Mother Refuses To Abort Conjoined Twins Who Share A Single Heart: "We Are The Pro-Life Generation"

A common defense of abortion is that some babies suffer from disabilities or health conditions in the womb, and it's supposedly a kindness to end their life before they are even born. The medical system will often recommend abortion to women whose children test positive for a handicap or birth defect. But wife and mother Nicole LeBlanc refuses to terminate the lives of her twin babies who are conjoined and share a single heart. She has been documenting her story on social media with the hopes that others will understand that innocent life is always worth protecting, even if there's a slim chance of survival.

Mother Chooses to Carry Conjoined Twins Who Share a Single Heart

In December 2022, Nicole shared some personal news on Twitter: "This is not how I would imagine I would announce this. But I’m pregnant with twins. My twins are conjoined and share 1 heart and vital organs. There is a very high chance of miscarriage and there is nothing that can be done except wait. Please pray for me." Her tweet quickly went viral and attracted the attention of many people who sent their support and love.

At that time, Nicole and her husband Austin didn't know much else about their babies, but there is a very low survival rate of conjoined twins. It's estimated that only 7.5% of conjoined twins survive (and the chances are even slimmer for twins who share organs) and only 60% of the surgically separated cases survive. But Nicole's twins are not eligible for a surgery that separates them. She shared more information on Facebook from their 20-week appointment with the doctor.

"Today we met with the fetal cardiologist and told us what we already knew but now with more medical information," she wrote. "They said the babies are sharing 1 single heart with 2 ventricles with 1 big aorta going to baby A and 1 smaller aorta to baby B. They see the babies possibly making it to 35 weeks and being born alive. They will be monitoring me and the babies closely from here on out since we have about 15 more weeks, God Willing until we get to meet our little twins!"

"They cannot be separated and they can’t transfer the heart to 'the stronger twin' or have a heart transplant. They are still sharing 1 liver and umbilical cord. We will be meeting with palliative care next week to hear the wishes my husband and I have. We would like to make them comfortable as possible since they still will only live for minutes/hours/days."

Nicole tells Evie her babies also share bowels and a diaphragm. She says they're "classified as thorocopagus conjoined twins with 1 shared heart — a 4 chambered heart." Nicole never expected this to be her path of motherhood. "This is my first pregnancy and I wanted to do this as naturally as possible, with the least amount of medical intervention as possible. But this won’t be the case for me now," she says.

On April 21, had another ultrasound and saw her babies, and she shared the details with us. "Their shared heart is still working and showing no signs of heart failure. Their growth is appropriate for 28 weeks and 4 days!" Nicole tells Evie. "They are very active babies and are starting to grow hair now. I am so happy I am able to experience pregnancy."

"The doctors told me this wasn’t going to be a viable pregnancy since 10 weeks so the fact that I’m this far along, experiencing every kick, is truly a gift for me," she continues. "I’m so blessed God has allowed me to experience pregnancy and motherhood — even if it’s for a short while."

Nicole understands that her time with her twin girls may be short-lived. She has no idea if she will be able to bring the babies to term, and if she does, how much time she will have with them. All they can do is provide palliative care to help ease them when they are born. Rather than planning a baby shower for her first pregnancy, like women tend to do, she is instead planning a funeral.

"It is definitely sad, I am not going to deny that, but I wouldn’t do anything differently than what I’m doing now. My husband and I are traditional Catholics and he has been such a huge blessing for me and so supportive of me and takes care of our babies," she says. "There is a small chance they could survive and we could do hospice at home, but if that’s the case, we are not prepared at all! Not even a crib! We are just leaving everything in God's Hands."

Nicole admits it is difficult to just wait in the midst of all the uncertainty, but she is maintaining her faith and gratitude for the opportunity to carry these children and care for them while they're still in her womb. She has refused abortion even though it has been offered to her as option, sticking firmly to her belief that mothers should protect children, not end their life because they are unwell or unwanted.

"We are the pro life generation! I can’t wait to give back to mothers who also carry babies with a life limiting diagnosis in the womb. This is how we support humans — not by killing them," she tweeted on April 12.

She has received some backlash on Twitter from people who disagree with her choice to keep her babies alive rather than violently end their life. "There is nothing to be proud of that she chose not to abort just because of her faith. The poor kids will live in immense pain once born until their soul leaves," a user said. Nicole responded gracefully to the criticism, standing by her decision to protect her children's lives.

"Hi, I’m their mother here, they are not in any pain whatsoever. When they are born, should they be in any pain, we have modern medicine to make them comfortable. But the most painful for them would be to rip their limbs apart, piece by piece and crushing their skulls," she wrote.

She tells Evie that it's not abnormal for her to receive this kind of backlash online. People just assume that her girls are in pain, but that's not the case. She has been assured by her maternal fetal specialist that the babies are doing just fine, and if they are born in pain, they have access to modern medicine that will keep the twins comfortable until they pass.

"My babies are in the safest place possible, and that is within my womb," she says. "I am their mother, and a mother has a responsibility to care for her children and put her babies first. I also believe everyone should have a chance at life because life is so beautiful, despite all the challenges it comes with. Why should I deny them a chance at life? And the fact they are still alive only goes to show that they are fighters. The way they have developed in my womb is all that they know. A constant embrace with their sibling."

Nicole has shared photos of her twin girls from various ultrasound appointments. On Friday, she tweeted the babies are doing well and have some hair growing. "Both are measuring around 2 pounds each and are still breech. Thank you all for the prayers for my little warrior princesses!" she tweeted.

Through this difficult time, Nicole relies on her faith in God and the support of her family, and she chooses to experience this pregnancy as a blessing. "I’m so blessed God has allowed me to experience pregnancy and motherhood — even if it’s for a short while," she tells Evie. "I do believe my babies have a special mission to change the hearts of many who think abortion is okay, and I want the world to know the humanity of my babies. I hope that even after they are no longer with us, I can continue to be a voice for them and for countless babies who are brutally murdered in the wombs of their mothers."

As of now, Nicole's due date is June 2 and she will be delivering her babies via C-section as it is physically impossible to vaginally two babies at once. Thousands of people have poured out their support for her on social media, assuring her that she is a wonderful mother who sets a shining example for women everywhere.

"At the C-section, we won’t be using any extraordinary measures on our babies, just palliative care until it’s their time to go," she tells Evie. "They will be loved and held their entire lives."