Can I take a poll on ultrasounds and early delivery?? Mini study- Twin mamas please read!!

[Gindugirl]

I read somewhere (but it's vague) that too many ultrasounds can increase the chances of delivering early.  So now I'm curious and would like to do my own mini study with the women here.

So reply and put how often you were scanned in your twin pregnancy, whether it was mono-di or di-di and then what week you went into labor.

I'm super curious.  I am almost 32 weeks with  mono-di twins and I get scanned every 2 weeks and I'm about to move to weekly NST's.  It just seems like soooo much.  But I know I'm "high risk."  I would love other mama's opinions on all this.

Thanks!!

[pammysue]

Subbing so I can come back after delivery...I'm interested in others responses too.

[Emelee]

Di-Di twins.

Early ultrasound at 9 weeks when we discovered twins

15 weeks to determine sac and placenta placement

20 weeks for suspected bleeding

22 weeks for anatomy scan

34 weeks

36 weeks

2x at 40 weeks for BFP

so total I had 8 ultrasounds and I went to 41 weeks 1 day. I was more concerned when they would bang on my uterus to get the girls to move positions than I was about the risk of what the ultrasound would do to them. Good luck to you!

[Emaya]

First ultrasound at week 19 or 20 (thought it was a normal pregnancy until then and Swedes do only one routine ultrasound around week 19 in normal pregnancies). After that, every two weeks. Had a planned c-section at 36 weeks (with triplets, they wouldn't let them go longer). 

I imagine more ultrasounds can lead to earlier birth -- but I suspect it's earlier c-section or induction rather than an initiation of natural labor. Having doctors poke around usually leads to more medical intervention (necessary or otherwise) as they find things that look worrisome or suspicious - things that might actually have resolved themselves without an ultrasound (or early induction). But that's just my guess.

[lesliesara63]

I had tons of u/s 7weeks -twins 9 weeks-triplets!! 10 & 12weeks quick in office u/s 14 & 18weeks full u/s & every two weeks after than 28-32 weeks u/s 2x/week

[Red Pajama]

My twins were found early, and I was referred fairly quickly to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. So I had my usual appointments with my OB, and then additional appointments with the MFM doctors. Point being, growth ultrasounds and non-stress tests fairly frequently.

My twins are fraternal.  Delivery was at 38 weeks, but that was a scheduled c-section. I suspect labor was still at least a week off.

[nd_deadhead]

My boys were mono-di; I had my first US at 10 weeks; the last the day I delivered (at 39 weeks), with 8 other in between.

I ended up having a C-section because I developed HELLP syndrome; I highly doubt the ultrasounds had anything to do with it. I'm 5'4", carrying 16 pounds of baby (plus placenta, amniotic fluid, etc). My poor little body just couldn't take it any more.

As for later effects - my sons just graduated from high school with honors; they are bright, funny, wonderful, healthy young men.

[mally]

My boys were mono-di. I had my first ultrasound at 19 weeks, then every 2 weeks, then every week, until they were born at 37 weeks. I believe I had 12 altogether. Hope that helps!

[mylilmonkeys]

My girls were confirmed at 19 weeks.  I'm not a fan of ultrasounds, and even refuse the doppler for heart tones in a singleton pregnancy.  With the twins, if we couldn't get both heartbeats, I would consent to doppler.  I consented to a second scan for growth and a third scan for position.  We chose to induce at 38 weeks by ROM because of my history and location; I preferred to have my twin birth assisted, and otherwise would have had a significant risk of labor and birth with only my other children for attendants. LOL  All my midwives are over an hour away and even my husband M-F from 6am-10pm.  Otherwise, my induction had nothing to do with ultrasounds and my girls were good sized at 7,12/18 inches and 6,8/19inches. 

[momtoafireteam]

I had eleventy billion ultrasounds with my twin pregnancy. They were born at 35 weeks at 6lbs each and came home with me 3 days later. 

With this current triplet pregnancy again I am having lots of scans. For ME, there is absolutely no way I wouldn't. JMO. 

[mamalovex3]

My first twin pregnancy was mono-di, we had our first u/s at 14 weeks, another at 16 weeks to check placentas, another at 18 weeks for anatomy, then at 20 weeks to recheck some measurements.  At 24 weeks I had a shortened cervix, so had biweekly ultrasounds from there to monitor growth and check my cervical length.  Went into labour at 38w2d, so....12 in all?

With my second twin pregnancy (currently in progress!), we had an early u/s at 8 weeks to make sure there was only one baby (HA!), another at 10 weeks to check placentas and chorionicity, then at 19 weeks for anatomy, again at 21 to recheck some measurements, then at 26 weeks, where I had a shortened cervix again, so I'll be heading back every 2 weeks to keep an eye on that and to check out growth as well.

I think the issue that more ultrasounds can lead to earlier delivery is because doctors always seem to think that at the first sign of anything even possibly off, the babies will be better off out than in.  So they pressure you to induce or have a c-section.  I would really do my research and make the doctors justify everything they want to do, especially when it comes to having the babies earlier than full term. 

[gozal]

Interesting question! No data points to share but I imagine you'd find a correlation, since ultrasounds generally correspond to a whole host of monitoring/medical care. The more data, the more decisions, basically. As far as causation...I would imagine it's multifactorial. Okay, reading along. :)

[Gindugirl]

Thanks ladies.  I just find this subject fascinating.  I agree, the correlation would more likely come from the fact that the extra sonograms would lead to more worry and possibly earlier inductions.   I have come to terms with my every 2 week u/s and now weekly NST's and then Bi-weekly NST's at 34 weeks!  It's just so much.  I'm doing it b/c of course I'm buying into the worry that if I don't I could miss something.  So the the risk or inconvenience of the scans doesn't seem to outweigh the risk if something serious is missed.  But every time I'm these appts.  I just feel like it's total overkill and I get very irritated.  I'm trying to negotiate these two sides of myself.  Having a mono-di pregnancy has forced me to make MANY compromises, which I'm doing to a point.  But I am constantly researching, to make sure I'm giving myself the best chance to have a go at it my way.  

[fragola3]

My di-di mz girls were born at 40 weeks 1 day.  My first sono was at about 20 weeks (Tech said, "How many babies are you having, b/c there's 2!"  We were shocked.)  Then I had about a sono at every appointment--one a month until I went to bi-weekly during the last 2 months and weekly during the last month.

I think we in the U.S. do too many ultrasounds--especially for routine singleton pregnancies.  I'm surprised at how many sonos my friends get at their OBs...it seems like standard protocol now, which I think is unnecessary.

I guess w/ my twins I could have refused them, but I felt a little extra nervous carrying twins.  I tried my best not to go the typical medical route, but constantly felt conflicted about how to do that w/ twins (our local birth center wouldn't care for me once we discovered I was carrying twins, and I didn't want to go with a home birth....).

[~bookcase~]

I declined a whole pile of scans for my di di twins (had 3 and was due for a 4th at 36 weeks I think) and gave birth spontaneously at 32 weeks.

I've heard many scans linked to IUGR but not early birth.
 

[Jess Sabo]

I have fraternal girls, born at home at 38 weeks.  Went into labor spontaneously.  Only one sonogram at 7 months, and tried to avoid doppler (used it a handful of times, and during labor).  Didn't feel I was high risk: my midwife had me eat 120 g of protein a day, get extra rest, and drink NORA tea in my last trimester.  Pregnancy was really challenging and painful because I was so huge, but I don't think twin mommas deserve to be called high risk unless they develop health issues, just like anyone else.  Just my thought . . .

Cool survey- love and best wishes for you and your babes!
 

[VocalMinority]

I had only one ultrasound before my water broke (leaked is a better term), but many (I think it was one a day) during the six days between the leak and the actual birth.  My twins were born at 24 weeks.  Like most twins, mine were in separate sacs, but I simply don't know whether they shared a placenta.  (With 24-weekers, that question was the last thing on my mind.)  I'm curious to know what you conclude, but I never associated their early birth with the ultrasound.  There were several other risk factors.  But this is an interesting question.

[newmommy7-08]

I had an u/s at 7 wks, one at 9 wks, and then every 4 wks starting at 16 wks. Actually I had them every 2 weeks after 28 wks and then weekly after 32 weeks because my mw had a really rough time finding heartbeats on the doppler because they were right next to one another so she'd just do a quickie u/s so that we could "see" which heartbeat we were hearing. Then I had a scheduled c/s at 39w3d for breech baby A
 

Edited by newmommy7-08 - 6/27/12 at 2:36pm

[~Adorkable~]

i think there is simply too many variables, known and unknown to ever get a clear picture on this, though it is a interesting question.  singe the sample size is so small (even with all twins not just the ones here) and because twin pregnancies are each so unique in there physical layout, one would never know unless it was glaring.

[EonJourney]

Mono Di and had TTTS so had ultrasounds 2-3 x week starting at 19 weeks. No signs of labor. C Sect at 36.5 weeks...I was hiking  3hrs up mtns @ 36 weeks...My boys are 8 months very mellow and super happy babies.