New Here-How did you survive pregnancy with Triplets

PrettyAccountant · January 2012

Hi Everyone,

I am new here (to this board - I was on IF for a while). I am carrying triplets and honestly am scared out of my mind about the risks of this pregnancy. I have a great set of drs and once they set out what my risks were - I freaked. I did IVF and originally they thought only 2 implanted, then they saw the third but thought I was miscarrying one. Now at almost 12 weeks all 3 are measuring a day behind (dr is not worried) and all have super strong heartbeats. The RE never for a moment thought all 3 would implant.

I am 39 years old, I have some significant sized fibroids, I am also a pre-pregnant diabetic (well controlled) and take a pill for high blood pressure (mostly well controlled). I trust and believe in G-d but am still scared out of my mind.

I know every women pregnant with triplets (or twins) carries a higher risk of something going wrong but how did you handle the stress? I could break down and cry at times because I am so scared.

Any advice?

TIA

Rachel

Mrs_MBed · January 2012

I'm "only" carrying twins, but have had many breakdown/crying moments over this pregnancy. I have been trying to take it one day at a time and that seems to help.

GL and congrats on your pg! Wishing you a happy and healthy 9 months

sgarcia1483 · January 2012

Hi Rachel,

I too am carrying triplets and we are exactly 1 week apart I'd love to stay in touch with you if you want!!

I have had my times of crying and being scared. It think it comes with the territory though. Best thing to do is try to keep your stress level down and take a lot of deep breaths. I've found that helps me. Also we have already started getting things done for the babies. Examples: our nursery is painted already. This weekend we are assembling cribs. We already did our registry. It seems to help me be less anxious if I can check things off my list. Maybe go get a pedicure if you like those

The thing I find myself most scared about it the NICU. I'm trying to educate myself as much as possible on that area.

PM me if you want to

Sara

kaysmommyof2 · January 2012

First off CONGRATS!!! I am also expecting Trip's and let me tell you, we only thought there were twins till 19 weeks and then found out SURPRISE there are THREE... SOOO I have had about 2 months of PURE FREAK out...LOL... I have been Super lucky and even though I have A LOT of risk's going against me we have yet to run into a complication, except for the simple fact at 27 weeks they are starting to run out of room and cause a LOT of annoying discomfort...LOL I will say the best thing for me is I have my best friend on Speed Dial... The Hubby understands to a point but some times you just need a woman's shoulder to cry on!!!

Be prepared for LOTS of Dr. Appointment's and LOTS of ultrasounds the baby books will fill up QUICK with U/S pic's!!!

Best of luck and if you have ANY questions PLEASE feel free to get ahold of me!!!

Sending MANY thoughts and prayer's your way to make it to 35 weeks!!!!

pea-kay · January 2012

It is scary and stressful. But I regret not enjoying my pregnancy more, worrying so much about what *could* go wrong. I can't tell you how not to worry, but if you can try to let go of some of it, you should.

The further along I got, the less stressed I was. Once I could feel them moving (which for me wasn't until 21-22 weeks) my stress level went way down. I rented a doppler at one point for peace of mind. That helped a lot. I got the kind with a digital readout so I could differentiate the different heartrates.

Good luck and welcome!

GypsyEsq · January 2012

Hi Sara and Rachel - I'm just ahead of you both. It is scary isn't it? I can empathize with all you're feeling. I've had many moments of complete breakdown and I haven't had the scares you've had Rachel! There's a lot of daunting information out there but I have to say that my OB and MFM have been really supportive and really encouraging. We're all aware of the bad outcomes and they've been honest with me but they are very supportive and have encouraged me to think positively and to plan for take home babies. This has helped me immensely.

I've also broken this pregnancy down into smaller chunks. Getting to the NT scan, then to my first cervical length check, then to the big u/s and then the 24 week mark. If I think too far ahead I get panicky. I haven't set up my nursery yet, and am unlikely to for a while given the constrains of our current house, but I've started planning their room. And talking to friends who will eventually be lending us baby gear.

I think in many ways normalizing this pregnancy by talking about it has helped me. I've also joined a FB group for triplet mom's and read the forums at TC often, enough to know that while there are many bad outcomes there are also a lot of good outcomes. Stick around here, there are plenty of supportive triplet moms on this board who can guide us through.

ougrad1 · January 2012

Hang in there hon. I am also an "older" MoM and it is scary. I really can appreciate my mom now. I truly believe that God wouldn't give you more than you can handle. Hold on and *try* to enjoy the ride....you have been blessed three times over. You're going to do fantastic...you really, truly will. Congrats on your pregnancy-well deserved.

ougrad1 · January 2012

kaysmommyof2:
First off CONGRATS!!! I am also expecting Trip's and let me tell you, we only thought there were twins till 19 weeks and then found out SURPRISE there are THREE...

How did that happen? Surely you were getting more u/s because of the twins...how did they not catch #3 until 19 weeks? That's insane.

ougrad1 · January 2012

mummyofsix:
I am right behind you, also with triplets. I have been absolutely beyond terrified for the last few weeks as well, I think mostly from the sheer shock. Right now I am trying not to focus too much on any one thing, and trying to get excited about the positive part of it all. I am way more scared of how its going to be after they are born than the pregnancy, even though I know the risks etc.
I have twins and I felt the same way about having twins at this point as well, so I am hoping it gets better this time like it did with them.
Congratulations!

I do believe we have found our new super mom-twins then, trips? Wowzers!!!

pea-kay · January 2012

ougrad1:
kaysmommyof2:
First off CONGRATS!!! I am also expecting Trip's and let me tell you, we only thought there were twins till 19 weeks and then found out SURPRISE there are THREE...
How did that happen? Surely you were getting more u/s because of the twins...how did they not catch #3 until 19 weeks? That's insane.

that actually happened to another triplet mom i know. here:

https://www.threeleggedrace.us/18-weeks/

AND, i remember reading about a quad mom who thought she was having triplets until almost her third trimester!

ougrad1 · January 2012

pea-kay:
ougrad1:
kaysmommyof2:
First off CONGRATS!!! I am also expecting Trip's and let me tell you, we only thought there were twins till 19 weeks and then found out SURPRISE there are THREE...
How did that happen? Surely you were getting more u/s because of the twins...how did they not catch #3 until 19 weeks? That's insane.
that actually happened to another triplet mom i know. here:
https://www.threeleggedrace.us/18-weeks/
AND, i remember reading about a quad mom who thought she was having triplets until almost her third trimester!

That is crazy!!!!

Shelby425 · January 2012

Congrats on the babies! We found out on our second u/s that one embryo split and triplets are on the way! We were shocked and still are. I tend to be a very anxious person so I am just thinking about the things I can control right now like eating right and getting enough rest. I think if I focused on the other things I would go crazy. Actually I went for an u/s today and was able to see the membrane between the identicals which is a HUGE relief as there was a question about them being monoamniotic. Good luck!!!!

LALASEPT05 · January 2012

I had 'only' twins but like others have said I was on one hand happy to have two children from one IVF but on the other hand terrified that one or all of us wouldn't make it. I also agree with others who said that they really didn't spend time enjoying their pregnancy because they were so focused and worried. I really never thought about how it would be to care for twins because all I was focused on was staying pregnant as long as possible. There are a lot of amazing triplet MoM's here who've made it far into pregnancy. I think the key is really taking it easy and staying off your feet and of course eating well and drinking lots of water. If you have a job that has you on your feet...think about ways to get a light load or desk assignment...if you have a commute that requires standing, think about driving. Just any thing you can do to reduce your time up on your feet I say do it. Hang in there...you and your babies can make it through! All the best to you during the rest of your pregnancy.

GypsyEsq · January 2012

mummyofsix:

I am right behind you, also with triplets. I have been absolutely beyond terrified for the last few weeks as well, I think mostly from the sheer shock. Right now I am trying not to focus too much on any one thing, and trying to get excited about the positive part of it all. I am way more scared of how its going to be after they are born than the pregnancy, even though I know the risks etc.

I have twins and I felt the same way about having twins at this point as well, so I am hoping it gets better this time like it did with them.

Congratulations!

Congrats! Perhaps a screenname change is in order? Seriously I was right where you are a few weeks ago (minus the six existing LOs) and beyond terrified is a good way to describe it. We too are choosing to focus more on the "babies are here" time versus the pregnancy but I can't say that really alleviates the terror too much.

ougrad1 · January 2012

mummyofsix:
ougrad1:
mummyofsix:
I am right behind you, also with triplets. I have been absolutely beyond terrified for the last few weeks as well, I think mostly from the sheer shock. Right now I am trying not to focus too much on any one thing, and trying to get excited about the positive part of it all. I am way more scared of how its going to be after they are born than the pregnancy, even though I know the risks etc.
I have twins and I felt the same way about having twins at this point as well, so I am hoping it gets better this time like it did with them.
Congratulations!
I do believe we have found our new super mom-twins then, trips? Wowzers!!!
I definitely don't think "super mom" is the right word for it, I have spent more time crying and freaking out over the last few weeks than even the most nervous FTM. I think supermoms would be way more cool.....

Hey, we all have our moments. Go down and read my post from last night...you're pretty "super" in my eyes! Hang in there!

ETA-how old are your kiddos?

HazelEyes730 · January 2012

Congrats on the pregnancy! I have these overwhelming feelings all the time and I'm having tins not trips. It's hard. I'm trying to set goals and take one day at a time.

lnle · January 2012

Zoloft. And no, I'm not being snarky. I started Zoloft after my first IVF failed and I'm still on it. They allowed me to stay on it throughout the pregnancy b/c they said it was better to keep my anxiety/depression under control.

just take it one day at a time!

PianoPlayingSarah · January 2012

Congrats on your pregnancy! I took it one day at a time. My pregnancy before my triplets ended with a stillborn baby at 40+ weeks with no explanation for what happened. And then at 17 weeks, I find out that I am pregnant with 3 babies sharing 1 placenta and Baby B has spina bifida. Yeah, I was VERY nervous. I broke down the day into parts. I would concentrate on making it through the morning, then the afternoon, evening and then the night.

Eriksgal · January 2012

Congrats! Always exciting to have another triplet mom on here! I agree with the others-take it one day at a time. I was so freaked in the beginning but I relaxed a lot mid way through the 2 nd tri. I had a relatively easy pregnancy for carrying triplets. Things got a little dicey at the end with pre e, etc but I would totally do it all over again! Once you hit 20-25 weeks it will start to get hard to do everyday things like trips to the grocery store, cleaning, etc so my advice is to make sure you have help from your husband, family and friends. Don't be shy asking for help and taking people up on it when they offer! The best thing you can do is to take good care of yourself and those babies so don't stress yourself out with having to get everything done around the house, etc.

hunt2005 · January 2012

PianoPlayingSarah:
Yeah, I was VERY nervous. I broke down the day into parts. I would concentrate on making it through the morning, then the afternoon, evening and then the night.

Totally this. Especially when I was on hospital bedrest from PTL and having contractions every 10 minutes all day long. I would go to bed exhausted, hoping it'd be over soon. Get up for the day and just hope to make it to lunch. Then by the time I took a nap I'd wake up and have crossed the halfway point for the day and think, "I can make it till tomorrow morning. I don't want to have these babies come in the middle of the night." And I'd make it through another day.

But honestly, when you get stressed/exhausted/to the end of your wits, accept that, embrace it, and tell someone. I wouldn't have gotten through it without my diary to let out all the bad thoughts and emotions, and my husband to help pick me up after a particularly stressful day. Whether it's a husband, a friend, a sister, a mother, whoever it is for you - use them. They won't mind. And it'll help you get to the end still mostly sane

kaysmommyof2 · February 2012

o.k. first trip's to quads HOLY WOW... and I went in for an ultrasound at 11 weeks to prove to my Insurance YES I was pregnant and NO I'm not trying to scam out of money and the tech THOUGHT she saw a third baby but pushed it aside.... and in between ALL of that and trying to get in with my Dr. and both of our schedules I finally saw, my doc. at 15 almost 16 weeks, and then there was a lot of back and forth with all the U/S techs one didn't want to do it for some reason.. my Dr. and I still scratch our head as to why, and then I guess they needed a referral but it wasn't in the system so then they faxed it in... SOOO needless to say it took a good chunk of time just to get in for my in depth twin u/s and I remember the look on the techs face when she started counting LOL... NOW i have U/S at every appointment.. which starting on Friday is once a week...LOL.. So that is my crazy pregnancy story...LOL

floridakat · February 2012

I'm a twin momma, but I was 38 when I delivered, and also had three good sized fibroids. The fibroids didn't cause a problem, but they did help eliminate my chances for a vaginal birth as my doc said they could cause a problem with compressing the cords during contractions. I was disappointed, but much more interested in healthy babies, so I got used to the idea of a C-section early on. Neither girl was ever head down during the entire pregnancy, so it wouldn't have happened for me anyway.

I had a very uneventful pregnancy and was able to work full time until the day before I delivered at 37w5d. I did develop pre-E at the very end and had my C-section five days before it was scheduled. But my age and my fibroids didn't prevent me from having a wonderful pregnancy!

Good luck and congratulations!

LilCarciofo · February 2012

sorry for another late reply

triplets keep ya busy!! i also was a nervous wreck, but did things early like the previous posters said...and make sure you have a great support system, i couldnt have done it w/o the support of my mom and hubby!!! congrats x3!!!

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