can start by adding your TTTStory or Introduction of yourself as a blog post! Try searching for members (using the profile questions to guide you in your search)  and spread the word!  The more the merrier!  Don't forget to read all the information pages (you can find them all in the menu at the top of the page) and add what you don't already see there!  Thanks for being a part of the new culture that is the TTTS Parents' Coalition!