Please read my story...
I am pregnant with identical twin boys (due the end of March). My OB discovered discordance in the twins' amniotic fluid at my 20 week US. The levels were still within "normal" limits but one twin had almost double the amount of fluid as the other. A Level II US was set for almost a month after my 20 week US. It was also discovered that my twins share a chorion (the majority of identical twins do) and a placenta. The discordance in fluid did not register as a concern with two doctors I consulted, despite the fact that I am expecting identical twins AND IT SHOULD HAVE.
I am posting this because any woman carrying twins who knows she is carrying identical twins, or is possibly carrying identical twins, has a 15-20% chance of having to deal with Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome.
If you are unfamiliar with it, please become familiar - being educated about it could literally save lives. http://www.tttsfoundation.org
The standard of care for a high risk multiple pregnancy where identical, or possibly identical, monochorionic twins requires weekly US monitoring. I know many here are anti US, but the syndrome can literally be present and uncomplicated, and go from not critical to life threatening literally overnight. I am only at stage 1 and still need this type of monitoring. I will be delivering in a hospital with a NICU even if things do not worsen and will probably not carry past 34 weeks, if that long. If the syndrome reaches stage II before the twins are viable, I will need emergency surgery to try to save their lives. The rate of positive outcome at that point (survival of one twin) is only 63% at the best clinic in the country. I say this not for pity, but to underline the importance of this matter to every ID twin-carrying mama.
Aside from posting my one man PSA, I also want to alert those of you expecting ID twins that nursing other children or having had one or more pregnancies in rapid succession to this one puts you at even greater risk of the syndrome occurring due to significant but unrecognized calcium and protein deficiency being present which can contribute to the effects of the syndrome but is not necessarily a cause. Please be aware of your caloric intake and especially that your are getting enough protein.
This syndrome can develop overnight, even up to and including the birth itself. There is an increased risk of acute TTTS in the third trimester which has been determined to be a leading cause of third trimester intrauterine death. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...?artid=1160580
Don't be a lemur. Most mamas here are the very proactive type. Don't take it at face value that your medical provider is equipped to diagnose or handle this possibility. Mine weren't.
I wish all you expectant ID twin mamas (and all the expectant mamas) a healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy and birth. Empowerment is the key to our health and that of our children.
Here is a link to my DDC post about my specific situation:http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=785499
I am pregnant with identical twin boys (due the end of March). My OB discovered discordance in the twins' amniotic fluid at my 20 week US. The levels were still within "normal" limits but one twin had almost double the amount of fluid as the other. A Level II US was set for almost a month after my 20 week US. It was also discovered that my twins share a chorion (the majority of identical twins do) and a placenta. The discordance in fluid did not register as a concern with two doctors I consulted, despite the fact that I am expecting identical twins AND IT SHOULD HAVE.
I am posting this because any woman carrying twins who knows she is carrying identical twins, or is possibly carrying identical twins, has a 15-20% chance of having to deal with Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome.
If you are unfamiliar with it, please become familiar - being educated about it could literally save lives. http://www.tttsfoundation.org
The standard of care for a high risk multiple pregnancy where identical, or possibly identical, monochorionic twins requires weekly US monitoring. I know many here are anti US, but the syndrome can literally be present and uncomplicated, and go from not critical to life threatening literally overnight. I am only at stage 1 and still need this type of monitoring. I will be delivering in a hospital with a NICU even if things do not worsen and will probably not carry past 34 weeks, if that long. If the syndrome reaches stage II before the twins are viable, I will need emergency surgery to try to save their lives. The rate of positive outcome at that point (survival of one twin) is only 63% at the best clinic in the country. I say this not for pity, but to underline the importance of this matter to every ID twin-carrying mama.
Aside from posting my one man PSA, I also want to alert those of you expecting ID twins that nursing other children or having had one or more pregnancies in rapid succession to this one puts you at even greater risk of the syndrome occurring due to significant but unrecognized calcium and protein deficiency being present which can contribute to the effects of the syndrome but is not necessarily a cause. Please be aware of your caloric intake and especially that your are getting enough protein.
This syndrome can develop overnight, even up to and including the birth itself. There is an increased risk of acute TTTS in the third trimester which has been determined to be a leading cause of third trimester intrauterine death. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...?artid=1160580
Don't be a lemur. Most mamas here are the very proactive type. Don't take it at face value that your medical provider is equipped to diagnose or handle this possibility. Mine weren't.
I wish all you expectant ID twin mamas (and all the expectant mamas) a healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy and birth. Empowerment is the key to our health and that of our children.
Here is a link to my DDC post about my specific situation:http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=785499