Siamese twins couple face 'horrific choice'

A British couple expecting Siamese twin girls who share one heart must sacrifice one to give the other a chance of life.

Tina May, 23, who is six months pregnant, told a British newspaper that it was "the most horrific choice for any parent".

Ms May and fiancé Dennis Smith, 33, from St Albans, Herts, are expecting the twins at the end of April, when she will be 37 weeks pregnant.

The conjoined twins will be born by Caesarian section.

They twins will be transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and kept alive for a month until they are strong enough to undergo the operation to separate them.

Doctors have told the couple that the dominant twin, Natasha, has most of the heart and stands the best chance of survival.

The twins also share a liver which will have to be divided in the operation, but doctors believe the organ can regenerate after being split.

Ms May told the newspaper: "The worst part will be having to let Courtney go having built a bond with her.

"But one thing that will ease our grief is knowing Courtney would have looked exactly the same as Natasha, so she will be a constant reminder of our lost little girl."

The couple also have a nine-month-old son, Damien.