Premature Twin Baby Survives After Doctors Suggested Abortion

International   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jul 26, 2011   |   1:15PM   |   London, England

Sara Fisher and Scott McMahon, a young British couple, were advised by doctors to have an abortion because their unborn son Jacob McMahon saw his twin sister die in the womb at 21 weeks and six days because of an infection. The couple said no.

Now, McMahon has become Britain’s most premature surviving twin thriving months after his birth in late February at 23 weeks into pregnancy and a weight of 1 pound, 4 ounces. his birth date places him within the general 24-week legal abortion threshold in England, one of the nations to see a high rate of late abortions in the second and third trimester.

The family has finally been able now to bring Jacob home from the hospital, and he will need an oxygen supply to help his tiny lungs do their job until he is able to breathe properly without assistance. He has grown to 7lb 3oz and is able to drink from a bottle.

“It feels surreal being home. It is a day that was not spoken of because we thought it would never happen,” Fisher told the London Daily Mail. “”We couldn’t believe it when doctors told us we had to consider abortion. They told us I had an infection and that he wouldn’t survive. They gave us 24 hours to decide whether we wanted to take a tablet that could stop his heart. We did not want to do that but luckily that decision was taken away from us when I went into labor at midnight.”

“I was petrified about what was going to happen. The whole pregnancy was scary and we were heartbroken after losing EMI, I thought we were going to lose Jacob,’ she added. “But I’m pleased to say we have a little miracle on our hands. He wanted to survive. It feels like we’re on a rollercoaster and I can’t get off. Sometimes I feel so sad and then other times I think how lucky we are. But Jacob is a twin and I don’t want to forget he is a twin. That makes him even more special.”

“Hopefully, as he gets bigger his lungs will get stronger and we will be able to reduce the amount of oxygen. He has had several brain ultrasound scans and they have been showing he is normal,” she added.

Dr Sam Oddie at Bradford Royal Infirmary told the newspaper, “We have never had a baby survive at 23 weeks before. His twin sister was born so early there was no prospect of her being able to survive and we were extremely concerned whether Jacob could survive. We are delighted he has overcome the odds.”

Jacob’s birth follows the birth of a German girl named Freida, who was named the world’s most premature surviving infant after her birth at 21 weeks into pregnancy.

In Britain, pro-life campaigners are already commenting on Jacob’s birth and using it to lobby MPs to lower the abortion limit and prevent more abortions in the middle and latter parts of pregnancy.

Photo Credit: London Telegraph