Obsessed mom?

Is this an obsession?? I don't care if it is or isn't, but I was curious if any other moms out there were doing something similar or felt like they were obsessing over some little matter like this in their pregnancies. What are you obsessing over??

It's just, this is so different and being ID twins and all the worries that come up with shared placentas, etc - I've started this weight chart for them from 20 weeks onwards.


I did a chart of them according to my "your pregnancy week by week" book that has baby weight averages on every week. I found out mine were 2 and 3 ounces bigger than what it listed, so I wrote down that difference for every week. I will have to change it a bit since baby A is 1 ounce less than she was before (not sure why - but everything looks good still), but with this graph I can be pretty sure that baby B is 3 3/4lbs now and baby A is a bit over 3 1/2 lbs. I like having this chart so each week I can say "wow! I'm carrying (#) lbs of babies!!" instead of waiting for my next growth ultrasound to find out what they weigh.

At each OB appointment since 20 weeks (when I started this chart) they have been dead on ('cept the 1 ounce change in baby A). I started this to keep track of their concordance and to keep track of any % of differences in their weights, as this could be a warning sign of so many things. And at least I won't feel like I don't know what's going on when the next u/s comes and I have to ask what the previous weights were and what they should have been now. I'll already know.

But deep down, I feel like I'm possibly obsessing. lol

 

One thing to remember about that 1oz is that ultrasounds are not exact and it could be just how the tech did the measurements.

With that said, I think it's understandable to want to have some control (or make ourselves think we have that control) when we feel helpless to certain situation.

My obsession- that I've charted too!- is all of our baby stuff. Because I've spent the last 13 weeks on bed rest, I didn't get to do a lot of the baby shopping. So I did a lot of online shopping and to keep track of what I was getting and what I still needed, I made charts. For my clothes charts, I had it by age, gender (I'm having b/g twins), size, and type of clothing.

I say if it helps you or makes you feel better to chart- then chart away!!

 

i am charting too.
Im having id twin girls and have been chrting weights similar to you. i also have been doing what the prev po said and have been charting all the things and clothes i need and i have.
i think its ok and i dont feel like i am obsessing at all (denial!) i am excited for my twins and can't wait for them to arrive and this is how i find myself passing the time!!

 

I noticed many people with identical twins question the size of the twins (and I'm assuming this is b/c of the risk of TTTS). Is it normal for one baby to measure a few days older then the other baby in gestational size? For example, the last US i had they sonographer said that Baby B is measuring 12 weeks and Baby A was measuring 11weeks 3 days - (an obvious difference of 4 days). She said this was normal, but since I didn't get the read on the actual weight on the baby I was wondering if anyone else who has a twin that was measuring (in days) farther along).


Thanks,


Jenn

 

QUOTE(Mother2beJenn @ Nov 25 2007, 02:39 PM) [snapback]508042[/snapback]
I noticed many people with identical twins question the size of the twins (and I'm assuming this is b/c of the risk of TTTS). Is it normal for one baby to measure a few days older then the other baby in gestational size? For example, the last US i had they sonographer said that Baby B is measuring 12 weeks and Baby A was measuring 11weeks 3 days - (an obvious difference of 4 days). She said this was normal, but since I didn't get the read on the actual weight on the baby I was wondering if anyone else who has a twin that was measuring (in days) farther along).
Thanks,
Jenn


Jenn, my babies are about 4 days apart and are ID twins as well. This baffled me as well, but my OB and everyone else says it's normal. They consider them the same week. So as long as they are growing equally and there is less than 15% difference in growth and weights between each other, they are fine. Oh plus, that's where the weight difference is as well. Baby A used to be 2 ounces behind Baby B, but is now 3 ounces behind (well at last growth u/s... next one is next week.)... the most important thing to watch for is amniotic fluid differences, fluid around the heart, bladder sizes, as well as any disconcordance more than 15%. You should be getting an U/S every week (which is a fight to get) to 2x a month until 26-28 weeks where supposedly the risk drops dramatically. But I still keep an eye out for such things and ask at each U/S to be on the safe side.

I hadn't thought about charting clothing and such. But that's a good idea since people keep on asking me what I need and what we have. If I had a chart I could say...

We did a lot of charts with DD when she was hospitalized... diaper output, daily weight fluxuation, intake of fluids (what kind and how much)... the dr's were very strict at some points and DD would beg for fluids (she had to have dialysis as her kidneys almost stopped functioning - from the e.coli/H.U.S she got). So it helped to know how much she could have and of what.... sometimes the nurses were confused and would refer to our charts to make sure everyone was working in sync. It was great to have a chance to be part of that and not just sit back and pace while waiting for a nurse to do everything. I think because of how recent that was, and the risk of TTTS (yeah it's rare, but so is H.U.S and DD got that...), it's a way to keep an eye on things. They do change and could be off my ounces or whatever, but I have 1 person doing it each time and with my lagging weight gain - anything that shows baby progress and can be charted - I'm gonna do! lol

 

What?!? Not everybody charts? I guess i've been charting since we found out about baby b's 2 vessel cord and then when baby a was dx with IUGR (go figure that one). I even have a pivot table set up and you're right, on bed rest you find things to keep you busy and sane (or is charting insane?).

Fiona

 

You should be getting an U/S every week (which is a fight to get) to 2x a month until 26-28 weeks where supposedly the risk drops dramatically. But I still keep an eye out for such things and ask at each U/S to be on the safe side.



So I was thinking about what you said above and I brought this up to my doctor the last time I went (week 12). I also brought up the topic of TTTS and that all identical twins are at risk for this. She actually responded and said "only twins that share the same sac AND placenta are at risk for this and your twins only share a placenta". I actually went back to say, that the TTTS website said she's wrong (i was nice about it, sorta acted dumb when I said it to make sure I didn't fully offend her) and she said she would check into this. However, she went on to say that I should not be concerned with TTTS b/c it is so rare and that I will only be getting and US every month. I was sorta upset with this answer but assumed she know what she was talking about. She herself has frateral twins at home (obviously not at risk for TTTS). I have an appointment with her on Wednesday and I'm going to demand an U.S. Then my next appointment is with a high risk doctor on Dec. 13th. I think I will bring these issues up to him as well. I guess my concern is that maybe my doctor doesn't know enough and I should look for another? I really like her but now with twins I'm nervous. What do you all think? Should I wait and see how my next two appointments go? Everyone in my family thinks I'm over-reacting and that I need to "STAY OFF THE INTERNET", but truthfully I just think I'm being prepared.

Thanks for reading....


Jenn

 

Fiona: I think it's also a way of making sure we are doing everything we can for these babies and the proof is in the charts. Sometimes my DH makes fun of my lists and charts and calls me Rory (from gilmore girls). But he doesn't laugh when we need them to be pulled out and looked at.

Oh, BTW: I finally charted all the baby clothes we have (bagged by sizes as well), blankets, etc. I feel so much better! My mom actually thought I was nuts for taking all the tags off the clothes, but when we went through and charted everything, she could see for herself that we needed everything we got and we may still need more! Today she even went through the Newborn herself to make sure that everything would be a good size (sometimes newborn means 3 months, you know?) and then took them home to wash and fold! She loves the tiny clothes and it gives her something to do in anticipation. This is our families first set of ID twins. First set of twins in over 5 generations on my dad's side.

Jenn:uhm... sharing a sac is a problem because they can entertwine their cords or choke each other. It's a very risky pregnancy and means a LOT of monitoring during the whole thing - usually early delivery.

But a placenta is a placenta. and it's filled with veins and arteries. If they share one, they can share these as well. They can make connections between veins and arteries (which isn't supposed to happen) and most ID pregnancies do, but it's benign in nature. Until you get warning signs. Please go to tttsfoundation.org and read up. There is also a forum there and you can ask a ton of questions.

I'm actually flabbergasted at your OB. That shows such a lack of education! But I'm not shocked as there are so many doctors out there who aren't up to date on this. That's why it's important to get a high-risk Perinatologist or MFM to work with you. One that knows (and you can concur with his thoughts through your research) what TTTS is and will make sure you get the monitoring your babies need. Yes, it's only 20% chance, but that chance isn't worth risking any babies lives. Some OB's want you to trust them implicitly and belive in THEM and THEIR work, when these things aren't predictable and no matter how good the Doctor is, these things still come up. They aren't God for goodness sakes.

On the TTTS page, to the left and under the picture in cursive like font, you will see a section labeled medical research and articles. Click on that and then all the way to the right in the blue box you will see several to choose from. I advise you to print out whatever articles and medical journals you have and take them with you to each different appointment.

In the contact section you can choose to have their book mailed to you. On the forum, you may be able to find the nearest cooperative perinatologist or MFM OB in your area. Mary from the site (the president) is a wonderful person who will help make sure you get the information you need....

here are two other articles to read up on. Note they don't speak mainly about monoamniotic, but monochorionic twins. That's the factor, the single placenta.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlere...tid=1160595#top

this article is about how important monitoring is for the life of your babies. You need to be treated like you are carrying ID twins and not fraternal. Most OB's will treat you like a twin is a twin is a twin, but it's NOT TRUE! I've had to fight with my OB and she's finally working with me, but I wonder if it's only because I proved her wrong about how late I should go - she didn't want to believe me nor look at the articles I brought - but I demanded a perinatologist to be involved and she called one that day and he proved me right. So I'm wondering if that's why.... but anyways... Do what you need to do to be your babies advocate and make sure they get the monitoring they need and deserve.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlere...i?artid=1160580