monochorionic diamniotic twins: do they usually arrive earlier?

hi-
just wondering if you guys could tell me if your monochorionic diamniotic (identical, sharing a placenta) twins arrived early? when did you deliver?
i have read that sometimes, the placenta "wears out" sooner because it's serving 2 babies instead of one, and women must deliver earlier...
also, did you have vaginal, or c-section?
thanks!

 

From all that I have read, YES they tend to arrive sooner. There is a thread on here from a few days ago about delivering PRIOR to 36 weeks with mo-di twins for best outcome.

I did csection with mine. Perinatologist is KEY, you are seeing one correct? If not, you should start now. You'll want to discuss delivery at or before 36 weeks if possible

Congrats! It's a WILD ride

 

My two did not arrive early. They were born via scheduled c-section at 37 weeks and 5 days only because my doctor's office does not let twins go past 38 weeks.

Good luck with your pregnancy.

 

I'm not too sure - I think in general, mo/di twins are monitored closely for TTTS (as you should be too starting at about 16 weeks or so - PM me if you need any info here) and sometimes that necessitates an early delivery. But it doesn't have to.

I did have TTTS, we were monitored weekly by u/s, and my TTTS stabilized - I was on bedrest for 5 months keeping the TTTS stable.

But, I delivered at 38w4d by scheduled c-section (they were both breech). My placenta held up until then. My babies were smaller, due to both the TTTS, but also a 2 vessel cord and velamentous cord insertion (insert into the membranes, not the placenta). My smaller baby stopped growing at the end, but that was after 38w.

I was on bedrest to maximize blood flow to the uterus to keep my donor baby growing, and also drinking 3 high protein boost shakes per day, and eating plenty of calories and drinking lots of water. These all help to keep your body supplying the placenta, and MAY help prevent/stabilize TTTS.

So, I'm not sure - every pg is different, but like the PP said, if you are mo/di, see a peri and get at least biweekly u/s to monitor for TTTS. Check out the TTTS foundation website for more info!

Jenny

 

Experts in TTTS do tend to recommend that mono/di twins be delivered a little early to prevent the risk of acute TTTS. We had TTTS diagnosed at 19 weeks and we delivered at 35.3 weeks after our smaller twin stopped growing.

ETA: We were induced but ended up having a c-section because my body was nowhere near ready for labor at that point and didn't progress at all. When I came down with HELLP we couldn't wait anymore and had to deliver.

 

I had mono/di twins and they came at 37weeks & 5days and I had to be induced and still was a no go, so we went with a C-Section after 13 hours or contractions. So to answer your question, I guess they can, but mine didn't. I was carefully monitored in the last 6 weeks, but went to my regular OB, I didn't have a Perinatologist, but you have to be comfortable too.