Teenager expecting joined twins goes ahead

Published on Sunday 23 November 2008 20:56

AN 18-year-old girl is preparing to become Britain's youngest-ever mother to conjoined twins. Laura Williams and her husband Aled, 28, said that, despite the risks, they had decided not to abort daughters Faith and Hope, due to be delivered by Caesarian section this week.

The teenager, from Shrewsbury, is being cared for at Birmingham Women's Hospital but will be transferred to another in London for the procedure.

Her daughters are joined from the breastbone to the navel and have separate hearts.

Mr Williams said: "Because every case is so different, they don't like to give you odds on what might happen, but they have said that because of where they're joined, there's more chance of them surviving than not surviving. If the join is just the stomach, there's a good chance of success."

Mrs Williams said: "Sometimes I think about the worst so I'm prepared for it, but if it works out well, then I'll just be really happy."