I started having strange symptoms while pregnant – then I woke from a coma to be told my twins died
A PREGNANT mum started to have unusual symptoms - before she eventually tragically lost her twins.
Louise Prashad was six months pregnant when she had abdominal pain, nosebleeds, mouth bleeds and yellow skin.
The now 28-year-old said she was thirsty all the time, eating a pack of ice lollies a day.
She went to hospital several times but was sent home, told it was just because carrying twins is harder.
But at 37 weeks she went to A&E with a vaginal bleed, and sent home again.
The mum-to-be then vomited two pints of blood six minutes after getting back.
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She was raced back to hospital and put into a coma, with her husband being told she had blood poisoning with multiple organ failure.
Eventually it was found the council worker, from Holgate, York, had developed "acute fatty liver of pregnancy", which affects one in 10,000 mums-to-be.
She had an emergency C-section but tragically the twins were stillborn.
Louise was only told the news when she woke three weeks later, describing it as "the most traumatic experience of my life".
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Louise said: "Mum came in and broke the news that Mia and Leo weren't here anymore. I screamed the place down.
"That's when it all felt real and my brain came round to the idea they weren't there anymore. It was the most traumatic experience of my life.
"I somehow found this inner strength that I needed to get better to ensure they had the best send off possible.
"They deserved so much more than the hand they were dealt.
"It was all about them and trying to celebrate what little life they had. I was numb."
Since the stillbirths Louise has been keen to raise awareness of organ donation and liver conditions in pregnancy.
She said: "Itchy skin, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin, excessive thirst, tiredness, bleeding gums are all symptoms of liver conditions.
"I think if you are willing to receive an organ, then you should be willing to donate."
"It was through no fault of my own that I found myself in that situation.
"And if there had not have been a donor available I wouldn't be here and my husband would have lost three people that day."
'NERVE-WRACKING'
Devastated by the loss of her twins, Louise gave up all hope of becoming a mum - and was told she had a one in four chance of the fatty liver condition recurring in another pregnancy.
She and restaurant worker Max eventually decided to try for another baby, and their daughter Ava was born in March 2018.
Louise said: "I never thought I would have another child. When I decided I wanted to try again, I had to wait over a year because the medication I was on was really harmful.
"We started trying and it took a year and a half. I finally fell pregnant with Ava but it was the most nerve-wracking pregnancy. I really struggled to enjoy it.
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"The minute I saw her and heard her cry I thought 'she is actually here and I can stop doubting myself'.
"She is the spitting image of Mia and Leo, the similarities are so strange - the dark hair, same colour eyes, olive skin, cute button nose."
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