Hi! New here!

Hello Ladies

I can't seem to find a South African forum for twin pregnancies so I've joined you all! I'm still incredibly uninformed and unsure about everything.

After two miscarriages and a nearly 6 year struggle to fall pregant we went for IVF. We ended up with only 1 embryo to transfer. We were ecstatic to find out it had worked. At our 6 week sonar we saw a little heartbeat, and at 7 weeks I started spotting slightly and went for another sonar where they told us it's identical twins. We were/are incredibly happy about the news!

I've been reading about the dangers of an identical twin pregnancy and all I know thus far is that our 2 each have their owns "sacs" but they share a placenta. We went for the 8 week sonar yesterday and both little hearts were still beating away. Should I worry about the fact that the one measured 8w2d (1.77cm) and the other 8w5d (2.06cm). Are they always exactly the same?

I am so scared of losing them!!! Any advice would be appreciated!

Janine

 

Welcome and congratulations! No they aren't always the same. My peri said in the beginning there is almost always a difference nothing to worry about. We had a difference in weights the entire time and brought healthy babies home at 36 weeks weighing 3lbs 15 oz and 4lbs 11oz. They now are 7 1/2 months are 3 lbs apart but still very healthy. It's scary to read what can happen (we had ttts since 13 weeks) but there are still many positive outcomes! Try not to worry too much (I know that's easier said than done) Good luck. I hope you have a happy healthy pregnancy.

 

Just wanted to say congratulations and :sign0016: to twinstuff! x

 

Thanks for the welcome ladies,

Jill - I've read a little about TTTS but I'm afraid to research it too intensely, I'll just work myself up in the process! You mentioned your precious twins had TTTS from 13 weeks - were you/they treated? If so, what treatment was used?

 

hi... i just wanted to say hi and welcome...

i found this site really helpful and everytime i have a worry someone on here puts my mind at rest!

xxxx

 

I don't know what to tell you about researching. We found out they suspected ttts at the same time we found out we were having twins so I went straight home and researched it and was inconsolable. I thought it was over then and there. According to everything I read it was. Less than 1 % chance of survival etc. I was told not to look up stuff on the internet. Well that's hard to do when I want to be informed and know what to expect etc. plus I would find stories that gave me hope. I was under constant supervision with doctors at 3 different hospitals trying to make it to 16 weeks to get surgery. Then of course we had an anterior placenta blocking the way. Well they had a new instrument to get around the placenta and do the surgery at a 30 degree angle with a mirror. Ok so there was hope but I needed to get worse (fluid needed to stretch my uterus so I wouldn't bleed too bad) So how weird in a way you hope to get worse so you can get surgery to cure the situation. If one of the babies would have went into distress they would have injected me artificially with fluid but that could have been risky and thank god the little fighters hearts kept staying good so we went week by week with sonograms and testing. Our fluid levels were always off enough to normally qualify for the surgery just never off enough to do it with the front lying placenta. Some weeks it got close then the next week we were ok. Some weeks they would have abnormal doppler flow. Next week normal. One week fluid started on the heart. Next week normal. Then if we got far enough we wouldn't do the surgery we would do amnio reduction. Which I never ended up needing. Then at 22 weeks we were meeting with the neonatologist because we decided they were better off out than in and take our chances with the nicu if either took a turn for the worse. I have a blog on another website I could pm you a link. I am not exaggerating when I say we would go a few times a week for observation (one day I was at 3 different doctors) it was crazy but I appreciated the constant supervision. I would be at the hospital 6-8 hours a day sometimes because one or both would fail the biophysical they'd redo it or then an nst finally they would admit me and then they would pass. It was a crazy pregnancy filled with worry. Then I kept getting further.But growth was slowing down and getting to be a 30% difference between the babies. Talk then was get me to 36 weeks and they would do amnio and deliver. Sure enough after all that I made it their lungs were ok I delivered and brought two completely healthy babies home from the hospital with me. Not one doctor/ nurse could believe it because they never thought it would be ok or with no complications with ttts occurring so early. So we beat all odds numerous times throughout the pregnancy. Scariest thing I've ever been through in my life. I do think now the doctors know more and more about ttts and can treat it better than they did even a few years ago. It is rare so I'd try not to worry unless you end up getting it and even then there is alot of support.

 

Congrats Janine! I don't have any advice as each of mine have their own placenta so I haven't read about id. twins... but I wish you all the luck in the world and THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS!

The power of positive thinking is stronger than we give it credit for. Good thoughts can do a lot for you and your body (and babies!).

Congrats!

 

Congratulations! I hope everything goes smoothly for you, Lisa

 

Congratulations on your twins! We're glad you found us!
My twins were never really exactly the same size, and the older they got, the more pronounced the difference.
Keep us updated!

 

:sign0016: and congratulations!!! This site is not only an amazing resource, but you'll find lots of positive stories to keep your spirits up!! Good luck!

 

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PREGNANCY!!!
:sign0016: to TS!!! This is a great site!
Hope you have a great and smooth pregnancy!

 

Congratulations!:clap: How exciting.

Our girls are identical and we also found out they had TTTS on the same day we found out we had twins. Since you are having no complications at this point, I would just use your research to make sure you are getting the best care possible. I know it's hard not to look up things but don't let every single thing you read worry you because the statistics are very much in your favor for an easy pregnancy.

With your other question, a 3 day difference by itself is not something to worry about. It will just matter if the difference gets bigger or if you see other complications. Identical twins aren't really "identical" from the time the egg splits. After your babies are born you'll be amazed at how different they can be.

 

Congratulations and welcome to TS. My caution to you as far as research goes is to make sure you are reading a reputable source. There are so many articles out there that have false information and are just trying to scare you. My dr. suggested that I not go on line or on chat rooms because they are often not accurate. He said WebMD was ok though. If you have questions I would ask here and talk with your dr. My babies do not share, but have always measured different, I don't often see babies on here that weigh the same exact day. Think positive and take care it will work wonders. Just make sure you drink enough water and eat plenty of protein.

Jen

 

Welcome to Twinstuff! Congrats on your twins!

 

Welcome and congratulations! :yahoo:
jen :itwins: