Scare / Surprise / Scare

[Twice as nice]

I had a miscarriage scare today... I started bleeding this morning (more than normal spotting), so my midwife told me to go to the ER to get everything checked out. After an exam, some blood work and an ultra sound, turned out that the blood was "old" blood (whatever that means), and surprise... I'm pregnant with twins. :jaw I'm completely excited about the news of twins, but am also really worried. I am at 7 weeks tomorrow (saturday), but the embryos showed up as 6 weeks and 5 weeks, 6 days. Although I was told that its normal for twins to develop slower than an average embryo, the ultrasound was only able to pick up one, very faint heartbeat. I was told not to worry as that's "normal" and to come back in 3-4 days to have another ultrasound.

This has me really concerned because I thought that the heartbeat was supposed to be detectable after 4 weeks. Am I wrong? :confused:

[deleria]

WOW!! Congratulations! That's such exciting, wonderful news :)

From what I understand, the heart doesn't start beating (at least noticeably) until the sixth week. So the fact that you found even one is very impressive. They often can't even find it at six weeks and have wait even longer to spot one. I remember this fact clearly, as I had an early u/s with our first son to date the pregnancy. I was *just* six weeks and the technician was impressed that she found a heartbeat at all. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen (until he was born, of course) and that fact has been permanently etched into my mind (and I double-checked it for you, just to make sure).

I hope that puts your mind at ease a little. Congratulations, mama!!

[Tori Gollihugh]

Congratulations on the twins!!!! Don't worry too much about the ultrasound info! I VERY recently had two friends who were told their inutero babies would be too big for them to birth (based on ultrasound) and they would have to have scheduled C-sections. They both believed the crap and BOTH ended up with 9lb babies or LESS!!! (One was only 3 ounces larger than my DD and she was NOT difficult to push out!)

Also, I ended up with TWO ultrasounds that I didn't want because I was trying to get into a birthing center that required them... they both showed completely unfounded problems that when reviewed by another tech were completely not even there! So, it's a lot in the eye of the beholder, it would seem.

Also, before you let them do too many of those things... inform yourself. We don't actually know how safe they are... sonar (which is a much more powerful form of ultrasounds used by the NAVY) has been the cause of many beached wales eventual death... the sonar (possibly ultrasound as well!) causes confusion in the mammals... and when I think about that... how is that effecting an incompletely formed little human trying to develop. This isn't something I've been able to find info on readily - even in these boards. However, it's something to consider!

Good luck!

[Twice as nice]

Thank you soooo much. You have no idea how much better you've made me feel!!!!!

[soccermominsd]

Congratulations Hatawa!!! What wonderful news. When ever I feel stressed about my pregnancy (I m/c in Nov) I do visualization of the baby and it helps me so much. Maybe you could visualize your little ones in there being nurtured by your body and growing strong :)

[chaibaby]

Wow! What a roller coaster of emotions you must have had yesterday! I know it must be hard not to worry, but rest assured, I'm sure they know what to expect. And that is so exciting that you are expecting twins, surprise & congratulations! Keep us posted on how everything progresses...

[SlingWearin'Mama]

I'm completely excited about the news of twins, but am also really worried. I am at 7 weeks tomorrow (saturday), but the embryos showed up as 6 weeks and 5 weeks, 6 days. Although I was told that its normal for twins to develop slower than an average embryo, the ultrasound was only able to pick up one, very faint heartbeat. I was told not to worry as that's "normal" and to come back in 3-4 days to have another ultrasound.

This has me really concerned because I thought that the heartbeat was supposed to be detectable after 4 weeks. Am I wrong? :confused:

Congrats! It's a fun club, the twin club ;) I wouldn't worry either, HBs are noticeable after 6 weeks. The difference could be just one growing slower or eggs released on different days, so actually being different ages. And you are armed with the knowledge of growing two early, start eating like mad! The weight gain goal is one pound for every week (including those two weeks we weren't actually pregnant). Unless you were underweight to begin with then 1.5-2 Lbs a week!

congrats and eat eat eat.

[Twice as nice]

Thanks to everyone for your advice. It definitely made me feel much better over the weekend while I anxiously awaited the second ultrasound. The second ultrasound showed TWO strong heartbeats and so far healthy babies :) Thank God!!!!

[Earthy~Mama]

Congrats on the two strong healthy heartbeats!!!!!!

[chrissy]

Oh wow!!!! Congratulations times two!

[katiesmom]

congrats on the twins!

[BCmamaof6]

Congratulations mama! I'm almost envious! :o

[CrunchyMamaToBe]

Congratulations!!! Glad to hear everything looks good in there!

[leurMaman]

That's wonderful! Congratulations!!

[deliarose]

How exciting! Woohoo!