MoMs that were watched for twin growth discrepancy...

mrsg052904 · September 2011

Hi ladies. Any personal experience or insight you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Today, I had a growth u/s and the discrepancy is now 20%. My doctor said he gets concerned at 25% and delivers at 30%. My question for you ladies is, if you were being closely monitored for growth discrepancy, did you deliver early due to the issue? If so, please share your experience.

I am now going to be monitored 2x per week. My dr wants to keep an eye on this and my BP (has started to creep up).

Thanks to anyone who can share info.

RedWingsFan · September 2011

I was monitored twice a week for similar issues (along with contractions and HBP) when M (my daughter) started dropping off in growth around 30 weeks or so. Like your doctor, our OB was not too concerned until the growth discrepancy got past 20%.

I ended up delivering at 36w6d, but due to pree and M's cord flow was severely compromised, which explained her drop in growth rate. Those last 6 weeks, M at half the rate of E (or maybe even less). They ended up being a pound apart at birth, and DD is still about two pounds lighter than DS (and a good inch or two shorter).

Especially with fraternal twins, our OB said they are not any different than two singletons born at different times - I think this is true in our case for sure. M is built like me, and E is built more like his dad.

Good luck!

Mrs. Alice · September 2011

I had other issues as well, but my MFM wanted to deliver when baby A reached around 5th percentile. They weren't as concerned with the difference between them as they were with the IUGR of baby A.

mrsg052904 · September 2011

RedWingsFan:
I was monitored twice a week for similar issues (along with contractions and HBP) when M (my daughter) started dropping off in growth around 30 weeks or so. Like your doctor, our OB was not too concerned until the growth discrepancy got past 20%.

I ended up delivering at 36w6d, but due to pree and M's cord flow was severely compromised, which explained her drop in growth rate. Those last 6 weeks, M at half the rate of E (or maybe even less). They ended up being a pound apart at birth, and DD is still about two pounds lighter than DS (and a good inch or two shorter).

Especially with fraternal twins, our OB said they are not any different than two singletons born at different times - I think this is true in our case for sure. M is built like me, and E is built more like his dad.

Good luck!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I appreciate it. I am glad my doctor isn't concerned, but as a Mom, it's hard not to get upset. I'm just glad I will be checked 2x per week. On top of this, I've been on BR for 8 weeks due to shortened cervix and contractions. It's just one more thing to watch out for and I have a feeling these babies are coming before 37 weeks.

missfire · September 2011

My docs watched the growth curve for each baby. Lily was under the 10th percentile from the beginning (well, from 20 weeks, when we had our first ultrasound and discovered it was twins). They were always worried about her, and after about 34 or 35 weeks her growth did slow, but it was only one of the factors that lead to a 37-week c-section (which isn't too early as it is).

flutepharm87 · September 2011

We were closely monitored for growth discrepancies. As my pregnancy progressed, they started getting farther and farther apart. At the most, there was a 21.3% difference between the 2. But as things got even further along, things started evening out. There was a 6oz difference between the 2 of them at birth.

Try not to stress out. There's not much you can do to even out the difference. Take heart in the fact that your doctor is watching you closely and will make the best decision for you and your babies. GL!

kelliwill · September 2011

Yes. My girls shared a placenta and so this was an issue for us. Baby B pretty much stopped growing around 30 weeks. We delivered at 36 weeks by c-section because of it. Baby B (Grace) had IUGR and was 4 lbs 3 oz at birth. Baby A (Ava) was 5 lbs 2 oz at birth and no NICU time. Grace was in the NICU while we were at the hospital. Part of me wonders if we should have delivered earlier than we did but my peri never gave me that option. He was pretty set on getting me to 36 weeks. Grace is still smaller than her sister and this makes them look different even though they are ID. Towards the end of the pregnancy I was seeing the peri every week.

RedWingsFan · September 2011

mrsg052904:
RedWingsFan:

I was monitored twice a week for similar issues (along with contractions and HBP) when M (my daughter) started dropping off in growth around 30 weeks or so. Like your doctor, our OB was not too concerned until the growth discrepancy got past 20%.

I ended up delivering at 36w6d, but due to pree and M's cord flow was severely compromised, which explained her drop in growth rate. Those last 6 weeks, M at half the rate of E (or maybe even less). They ended up being a pound apart at birth, and DD is still about two pounds lighter than DS (and a good inch or two shorter).

Especially with fraternal twins, our OB said they are not any different than two singletons born at different times - I think this is true in our case for sure. M is built like me, and E is built more like his dad.

Good luck!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I appreciate it. I am glad my doctor isn't concerned, but as a Mom, it's hard not to get upset. I'm just glad I will be checked 2x per week. On top of this, I've been on BR for 8 weeks due to shortened cervix and contractions. It's just one more thing to watch out for and I have a feeling these babies are coming before 37 weeks.

Our situations sound almost identical! I was on strict bedrest from 26w on and hospitalized for two weeks during that time (due to contractions, shortened cervix - I was on Nifedipine every 4 hours during that time to help relax my uterus), and didn't deliver until 36w6d. I never went into labor though - the emergency c-section was due to the pre-e and M's cord.

You are so close to the end, and I know bedrest sucks, but hang in there and it will be worth it in the end!!!

lovebugkim · September 2011

I was being monitored pretty much all along for this as well once my MFM ruled out TTTS. My baby A was always bigger than baby B and I would go weekly for BPP's, Growth Scans, & NST's. At every appointment though, the babies always looked good according to my MFM so there were never any restrictions. Baby B did have IUGR, but my MFM always assured me that as long as he looked good they would keep them in there. From the beginning, I was told I wouldn't go past 36 weeks and I had them at 36.6 weeks. Baby A was 5.4 and had no NICU time and Baby B was 4.4 and stayed in the NICU the 4 days we were in the hospital.

As for percentiles, mine were at about 12% during those last couple of weeks and my MFM said that if they got below 10% then they would take them.

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