Intro + Triplets + Question

RachC624

I figured I might as well introduce myself here since I'm sure I'm going to be needing a lot of advice over the next few months. My name is Rachel and I'm 27. My husband and I went through IF treatment due to PCOS, and we got our BFP about 3 weeks ago. We got the call from the doctor's office that my beta's "seemed high" and they wanted to have us come in for an u/s at 4w4d, which ended up with us leaving thinking we were having twins! This was a blessing because after a cp I was scared it would never happen again. The doctor said he wanted to see us in 2 weeks so we could see the heartbeats and confirm 2. Well, yesterday was 2 weeks and they confirmed the heartbeats of 3 babies!!! All of them are looking good at this point, but we are super nervous. We obviously knew the risks of doing treatment, but we only triggered with 2 follies and the doctor didn't expect 3.

The sad news/question: The doctor brought up selective reduction to us and I feel very strongly against it. I know there are huge risks carrying 3 babies to both me and them, but I wanted information from people who have been there. What were you told? Was selective reduction brought up to you? If you have triplets, how far did you carry to?

Thanks girls! I'm sure I'm going to be hanging out here a lot!

4legsRbest

Welcome and congrats!

I have no advice or feelings on SR, becuase I honeslty have no idea what I would do in your situation - you kind of have to be there to think that hard about it. I hope whatever you decide is the best choice for you, your DH and your babies.

RachC624

I don't feel like I could sign away one of them, especially after everything we've gone through to get that BFP.

1+tripsmom

Welcome and congrats. My trio is 2 now. My story is like yours PCOS did meds I had 1 mature follicle when triggered. I think all drs have to bring up SR. When we first found out we were expecting it was quads so our dr talked to us about it. It was something that my husband and I could not do. God ended up taking one of our babies and we had our trio at 35w3d. Happy to talk to you if would like.

StacyH0507

Congrats! We also triggered with 2 follicles and ended up with 3 sacs on our first ultrasound, but only 2 went on to develop heartbeats. I think any choices you make must be made by you and your husband and don't feel pressured by your doctors. We had long talks about it until we learned there were only 2 and I still could not tell you what we would have done. 

mommaoftrips

Like other posts it is totally a personal decision. I have 18 month old trips and never even wanted the information on SR, but my story is scary - PTL x 2, the first time was before 24 weeks and the doctors said none of them would make it. While in hospital 2 other triplet mom's went through the same thing - PLT. This is a very real consideration and is more the norm due to the weights of the babies/placentas. Hey your body doesn't know the number of weeks you are BUT it sure does know that your belly is getting big and heavy. At the hospital multiples prenatal class we were told that the average gestation for triplets is 32 weeks but the year prior to this class 4 sets of triplets were born and there were major complications with 2 of these sets (50%) rate but my year this statistic was much better.

Also think of your family and lifestyle - can you financially support 3 babies, do you have support (I know some do this on their own and hats off to them but the first 4 months are grueling with supreme sleep deprivation). Not trying to influence your choice either way but wanted to give you some facts.

I do know one triplet pregnancy mom who did opt for SR - her and her DH in the end just decided that 2 was more manageable for them along with a lot of other personal circumstances.

After all you have been through, congratulations on your BFP and I wish you all the best with your pregnancy.

Rachiemoo

Just wanted to say welcome and congrats to you.  I don't have triplets but my good friend does and she carried to 34 weeks and her triplets are now 5 years old and they are all doing so well.  Best of luck whatever you decide to do. 

rcnavywife

Welcome and congrats! My trio are 9 weeks old, and were born at 27+2 after the membranes on baby A ruptured at 25+4. I'm not going to lie, it hasn't been an easy journey, both with the pregnancy and the early delivery. I was on modified bedrest and pulled from work at 12/13 weeks. I am still recovering from the delivery (c-section, retained placenta, D&C) And my babies are still in the NICU, but nearing the end of their stay, I hope! We also thought we only had two mature follies at the time of trigger.

Selective reduction was brought up, but never pushed by our MFM. We heard her out, but had already decided against it. I did some research on my own regarding risks and outcomes and that helped me be comfortable with our decision.

Feel free to PM me anytime!

RachC624

You girls are awesome. Knowing that there are so many people that have done it helps. We haven't been released from our RE yet, and have another ultrasound Monday. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all !

DenaFord

I'm also expecting triplets. It has been a hard road for my husband and I as well. We tried for three years to get pregnant and had three miscarriages before this pregnancy. So when I heard we were expecting three I thought it was gods way of giving me back what I had lost. I was also told about selective reduction but after my journey I couldn't entertain it. I'm currently 27 weeks 1 day and facing an early delivery do to umbilical cord issues in baby b. I was also pulled from work at 20 weeks as a precaution. It's been a wild ride but the thought of completing my family with these three little girls allows me to get through it. If u have questions or concerns let me know.

hayleydeee

Welcome and congrats! I don't have triplets, but know a family who does. They decided against selective reduction, even though the doctor's recommend it. 

It was a challenging pregnancy, and she ended up in the hospital on bedrest for a couple of months. The babies were born early and spent time in the NICU, I don't remember how long exactly. But they are all happy and healthy preschoolers today! 

Personally I wouldn't fault anyone who chose either option, because I would know that they were only trying to do what they thought was best. The choice is yours, and don't feel pressured to go either way. 

xnbride

Welcome and congrats! I look forward to getting to know you.

whitehousem

Welcome and congrats! I am " only" expecting twins but a friend of mine just had identical trips back in Nov. she was on hospital bed rest for about a month bc of pre-e and they delivered the babies at 31 weeks bc of the pre-e. They spent over two months in the NICU but they are home now and doing well! I can't imagine having to make that decision. My thoughts and prayers are with you!

RachC624

Obviously I'm going to ask my doctors but might as well as here. Does it make a difference if they are all seperate sacs?

1+tripsmom

They say is separate sacs less risk. Don't have to worry about twin to twin transfusion or a few other things. Mine were all separate sacs.

g8trbaby01

Hey love just wanted to chip in. I'm currently 30 weeks prego with my trips. We did IVF as well implanted 2 eggs back and ended up with trips. We have 1 egg that split giving us identical twin girls and 1 egg that matured into a healthy happy baby boy. All 3 babies have separate sacs. My girls are sharing a placenta though which is a slightly higher risk for twin to twin(research this it's important to know if anyone is sharing a placenta). As far as SR goes as soon as my RE saw 3 heart beats at 7 weeks he immediately sent me to an MFM that specialized in SR.....which kinda of ticked us off because we had tried so hard for 6 years why should we have to reduce. Now the way me and my husband approached this was to monitor the babies in the beginning if they were all maturing correctly and showing no signs of distress then we would not SR. Like I said I'm no 30 weeks and the doctors are saying I'll make it to 36. Be ready if you decided to carry 3 you will be pulled from work much earlier which we were not financially prepared for! I got pulled at 22 weeks. But seriously it's only a decision that your family can make so reseRch and decided.

daisy19782011

Congrats! I have no idea about SR but I feel for you having to make that decision. Only you can do what you feel comfortable with.

danidew822

I am new to this board as well and in the same situation. I am about 9 weeks pregnant and just found out the twins we thought we were having are actually triplets! We have one baby and two identical twins, all growing at the same rate with good heart beats. I have no idea where this 3rd little one was hiding all this time! I am very overwhelmed with the decision we have to make. In my heart I don't want to go through with the SR, but all the risks involved are so scary. We are hoping to meet with the MFM specialist next week and then go from there. Any advice is welcome.