Y'know, I had an idea a while back on how to deal with Padme's fate.
When we go to Pollis Massa and talk to this dude,
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w56/STWRSChronicals/Droids/GH-7MedicalDroid.jpg
The robot's lines are re-dubbed, so that Padme has begun to feel the symptoms of a rare disease that will leave her dead within a matter of years. This does two things. Firstly, it explains why she's sick, as opposed to her being "really sad." Secondly, it allows Leia time to grow up with her, so the line where she remembers her mother is logical.
So here's how I see the dialogue taking place:
Med Droid: She appears to be experiencing the first symptoms of (insert disease name here.) Very rare, and untreatable. Given the progression of the disease, I'd say she has little more then a few more years left.
CUT TO Obi-Wan, Bail, and Yoda looking distraught.
Med Droid: Luckily, the disease will not transmit to the babies.
Bail: Babies?
Med Droid: The twins she's carrying. We'll have to operate quickly though, if they have any chance of surviving.
END SCENE
So the twins are born, and everything happens as it did in the original. Skip a few scenes to Bail's ship arriving on Allderaan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adxvS_vjOTo
Padme is still alive, albeit not for long. She cries and cradles Leia, knowing she'll never be able to watch her children grow up.
So what do you think? Tragic and clever, or contrived and stupid?