Idential Moni-Di Pregnancy

I found at at six weeks that there is only one placenta with a very thin membrane separating the sacs.Now i had no idea about anything twin related so i came home and googled alot of info on identicals and from what i've read scared the crap out of me!It seems like every story i've read there has been problems or complications through out the pregnancy.I won't lie and say i'm not terrified because i'am!Especially about TTTS!

Has anyone had identicals and has had a GOOD pregnancy and birth experience?

 

QUOTE(*Mandy* @ Jun 21 2009, 04:22 PM) [snapback]1362992[/snapback]
I found at at six weeks that there is only one placenta with a very thin membrane separating the sacs.Now i had no idea about anything twin related so i came home and googled alot of info on identicals and from what i've read scared the crap out of me!It seems like every story i've read there has been problems or complications through out the pregnancy.I won't lie and say i'm not terrified because i'am!Especially about TTTS!

Has anyone had identicals and has had a GOOD pregnancy and birth experience?


this is what i can tell you from a fellow mono-di boys preggo mommy...first NEVER research anything about mono-mono or mono-di twins, it will only do just what it did to you, scare you to death! you just have to trust your instincts and listen to your doctors. don't get worried until they get worried. i know it seems hard but really try to stay OFF the net.

here's my story so far....

i'm 30 weeks and change and this is my first pregnancy, it's mono-di boys and they were a total shock since we weren't trying and twins don't run in the families. i started to notice early on the things were, well different. by our first prenatal appointment i had gained 4lbs and that was at 8 weeks so i knew something was up and we had an ultrasound...sure enough it was twins. now the double hormonal fluctuations affected me greatly in the first trimester and i cried A LOT and i packed on about 14lbs in the first 3 months. by week 16 my OB finally told me that I was having mono-di twins and that she thought it best that i see a specialist to start to monitor their growths and fluid levels and to just get me on a ultrasound schedule. she also mentioned to me, with a smile i might add, that this was serious and that my kids may die because of TTTS (twin to twin transfusion syndrome). needless to say i went home in tears. week 18 was our level II growth scan and our first meeting with the specialist. everything went great and assured us that the TTTS risk is minimal and extremely rare, so keep this in mind. at this point we found out we were having boys and that they were measuring right on target with a singleton pregnancy as far as growth and all that good stuff. she, the specialist, put us on a bi-weekly ultrasound schedule from 18 weeks to 26 weeks as this is the time when TTTS is picked up or signs of it occuring start to show. so we went every 2 weeks, one week it was for growth and the next it was for cervix length and fluids. after 26 weeks the ultrasounds went down to every 3 weeks but prenatal appointments every week.

now the other thing to worry about it IUGR, interuterine growth restriction (again do not research this on the net). with identicals everyone assumes that everything will be the same, right up to their weights. well at one of our biweekly ultrasounds the sonographer at the regular OB's office noticed a 27% difference between the babies which sent everyone into panic mode. so i was immediately told to see the specialist again for another check to make sure it wasn't a computer error. well it must have been because once we saw the specialist 3 days later the boys were back within a 5% difference which is very normal.

we just recently had an ultrasound done at 29 weeks and the boys are 3.2 and 3.1lbs so the growth difference is virtually gone.

the specialist thinks that i will make it to my scheduled due date at 37 weeks as long as i take it easy and don't do anything to exhaust myself, which will happen at a rapid pace if you aren't careful. my OB on the other hand is not as optimistic so DH and i just play the wait and see game.

i'm 30 weeks now and will be ecstatic to see that 34 week approach with the babies still in my stomach.

at 30 weeks my uterus measured 40 weeks in comparrison to a singleton pregnancy and i have been diagnosed with "irritable uterus" which basically just means that my boys are so active in the womb that every movement can mimic a contraction. hence the reason we have been to triage 5 times and i have gotten 4 terb shots (to stop the contractions and calm the uterus). otherwise my physical health has been fine. the only question now is whether or not they want to put me on permanent terb type medicine until my due date to keep my uterus calm. otherwise everything has been fine. oh wait they did say i had gestational diabetes but it turns out it is not the case as my sugar levels are well within the normal range.

physically and emotionally, being 30 weeks pregnant with twins, for me anyways, is the hardest thing i have ever had to do. the slightest movement will bring on contractions for me and while i haven't been told to go on bed rest i put myself on modified rest just because i know that little movements make my uterus contract.

now i haven't given birth yet but i have heard nothing but good things. i mean, the longer you make it the better but if you go early than the technology and hospital care will surely help you and your babies thrive.

congrats on the pregnancy, how far along are you??

 

It could also turn out that your babies *aren't* really sharing a placenta. Mine were diagnosed as mono/di at about 12 weeks, and it scared the liver outta me too. (Haley's right. Stay off the net! ) Your babies could have two placentas that have FUSED. Mine did. I went through my whole pregnancy scared sh**less of TTTS, and come to find out the little buggers weren't even mono/di. Once you deliver, they will send the placenta (it'll be HUGE!) off to pathology to have it examined and tested, and they'll tell you whether it was really one placenta or two that had fused.

Now, that being said, I had one of the best multiples medical teams in the UK, and they barely batted an eyelash for all that time that they thought my girls were mono/di. You'll have loads of xtra ultrasounds and they'll watch you so closely.

Hang in there, Mama. You're in the best place for twins support. We've all been there, and we've all been scared. Try not to dwell on it! (Calm Mama makes for healthier babies!)

 

Thanks so much for sharing your stories with me!At first i wasn't having regular ultrasounds....i went from 6 weeks to 18 weeks in between.But now he is sending me every 2-4 weeks.

I agree about not looking anything up on the internet!I defiantly learned my lesson!LOL

 

Absolutely stay off the internet. Come ask any questions here and you'll get real life answers and experince. I had mono-di girls and did have some minor complications. I ended up on hospital bed rest at 27 weeks (with IUGR), but made it to 34 weeks (which was our scheduled c-section date anyhow) and now have two happy and extremely healthy 6 month olds. As our pediatrician always says, my girls are clueless to the fact that they are preemies.

Please fee free to PM me anytime. I don't check expecting forums much, but saw your post about mono-dis and wanted to see what was up.

Neumsy....can you believe we have 6 month olds?????

 

QUOTE(*Mandy* @ Jun 21 2009, 02:22 PM) [snapback]1362992[/snapback]
I found at at six weeks that there is only one placenta with a very thin membrane separating the sacs.Now i had no idea about anything twin related so i came home and googled alot of info on identicals and from what i've read scared the crap out of me!It seems like every story i've read there has been problems or complications through out the pregnancy.I won't lie and say i'm not terrified because i'am!Especially about TTTS!

Has anyone had identicals and has had a GOOD pregnancy and birth experience?


yes! having mono-di twins with all of the potential complications is definitely an overwhelming thing, but remember that a) TTTS is quite rare and b) if you are diagnosed, while serious, there are still things that can be done to ensure two healthy, happy babies in the end.

my pregnancy was, for the most part, complication free. i broke my foot at 24 weeks which sucked but wasn't threatening to the girls at all. then at my routine u/s at 27 weeks they noticed that my cervix had shortened and that Danika (baby B) had a fairly large increase in fluid. this was the scariest weekend for me - we were sent to the hospital for monitoring & to get steroid shots. everything checked out fine & they had me go back for another u/s a couple of days later. Danika still had extra fluid but, more importantly, Riley didn't have any less fluid. they continued to monitor us closely & there was some talk about possibly flying to Toronto to see a TTTS specialist but in the end it wasn't warranted. i was on modified bedrest from then until the girls were born at 34w1d. between OB appointments, u/s appointments & at home NSTs (twice a week), i was seeing a medical professional aprox every 2 - 3 days. it was exhausting but worth the peace of mind.

the girls' birth was incredible - i posted my birth story in this post if you would like to read it (warning - it's pretty long).

take a deep breath! and try to remember that there's no use at all in worrying about something that you have absolutely no control over. take it one day at a time - you will have the strength to deal with whatever comes your way. :hug: sending you many happy, healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy vibes.

 

QUOTE(*Mandy* @ Jun 21 2009, 04:48 PM) [snapback]1363045[/snapback]
Thanks so much for sharing your stories with me!At first i wasn't having regular ultrasounds....i went from 6 weeks to 18 weeks in between.But now he is sending me every 2-4 weeks.

I agree about not looking anything up on the internet!I defiantly learned my lesson!LOL



Well I'm in the incubation process so birth has yet to come. So far the mine are growing fine and no problems. Mama is another story though. I'm a hormonal mess and hate I have to slow down.
I will say this for advice though-

DON'T PANIC! :lol: :hug:

It sounds to me that they are watching you very closely. Not a bad thing or a bad sign trust me.

Spend time preparing for those little bundles and less time reading on the net. I know it's hard but don't do it!
Do make a notebook with questions for each time you see the doctor and take it with you. My doctors love it when they see that notebook. I ask questions and I also take notes so I remember later.

 

QUOTE(TwinsInFL @ Jun 21 2009, 11:09 PM) [snapback]1363053[/snapback]
Absolutely stay off the internet. Come ask any questions here and you'll get real life answers and experince. I had mono-di girls and did have some minor complications. I ended up on hospital bed rest at 27 weeks (with IUGR), but made it to 34 weeks (which was our scheduled c-section date anyhow) and now have two happy and extremely healthy 6 month olds. As our pediatrician always says, my girls are clueless to the fact that they are preemies.

Please fee free to PM me anytime. I don't check expecting forums much, but saw your post about mono-dis and wanted to see what was up.

Neumsy....can you believe we have 6 month olds?????



I *know*! It's totally crazy to me! Espcially looking at photos immediatly after they were born-they looked like little capuchin monkeys (I never saw that them of course, only now that I look back...lol)
Give BK and Aurora a kiss from me!

 

I just want to say that TTTS does not always have a bad outcome. We were diagnosed at 20 weeks and my boys hung on until 34 weeks and were born at 5 lbs 4 oz and 6 lbs. TTTS is rare so try not to worry. If it does happen there are things that can be done. Make sure they are monitoring you closely. The TTTS foundation recommends once a week starting at 16 weeks. Good luck.

 

My identical boys were born at 36 weeks, vaginally, by induction. They were 5 lbs 4 oz and 5 lbs 3 oz. Born healthy and pregnancy went really smooth!


I scoured the internet too when I found out we were having twins and got really worried about everything that could happen. My doctor watched the babies very close and we had no problems! All that worring for nothing! What ever happens, will happen and you have a doctor that will moniter you and the babies to detect any problems before they truely become problems.


The best thing you can do is relax and try not to stress. Listen to your mommy instincts and call your doctor if you ever feel like there's something wrong.


GL and have a happy and heathy pregnancy!!

 

QUOTE(*Mandy* @ Jun 21 2009, 04:22 PM) [snapback]1362992[/snapback]
I found at at six weeks that there is only one placenta with a very thin membrane separating the sacs.Now i had no idea about anything twin related so i came home and googled alot of info on identicals and from what i've read scared the crap out of me!It seems like every story i've read there has been problems or complications through out the pregnancy.I won't lie and say i'm not terrified because i'am!Especially about TTTS!

Has anyone had identicals and has had a GOOD pregnancy and birth experience?

Hi there!
Im 28.4 with id boys,I like you,was excited about my IDs untill I reaserched the possible complications.
My boys have always been within an ounce of each other,but I also attribute this to my HIGH PROTEIN diet as well.
I had morning (all day)sickess ountill week 23 so it was very hard to eat so much protein.That and I dont eat meat making it double hard.
So heres my tip for you,and at least you will know in your heart that your doing something on your end.

Dr.Barbra Luke reccomend 176 grams of protein for our types of pregnacy.Heres How I get mine!
8am 2 Cups of yougart 20 grams,10 am peanut butter toast 2 slices 14 grams,lunch tuna sandwhich 23 grams,snack 2oz of mixed nuts 20 grams 3 pm snack yougart 10 grams,Dinner fish (easy because I live in FL)usually redfish or grouper 41.0 grams...if you are a meat eater it will be easier for you like say a hamberger from mcdonalds has 25 grams. Or chicken breast has between 25-40 grams and so on.
Im almost 29 weeks and have only gained 19.5 pounds,and my boys at last scan were to the once the same size!

Also I worked 50 hours a week untill week 25 when my cervix shortened,and Im currently on Bedrest,so another tip is take it easy several times a day to ward off bedrest for as long a possible! HEHE.

I hope this helps...good luck.Jennifer

 

Absolutely! Perfect pregnancy here in EVERY way. No morning sickness, bedrest, PTL, NOTHING! I was sooo lucky!

We had planned c section at 35 weeks 2 days and the b oys were totally perfect (ckd lung maturity beforehand w/ amnio) and were each six lbs.

I was highly monitored and my peri always takes identicals at 36 weeks or even before, like with me, if they're mature.

Good luck and don't worry!

 

QUOTE(*Mandy* @ Jun 21 2009, 08:22 PM) [snapback]1362992[/snapback]
I found at at six weeks that there is only one placenta with a very thin membrane separating the sacs.Now i had no idea about anything twin related so i came home and googled alot of info on identicals and from what i've read scared the crap out of me!It seems like every story i've read there has been problems or complications through out the pregnancy.I won't lie and say i'm not terrified because i'am!Especially about TTTS!
Has anyone had identicals and has had a GOOD pregnancy and birth experience?


I know it's easier said than done, but try to relax. I didn't know my twins were mono-di until the birth. Before then we thought they were di-di. I did not have a good birth experience, but that was entirely because of MY health issues (epidurals and spinals don't work on me, so after several mishaps I was put under.) I also had PUPPS and gall stones, again MY issues, the babies were FINE. No NICU time needed. The only small issue was one had sucking issues and was feed with a siringe for two days. Born at 35 weeks 4 days, both over 5 lbs.

 

[SIZE=10pt]I had this question as well.. The docs seem to be confusing me at times that is.. I have been diagnosed as having mono/di twins since about 6 or 8 wks.. I am 15 wks 5 days now and trying hard not to worry about TTTS. I know it can happen and am praying my duo escape it.. I am worried though I dont feel anything really..I have gained about 10lbs and just feel tired all the time..[/SIZE]

 

Just read this. The Mommy Goes All the Way.

 

This thread has been so helpful, at my last scan they found a thin dividing sac and my next scan on the 7th we will try and see if they share the same placenta, this has been constantly on my mind, but I am going to head everyone's advice here, and take things in stride. Thank you for all of the stories, and for someone else asking the questions that were on my mind.

 

mono/di boys here. they did great. mommy didn't do so great (gestational hypertension) but that has nothing to do with their placenta. no TTTS, no growth restriction, and although owen was a bit smaller than jacob at birth the size difference was completely resolved by 4 months.

i'm better at giving this advice than obeying it, but don't google every pregnancy question. stick with sources you trust. if you google you're just going to scare the daylights out of yourself.

 

Thanks so much for all your helpful advice ladies!I appreciate it so much!I went and bought some boost shakes yesterday....along with a few other foods high in protein.My plan is to do whatever i can to keep these babies baking as long as possible.

I'm just going to take one day at a time and enjoy this pregnancy as it is defiantly my last! :lol:

 

I had mono-di girls and my pregnancy was very uneventful--except for the incredible hugeness and angry uterus (technically "irritable uterus"--but mine wasn't irritable--it was angry!). All along my fluid levels and growth levels were good. Near the end I was so big and uncomfortable it was hard to move, but I took that as license to watch a lot of movies and TV series from Netflix. I had my girls at 36 weeks due to pre-e (I had pretty much been symptom free until the week or so before they were born)--the girls were completely healthy, no NICU time and went home with me when I left the hospital. I do credit the HUGE amounts of protein I ate and tons of water I drank for helping me grow such great girls. And I second what all the pps are saying -- do not do research on the internet! Good luck!

 

My mono/di pregnancy and childbirth were both pretty much textbook (and you can throw in my "advanced" age of 41 and gestational diabetes into the mix of things that could've complicated the experience). The babies developed nearly identically throughout the pregnancy and I had no other complications. Heck, I didn't even swell much until a week before I delivered. The babies were born vaginally at 35.5 wks, weighing 5.7 and 5.8 lbs. The entire delivery start to finish took an hour. WAY easier than my singleton birth. The babies are healthy 6 weekers now, I have a mere 4 tiny stretch marks, and am within 5lbs of my pp weight.

So yes...it's quite possible to have a happy, uneventful pregnancy and childbirth. Just step awaaay from the internet...no need ruining a good night's sleep while you can still get one!!

Eve

 

TTTS is very rare- something like only 5-10% of mono/di pg end up with this condition so your odds of NOT getting it are 90-95%- pretty good odds!! Good luck and congratulations on your twins! And definitely only come here for questions- the internet is scary!!

 

Hello! I'm the mother of mono/di boys and went to 36 weeks complication free! Don't let the internet scare you, your body doesn't need the extra stress. I was terrified at first, but quickly realized that I was doing everything I could to keep my boys healthy (eating right, going to the OB regularly, ect).