Latest ultrasound has me worried.

I am new to the site, but have heard nothing but good things about it, so I figured it can't hurt to post.
I am currently 28 weeks pregnant with boy / girl twins. I have been on complete home bedrest since 24 weeks due to preterm labor. At 24 weeks I had slight spotting and was 1 cm dilated. I had the steroid shots at 24 weeks as well. I spend all day and night on my side, and I drink about 2 gallons of water per day. I was put on Procardia to help with the contractions, which it has, and at my last ultrasound my cervix even lenghtened to 2.7 from 1.7.
However, at today's ultrasound I got some disturbing news. My cervix shortened again, down to 1.8, but that wasn't the worst part. I was told that my babies are both very small. Baby A (girl) came in at 1lb 14oz, and baby b was 1lb 9oz. Doctor said they should be about 2.5lbs by now. In addition to their small size, baby a's fluid was slightly low. He said to continue to do what I am doing (which is nothing), and he is going to monitor me closely. He said it is pretty inevitable that I will be delivering early, but he would really love for me to make it to 33-34 weeks, but regardless the babies will most likely have a lengthy stay in the NICU. My next appointment is in 10 days.
I was just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar to this, whether it be the twins measuring small, or one having low fluid levels. Looking for any input.
Thanks

 

I wasnt in your situation but I wanted to say that the babies sizes are estimates, they could be 1 lb heavier then what they are estimating. One of my boys measured small my nykna mwhole pregnancy, and he was 5lbs 2oz at birth, but I delivered at 37 weeks. For the fluid I wish I could give you some insight, but as long as you are drinking lots and being strict with the bed rest, which I know is hard, I was on bedrest from 24 weeks on as well, and you are being watched carefully. Good luck and welcome to TS

 

I'm sorry I do not have experience with this. What I did find helpful was Dr. Barbara Luke's "When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads". I thought she did a good job explaining things and giving a 'diet' (well, like a pigfest, but I digress) to grow some big babies.

Good luck and I'm hoping your babies stay put awhile!

 

I am on bed rest from week 19 with a short cervix, 0.5cm. At 24w3d I was 2 cm dilated and the cervix was between 0 and 0.2 cm (they weren't sure).
I had the steroids shots at 24 weeks and now at 27 weeks (the doctors said that I should have them again at 27 or 28 weeks). Ask your doctor if you should have steroids again. The steroids help the babies a lot. I don't have problems with amniotic fluid and the babies were 1lb7oz each at 24w3d. They scared me really bad at 19 weeks. The doctor gave me small chances to get to 28 weeks, but here I am at 27w1d and my cervix is still 2cm dilated and I am strong like a rock and very determined to go closed or even to full term. Don't get stressed! I had bad breakdowns that led to bad contractions. Be positive and strong!
I also recommend Dr. Barbara Luke's book.
Good luck!

 

I have b/g twins and while I didn't have the pre-term labor or cervical scares, I did have VERY small babies...at 36 w delivery (I came down with a lovely case of pre-e) my son was 4 lb 8 oz and my daughter was 3 lb 8 oz - after having a 34 w scan that said they were a pound heavier than that - I'm rather certain they didn't lose any weight - so it just proves how far off the u/s can be...

keep doing what you're doing mom...I also will be the lone dissenter that I didn't like Barbara Luke's book - I didn't care for the tone of her book which was "if you don't follow what I have to say you will have small sick babies"

 

I did not have any fluid problems at all, however my babies measured small the entire time I was pregnant. They even began sending me to the hospital to have all of my u/s and a doctor was always present while I was having them. The week before I had the babies my OB said I must keep them in for as long as possible because they were only measuring about 3 lbs a piece (at 34 weeks), however I had them the next week and they came out to be 5 lbs 9 oz and 5 lbs 12 oz. So in this case the measurements were off quite a bit. I'd like to think it was a miracle for us, but I also think that the u/s measurements were just off. Hang in there, I know it can be scary to have less than perfect news.

 

I was told with one of my singletons that her fluid was low and her head was not measuring correctly. Talk about fear. In the next ultrasound they said everything was perfect. Ultrasounds are not perfect! Just stay positive, your babies can feel your stress. I also delivered at 35 weeks and the Dr said i would be lucky if he was 5 pounds.. he was 6#9oz 19 1/2 inches!! Take heart and take care!

 

My babies have also been small. It was first noted at week 18, then at week 19 our smaller baby was diagnosed IUGR (he was at the 5th percentile). I was told at every appointment that we should expect these babies early. We were sent for a consult with a neo-natologist to help us prepare and received a tour of the NICU. We have been bracing ourselves at each appointment to hear that one of the babies has stopped growing or that it's time for them to come out. After all that worry, my babies both seem to be doing totally fine and the doctor's are now less concerned about them. I have no signs of PTL and the babies keep growing at their own steady pace. They are still on the small side, but at the last u/s Baby A was at the 27th percentile and Baby B was at the 21st percentile. They haven't been this close in size for the entire pregnancy, because Baby B is catching up and Baby A slowed down a little. There are many possible reasons that your babies are small, but the most important thing is that they both continue to grow on their own curve, which thankfully my babies have done. I hope they have established a pattern for your babies' growth at this point and that you are seeing good results on that. Wishing you and your little ones the best. Hang in there!

 

Welcome to TS and congrats on your twin preganany!! :wub:
Please keep us posted on how things are going, we are all pulling for you!! :hug:

 

We had a similar experience to what you are having.

Our babies were on the smaller side throughout the pregnancy. Went into pre-term labor at 28 weeks, and then bed rest, got the steroid shots at that time as well. We were told that if they fell below the 20th percentile, we'd have so see a specialist to make sure everything work working correctly. they fell below at 31 weeks 1 day (measured 2 lbs 14 oz and 3 lbs), and we were scheduled to see the specialist the next day, that never happened.

Went into labor that night and ended up delivering at 31 weeks and 2 days via c-section. The girls were small, 2 lbs 3oz and 3lbs 2oz, but pretty healthy. Both were on oxygen for a few days, but I think thats pretty normal. The smaller one was in the NICU for 44 days and the larger was in for 39 days. Other than one NEC scare, it was a pretty uneventful stay, pretty much just waiting for them to get bigger and learn to eat from a bottle. (NOTE: when I say uneventful, I mean compared to some of the other experiences. It was a roller coaster ride at the time.)

They are now 6.5 months old (4.5 adjusted) and doing great. They're still small but healthy and developing fine.

Hope this helps.