What size difference is too big?

I found out 2 days ago I am 15 weeks pregnant with mono/di twin boys. Twin B is measuring 9 days smaller. My Drs appt is 4 days time so I am sure she will go through everything with me then. It is just seeming like a big gap to me and the smallest amount of worry is starting to creep in. Anyone else have a gap like this and all was fine?
And does the worry ever stop when you are carrying twins?

 

Welcome and congratulations!!!

I know it is distressing news to get this early on - I can totally sympathize. I'm still in the thick of it, so I can't say "everything was fine", but wanted to let you know that my mono/di twins have been measuring different since the beginning.
12 weeks - 6 days apart
15 weeks - 7 days
17 weeks - 11 days
19 weeks - 14 days
They are still both growing and my doctors are carefully monitoring the situation.

The best thing you can do is make sure you are getting routine ultrasounds, and that they are checking the amniotic fluids and the bladders each time you go in for u/s. Make sure you get lots of protein in your diet and take it easy.

And no, the worry never completely stops, but it gets more manageable. I do get jealous of my friends whose singleton pregnancies seem so care-free. But on the bright side, your pay off at the end is worth it!!

 

I had frats but they were a full 6-7 days apart for most of my pregnancy (in the beginning they were 2-3 days apart but the discordance rose)...my peri said they don't really get concerned until it hits 14 days...

 

My di/di twins have been as far apart as 21 days - don't get me wrong, this has been an ongoing problem and I have had to deal with a lot, but my boy now seems to be picking up the pace some which gives me hope.
It sounds like you are being well cared for, try not to worry to much....

 

My understanding is that they look at the percentage difference (in terms of weight, I believe, not days). If the size difference is 15-20% or more they get concerned and will monitor closely.

My boys (di-di, so probably fraternal) measured 6 days apart at 16w but since then have generally measured just 1-2 days apart. I think Baby A just had a growth spurt at that point (Baby B was measuring 1 day behind and A 5 days ahead of their actual gestational age at that point). At 20w and 22w they measured exactly the same (12oz and then 21oz) and the last three times they've been just 2 oz apart.

 

My mono/di girls are now 4 weeks apart and we're still cooking! As pp said, they should monitor the fluid levels closely along with their biophysical profile to make sure they are maturing on the same curve. For us, our girls are developmentally the same, just very different in size. On Monday, baby A was 1lb 10oz and baby B was 2lb 14oz. My doctors are very optimistic about the outcome. As you can see on my ticker, I'll be 30 weeks tomorrow and have been on hospital bed rest since 26 weeks. Don't be surprised if you end up there too. It's just the best way to monitor your little ones and decide when they need to come out.

Best of luck and keep us posted on your appt!

 

I dont know abou fraternal twins but I think that because they are genetically different and as long as they are in their correct growth range they are just fine. I am having identical twins and they were 7-9 days difference in size for a few months. Now they are closer in size and weight. That is why you get so many ultrasounds. I have had to ask for measurments and reasssurance along the way because my docs wouldnt just give out the info. I can advise just be an advocate for yourself and babies and ask ask ask questions! The best of luck to you!

 

Thanks guys that is all really reassuring. You have made me feel heaps better!

 

OK now I don't have an 18 monthold in my arms I can reply with a little more detail.
Thanks for the details re amniotic fluids and baldders. At the moment I am with a small rural hospital so they only have indentical twins every year or two, and while I am sure they are competent they are certainly not specialists.
SC Amy with my other 2 pregnancies they never discussed weights, only lengths, I think I am going to have to ask for moreinfo.
TwinsinFl best of luck. The novelty of bedrest would wear off after the what, first 10 mintues? Keep baking!
Thanks to everyone for your positive stories and words, it really has made me feel a lot calmer.

 

I am right there with you I had my 17 wks u/s which turned into the big one after my quad test came back positive for downs. Chances of them having them are pretty low so I am trying to stay positive. But baby A of my mon di girls twin is measuring about a wk behind her sister that makes me worry just 2 wks ago they were the same.So thanks for asking my question I feel a bit better but still so nervous April is a long way away> V

 

Best of luck twinsnapr! I am hanging out for the next scan to check how it's all going in there!

 

QUOTE(kymbahlee @ Nov 21 2008, 03:11 AM) [snapback]1080342[/snapback]
Best of luck twinsnapr! I am hanging out for the next scan to check how it's all going in there!





thanks best of luck to you as well, This is all pretty scary but at least they have an option now for treatmentof ttts if things get wose the laser treatment looks promising. As for the downs I will love them either way!

 

QUOTE(kymbahlee @ Nov 19 2008, 12:04 AM) [snapback]1076708[/snapback]
I found out 2 days ago I am 15 weeks pregnant with mono/di twin boys. Twin B is measuring 9 days smaller. My Drs appt is 4 days time so I am sure she will go through everything with me then. It is just seeming like a big gap to me and the smallest amount of worry is starting to creep in. Anyone else have a gap like this and all was fine?
And does the worry ever stop when you are carrying twins?


I'm almost 28 weeks and I had an ultrasound the other day with Baby A measuring about 5 days behind Baby B. Something to keep in mind is where the smaller baby measuring. My Baby A is measuring on target at 27 weeks and 3 days, while Baby B is measuring ahead. So, I think as long as my smaller baby keeps measuring on target, I'm not going to be too worried.

I'm sure we'll always have something to worry about.

Lots of luck.

 

My fraternal twins have been measuring a week apart since week 8 (I am now 19 weeks). At first I was told I was going to lose the smaller of the two and it was thought it had a chromosonal disorder (it had another complication as well as it's size). Testing came back clear for the chromosonal disorder much to my relief and the babies have been growing at the same rate (still only a week apart). I am being monitered closely to check growth rates, but everything is much more positive now.

If they are fraternal it could be caused by 'superfetation' where your body has dropped a second egg later or the second egg was fertilised later and hence this causes the difference. I have done a lot of reading into size difference and I am finding it is very commone to have twins measuring at different sizes. As a result of my research I am much more positive and you should be too! There is no reason why your babies wouldn't be healthy, different sized individuals.

I wish you and you babies all the best.... I hope they grow up healthy and strong!

 

Thanks for all the postitive replies - they really do help.
Kittymum - my boys are identical (mono/di), which was why I was a bit unsure. I was thinking that if they were identical then they should have been measuring more similiarily but I guess that's not always the case. Glad your babies are doing well and I hope the rest of your pregnancy is smooth sailing.
Twinsnapril - toally agree re Downs. I have never actually even had the Downs test for any of my pregnancies cos I knew that I would love them the moment they were put in my arms regardless. Keep us posted on how you're travelling!

 

My guys had TTTS, and the first indicator was a 20% disparity in size at 20 weeks. I highly recommend getting your docs to send you to a specialist (like Maternal Fetal Medicine docs) if there is a 20% size difference so they can follow things closely on a weekly basis. When we first saw the size diff in our guys, that's when we started going in for weekly u/s with the MFM. They will look for other things too like amnio fluid levels (if there's a diff in that, then TTTS may be present) and they will keep an eye on babies' hearts and organs. There are therapies and specialized laser surgeries that help in treating TTTS now, but time is important. (Beyond 24 to 25 weeks, the laser surgery isn't much of an option anymore.)

Also, I believe the high protein therapy diet is important and helpful. There's some research that points that malnourishment in the mother can't help TTTS, and morning sickness can affect this too, I believe. Even if I didn't have mono/dis with TTTS, I would do the high protein therapy diet just to be on the safe side! And also, I think all mono/di moms should at least educate themselves on TTTS, its symptoms and available treatments. Unfortunately, the OB GYNS aren't as "up" on this as they should be. No mono pregnancy of any sort, I think, should be treated the same as a "regular" pregnancy. . . too many docs aren't knowledgeable about TTTS. I practically had to teach my docs some of the things I learned. . . and ignore some of the things they told me to do (in particular, I was borderline Gest. Diabetes, but I was malnourished - going on any kind of diet was a bad thing).

If you haven't, do check out the TTTS Foundation website. Don't go with fear, but go instead to learn something just so you'll be better equipped to handle anything that comes your way. . . or the way of a friend!