mo/di mommas

TeacherTiff

I'm obviously still early in the game, but I've been doing a little reading on the TTTS foundation website and they claim that drinking Boost drinks (or the like) during pregnancy can help prevent TTTS.

Did your doctor tell you to do this? If so, how often did you drink them? 

mpstochlinski8

I haven't heard this before, I'd ask your doc about it.

TeacherTiff

mpstochlinski8:

I haven't heard this before, I'd ask your doc about it.

I can't find the link, of course. I read it awhile ago when we first found out they were mo/di. I just looked at the website again and now can't find it. Anyway, I definitely plan on asking at my next appt, but it's a few weeks away.  

pea-kay

I was supposed to drink those, but I just couldn't bear the thought. But I think it's probably a good way to get some protein and calories in!

I do know doctors recommend boost if you're developing TTTS, but I'm not sure about preventing it. But it can't hurt!

JosiePosy

My peri wasn't convinced that it really worked, but he told me it couldn't hurt. I drank 1-2 protein shakes (usually Ensure) per day. I was close, but never diagnosed. Fluid levels stabilized after 2 weeks of being closely monitored.

mpstochlinski8

It can't hurt and with twins you'll need plenty of good nutrition. I never drank them and we made it through the TTTS risky stage just fine. If it makes you feel better til you see doc I'd say go for it

MamaCrystal

I started drinking Ensure sometime in 2nd tri because I had read about them in Dr. Luke's book.  Don't know if it made a difference, but I was induced with our girls at 37w6d and had no TTTS (though I also didn't have any early signs of it).

TeacherTiff

Thanks all! I've never tried them, and I'm not sure I could actually stomach it... I hate vitamin-y things. But, it would certainly be a good way to get some extra protein, which I seem to be lacking lately. I might give it a try until I see the dr again. As always, I appreciate your input!

JenIrv

I was told TTTS was a possiblitly early on, and 4 weeks later, found out my boys had it. I had surgry to correct it at 17 weeks and all it now well. But I never heard any of the doctors I had to see, mention Boost.

Mrs. Alice

There is nothing you can do to prevent TTTS, it's completely random. It's a disease of the placenta that contains abnormal blood vessels which connect the circulation between the twins.  This is what the TTTS foundation says from the pioneer of TTTS treatment:

 

"Dr. Julian De Lia has investigated the nutritional aspects of TTTS. He recommends that his patients drink 3 cans per day of either Boost or Ensure High Protein in addition to their meals. Dr. De Lia explains, "TTTS patients at mid-pregnancy have severe hypoproteinemia and anemia. These maternal metabolic parameters may influence fetal TTTS characteristics and explain maternal sensitivity to intravenous fluid in complicated multiple pregnancies in general. We believe our data are sufficient to support the use of nutritional supplements in the management of early (monochorionic twins with subtle growth and amniotic fluid differences) and severe TTTS regardless of specific invasive therapy used (i.e., fetoscopic placental laser surgery, reduction amniocentesis, septostomy, etc.)

We at the TTTS Foundation suggest nutritional supplementation and have seen nutritional therapy benefit many women. They report less fatigue and more energy, and on occasion, the fetal signs of TTTS improve (less polyhydramnios) obviating the need for invasive therapy. Mothers also feel immediate satisfaction knowing that that there is something they can do right away to help their babies." 

https://www.tttsfoundation.org/help_during_pregnancy/assessment.php

Hope this helps!  While it can always be helpful to increase your protein and nutrition in a multiple pregnancy, those boost and ensures have a lot of fat and calories and not really necessary for everyone.  I drank them for 6.5 weeks, yuck!

Eriksgal

My MFM has me drinking those but I just blend with fruit and ice to make a smoothie so they are tolerable.

amanda31H

MamaCrystal:

I started drinking Ensure sometime in 2nd tri because I had read about them in Dr. Luke's book.  Don't know if it made a difference, but I was induced with our girls at 37w6d and had no TTTS (though I also didn't have any early signs of it).

This (except we were 36 weeks 3 days).  I drank the vanilla ones, and would do it in the afternoon (couldn't stomach it in the morning).  I had a hard time with meat until mid second tri so this helped me get some extra protein in.

erinruns

My doctor wasn't convinced of it either, but I did drink them because it was often an easy way to get some protein and calories.

Desired11

My doctor at MFM suggested that I drink them at least 2-3 times per day due to starting to see it with my mo/di twins.  The fluid level was almost 9 in one and 2 in the other.  Within about 2-3 weeks it had leveled out to 6 and 5.  I'm not sure if it helped, but it def didn't cause any problems and it sure did look like it helped.  Thye don't taste too bad as long as they are ice cold.  I also drank Ensure.

omgtwinsfeb11

I didn't read all of the responses... but yes my MFM told me to drink Ensure.  I think the logic is not that it prevents TTTS but that it prevents the symptoms associated with TTTS.  Follow?  

He was telling me about babies who were born where they had TTTS but the weight discrepancy was not as severe when mom consumed high amounts of protein.  

 

 

HokieLaw

I was told to drink an Ensure a day by my MFM at my first appointment.  I've done that every day since.  I haven't developed any signs of TTTS, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.