CVS/Amnio?

mrsjami

Hi Ladies,

I will be 9 weeks tomorrow and going to my OBGYN next week to discuss cvs/amnio. I'm 37 and had my last loss due to Trisomy 18, so I'm more inclined to do one or the other. However, with twins I'm even more nervous.  Please respond if you did either and what your experience was.

solarflare

Hi there,

I am a consistent lurker on the Multiples board, but have yet to make an intro!

In any case, I had a CVS recently so I thought I'd share this since it's hard to find twin CVS experiences.

We decided to do CVS because of my age and we are both need-to-know type people. The CVS was the more appealing option because it was earlier. I did it at 12 weeks. The miscarriage risk was the same for CVS/amnio - 1/300. I asked for a doctor that specialized in CVS with twins and got a great doc who has done tons of them. This was important in making me feel confident.

Because of the placement, I had one trans-cervically and the other trans-abdominally. It wasn't pleasant but I wouldn't call it painful. I focused on breathing deeply and consistently and staring at the ceiling.  I think the whole process including the very intensive ultrasound was about an hour. I rested for 2 days after, did have some spotting and a brown clump of something 3 days after, but spoke with an advice nurse and all was normal. Just saw the twins jumping around 1.5 weeks ago! So, my results took a full 2 weeks to come in, and gratefully they were normal. Going through the procedure was psychologically challenging but I am so glad we chose to do it, and the peace of mind is very worth it to me. 

mrsjami

So glad you had good results! I know it's going to freak me out, but after my last pregnancy I think it's a must for me. I'm surprised they gave you same risk for both procedures, I thought CVS was higher? In any case, congrats!!! I pray for the same.

solarflare

mrsjami:

So glad you had good results! I know it's going to freak me out, but after my last pregnancy I think it's a must for me. I'm surprised they gave you same risk for both procedures, I thought CVS was higher? In any case, congrats!!! I pray for the same.

With my practice, CVS and Amnio had the same risk...however it really does depend on the individual practice. CVS can also be slightly higher because it is done earlier, and miscarriages also naturally happen around that time more often so the results can sometimes be skewed. However, amnio is an older practice, but at my place, they do so much CVS as well. It's really a good idea to ask for a doctor that's done MANY of them. My place also had a newbie, and I specifically requested not to have them.

I wish you all the best and hang in there! I think you could get a CVS starting around week 11. Keep us posted.

millerlm

During our 1st trimester scan, baby A had a high nuchal fold measurement so we decided to do the CVS. I called around to the best MFMs in our area and asked all my questions. It was pretty limited because many won't do CVS on twins at least in my city. One office told me they don't really track their rates....Uh bye bye. Stopped that call right there. My doc had a very similar miscarriage rate among CVS and amnio also 1/900. I also asked how many they had done total and how many on twins and how many years they had been doing them. I decided to do the CVS on both babies and they turned out perfectly healthy so it was a great experience for me. It was uncomfortable but not painful. Cramping for about 48 hrs afterward but no biggie. Just take it easy. Most importantly, find the doc you feel most comfortable with. Good luck!!