Mo/Mo girls, anyone else?

Today was my 2nd appointment with this OBGYN and let me tell ya - he and I ain't gonna work together any more. I had this list of questions and I've been doing a lot of research and apparently he'd rather be in control of what i know/don't know and leave me ignorant. A lot of his answers to very serious questions was "would knowing sooner help??" etc. I think I intimidated him with my questions and maybe he felt like I was pointing out all his faults, so in turn he pointed out ALL of mine that he could, even something like RH- which I've been treated for and WILL be treated for. He practically gives my babies NO HOPE OF SURVIVAL. because the u/s I had 2 weeks ago showed no seperating sac and right now they are considered Monoamniotic/monochorionic.

he practically told me I am going to have GD because of having twins and because of being overweight and NOT eating right. Not once has he asked me how I've been eating (very healthily thank you) and and I'd think that gaining some weight FINALLY instead of still losing weight would have been an upbuilding thing and NOT something to rag me on. I'm sorry if I'm not puking 3x's a day any more and letting myself get dehydrated in order to stay at some ideal weight you apparently have in your thick skull. 7lbs in 19 weeks is NOT "letting myself go"

When I mentioned TTTS and watching for that, he's like - whose gonna treat them anyways? What good is it to know?? .. So he could really care less about my babies and preventative treatments, etc. In the end I managed to tell him that I'm the kind of patient that asks questions and I need to know these things (to which he responded, WHY? would it change anything???) and if that bothers him maybe I should find another doctor. And he responded "I think you should." well, good to know NOW and not later in the pregnancy when it would make things much worse or they could possibly then have a lower chance of survival. So I'm going to look into perinatologists tomorrow even if I have to travel 4 hours away and LIVE there for the sake of my babies, I WILL. Oh I want to call him so many names right now, but I'm not that kind of person. And I know that the more I stress out about this, and the more I think about him - the worse it is for the babies and me and our healths'.

Please hope with me that he is wrong (that they are monoamniotic) and that if they are, that the babies make it to at least 24 weeks with me. I'm trying really hard not to carry on his "doomsday" like attitude but I'm so scared.

 

Excues me language... WHAT A JERK! And to think people come to him for help.. way to go on changing doctors, and another one point for you telling him that you are..

As for mo/mo, you just need to be monitored carefully..maybe hospital bed rest eventually to prevent cord entanglement.. Keep you chins up.. there are lots of healthy mo/mos running around out there..

Take care.

 

Good for you for changing doctors! That OB does not seem to be a very caring or empathetic person. I hope your new doctor treats you with the respect and understanding you deserve!

 

Please seek out a new OB. I was told I was having twins at 21 weeks and at 23 weeks we were told they were Mo/Mo twins. Our first Peri gave us no help and basically gave us the option to terminate. We were devasted. My OB was great though, she had experience with this type of pregnancy and was very supportive. I went in-patient on 24/7 monitoring and delivered via a planned c-section at 32 weeks. That was 16 months ago. My girls are doing great and are completly healthy!!! They spent 20 days in the NICU. Paige was 4.3 lbls and Sami was 3.8 lbs when born - they are now 24 and 21 lbs respectively.

It is true a Mo/Mo pregnancy is very high risk and the chance of something happening can occur. With proper monitoring and the right care, it can be done. I had U/S every two weeks for growth and received steroid shots at 26 weeks and 31 weeks. It was very hard being in the hospital but it was worth it for me. I also had a 2 year old son at home.

I know how scared you are - I can still remember the day we were told they were momo twins. I am a sucess and many women are. Please feel free to email me if you would like to talk. I live in NJ and had my girls in PA. My OB and New peri were fantastic and I contribute my girls healthy birth to them.

 

QUOTE(Debbie F @ Sep 6 2007, 12:23 PM) [snapback]394974[/snapback]
Please seek out a new OB. I was told I was having twins at 21 weeks and at 23 weeks we were told they were Mo/Mo twins. Our first Peri gave us no help and basically gave us the option to terminate. We were devasted. My OB was great though, she had experience with this type of pregnancy and was very supportive. I went in-patient on 24/7 monitoring and delivered via a planned c-section at 32 weeks. That was 16 months ago. My girls are doing great and are completly healthy!!! They spent 20 days in the NICU. Paige was 4.3 lbls and Sami was 3.8 lbs when born - they are now 24 and 21 lbs respectively.

It is true a Mo/Mo pregnancy is very high risk and the chance of something happening can occur. With proper monitoring and the right care, it can be done. I had U/S every two weeks for growth and received steroid shots at 26 weeks and 31 weeks. It was very hard being in the hospital but it was worth it for me. I also had a 2 year old son at home.

I know how scared you are - I can still remember the day we were told they were momo twins. I am a sucess and many women are. Please feel free to email me if you would like to talk. I live in NJ and had my girls in PA. My OB and New peri were fantastic and I contribute my girls healthy birth to them.


okay so that makes me really angry... My twin sister and I shared a sac and placenta...back in 79....my mom didn't even know she was having twins. Obviously we survived, and without even any of the wonderful interventions they have these days. So why on earth would a doctor even think of terminating just b/c things might be a little more risky??... that's just stupid... I mean I understand bad things are more likely to happen, but that doesn't mean they will happen!

As for you Bernice, I would totally change docs. Maybe you can find a regular ob who is more supportive too. Many twin moms go to a regular ob AND a perinatologist...I think they kind of balance each other at. In any case, definitely switch...and maybe you ought to write that idiot a letter informing him why you changed doctors. Are there twin moms in your area who you can ask about what docs might be good? If you are so far away from perinatologist you might wind up having to relocate temporarily anyway if you wind up on hospital bedrest...b/c of the doc wanting your babies close to a level 3 NICU. If a hospital has a level 3 NICU then it usually also has a perinatologist group...they kind of go hand in hand.

 

wow - i am shocked.

Definitely find yourself a peri - you need one if you really have mo/mo twins. Have you gotten an u/s recently? Are both of your twins about the same size? Any size discordance? Can you see bladders in both babies? In our case (we have mo/di twins), we couldn't see the membrane for a little while because it was "shrink-wrapped" around the smaller baby, since we were dealing with some TTTS. The membrane is SO thin - it takes effort to find it every time! It sounds like the people at this practice may not be spending the time it takes to look for the membrane.

You might also google the support site for mo/mo twins - apparently it's great!

Hopefully they can find that membrane, but even if not, a peri will help you.

Unbelievable.

Jenny

 

On the GD front - I'm very overweight and happy to say that I passed my glucose screen with flying colors so IT CAN BE DONE.

Get yourself a peri, quicky! Good luck!

 

GET A NEW DOCTOR FAST!!!!!!

 

You show amazing restraint because all I could think of when I read your post was what an arrogant a** and how dare he not show you any compassion or blow off your questions like that! I'm so glad you're switching doctors! He should not be practicing medicine! Gees!
Where was the u/s that didn't show a separating membrane done? For a short period of time in the beginning of my pregnancy they thought I was carrying mo/mo twins because they couldn't find a membrane (they meaning my ob and her office u/s machine) but my OB sent me to a peri, who's u/s machine was much better. They were able to find the membrane, but it was difficult to find. When I go to my regular ob appts, they still can't find the membrane on their machine, it's only ever been seen at the peri's office.
Sorry you're going through this, but I hope you get the help and compassion that you deserve! Good luck!

 

Wow, your OB sound like a piece of work! I'm glad your going to find a new one. What kind of doctor shrugs their shoulders and gives up like that???

I hope you can find a great peri to help you through this; I know there are several Momo/TTTs survivors on this board who would more than agree that it's ALWAYS worth trying!

 

you need a new doc pronto. This guy is INCOMPETENT - they way he's treating you verges on malpractice. There are many good docs out there who could treat/follow you better if you turn out to have mo/mo twins (yes, they CAN survive with proper care!!!) or TTTS. DO NOT WAIT TO FIND SOMEONE NEW. you didn't say where you live, but if you do, maybe someone on here can even recommend a new doc for you.

Good luck!

 

Where do you live? If by ANY chance you are near NH...see Dr. Kauffman out of Nashua. He rocks.
Wish I had more helpful info...good luck and do seek out a better dr..your sounds like an A**!

 

Momotwins (Heather?) has two girls who just started 1st grade. Someone should point her to this post!

 

I hope you find a new doc fast. Momo twins and TTTS are absolutely treatable and you and your babies deserve every option for treatment possible! I am so sorry you had to deal with a doctor like that.

Our twins are TTTS and Momo survivors. (They didn't start out momo - they were made that way on accident). I went into the hospital at 24 weeks for inpatient monitoring and delivered them via c-section at 32 weeks. They are now almost 8 weeks old and are doing amazing. All of our doctors were so wonderful - we were never even given the option of terminating even when our boys were very, very sick with TTTS.

If you do have momo's - do check out the momo website. I joined that and it was really great. Lots and lots of ladies on hospital bedrest and going through the exact same stuff.

:hug:

 

I agree, change dr immediately

i am alot like you...when i was told i was having twins my doc let me know about all the things that could go wrong, he scared the @#!$ out of me, but it made me realise that they don't call it high risk for nothing. i researched and researched and then some more. i have a list of qu already to ask my us sonographer. i think you can never be too careful, and you are doing the right thing.

when i found out i was having the twins, after the initial shock something kicked in...a real survival instinct for my babies.
now, i eat WAY better(being thin i could usually eat what ever i wanted) and i am concebntating on eating foods that count towards my babies proper deveopment. and weight is no issue...i've seen here on the booard that it is most importantn to put on early weight while you still can, b4 you tummy is too cramped to eat....

congrats to you for taking charge and looking after your babies!

my dr had trouble finding the memb, but in the end he THINKS he found it, i have a proper us next week. i'll wish you luck, you wish me luck, and luck to all!!

 

thank you all for your wonderful and supportive comments. I really feel like he was trying to bully me because I made him realize he didn't know all the answers not to mention his incompetence. After the comment that he said when I mentioned getting a new dr. he said "Oh, I'm sure there's plenty out there that want your money and business." Creep. Obviously that's all he's concerned about, and he REALLY also thinks a lot of himself and what he knows (which is ditto).

I really appreciate the responses and experiences you've all shared. We have no idea what else the U/S showed except for the lack of membrane division. They said they are measuring the same and are both the same size. Nothing about bladders, cord insertion, blood flow, etc. I did join up on the monoamniotic.org site and have gotten some helpful advice as well. (thanks jenny!) The machine they used is standard but relatively new. Not like the small ancient monsters, but not what I will be getting with a perinatologist at a hospital that deals with high-risk babies.

Thankfully I have a friend who is a RN at a high-rish maternity ward. I called her immediately and she gave me a lot of pointers. Cholrophyl (alfalfa extract or wheat juice), Red Raspberry leaf tea, 1 gallon of water every day, and moderate exercise if I can (with the help of some belly support). I'm also going to go online to find the Sweet Success GD program online and will be following it until these babies come just to be progressive with any possible GD.

I did research on centers, hospitals, doctors, perinatologists who are in the bay area (SF) and one that really popped out at me is the UCSF (5hrs south of us) website and their care/treatment plans etc. Can you believe I have an u/s appointment as well as OB (on the very SAME day) in 4 days???? They asked me questions about genetic counseling, etc... and were shocked that I've been giving NOTHING except for this news, an appointment with him next week, and a possible U/S on the same stinkin' machine in 5 weeks. plus they will try to find an OB near me that will work with them so I don't have to go to SF for the OB appointments, if we can't afford to. In fact, I just got a call from UCSF for the appointment and U/S. I am amazed at how quickly they are working with me and their concerns regarding the treatment I've been given. i'm hoping this all continues to work out as well as it's been going today. Keep hoping with me, ok?

anyone have experience with UCSF??

I've really been feeling like they are mo/mo, but I will also keep my mind open to the possibility that maybe it isn't. I keep looking at their u/s video and although they stayed in the same positions when I got up and laid back down, they also seem very intrusive on each others' spaces. I know the membrane can be thin enough that they can look like they are doing that, but until I know....

Natasha: I hope for the best for you. I eat very healthy right now and am hungry all the time because it lacks a lot of fat... when the dr. made the comment about my weight gain he said "Well, something's sticking" uhm. Yeah. Fluid, electrolytes, Babies, etc. I have been so sick and still deal with nausea and vomiting every week (not every day and constantly like just 2 weeks ago) and I believe I was dehydrated and undernourished. You'd think the dr. would care about that but he didn't.

 

QUOTE(jasonsmommy @ Sep 6 2007, 04:44 AM) [snapback]394907[/snapback]
Excues me language... WHAT A JERK! And to think people come to him for help.. way to go on changing doctors, and another one point for you telling him that you are..

As for mo/mo, you just need to be monitored carefully..maybe hospital bed rest eventually to prevent cord entanglement.. Keep you chins up.. there are lots of healthy mo/mos running around out there..

Take care.


We had a very very thin mebrane between my girls that was always had to see. They were intrusive into each others space.

I sounds like he has little to no experience with twins let alone mo/mo twins. And as the others said with proper care everything should be okay though they may want to deliver them once they get to good weights(like 34 weeks) to avoid complications that come when they get crowded.

 

To all of those who've shared their experiences and advice, I wanted to give you a big thanks and *hugs* for everything. I woke up tuesday morning for the appointment and was so full of hope that everything was going to be all right. Even if they are monoamniotic, I felt like I was in good hands at UCSF.

well, my 5 hour drive to UCSF was WELL worth it. The babies are perfect. Perfectly healthy, formed, everything in place and nothing missing or added. The membranes were obvious as soon as she started!! But definitely thin. The Dr. thought that he even saw a tiny bit of it in one of the pictures I brought from the other U/S. But he wasn't sure. Besides the jerk dr. misdiagnosing the babies as monoamniotic, but the place that did the u/s also said 1 baby had calcifications in her intestines and the other had a single artery (not sure which one). THEY WERE ALL WRONG ABOUT EVERTHING!!!! The idiot dr. didn't tell me any of that and I'm kinda glad. It was worth it to go there and see the perinatologist as well as the other OB, who apparently had more experience with twins than anything - he answered all my questions before I even asked.

As soon as I get close enough to 34 weeks without any preterm labor, if they diagnose me with pre-eclampsia, or any other reason - I'm going to get as close to UCSF as possible. The level NICU as well as the programs and care for the babies and the moms is amazing. I don't want to go to UCdavis or any other place if I don't have to. I know it's a ways to go and I'll be further away from family and friends where I live, but anything is worth it for these babies. He won't even schedule a c-section because they believe that it should depend on the babies' position at the time when they are ready to come out.

 

I'm so glad that you've been seen by a "real" doctor, the kind that wants to help people. That other doctor and I would have gone rounds in the office had he said those things to me. If it was me, I report him to the ethics board or something for his apparent lack of disregard. But that's me, I can be a bit of b***h when it comes to my kids. So what is the game plan now with these new issues that they found??

 

I was told I was having mono twins' at about 12 weeks, My reg OB reffered me to a specilaist and we discussed, What the risk's are of having mono twin's but he never once stated that they would not survive he just stated that I would need extra monitoring, I too am overweight and that was not and has not been a concern of my new physchian. He then had an U/S done and they were able to find the membrane that seperated the twin's, Make sure that when you are having your U/S it is a high reslouiton. It was so apparent that I was even able to see the membrane and know what it was that was done at 16 weeks. I recomend you find a new doc, Have you been to the Monoamniotic website.

 

I have twin nieces that were mo/mo and were just fine, delivered healthy at 36 weeks, that doctor sounds like a jerk!!!

 

i'm glad everything has turned out ok for you. my us tech said the dividing membrane is like a piece of spiders web, so no wondr its hard to see!! good luck!

 

QUOTE(Bernice @ Sep 13 2007, 02:54 PM) [snapback]406484[/snapback]
To all of those who've shared their experiences and advice, I wanted to give you a big thanks and *hugs* for everything. I woke up tuesday morning for the appointment and was so full of hope that everything was going to be all right. Even if they are monoamniotic, I felt like I was in good hands at UCSF.

well, my 5 hour drive to UCSF was WELL worth it. The babies are perfect. Perfectly healthy, formed, everything in place and nothing missing or added. The membranes were obvious as soon as she started!! But definitely thin. The Dr. thought that he even saw a tiny bit of it in one of the pictures I brought from the other U/S. But he wasn't sure. Besides the jerk dr. misdiagnosing the babies as monoamniotic, but the place that did the u/s also said 1 baby had calcifications in her intestines and the other had a single artery (not sure which one). THEY WERE ALL WRONG ABOUT EVERTHING!!!! The idiot dr. didn't tell me any of that and I'm kinda glad. It was worth it to go there and see the perinatologist as well as the other OB, who apparently had more experience with twins than anything - he answered all my questions before I even asked.

As soon as I get close enough to 34 weeks without any preterm labor, if they diagnose me with pre-eclampsia, or any other reason - I'm going to get as close to UCSF as possible. The level NICU as well as the programs and care for the babies and the moms is amazing. I don't want to go to UCdavis or any other place if I don't have to. I know it's a ways to go and I'll be further away from family and friends where I live, but anything is worth it for these babies. He won't even schedule a c-section because they believe that it should depend on the babies' position at the time when they are ready to come out.


Thank God! I am so glad that you and the babies are doing well. And that you have a caring and competent doctor!!!

 

Jen: I just looked at the new dr's card briefly and he's not only an OB but a MFM. No wonder he was so awesome. We recently dealt with a bunch of crappy doctors in the PICU with my DD5 and it's taught me a lot of patience and that if they can't handle the questions than they are so filled with pride, my LO's don't matter. After what we went through, it taught me not to hang around and hope that they change, but to look for a reasonable one that is willing to work with me, ASAP. It was a rough experience, as she was so sick (we almost lost her twice) but the dr's weren't listening and being proactive in her care. I think that's definitely carried over to these. It just makes me so sick that there are doctors out there who are so concerned about themselves and their pride that someone's life isn't their top priority. When I questioned one dr, he actually had the guts to print out a newsarticle about himself. uhm... yeah. lol

The actually found those issues in the U/S done under said jerk doctor, and they were ruled out by the U/S done with the high-res machine, the perinatologist, and the MFM/OB. I'm glad he (jerk doctor) never mentioned those to me or I may have gone ballistic with his nonchalantness.

Domsmomkandiss: OOOoOH! gotta love that OB of yours!! Extra monitoring and referring you was such a good thing!! If only mine had done that... That's all we want, right? Someone honest enough to do such things and recommend what he did.

LOL I feel like I got a posse of women ready to storm jerk dr's office!!!

Natasha: I was wondering how thin it could be... I'm glad they spotted it right away.

Nancy: thank you! My mom and I were so relieved we actually have been holding ourselves back from buying baby things for fear there COULD be something wrong (even before jerk dr.) and I've actually practically bed-rested myself (without planning to or really thinking about it, but just in fear from being under such an incompetent dr) for fear there was problems, so now that we know - we're buying baby things and I'm running around more like I know I can. lol Having a competent dr. really gives you a better feeling all around... a better life... you know?

 

I am so happy to hear your good news!!! Although momo's aren't the end of the world, it is definitely a scary situation and I am so glad you don't have to worry about that.