diagnosing multiples?

[lia_joy]

I'm 9wks pregnant with #4. I don't have any indicators that it could be twins other than DH and I keep thinking about it, but since I'm planning to go forward with UP, I'm wondering about diagnosing twins without an ultrasound.... Seems like everything I've read says ultrasound is the only way to really know. It seems like, after carrying 3 singltons it'd feel obviously different -- especially further along.  But I've read birth stories of suprise twins, so obvioulsy it happens.  I'm just looking for some information... thoughts?

[BroodyWoodsgal]

Originally Posted by lia_joy 

I'm 9wks pregnant with #4. I don't have any indicators that it could be twins other than DH and I keep thinking about it, but since I'm planning to go forward with UP, I'm wondering about diagnosing twins without an ultrasound.... Seems like everything I've read says ultrasound is the only way to really know. It seems like, after carrying 3 singltons it'd feel obviously different -- especially further along.  But I've read birth stories of suprise twins, so obvioulsy it happens.  I'm just looking for some information... thoughts?

Would twins change your decision to UP/UC at all? I know there are dietary changes a lot of people make when they know they are expecting twins, to keep them in longer, etc...but those types of things are not things that would be anything but beneficial to a singleton...so if you're thinking twins are a possibility, proceeding as such just in case with your diet, etc and not finding out could be okay, right? So long as finding out there are two in there wouldn't actually change anything for you as far as your decision to UC.

[BroodyWoodsgal]

Were I in your shoes I might want an u/s....but not to confirm twins, so much as to do an actual check on number of placentas/cord situations, etc. I wouldn't go to a private place, I would go to an actual hospital and have an anatomy scan.

So I guess in your shoes, I would hit up a private clinic for a peek at 15 or so weeks...and then if there are two in there, would seek the care of an OB to get in for an anatomy scan and if your comfort level is met (placenta(s)/Cords, etc would abandon the OB and proceed with my UP/UC plans.

[lia_joy]

Thanks. We decided shortly after I wrote the original post that our feeling was strong enough, and our plans (nutrition, birth etc) would be different if it was twins so I went ahead and got the ultrasound.

  It was twins but baby B recently stopped growning (vanishing twin) so the pregnancy will continue as a singleton. I am so very grateful that we got the ultrasound and have one picture honoring the brief time we were parents of twins.  It was very helpful to have confirmation that we both intuitively knew it was twins, also.  I think I'd have felt the loss just as hard (but struggled more to express it) if we'd never had any proof that the second baby existed.

The ultrasound image and a little bit of my story can be found here for anyone interested: http://liajoy83.blogspot.com/2011/11/vanishing-twin-joyful-sorrow-and.html

[Thyme Mama]

I am so sorry for your loss. It is beautiful to see though, more husbands and wives listening to their intuition. I wish you a healthy pregnancy and an awesome birth.

[BroodyWoodsgal]

Oh man, how did I miss this? I'm so sorry...but I'm also really glad that you got to see that ultrasound. I completely get how it could make all the difference in the world to know that you weren't imagining it or just "crazy"....hugs to you, that is really rough. What an incredible thing, to share an intuition like that with your husband. <3 <3

[Almi]

Hey Lia, it didn't even occur to me that you might be a member here.  I'm Jamie, from Facebook.

I did want to add something to this thread though, this is one reason I personally think it's a good idea to get at least one ultrasound for each pregnancy, particularly if you suspect twins.  Even if you know you are carrying twins, you might not know their zygosity...and delivering monoamniotic twins at home can be dangerous.  I was lucky that my twins were diamniotic (monochorionic).

[lia_joy]

hey -- it is a small world. I find I *Meet* people in the UC/birth junkie community & then run into them other places online :) 

Thanks for adding that, too.  It was a big part of our decision to go ahead with the ultrasound... I had a *feeling* that hospital might be right for us this time if it was twins, but planned to explore all my options.  After doing some reading I knew that figuring out which kind of twins would have factored into the kind of prenatal monitoring & the kind of birth we would have gone with. Id definately advise others to take those things into consideration as well :)