Twins Weight Difference

I am currently 20w2d with fraternal boy/girl twins. I went to my OB today for a checkup; I had an ultrasound two weeks ago. At the ultrasound, I was told things look good... They were able to get a good look at the boy, but the girl was less cooperative.

Today at my OB she was reading the report and it said there is a 25 percent weight discordance between the two babies. From what we could decipher, the boy is measuring larger than the girl -- the A/B label was confusing because they are basically side by side and it's hard to determine who should be labled "A," but from what I remember, the report is indicating he is bigger.

How much should I be worrying about this? I know they couldn't get a good look at her, so maybe they measured her wrong... Could she be smaller because she is a girl? Should I be eating more (I have no appetite or desire to eat...)???? I've only gained about 6 lbs (I'm overweight to start) but my OB says my size is fine, my uterus is growing well and we heard the heartbeats today. At the ultrasound, both were moving around OK, and I do feel many fluttery movements. My blood tests and ultrasounds to this point have been normal (or so I've been told) and my risk for any abnormality is low.

I'm concerned about this new turn of events, and so is my husband. I questioned the OB as "what does this mean?" and she basically said I would need to be monitored by ultrasound about every four weeks to make sure they are growing and it could be an early delivery for me. But if the girl is unhealthy, would an early delivery be hard on the OK-sized boy??

As you can tell, I'm freaking out...

 

I would speak to your doctor again. After I turned 20weeks, I get and u/s every 2 weeks because they told me that after 20 weeks is when there could start to be a weight difference. Luckily they have been growing pretty close together. At my last u/s @ 30weeks, Baby A was 3lb 4oz & Baby B was 3lb 15oz. There not concerned with the weight differences since the smaller baby is average and where he should be and baby B is just above average. I dont eat much either and only gained 18 lbs as of my doctors appt today. They are not concerned since the babies are gaining as they should.

 

I was told that with fraternal twins they would each grow and gain weight as they would if you were pregnant with them one at a time, as if they were each singletons. My two were always different weights and my OB was not concerned.

 

My peri said that with fraternal twins, they are individuals, and that they expect greater variation in weights/sizes than with identicals (who have the same DNA, lol). Bottom line was that size discrepancy alone would not be an indication for early delivery in my case, *UNLESS* one or both babies stopped growing altogether. Now, that seemed like a pretty strong statement, but his philosophy is that, until 35+ weeks, fraternals are almost always better inside mommy than outside, assuming there are no major risks or issues (e.g., no toxemia, no high BP, no gestational diabetes, amniotic fluid levels, etc. etc. etc.) At that point, they look at placental performance and how babies seem to be tolerating being jammed in there, and make a week-by-week decision for each individual situation.

So ... although I completely understand your concern, I would say that if you had asked MY peri this question, he would've been totally unconcerned (assuming nothing else is an issue for your pregnancy). Try not to worry, but continue to work on your nutrition and hydration. GL!

 

I am carrying momo/di twins and at our 23 week ultra sound they were measuring 70g apart which is a bit over 20% which had me not really our doctor worried since they should be identical. The next scan 2 weeks later they were only 45g difference, then the next one back up to 53g difference. We just had our last scan 4 days ago and 27 weeks and they were bang on each other measuring only 1g difference. So don't worry momma, see how much can happen with in a month- and you have the bonus of frats, Try not to worry and wait until your next scan..... I know easier said than done. :hug: