Need good stories please- sudden size and fluid difference SCARED

Last Monday we had a growth scan. Baby B was slightly smaller than baby A (8%) and had more fluid- consistant throughout the pregnancy.

Today's perinatologist appointment did not go well.

In-office- Baby A did not grow at ALL and Baby B grew by about 1/2 pound. Baby A is now 18% smaller than baby B (baby A is about 1400 grams, same as last week, baby B is about 1700- 300 more than last week)..... and Baby B has even more fluid that he has compared to baby A. I didn't get a clear answer from him on the actual fluid levels- he just said there was more discordance...

I am really scared this is the beginning of TTTS. Baby A has NEVER been smaller, and I am worried he hasn't grown at all...

Peri said Baby A's bladder was good and he was concerned/it needed to be watched but to let him do the worrying- I don't have another appointment for a whole week..

I am terrified if it is acute TTTS or something else bad. why else wouldn't baby A grow at all during a week?

I am also scared to wait a whole week. what if it is, and it is acute? I don't want anything bad to happen to our babies in the meantime! I've heard stories where babies were fine, and within a day it went to stage 3 or worse.... if it IS TTTS how often is it this severe? Why wouldn't it have shown up until now?

Advice, stories please...? I am so scared!

 

First, you need to Relax. Getting yourself all worked up is not going to be beneficial to you or your babies. I know it is hard, but you really need to take a deep breath and calm down. If your Dr was concerned that it was severe, than he would have admitted you to the hospital for monitoring. Obviously, that is not the case. Just try to take things one day at a time and stay positive for those babies! :hug:

 

QUOTE(desolation_anonymous @ Sep 24 2008, 05:17 PM) [snapback]995881[/snapback]
Last Monday we had a growth scan. Baby B was slightly smaller than baby A (8%) and had more fluid- consistant throughout the pregnancy.

Today's perinatologist appointment did not go well.

In-office- Baby A did not grow at ALL and Baby B grew by about 1/2 pound. Baby A is now 18% smaller than baby B (baby A is about 1400 grams, same as last week, baby B is about 1700- 300 more than last week)..... and Baby B has even more fluid that he has compared to baby A. I didn't get a clear answer from him on the actual fluid levels- he just said there was more discordance...

I am really scared this is the beginning of TTTS. Baby A has NEVER been smaller, and I am worried he hasn't grown at all...

Peri said Baby A's bladder was good and he was concerned/it needed to be watched but to let him do the worrying- I don't have another appointment for a whole week..

I am terrified if it is acute TTTS or something else bad. why else wouldn't baby A grow at all during a week?

I am also scared to wait a whole week. what if it is, and it is acute? I don't want anything bad to happen to our babies in the meantime! I've heard stories where babies were fine, and within a day it went to stage 3 or worse.... if it IS TTTS how often is it this severe? Why wouldn't it have shown up until now?

Advice, stories please...? I am so scared!

Hi there,
I hope that my story helps you to feel better. At 24 weeks, my guys were each 1 lb 8 oz. Then when I got to week 27 (next growth scan), A was 2 lb and B was 2 lb 8 oz (25% size difference). When I got to 31 weeks, A was 3lb 9oz and B was 4lb 2oz. Week 33 A was 4lb 7oz and B was 5lb 7oz! Needless to say, I was anxious, but the peri told me that their bladders, fluid levels, and blood pressures in the cords looked fine. After awhile, he decided that the difference was just the way that these guys are supposed to be.

Well, my scan on Monday (at 35w 6d) revealed that the babies are now within 3 oz of one another! A is 5lb 10oz and B is 5lb 13oz. The peri told me that alot of times the babies even out in the end. I really hope that is the case with you!

Take care, and please try to relax. That is the only thing that you can do to help your babies at this time.

 

Just sending you lots of hugs. :hug: :hug: :hug:

 

Since it has been less than two weeks since your last growth scan, the new measurements may not be accurate. I wouldn't be too worried about the weights yet for two reasons: 1 - the babies are getting more difficult to measure and 2- it doesn't usually work well to compare growth scans that occurred less than two weeks from one another. Since Baby A's bladder looks good, you aren't at a high level stage of TTTS yet (if you even have TTTS). In the meantime, there are a few things you can do at home to try to help stabilize the situation:

- Weigh yourself every morning and look for a big jump in weight. A big jump in weight can indicate an increase in amniotic fluid and you would want to get checked.
-Drink TONS of water. More than you possibly think you can.
- Sip 2-3 protein drinks every day. Make each drink last a couple of hours so that the nutrients have time to make it to the babies.
- Rest on your left side as much as possible. If you can just lay down and watch TV for the next few days, do it.
- Continue your kick counts
- Eat as much as you can

Due to the worry for the babies, I would see if you can move your appt. up to Monday instead of Wednesday. That would be two weeks from the last growth scan and will give you an more accurate reading of the babies' growth than this last appt. did but also save two days of waiting.

TTTS is serious but it is often treatable and your babies are old enough now that they'd probably be fine even if they had to be delivered. TTTS can pop up at anytime during the pregnancy and that is why you get u/s so often. It's great that your peri can recognize the syndrome and is watching you closely.

 

Try to relax as best you can :hug:
I agree that if the Dr. was concerned in the least he would have taken action right away. That is their job. They don't want to risk anything happening to you or your babies, so if at all possible - try to put your trust into your OB.
Keep us posted on how you are doing.

 

QUOTE(angelf @ Sep 24 2008, 04:34 PM) [snapback]995906[/snapback]
Hi there,
I hope that my story helps you to feel better. At 24 weeks, my guys were each 1 lb 8 oz. Then when I got to week 27 (next growth scan), A was 2 lb and B was 2 lb 8 oz (25% size difference). When I got to 31 weeks, A was 3lb 9oz and B was 4lb 2oz. Week 33 A was 4lb 7oz and B was 5lb 7oz! Needless to say, I was anxious, but the peri told me that their bladders, fluid levels, and blood pressures in the cords looked fine. After awhile, he decided that the difference was just the way that these guys are supposed to be.

Well, my scan on Monday (at 35w 6d) revealed that the babies are now within 3 oz of one another! A is 5lb 10oz and B is 5lb 13oz. The peri told me that alot of times the babies even out in the end. I really hope that is the case with you!

Take care, and please try to relax. That is the only thing that you can do to help your babies at this time.



Thank you so much for your story! With ours, fluids are discordant too (but no one is 'stuck').... I really appreciate it, it gives me hope!

 

QUOTE(tamaras @ Sep 24 2008, 08:56 PM) [snapback]996346[/snapback]
Try to relax as best you can :hug:
I agree that if the Dr. was concerned in the least he would have taken action right away. That is their job. They don't want to risk anything happening to you or your babies, so if at all possible - try to put your trust into your OB.
Keep us posted on how you are doing.


Thank you- I will try!

 

keep an eye on your kick counts, my babies were born at 32 weeks, i noticed for a while the difference in their movement for a few weeks, but it was still a surprise that we had ttts i had an ultrasound less than a week before we delivered and the peri had no idea it was going on untill i was being observed in L & D for preterm and baby A had no accells and decells they took them that day. it happened quick baby A wasnt moving anymore. Came out at 2 lbs 9 oz and 4lbs 6 oz.. when a week before they were at 3lbs and 3lbs 3 oz. I wouldnt rely on the weights as a main diagnoser of ttts the bladder is a great sign. The dr that you're seeing seems to know what hes looking for. do like what the ladies said the protien the rest etc. keep an eye on their normal movements and stuff. sounds like they're keeping an eye on whats going on listen to your body and that they're not that different in sizes. Good luck mom its a scary thing but they know what going on, and how things are progressing. My last ultrasound with the peri was 6 weeks away from the previous, stupid insurance issues, so things could've gotten missed because of that. I'm looking at my beautiful boys now hang in there listen to your body and relax thats the best thing you can do for those babes

 

QUOTE(Ali M @ Sep 24 2008, 06:20 PM) [snapback]995967[/snapback]
Since it has been less than two weeks since your last growth scan, the new measurements may not be accurate. I wouldn't be too worried about the weights yet for two reasons: 1 - the babies are getting more difficult to measure and 2- it doesn't usually work well to compare growth scans that occurred less than two weeks from one another. Since Baby A's bladder looks good, you aren't at a high level stage of TTTS yet (if you even have TTTS).

Due to the worry for the babies, I would see if you can move your appt. up to Monday instead of Wednesday. That would be two weeks from the last growth scan and will give you an more accurate reading of the babies' growth than this last appt. did but also save two days of waiting.

TTTS is serious but it is often treatable and your babies are old enough now that they'd probably be fine even if they had to be delivered. TTTS can pop up at anytime during the pregnancy and that is why you get u/s so often. It's great that your peri can recognize the syndrome and is watching you closely.



Great advice! The other thing you can do to ease your mind is call your doctor to get the EXACT fluid measurements. They can only have TTTS if the levels are one baby less than 2 and the other baby more than 8. We came very close several times, but never were diagnosed with TTTS. At one point we had .8 and 7.8, but they couldn't consider it TTTS. The next week were were at 3 and 9. I was monitored weekly to watch for TTTS from week 20 on. After delivery it turned out that there were TWO placentas fused together. Not even a chance for them to have TTTS. Also, my last ultrasound before the boys were born put them at 5+ lbs. They were born at 3lb 3oz and 3lb 11oz. U/S are not perfect on measurements and they do need to be at least 2 weeks apart for it to be comparable.

The good news is that San Fransisco is one of 5 locations where there is a TTTS "expert". If TTTS does occur, you'll be in good hands.

 

Like pp said your growth scans were kind of close to depend on. My drs said three weeks in between. Also I think you need a 20% difference before they start getting concerned. Same with the fluid if one isn't stuck and just a bit of difference in the fluid you are ok. You really would need the dr. to be more clear on the difference. I by no means think 30 weeks is a good time to have a baby but you really are getting further and further along that if something were to happen your chances of a positive outcome are getting better and better if you know what I mean. Keep hanging in there. I know we worried ourselves crazy and we did have ttts. After all that we came home with perfectly healthy babies.

 

Desolation and I are both a little jumpy / nervous, but trying to keep relaxed. We have a follow up appt tomorrow. I plan to ask the Doctor all kinds of questions (btw. Thanks for all the comments, gives me an idea as to what questions I should be asking) with any luck we’ll get some reassurance and/or a plan to ensure adequate monitoring.
I’m fairly confident that our doctors will take care of things and one way or another the babies will be taken care of… my biggest worry right now is actually that my wife will end up making a prolonged stay at the hospital for monitoring, and in a worst case that they may go in after the babies early and they might need an extended NICU stay, but I am hopeful that the measurements were off and/or that the differences are just a fluke/oddity and not indicative of TTTS.
For now we just have to wait and see.