Ultrasounds with Twins?

I posted last week that at my last RE appt at 8wks pg we found that the second baby had a heartbeat as well! I had two u/s at my RE's office - 6w3d and then the last one at 8w. The first u/s showed three sacks, one heartbeat, empty sack, and fetal pole in the bottom sack. 8 weeks showed the same baby w/ the heartbeat, still an empty sack and bottom sack also with a baby and very strong heartbeat! WOO HOO! However the bottom baby was smaller than the top baby, though my RE didn't seem too concerned. So at my first OB appointment yesterday, they set me up for an u/s at 12 weeks only because of the fact that the babies were measuring different sizes. Otherwise I'm not sure that I'd have had one. I asked her what was protocol for u/s in a twin pg and she said something like week 28, 32, 36, etc. Mostly late in the pg. I was informed that they don't routinely do the 20 week ultrasound anymore and that people have to pay for it if they want it. However she said that because I was having twins, I'd "probably" get it. Sooooo - I'm wondering if this is normal? It seems like other people pg with twins are getting quite a few more u/s so I just want to make sure this seems right. TIA!

 

I don't know what is "normal", but when I was pregnant my Dr said I could come in as often as I like for quick u/s so I knew everything was OK. I think for the first trimester I went in every week, after that I started going every other week. I did have the 20 week growth ultrasound, and I have not heard that people don't do that anymore. I don't know if thats much help. Going as often as I did really helped ease my mind and not to worry as much, not to mentioned I LOVED seeing them interact during the ultrasounds.

 

With my twin pregnancy I saw my regular OB and a peri. I was not high risk just saw the peri because of the twins. My OB did an u/s at every visit to check the h/bs. My peri did a growth u/s at every visit, and I LOVED it!!! I saw the OB every 4 weeks and the peri every 4 weeks at the beginning.

 

I had about 6-8 total ultrasounds through my pregnancy.

 

If I hadn't had an u/s at 19 weeks, I never would have known I only have 1.0 cm of cervix left. The doctor said it felt fine manually, but my cervix is fine until pressure is put on the uterus, so laying on my back for a manual check would make it seem o.k. I got u/s at 7 weeks, 9 weeks, 13 weeks, 18 weeks (anatomy scan), 19 weeks (with peri because we thought there was a problem), and every 2 weeks since then to check my cervix. I had two in the last week though because the babies' fluid is low and they wanted to be sure it wasn't just an error in measurement. I am not seeing a peri (except at 19 weeks), but my OB is consulting with one on a regular basis.

 

I had them every two weeks. One was to check baby growth and both were to make sure cervix stayed shut. So if I'd never had preterm labor before I would of had 1 ultrasound every month. Twin pregnancies are not to be taken lightly. There are many issues like growth that they could catch and fix early with regular ultrasounds. Why your doc would basically skip the second trimester completely would send me running to another doctor. Specifically a perinatologist and then I'd have the Peri refer me to a competant OB . Since you obviously went to an RE you've worked hard for these babies. I'd personally want an OB that was going to work just as hard if not harder.

 

Hi,

Basically every four weeks all along, then one two-week interval between 32-34 weeks, and now I'm at weekly appts. AND u/s (35 weeks tomorrow). Having that many u/s has been a huge reassurance to me throughout this pregnancy!

 

I had an ultrasound at my first appointment (8 weeks), 12 weeks, 20 weeks, 28 weeks 32 weeks, 36 weeks. My ID boys were born at 37 weeks 5 days by sceduled c-section.

 

I had them at EVERY appointment - RE, OB, and of course peri. in the beginning at the OB it was because their heartbeats were the same or very close they took a quick peek and then it was for measurement reasons also!!
so I have tons of pictures!!! I expect that if I do end up pregnant again with a singleton, I will be very disappointed with only 1 utrasound!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!

 

I only see an OB, and I have had tons of US. One at my first appt 6w5d for dating purposes (surprise it's twins!), one at 8w, because one baby had a really low heart rate. One at about 9 weeks due to bleeding. She does an US every appt just to check heart beats -- because my boys heart beats are so close together, they wouldn't be able to tell if they were heaing one or two with the doppler. Then starting at 20W, I have had a growth scan every 4 weeks, to ensure they are growing well.

 

I know a lot of Drs do differently, but I get an ultrasound every appointment (and sometimes in between if I am worried about something). In the beginning, it was sometimes just a quick peek to check heartrates. It's nearly impossible to pick up and know for sure that you are hearing 2 babies on doppler especially in the beginning, so a lot of Drs don't bother and go to US to check heart tones. It's been very reassuring for me to see them so often. Even now, it's hard to tell who I am feeling sometimes and it always helps to see 2 babies jumping around with beating hearts. Hopefully, they are just giving you the technical answer but they'll bend a little as your pregnancy progresses.

 

from the time we found out it was twins at 9 weeks till 20 weeks i only had an ultrasound done every month and then the big level 2 one at 18 weeks... and starting at 28 weeks i go in twice a week for an NST(with ultrasound) and then a growth ultrasound once a month..... i have had almost 30 ultrasound... and im 33 weeks

 

I have an u/s every 4 weeks. Once I hit the 28 week mark we'll start going every 3 weeks for u/s. All of them are Level 2.

 

We went every 4 weeks after we found out it was twins (at 6 wks)... after about 25 weeks we started going every 2 weeks. and now at almost 30 wks were going every week until delivery b/c we've had some complications. Ultrasounds at each visit. I think the longest they should go w/out an ultrasound is 4 weeks...and that will depend on how your doing and how far along you are. good luck!!

 

I've had a LOT. With my RE from 6-11 weeks I had 1 every week. Then I saw the peri and the OB for a few weeks so would have 1 a week or so. Now I'm only seeing my OB and he is seeing me every 2 weeks to keep an eye on my cervix, and I will get one each time. He doesn't use the doppler for twins because you can't always hear both heartbeats.

 

You should get regular T/V U/S's starting in your second trimester to check your cervical length. Can you see a peri?

My peri did a quickie at every visit to check for H/B's and measure my cervix length. At first, I was going every 3 weeks, but that became every week or more often once my cervix length shortened. I'd say between my RE, OB, and peri, I had about 25 U/S's during my pregnancy.

 

I think that the 20 week ultrasound is still pretty routine. Everyone I know (having one or two babies) had one around that time (not for growth but to look at all the organs and to tell the sexes of the babies).
I have had about 10 ultrasounds thus far, but have had a high risk pregnancy (had triplets initially -- conceived naturally and then lost one at 12 weeks. There was a concern that this could cause dilation or problems with the other two babies). From now on, I am getting them every 4 weeks until 32 weeks where I will get them every 2 weeks according to my peri

 

Let's see if I remember.. I had one at 8 weeks at my fertility clinic when we found out it was twins. I probably had 2 before my 20 week ultrasound when we found it it was a boy and a girl. Then, starting at 28 weeks, I had one every 6 weeks. At my 32 week appt. they found low fluid on my son so I was scheduled for NST's every week until they were born. So, that would be about 10-11 ultrasounds. Most were done by the peri with the level 2 ultrasounds and 2 of them being done at the OB office, once when I wasn't feeling them move very much. (they were kicking each other) HTH! Towards the end of the pregnancy is when most of them will occur. I had a very low key twin pregnancy though.

 

I think I have had 5 so far-I start going to my appt. weekly starting next week in which I will have a sono at every other appt. so that is at least 3 more. I am not sure what is "normal" but this is what my OB has planned for me. I have had a pretty normal twin pregnancy so I imagine that if there were any problems that there would be more sonograms to monitor issues. Just my guess...

 

I have had an U/S every 4 weeks since we found out we are having twins. We also did have the twenty week anatomy scan as well.

 

The doc's plan for the remander of this pregnancy (barring any complications) is the normal 20 week ultrasound, then I'll be seen every 3-4 weeks after that with an ultrasound each time.

 

I had a US everytime i went into the office. Then a growth scan every 4 weeks. and an US at all NST's. So i basically had one every 2 weeks and 3 on some days towards the end.,..

 

QUOTE(Cheesecake @ Nov 27 2007, 12:38 PM) [snapback]510715[/snapback]
I had them every two weeks. One was to check baby growth and both were to make sure cervix stayed shut. So if I'd never had preterm labor before I would of had 1 ultrasound every month. Twin pregnancies are not to be taken lightly. There are many issues like growth that they could catch and fix early with regular ultrasounds. Why your doc would basically skip the second trimester completely would send me running to another doctor. Specifically a perinatologist and then I'd have the Peri refer me to a competant OB . Since you obviously went to an RE you've worked hard for these babies. I'd personally want an OB that was going to work just as hard if not harder.


I couldn't agree more.

Depends a little on wether they are sharing a placenta or not (in regards to monitoring for growth and fliud discordancy due to ttts), but since mine were id this is how often i have has them...

9wks - determine # of babies, found out they were id twins.
12wks - NF test and scan
16 wks - level 2, found out sex, checking for ttts indicators from here onward
18wks - level 2 and morphology
20 wks - scan in dr office (ttts checking)
22wks - scan in dr office (ttts checking)
24 wks - due for this big growth scan next wk at sonographers, followed by fortnightly scans in dr office checking for changes in growth or fluid that may indicate ttts onset, and scans at sonographers at 28, 32, 36 (if i make it to 36 wks i will have a c section then due to issues regarding dangers for 2nd twin loss if a vaginal birth is attempted for id after 36 wks at dr request)

I had to push for fortnighly scans to monitor for onset of ttts, and my dr finally agreed. It is very reasurring seeing them so active and growing healtily every fortnight, makes for a happy mumma.

I have always been quite concerned about ttts and didn't want to have my head in the sand thinking that because it is reasonably rare (10-15%) that it wouldn't happen to me. I read a very diisturbing post from our australian site about a mum reaching 22 wks with her twins. She'd had a 12 wk scan, and then no scans until her 22 wk(as her 20 wk one had to be post poned) and it was at this scan the dr detected NO heartbeats. He concluded her babies had been lost to ttts and had probably passed away 6 wks prior, her body had been carrying on as per normal (due to high hormones in a twin preg and she knew no different). How sad....devastating.

So even for that little piece of mind, i take every scan i can get to know they are happy and healthy.

I would definately push for the 20wk scan regardless, and if you are having id, push for fortnighly. The 18-20wk scan should be where they check the babies out all over for structure, heart, anatomy etc. This is where they found a small echogenis focus on baby b's heart.

I would also def change dr if he does not want to do a 20wk scan. all the best with your babies abd good luck with your doc.