1st MFM appt- not reassuring

festivus · February 2011

So had my 1st MFM appt this morning. I had been referred there by my regular OB due to a size discrepancy between my twins (which can happen later in pregnancy but seems to be more conerning to the docs this early in pregnancy). I was so hoping I would be reassured that there was nothing to worry about. While the doc did say there may not be anything to worry about, he said it all depended on whether the size discrepancy stays consistent or continues to grow. If it continues to grow, then it becomes a major issue. He then very matter of factly started talking about selective reduction as the treatment to prevent the demise of the other twin. I am trying not to think worst case scenario, but this is all so difficult to contemplate. I go back in 2 weeks for my 1st trimester screen. I would just like to be able to relax and enjoy this pregnancy (considering how long it took us to get here!), but that's easier said than done.

aprilsarahjune · February 2011

**comforting hugs** This twin pregnancy business (or any high risk pregnancy for that matter) is not for the faint of heart. This is my first pregnancy and it is not at all what I expected. While most mommas are debating issues like home births and whether to stop working at 38w, we are on bed rest and worrying about conditions an average woman has never really heard of.

This is just my curiosity ... Do your babies share a placenta? I see that you transferred 2 during IVF, so I suspect that they are fraternal with separate placentas (unless they fused very early). If they don't share a placenta, did the doc explain why he is worried about one baby's growth affecting the other's?

festivus · February 2011

Thanks for the hugs and the encouraging words!

To answer your question, there are 2 separate placentas. I think the concern about the smaller one impacting the larger one is slightly complicated and not specifically related to the growth of the larger one. If the discrepancy grows, that would indicate something is wrong with the smaller one. The concern is if things really go downhill and I m/c the smaller one... the later in pg that happens, the greater the risk to the surviving one. Honestly, though, I know this more from my own reading about vanishing twin syndrome than from anything the doctor explained. That is part of my annoyance at the doctor- everything was said so quickly without much of a chance to digest it, I couldn't even really wrap my brain around what he was saying to figure out what questions to ask.

aprilsarahjune · February 2011

I think that I would have been scared if the doctor had explained all of that at 10w. Especially in that way. It would have been enough for him to say, "We'll talk again in x weeks. If both babies are still developing, great. For right now, there is a risk of vanishing twin syndrome which means that one baby may not make it, but if it happens at this point, the other baby should be fine."

Not that I would want the MFM's job and not that I expect every doc to say things perfectly every time.

But for now, enjoy the fact that you are pregnant. You have two beautiful babies growing inside you

ijack · February 2011

Huge hugs! When I had my 2nd abruption at 23w and was admitted to the hospital and met with the MFM the first time it was horrible. He really just gave us an honest answer and it wasn't something we were expecting at all. I thought I was going to L&D for an u/s because it was Sunday, he told us that we needed to decide how far we wanted to take life saving measures because the odds weren't in our favor.

I'm sorry that you had to experience that, I think he's probably just trying to prepare you for what could happen, but hopefully he's wrong and everything will be okay. GL to you!

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