Triplet update

RobinR91

Hi everyone,

Sorry I've been MIA. I've been exhausted (I know you know what I mean) and working on end of school year craziness, AND I had a house guest who I was hiding my 10 week HUGE belly from. Lol. Anyway, here's what's up:

I went to the MFM for the first time last week. I love her! She explained the risks which I knew, but in NO WAY was pro SR (which was my unfounded fear). She did discover, however, that triplet A and B are most likely sharing chorion, which she said is a higher risk, but it could be fine. (85% its fine, 15% it is TTTS, does that sound about right to you?) I'm trying to remain as positive as possible. I wasn't too stressed, and I was really happy to see the little babies again. They had grown SO much since 5 days earlier! That's wild.

 SO the plan is to go back next week and see how things are growing. Hopefully all 3 will make it to healthy baby stage! I'm relieved that they all look normal, are making growth, and my MFM seems optimistic. I'm happy she's happy.

I'm concerned about my diet (I'm eating, but Dr Luke's book says I should be gaining 1.5 lbs per week...I'm gaining 1 lb per week). I'm a vegetarian, and I know how to eat "well" but 200 grams of protein a day seems UNATTAINABLE for me. She recommended a nutritionist, which I'm cool with, but I'd prefer a nutritionist who is familiar with multiples. Does anyone know how to find someone like that?

 That's all I have to share. I hope you are all doing wonderfully. I appreciate all the support and info on here! I read this board every day!

xoxo 

ardilla

I saw a nutritionist who was based in the hospital because I was on bedrest there (I only had twins though). Could you search https://www.americanpregnancy.org/members/nutritionists and see if any are close to you, and give them a call to see if they have experience with MoMs?

Glad to hear your trio is doing well!

pea-kay

I thought all three were sharing a chorion? They have to be if they're identical (and you did IVF.)

RobinR91

pea-kay:

I thought all three were sharing a chorion? They have to be if they're identical (and you did IVF.)

Ok, I'm thinking I'm confused. MH says the MFM said the two are sharing a placenta...doesn't the chorion help make up the placenta? I still have so much to learn. One baby (C) is all the way on the other side of the womb, by itself. The other two are RIGHT next two each other. She said they " obviously split very late because their amniotic sac division is much thinner than the other sacs, and that they appear to be sharing a _____" ...I thought she said Chorion and MH thinks placenta. Either way, the MFM seemed certain they were identical because they were all in the same gestational sac...we had no intercourse around IVF time, and transferred only one embryo. My RE alluded to the chorions starting out separate, and fusing later in the pregnancy...but again, I have a lot to learn.

pea-kay

Interesting. At this stage in the game, chorion=placenta=gestational sac. (the number of each always corresponds.)

Did she think two were sharing an amnion? But that's a lot riskier than the 15% chance of TTTS, so I'm guessing not. 

Even though all of mine shared a gestational sac/placenta, A&C had much thinner membranes separating them, so I figure B was part of the first split, and then the other half split to make A&C. So I'm guessing that's what is going on with you too.

Very interesting, all of this. I find it fascinating, so pardon the 20 Questions.

Mrs. Alice

Yay for a good appointment!  Yes, the chances of mono/di (or tri?) getting TTTS is about 15%.  Are only two sharing a chorion?  As far as the diet, I had no trouble gaining weight but I definitely wasn't getting enough protein in the beginning because I had a meat aversion for a while.  I only started drinking protein shakes (like boost and ensure) after they were diagnosed TTTS at 22 weeks.  We bought a big thing of protein powder and I would make milk shakes and smoothies.  Plus I started eating a little bit of red meat (I normally just eat poultry).

RobinR91

pea-kay:

Interesting. At this stage in the game, chorion=placenta=gestational sac. (the number of each always corresponds.)

Did she think two were sharing an amnion? But that's a lot riskier than the 15% chance of TTTS, so I'm guessing not. 

Even though all of mine shared a gestational sac/placenta, A&C had much thinner membranes separating them, so I figure B was part of the first split, and then the other half split to make A&C. So I'm guessing that's what is going on with you too.

Very interesting, all of this. I find it fascinating, so pardon the 20 Questions.

No, please, ask away. I clarified when I left. I have 1 gestational sac. Each baby has their own amniotic sac (so three) and one baby has its own chorion, and two babies are sharing one. I don't know what that makes me, (mono/tri/di...I haven't figured out what that means yet...sometimes zygocity, sometimes chorion or amniotic sac info) I'm looking forward to the end of m/s, because I can't eat ANY of the whey protein or luna bars like I used to as a regular vegetarian pre pregnancy. They make me puke immediately. I'm hoping lack of protein won't add to TTTS probability! There is so much to worry about, and I'm trying hard to stay off of Dr. Google. Pea-Kay---I talk about you to DH all the time. I keep saying, "she did it! She has three healthy adorable boys!" I know that the triplets not  having all of their own chorion(s?) makes them a higher risk, but I'm hoping that it too can be done, healthily. I'll learn. For all the triplet moms out there laughing at me--don't feel bad. I'm laughing at myself too. :-) I'll learn, but feel free to teach me.

pea-kay

RobinR91:

pea-kay:

Interesting. At this stage in the game, chorion=placenta=gestational sac. (the number of each always corresponds.)

Did she think two were sharing an amnion? But that's a lot riskier than the 15% chance of TTTS, so I'm guessing not. 

Even though all of mine shared a gestational sac/placenta, A&C had much thinner membranes separating them, so I figure B was part of the first split, and then the other half split to make A&C. So I'm guessing that's what is going on with you too.

Very interesting, all of this. I find it fascinating, so pardon the 20 Questions.

No, please, ask away. I clarified when I left. I have 1 gestational sac. Each baby has their own amniotic sac (so three) and one baby has its own chorion, and two babies are sharing one. I don't know what that makes me, (mono/tri/di...I haven't figured out what that means yet...sometimes zygocity, sometimes chorion or amniotic sac info) I'm looking forward to the end of m/s, because I can't eat ANY of the whey protein or luna bars like I used to as a regular vegetarian pre pregnancy. They make me puke immediately. I'm hoping lack of protein won't add to TTTS probability! There is so much to worry about, and I'm trying hard to stay off of Dr. Google. Pea-Kay---I talk about you to DH all the time. I keep saying, "she did it! She has three healthy adorable boys!" I know that the triplets not  having all of their own chorion(s?) makes them a higher risk, but I'm hoping that it too can be done, healthily. I'll learn. For all the triplet moms out there laughing at me--don't feel bad. I'm laughing at myself too. :-) I'll learn, but feel free to teach me.

Chorion = gestational sac, so you would have the same number of each (since it's basically the same thing.) Not sure what the doctor was talking about.

Just because they're all sharing a placenta doesn't mean anything will go wrong. As long as they monitor you often so that if anything does crop up, they'll be on top of it. We never had any complications due to the boys sharing a placenta.

angelfire02

Congrats on things going so well!   A 200 grams of protein a day diet is insane, I was told to try for 100 and I thought that was impossible!   I also bought protein powder and mixed it with ice cream into a shake.  It said you could mix it with water but it's so thick it's hard to even get it mixed in with the ice cream in a blender, I can't imagine just water.  Yuck!  I also ate a lot of black beans (in a cheese quesadilla) and more cheese.  Thank god I love cheese!  Good luck and so awesome to hear all the great news!