MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) — A Madison mother is back home with her healthy twin daughters after a challenging and rare pregnancy.
Anna Ficken experienced a Monochorionic Monoamniotic (MoMo) twin pregnancy, a condition where both babies share the same amniotic sac and have entangled umbilical cords. This complication occurs in about 1 in 25,000 pregnancies, according to Dr. Michael Beninati of UW Health Maternal-Fetal Medicine at UnityPoint-Health Meriter Hospital.
Ficken’s pregnancy was identified early as a MoMo case, leading her to spend seven weeks in the hospital. She gave birth to her twins, Maya and Inez Aldana Ficken, at 32 weeks. The babies then spent five weeks in the NICU before being cleared to go home.
Instead of calling her daughters miracles, Ficken prefers to describe them as fighters. “I was there for all of it,” she said. “It wasn’t a miracle; my body did all that.”
Now three months old, the twins are healthy and thriving at home. Ficken values her new family, which also includes her older daughter, Sophia. Her journey to motherhood was particularly arduous after experiencing two miscarriages before the twins’ birth.
“Our two losses happened between our oldest daughter and our twins,” Ficken said. “Both were at five months, and doctors never found a reason for them, which was maddening and heartbreaking.”
Dr. Beninati, who managed the delivery, emphasized the care required in such rare pregnancies. “I’ve only delivered a few MoMo twins due to their rarity,” he said. “We have to ensure that once one baby is delivered, we quickly get the second out to avoid any cord entanglement that could restrict blood flow.”
He noted that the process can be stressful for patients, but he uses humor to help. “I try to ease the tension with jokes—usually corny dad jokes. I’m sure I slipped a few in for Anna.”
Ficken appreciated the humor and the support from the UW Health Maternal-Fetal Medicine team. “I joke that I can’t tell my older daughter it was the best day of my life because I felt like our family was complete,” she said. “I feel like I’m walking on air. It’s the best.”
Ficken shares her story to inspire others facing difficult and unexpected challenges on the path to parenthood. Her twins’ healthy arrival stands as a testament to overcoming adversity.
