mono/mono twins | Imamother

Dolly Welsh

Thu, Dec 22 2011, 5:23 pm

Stressing a pregnant lady isn't good. Maybe that cost isn't worth the information gained by the cervical wanding. Ask the doctor. What they measure, they may also disturb. As for the other things, you seem to have excellent care. Others have done fine with this. B'sha'a Tova.

↑ life'sgreat ↓

Thu, Dec 22 2011, 6:00 pm

amother wrote:

op here-

Thanks all for your responses.

Im just curious-at my last ultrasound (L2) they did an over-the-belly one to see the babies but also an internal ultrasound to measure my cervix (dont with a long wand). It was extremely painful! I have to go back every two weeks for an L2 to monitor for TTTS and Im wondering if I have to get the internal as well every two weeks. Have any of you had experience with this? I know its probably important that they measure my cervix in case it gets any shorter but I really dont relish the idea of having this done to me every two weeks. help!

Are you with a high risk doctor? My doctor said the cervix can be measured via belly ultrasound and didn't didn't do internals. It can be very painful when you're so big to begin with. Are they just measuring cervix when doing the internals?

↑ tikva18 ↓

Thu, Dec 22 2011, 8:29 pm

amother wrote:

I had fraternal not mono, but I don't remember the dr. doing internals until I had started having pre-term labor. I do recall them observing via ultrasound. After pre-term labor (which for me is around 26-28wks) I had internals every visit, I think. Huh, funny how memories get hazy.

Kumphort

Thu, Dec 22 2011, 9:37 pm

I really can not remember how often I had trans-vaginal ultrasounds, but that's because they weren't that big of a deal for me, one thing that the technician did which was helpful was to let me insert it in myself, and then she took over the scanning.

Talk to your doc to see what they plan on doing, and what they can do to accommodate you

↑ tikva18 ↓

Thu, Dec 22 2011, 10:11 pm

Kumphort wrote:

They wouldn't do a transvaginal ultrasound on me unless I was the one inserting the wand.

↑ amother ↓

Fri, Dec 23 2011, 1:38 am

thanks everyone for your insights!

Im pretty sure all they are measuring is the length of my cervix. The tech saw how uncomfortable I was so she just took pictures of my cervix, and measured it based on that, so that it could be as short as possible.

Im not with a high risk doctor at the moment. My OB has experience with twins, and so far im very comfortable and happy with him. He sent me for a consult at an MFM and told me that its okay if I want to switch, The MFM said I should stick with my doctor, he knows him (they did their residency together), Ill only switch if C"V some complication arises.

Lifes great- I will ask my doctor on MOnday if they can measure my cervix over the belly. good idea. maybe this is all really unnecessary.

Dolly -good points. I will ask my dr on monday

tsm-did they do internal US for you as well, every two weeks?

Im not sure how I feel about inserting the wand myself. I know it makes more sense, but im such a prude when it comes to these things!!! embarrassed

↑ tikva18 ↓

Fri, Dec 23 2011, 9:34 am

amother wrote:

The reason, I think, why my dr's office insisted on me inserting the wand was because if they do it it could be considered a violation of your body. Only you know where to put it so it feels okay, so it doesn't hurt. It's inappropriate for someone else to put it there.

↑ amother ↓

Sun, Dec 25 2011, 11:24 am

hmmm, that sounds interesting but I dont really know if I agree. they put plenty of things there throuhgout pregnancy (and even at regular visits not related to pregnancy) that aren't considered an invasion -why would an US wand be any different?

Mommzy

Thu, Jan 26 2012, 2:52 am

I had mono mono twins 18 months ago---
Vaginal birth is NOT an option due to cord entanglement...
When they delivered my girls, their cords were so tangled it looked like a challah-
there were TONS of doctors in the delivery room taking photos of the cord for their medical journals...

The SECOND my doc found out they were mono mono I was put on bed rest at the hospital and monitored 24/7 until scheduled delivery..
Not to scare you, but if you are not being monitored, you will have NO idea if babies go into distress which is a HUGE risk---

In fact, mono mono twins have a 50% mortality rate if NOT monitored up until birth...

Tell your OB to GET ON IT and do research, because this is so rare your doc probably dosn't realize the risk mine didnt until she sent me to a specialist).

BH, my girls were born PERFECT via C section (all my other kids were 100% natural) --
good luck and PM me for any mono mono support you may need!!!!

↑ chavamom

Thu, Jan 26 2012, 8:44 pm

When I worked at a hospital where this was the policy, we monitored from 24 weeks to 32 or 34? After that point the babies were so big that the risk of cord entanglement was low. But yes, they would then deliver by scheduled c/sec.

↑ amother ↓

Thu, Jan 26 2012, 9:07 pm

hi mommzy,

thanks for your post. I dont know if you read the rest of the thread, but it actually turns out that they're mono-di, BH, which is much less of a risk. I probably should change the title of the post.

My doctor was actually aware of the risk but Bh it hasn't come to that. Im actually still being monitored with ultrasounds (over the belly and vaginal-ouch!) every 2 weeks, because there's still a risk of TTTS but all is good so far and hopefully it will stay that way till the end iyH:)

thanks for the information! enjoy your little girls. Smile

↑ amother ↓

Thu, Jan 26 2012, 10:23 pm

amother wrote:

M

I am currently pregant with Di/Di twins and have been having vaginal checks every two weeks to check my cervix. I recently ended up hospitalized and on bed rest because my cervix has shrunk to a dangerous level for pre term labor. It may be uncomfortable but if it will keep the babies inside you longer it is definitely worth it.

↑ amother ↓

Thu, Jan 26 2012, 10:36 pm

oh man! how much do they hurt? The worst is when the technician says that I should be feeling "pressure"- I just want to scream that I know the difference between pressure and pain, and that's pain! Exploding anger

but in all seriousness, I realize how important it is and I knwo its worth it. Bh my cervix is still at a healthy length and Im just praying that it stays that way (for as long as it should) At how many weeks did they put you on bedrest? how are you managing?

Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy and birth. Hope all goes smoothly from hereon out!

↑ amother ↓

Fri, Jan 27 2012, 8:59 am

amother wrote:

I am not sure why the vaginal checks are hurting you so much. My technician hands me the wand under the sheet I insert it and she takes over. Maybe if you sit in a different position it will not hurt as much. It has never been uncomfortable or painful for me. I managed to make it to 28 weeks with no cervix problems and since then it's been getting shorter and shorter so now I'm on bed rest which is not fun but will hopefully get me to at least 36 weeks which is our goal.