Diagnosed with IUGR this week and really scared

Last week I had an u/s at my OB office. We found out that we are having boys , and everything looked pretty good but they told me both babies were "a little small". They scheduled me to have another u/s done at the hospital this week. I went in on Wednesday for the second u/s and they are really concerned about the size of the babies, especially Baby B. They had two high-risk doctors come in and speak with us. Baby A's size is around the 25th percentile, Baby B is about the 5th. They gave us half a dozen scenarios, most of which were scary. I am pretty early in my pregnancy for this to be happening and just scared that my babies will continue to struggle growing. They gave me an amnio and a blood test to check for genetic or viral issues but told me that it is pretty unlikely that either of these is the cause. They mentioned that this is most likely a placenta issue or the early signs of TTTS. Also, my husband and I are not very large people (I am 5'2" and husband 5'6") so they thought this could explain some of the small size, but they have real concern for Baby B.

I read some of the IUGR stories from the sticky at top and was glad to see how often everything turns out fine despite this complication and the PTL that usually goes with it. I'm just so worried about this and some of the things that could go wrong. I find it hard to focus on anything else. My doctor says there isn't really anything I can do to change what is happening - diet and activity don't make much of a difference but I am willing to try anything. I'd love to hear from other women that have gone through this.

 

:hug:
I dont have any experience with this but just wanted to let you know that we are all here for you and thinking of you!!
It's good they are monitoring the situation so closely.
Take care sweetie and keep us posted.

My advice would be as much rest as possible and high protien and calories, couldnt hurt? ardon:


:grouphug:

 

So sorry you are having to deal with this at this stage!! I agree with Lesley, make sure you up your protein intake to help those babies gain some weight. Hopefully they can work on the TTTS issue if that is what it turns out to be, like you I have heard many success stories!!! (((((HUGS))))))

 

First off, congrats on finding out you are having 2 boys. :Clap:
I am sorry you are having to worry about IUGR. :hug: My sister was diagnosed with that (with her singleton) and she had her about 2 weeks early in Feb. I saw how worried she was, so I know it's not easy. :hug:

 

Thank you all. It is hard to stay optimistic, but I'm really trying. I know that worry and stress can't be good for the babies either. I just so badly want them to grow!

 

How often will they be monitoring you? With that kind of concern, I would be PUSHING HARD for AT LEAST weekly dopplers, and even more, really. I had weekly dopplers, as well as additional monitoring (up to 4x/wk). The last 4 days were daily dopplers while admitted in the hospital. They delivered the girls early because of my IUGR baby's bad doppler results. My story is in the sticky if you didn't get to it. Their size discrepancy was always an issue, and when they were born they were 40% different in size.

Now my IUGR baby is the one who is into anything and everything. She's still tiny (just 16#12 oz yesterday and she turned one on April 3rd--still not even on the growth chart), but mighty, mighty, mighty! I know how scared you are. If you feel like talking I am all ears. Feel free to PM me, and let me know if you want to talk over the phone, too. Sometimes it feels good to just talk it out.

 

Thank you, Danielle. I did read your story and your girls are beautiful.

They are going to start monitoring with an ultrasound every week. They mentioned on Wednesday that they'd be doing the doppler but I haven't had one yet. Maybe they'll do that at my next appointment. They were explaning that because of the margin of error on the u/s that they can't really track growth until they have a set of results that are two weeks apart. Next week's ultrasound will be my third week in a row so they will be able to look at that one to compare it to the first and get some growth tracking started. Depending on what that shows should determine what tests they decide to do and when.

From what they could see on the u/s the anatomy and fluid levels all looked pretty good. They could even see the blood vessels to the cord and that looked fine to them too. Other than size, there weren't any other indicators of anything wrong, which is why they weren't sure about TTTS. They said if it was TTTS that it was in the very earliest stages since the babies weren't showing the typical indicators other than size discrepency.

I will keep everyone posted about what I find out next week. Today I got a call with the FISH results from the amnio and both babies results were normal. Good news! I am trying to cling to every positive thing that I can so I don't go crazy with fear and worry. I already love these babies so much and just want them to be as healthy and strong as they can be.

 

Your positive attitude will certainly help you through. Great news on the FISH results!

 

Mine had a significant size difference and we on twice a week monitoring.

 

Congrats on the little boys! My singleton was an IUGR baby that was only diagnosed after she was born. She was extremely sick and almost passed away but is now a healthy happy smart 2 year old. One of my twin girls was diagnosed IUGr at 26 weeks she was just under the 10th percentile. They were born at 29 weeks. Our healthy twin is doing great and is almost completely caught up to her real age (she is 8 months old) Our IUGR twin was too sick and passed away at 2 days old. I pray that your boys continue to grow and be healthy!!

 

Congratulations on finding out you are having 2 boys!! :woo:

:hug: Momma!! I am so sorry that you had to get that news, and are understandably nervous. I hope the boys continue to grow, and you have no further issues or complications. Best of Luck to you!!

 

I also had a significant size discrepancy and a definite diognosis of IUGR from abotu 31 weeks for baby B. In the end, we had a scheduled c-sec at 38 weeks with 5.7 and 6.10. Two totally healthy babies. Breastfed immediatly and went home in 2 days with me. Baby B earlier grew sooo fat some told me to put her on a diet (WTH?) and now at 3.5 years is still the smallest of all my girls (4) but still well above normal.

Get well monitored, and then relax. They will be fine!

 

Your story is very similar to mine! I have mono/di boys and my baby B dropped off in growth at 22 weeks. The docs were concerned about his drop off this early in the pregnancy and I was told to expect a very premature delivery. It was not TTTS, but it was due to a 2 vessel cord and a marginal cord insertion. Thankfully, my baby B continued to grow (albeit SLOWLY) each ultrasound and I managed to make it to 34 weeks. He was born at only 3lb5oz but was PERFECT! Just small. Spent only 17 days in the NICU to grow. He is now doing awesome- still small for his actual age but almost average (!!- he was born in the 3rd percentile!) for his adjusted age.

I totally know how you feel having a baby in less than the 10th percentile and I know the worries you are experiencing now. Keep in mind that MOST mono/di twins are small. They are sharing a placenta meant to feed one baby and you have two! Feel free to email me with any questions or for support. I have been there girl!

 

Thank you, everyone. We got more test results back today. The infectious screen came back negative so I haven't passed along a virus, and the AFP also came back normal. It's a relief that these other potential issues are being eliminated. Also, my husband wasn't sure about his size at birth and looked it up a couple of days ago. He was only 5 lb. 14 oz., which is pretty small for a singleton. I hope that they are just constitutionally small and taking after their father. I have my next appointment on Thursday and I have been eating plenty of protein, resting, and drinking the high protein Ensure and Boost. I feel like I'm growing anyway, and have felt uncomfortable since the weekend, like my tummy is stretching and can feel the babies (or at least one of them) a little higher up. Hopefully we are all experiencing a little growth spurt.

 

More results today.
The babies looked good on the ultrasound yesterday. In 2 weeks Baby A grew 5 oz. and Baby B grew 3 oz. They were happy to see steady growth in both babies. Even though Baby B is still around the 5th percentile, she said the growth rate was really good for his size. Baby A is now in the 40th percentile.

I'll be switching to an MFM specialist next week for my care. Hopefully they will be able to give me a more detailed assessment of the results. I didn't find anything else out about potential TTTS.

I also got the rest of the results back from the amnio and all chromosomes are normal!

 

Good news again, YAY! Please continue to keep us posted. I look forward to your updates.

 

We were diagnosed with SIUGR on our Baby A at 19 weeks so I've been there! We went through every scenario as well and were very scared at the thought of losing her. They gave us the option to ligate the cord which we dismissed and they gave her a 50% chance of survival.

We started getting monitored by weekly ultrasounds at the perinatologist (insist on this). I still worked up until 24 weeks when a very conservative doctor decided to admit me to hospital bedrest. I also did have a placenta previa and a velamentous cord insertion as well so that probably added to the complications. I was at the hospital for 3 weeks then went home for a week and a half before I had the girls. They took them because I had a small bleeding episode at 29 weeks and they just didn't want to take any chances. Baby A was 2 lbs and Baby B was 2 lbs, 11 oz.

Both are healthy and thriving now! They're little (my IUGR baby is 13 lbs at 1 year) but very strong and doing great.

Hugs momma, I've been there. It's a scary scary road but one that often ends successfully.