Homebirthers: At What Point Did You Discover You Were Preggo With TWINS? Plus more ?s

[QueenEsther]

Hello, I am new here and wanted to talk to some mamas who are pregnant or have had twins born at home. 

My brief background: I am 16 weeks along  with my 5th and have been putting out twin vibes to people apparently all through this pregnancy. There has been no real reason to think there were more than one in there. But today, at my prenatal, my midwife said I am measuring at 20 wks, she used a Doppler and heard a heartbeat on one side of my belly hearing a heartbeat in the 140s then moved around to the opposite side and heard a heartbeat in the 160s, but she stayed there a while and said that hb dropped down to the 140s. She said that it could either be twins or that it is just one baby and the baby is moving around from one side to the other trying to escape the Doppler waves and that might be easy for them to do since they are still so small. She questioned if my placentas have ever been in front, and I didn't think they had but didn't know for sure. She was wondering if my placenta is in the front middle. When my urine was checked, I showed some dehydration and not enough protein. In all my pregnancies and prenatals, I have never ever had any issues with protein. Usually I struggle with iron and anemia, but not until the late 3 trimester. This pregnancy, the anemia started around the 1.5 to 2 month mark, and it was extreme! I have had to work hard at building my iron stores up and have been taking some great liquid vitamins plus Floradix with iron (recommend!). Family history-wise, there are twins on both my parent's sides and also on both my husband's sides. Right now I am still struggling with nausea (I ususally do until about 20 weeks anyway) and am still so tired most of the time. I get over exherted easily. I don't really feel any baby movements yet, save for the random flutter. One more thing, I have never eaten so much in my life! Even though I have been sick and nauseated and tired, I have eaten and eaten and eaten like it is going out of style. Hubby just watches me, wide-eyed and amazed because I have never been a eating machine when pregnant or at any other time.

Other than my 'feelings', I have yet no concrete evidence that there is more than one sweetie pie in my womb, but these other things today have really got me and my midwife thinking. 

I would still wish to plan to homebirth, but I believe that the type of twins I'm potentially carrying might determine what all goes on there. What are your experiences? 

Lastly, I am wishing for an ultrasound, even though we don't normally do one. My 'symptoms' seem to warrant further investigation, don't you think? However, I have no desire to travel to a regular OB just to have them bully or push me around about my prenatal care...or lack of their extra testing...or to scare me to do certain unecessary invasive proceedures just because there are twins in there (if that turns out true). I am considering gonig to the local crisis pregnancy center and giving them next to no info, but telling them I am pregnant and would like a ultrasound. That would also be free, which works for our budget of course, but I would make a donation at the end. I am sure that their US tech will not be able to give me specific info about what type of twins they are, but to know if there are more than one would be the first step. I have read about at home DNA testing that can be done to determine if the babies are sharing a placenta or if there are two placentas. 

Please, if you have read this far, then you are an angel. I am just hoping and needing to get advice and experience from you ladies!

Basically, I'm wanting to know if you think my symptoms sound like twins, and if you think my US and home-testing plan seems like a good one, and if you continued forward with a homebirth yourself knowing twins were on the way and how it went, and how far along you were when you found out you were having more than one.

Thank you!

[charis4]

Hi there!

I'd be curious with such symptoms too. I don't know what your state's homebirth licensure parameters are, that would definitely be something to look into. In my state, out of hospital birth of multiples is now illegal (well, technically its illegal for anyone to attend an OOH birth of multiples). Once you have an u/s and confirm (if its the case) that there are multiples, you may not be able to homebirth legally depending on the state's laws. On the flip side of that, multiples do have a higher chance of funky stuff like placenta previa and identical twins can have different issues depending on whether they share a placenta/amnion/chorion and there are sometimes things that can be done if they're found early enough (twin to twin transfusion syndrome for example)

I'm not trying to push you one way or the other, but its just something you may want to think about. :)

Congrats on your pg! Let us know what you find out if you choose to have an u/s :)

[mylilmonkeys]

I was pretty suspicious from very early on, and finally arranged an U/S at 19 w to confirm.  I'm usually very non-interventive, refuse all U/S devices, but I felt I needed to know my options and be sure that the placentas were situated well.  I could tell I had a low anterior placenta, but it is well off the cervix.  The other placenta is high and posterior.  The advantage to knowing is that I have been able to form a relationship with an OB that I feel comfortable with in the event we decide, or circumstances necessitate, a hospital birth.  I'm still working through the "where will I birth" question, as my situation is rather unique, including weather, distance, and birthing history factors.  

[Spring Lily]

I'd be pretty suspicious, too, with all that going on and family history. Especially measuring 4 weeks ahead, that is reason enough.

I just wanted to put it out there--if you are going to get an ultrasound, it would be most efficient to get a level II one that would tell you how many placentas and sacs there are. That is going to be a major factor in your birthing decision and whether you get more ultrasounds later. The regular ultrasound machines they have in the doctor's office are more for taking less precise measurements of the baby and seeing the heartbeat, so it's not going to give you the information you really need right now to make the safest choices for your babies. With twins, there are higher risks of many different complications, and having good ultrasounds at intervals is important. It saved one of my twin's life, which is why I have to mention it.

[QueenEsther]

charis - Heh, it's just plain illegal here to attend homebirths. Period. Docs had a great time lobbying for that one! AAR, it has never stopped us from homebirthing. I never give out my midwives names just to protect them, though. With that said, I understand what you're saying about the potential risks with multiples. That's my main reason in wanting to find out, first off, if we have more than one in there, and if we do, what type of twins they are. Hubs and myself would have some really big decisions to make! And no worries because I didn't feel like you were pushy to me in your reply. Those are all valid concerns and I appreciate your input. 

mylilmonkeys - Yes! I hear ya. It makes sense. I would love to keep up with you and hear how things go with your pregnancy and birth. I have read twin homebirth stories and have talked to women who have personally done it, so I know it can be done. Like you, I just want to be prepared for anything!

Spring Lily - thank you for the info on the Level II US. That makes total sense! One of my besties has another good friend who is an US tech, and now I am hoping to get in to see her because she could (hopefully) do just that for me and be able to give me more detailed information on what all is going on in there. I am glad to hear that it saved one of your baby's lives! 

This is all new to me so I am like a sponge and just soaking up as much information as I possibly can while trying to keep a realistic view on things. I do appreciate all the feedback!

[charis4]

Well, one of the few upsides to homebirth being illegal in your state is that you don't have to worry about "risking out" of midwifery care if its multiples! All the more reason though to think about an u/s so you could have a backup plan if you should need further care during the pregnancy or birth. I'd love to birth out of hospital, but for me twins are in my comfort level for OOH birth, but triplets are not so I'd be in hospital anyway.

Morgan

[greenmama66]

I knew from day one because the day I conceived I had a dream that night that 2 moses baskets were floating down a stream. I did not see a midwife until maybe 20 weeks of that pregnancy and I was measuring ahead. At 7 months she suggested I go in for an ultrasound to confirm it. Confirmed twins and I gave birth (at home) to identical twin girls a bit past their due dat (my first pregnancy and birth experience). Most midwives where I live will attend twins - they just don't like saying so. My twins were born 20 years ago though and while it was still illegal in the state I lived in at the time (NM) I found a midwife who helped my friend have her homebirth with twins 6 months earlier. I had one huge placenta but I am not sure if there were two sacs or not and when I went in for the ultrasound- the tech didn't tell me a thing (including I was indeed preggo with twins- I got a call from the referral doctor a week later!!!).

[QueenEsther]

Yes, I am definitely having that backup plan in place just in case! 

greenmama - I loved hearing your story! I have heard so many mamas talk about how they just *knew* they had twins on the way before anything else confirmed it. And I have felt the same way this pregnancy from the beginning, but start to wonder if it's not just my own thoughts getting in the way (if that makes sense at all). You did really great to have your twins be your first and to also take good care of yourself to make it past their due date!! That is amazing! I have been told that it is really, really hard for moms having twins or more to get enough protein in their diets to keep from going into labor early. That's what my midwives say anyway. They firmly believe that based on their experiences and studies. Thanks for chiming in! 

[ladydodson]

i have a history of loss, so was having betas drawn...so i had an inkling when mine seemed on the high end...the night before our dating ultrasound, i placed two hands on my stomach and said...see you guys tomorrow...

now whether or not i KNEW or just suspected...i cant say...but i ended up being right. and we found out at just over 6wks...haha.