Multiples

Pregnant with quads

HI this is my first post and I thank you all in advance for your support. My husband and TTC for 2 years and went through IUI.  We recently found out we are pregnant with QUADS!  We both are so thankful for the pregnancy and also understand the great risks associated with quads. We have met with a specialist and are considering reduction down to twins. Its been so overwhelming - I feel like my head is still spinning.  

Our whole journey started with me experiencing a severe case of OHSS and having 4.5 liters of fluid drained.  I am still swollen and sick all the time.  Has anyone gone through reduction?  I'm worried about carrying all of them until week 12 or 13 before the procedure.

Any advice?  We're so thankful - and so overwhelmed! 

Re: Pregnant with quads

  • Congrats on the quads and the pregnancy.  I think selective reduction is a personal decision and ya'll just have to do what's right for ya'll.  It's going to be tough either way.  With prayer and communication, you and your husband will figure out what's best.  Good Luck!
    TTC Since Jan. 2011
    July 2011: Clomid 50mg- No ovulation
    Sept 2011: Clomid 100mg- No ovulation
    Nov 2011: Clomid 150mg- No ovulation
    Jan-Feb 2012: 150mg Clomid and 5 mg Femara w/ Orvidrel Shot- Ovulation!!
    Feb 2012: IUI #1- BFP
    Beta #1: 206
    Beta #2: 2496
    Feb 16: TWINS!!!
    June 13: Found out genders... Boy/Girl (Team Green)



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  • First, congrats on the pregancy. Second, my advice is to not take advice from anyone that hasn't been faced with that situation as I don't think any of us would know what we'd do unless we actually had to make the decision. When we had the IUI we had to sign a waiver that we'd consult for termination if it was quads or more - but in reality DH and I had no idea what we'd actually do.  Whichever path you take, I wish you the best of luck.

    *Siggy Warning*

    About me  2007: Started TTC. 2008: OB prescribed clomid, went to RE and was Dx with PCOS. 2009: IUI #1 w/follitsim and trigger = BFP. B/G Twins born at 33 weeks. 2012: TTC #3, Round 2 of Letrozole w/TI = BFP, missed m/c at 8 1/2 wks. Currently on the bench as we make plans for a new home. Anxious to start TTC #3 within the next year!

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  • Congrats! :)  I also think that SR is a personal choice, but just to let you know that it can be done, my cousin had quads who are now 18.  One is at Notre Dame, one at Marquette, one at Northwestern, and one at UW Madison.  :) 
    Lilypie Premature Baby tickers
  • First, Congratulations! Second, I don't have a lot of help with SR as I've never been faced with that decision. But knowing other quad mom's on this bored it can be done and they do, do it. I've also heard people say their medical team (maybe MFM or whoever) will push them toward it without having a medical reason to. I'm not sure of your medical situation so I can't tell you if you should or shouldn't have SR.

    Best of luck to you, and btw - how far along are you? 

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  • Good luck with whatever you decide. Do what is right for you and your family and don't let anyone else try to tell you what to do.
    Pregnancy Ticker BabyFetus Ticker
  • Congrats on the pregnancy! I have triplets. I always said that I would not do SR for the triplets, but not sure what my choice would have been had I had quads or more. I think the big things do think about aren't the number specifically but your health/risks of the pregnancy/and ultimately what you would think 20 years from now about your choice. Many people will never say "I did SR and am glad I did" because of the fear of public opinion. But if you were already going to be experiencing a high risk pregnancy with only one or two, and now there's four, then it's something to consider (a very likely outcome of you healthy with two healthy babies versus possibly losing one or all of them and yourself, etc).

    I recommend this: Talk to two different docs at least. Have them review your medical history. Ask them what they would do if they were you. Many REs will recommend SR because it makes their records look better (it's considered a failure on their part to have the result be higher order multiples- HOMs) and they look at it from that perspective rather than from your health and your decisions.

    Think about it financially - four sets of baby gear, diapers, college expenses, etc. 

    Think about it emotionally - can you live with your decision either way? If you choose not to and lose one or all and it could have been prevented would that have been better? If everything is textbook would you wonder 20 years from now "what if?"

    I don't think there is a right answer. There's the best answer for you and no one else can tell you what that is. If you want to keep them and your doctor disagrees, find one who will agree with you and has experience. And same the other way.

    Do you know if they are identical/fraternal yet?

    ~*~ Nikki ~*~ DS born 2/18/08! TTC #2 since 01/2009 11/01 Round #5 Clomid 100 mg, IUI 11/14, at 10dpiui 11/26 Beta:12dpiui 114 11/29 Beta:15dpiui 755 1/9/10 First U/S: TRIPLETS! 6/20/11 And then there were six... http://andbabiesmakesix.wordpress.com/ Lilypie Premature Baby tickers
  • I was originally pregnant with quads and lost the 4th baby at a few weeks. When the RE found all 4 they tried to talk us in to SR as did the 1st OB I saw. My husband and I talked about it and knew it was not an option for us we still greave our 4th. It is a personal choice that only you and your spouse can make. Also it does not always make your pregnancy any easier from what I read. I found this site recently and there are a few people who made the choice to reduce on there. 
    https://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/selective-reduction-termination-due-health-issues/
    I hope you can find the right choice for you. 
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  • Congrats! Give it time to settle in, and do lots of talking and soul searching.

    I can tell you when I started up with my RE they had me sign a paper about selective reduction. I wrote that I would not reduce unless it was more than quads.

    I ended up pregnant with triplets, and did not reduce. Even after 6 weeks on hospital bed rest and a month of them in the NICU, I wouldn't change a thing. I also would not want to reduce if I got pregnant with quads tomorrow. It is just not for me.

    Good luck.

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  • imagehunt2005:

    I recommend this: Talk to two different docs at least. Have them review your medical history. Ask them what they would do if they were you.

    Think about it emotionally - can you live with your decision either way? If you choose not to and lose one or all and it could have been prevented would that have been better? If everything is textbook would you wonder 20 years from now "what if?"

    I don't think there is a right answer. There's the best answer for you and no one else can tell you what that is. If you want to keep them and your doctor disagrees, find one who will agree with you and has experience. And same the other way.

    All of this.  I never thought I would consider reduction, but when we found out there were 3, I felt I needed to educate myself about the reality of our situation and the option of reduction if that meant the best outcome for the babies. 

    The first MFM we saw was very pro-reduction, and I was a complete and utter disaster after the appointment.  I went for a second opinion, who was much more about it being a choice rather than a medical necessity, and was supportive of whichever decision we would have made.  I realized then that I had sought a second opinion because I did not want to reduce- if that had been the right choice, the first MFM would have been able to convince me.  I was looking for someone who would tell me it could be ok if we decided to keep them all. 

    That being said, that was my personal experience.  For many other people, the risks outweigh the benefits of keeping them and those people end up happy with their decision to reduce.  There is nothing wrong with either answer.  Educate yourself on the realities of the risks, and then look into your heart.  I beleive you and DH will know what the right answer is for you.  Good luck. 

    Me: 31 DH: 30
    Dx DOR (AMH .49), Stage 3/4 Endo, Septate Uterus
    After 2 years, numerous tests, abdonimal surgery, and 2 IVF cycles, we are so grateful to be expecting.
    Transferred 2 "perfect" 8-cell embies 6/12. Beta 1 6/25: 472! Beta 2 6/27: 1055!
    First u/s shows TRIPLETS! WHAT?!?! Both embies stuck and one split. OMG

    Levi, Henry, and Amelia were born healthy at 34w3d.
  • I just had quads in March! I also did IUI. We were also talked to about selective reduction and could not do it. It's a very personal decision. If you do decide to continue with the pregnancy feel free to message me about any questions about the pregnancy and after. Good luck with whatever you decide! 
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  • I am 31 weeks with triplets.  When we found out, the RE suggested reduction.  We knew it wasn't for us, and were warned that the MFM would try to sway us that way.  He never mentioned it even once.  

    I knew I couldn't reduce. For me the decision was easy. With reduction I would lose a baby, and could still lose the others. Without reduction, I could lose a baby or all of them. One was a definite, the other was a maybe. I chose the maybe.

    I will say, that when I hit 24 weeks, my OB confessed to me that she didn't think I'd make it b/c I'm short and thin.

    Nobody thought I'd make it as far as I have, and my babies are healthy. It feels so special and amazing to feel them inside of me. I know that none of us can make the decision for you, only you and your hubby know what you can and cannot live with. Do research, get the Dr. Luke book, consider your height, your health, other stories of Quads, etc.

    Congratulations :) 

    BabyFetus Ticker
  • imagemummyofsix:
    imageytterp:

    With reduction I would lose a baby, and could still lose the others. Without reduction, I could lose a baby or all of them. One was a definite, the other was a maybe. I chose the maybe.

    Even though you know this already, I cant read this and not say: OBVIOUSLY this is not the whole real deal of SR. Its not just about reducing/ losing babies. Its also about the enormous risks to both Mom and babies that increase exponentially with each additional fetus. So yeah, reduction IS a definite loss of a fetus, but it is also a lowered incidence of many risks, a longer gestation, less chance of CP, etc etc. And thats 'just' triplets to twins, I imagine its even more so with quadruplets. Otherwise, no one would do it. 

     

    Certainly! It was just my thought process, I really wasn't concerned with my personal health. As for the other issues, I still felt that it was a risk either way, and only one way had a guaranteed outcome.  

    BabyFetus Ticker
  • Thank you ALL so much for your insight and support!!  We're still very early... just approaching 8 weeks (on Tuesday). There is still a good change nature will also have an impact on the situation.  I have felt very comfortable with our doctors thus far, no pressure - very straight forward about the risks and benefits.  They're building a really great team around us which has been amazing. 

    Hearing from all of you helps tremendously!  We haven't shared the great news of being pregnant with very many people since it's still so early (our parents a one or two really close friends) but other than that no one knows.  It's been a big challenge because I've been feeling so sick and out of sorts.  Really helps and is very appreciated to be able to share this with you all and gain your support!  Thank you!

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