my news: IUD 'missing' + 6wk identical (poss. momo) twins. HELP!

[miraculous2]

Hello,

Did first pregnancy tests a week ago - shocked at the +ives because I've had a copper coil (IUD) in for four years. So I check and can't find it.

First scan today reveals twins, and unclear evidence of whereabouts of the IUD.

The IUD - midwife reckons it's 'out of harm's way' if what she thought she saw was it lying to the bottom of my uterus. Ob-gyn says leave it be - possibly because it's more risky to try getting it out of there. Only trouble is, in the excruciatingly long week of waiting for the scan to find it, I found out that leaving it in (the uterus) makes for a 50-60% chance of miscarriage in 2nd trimester. Anybody know anything about this stuff?

The twins - well, apart from the utter shock of falling pregnant with (I thought) an IUD, now there's two babies! Midwife reckons they're identical and described them to the ob-gyn as MCMA, as in monochorionic-monoamniotic BUT had clearly said during the internal scan she saw two yolk-sacs (but no amniotic membrane between them). If all that were true, it would make the three of us little short of a freak show. What's going on here? Are they identical? Are they momo or mono-di?

Obviously I've got a lot of risk flying around in here, and I'd just rather have some honest evaluations of how flimsy or otherwise my chances are of keeping these babies alive and healthy. It's instantly become the thing that matters the most. And I got the feeling there was a lot going unsaid in the words 'it's very early stages'.

Honest but gentle, please. My hormones are through the roof.

Thanks x

[defineme]

I'm sorry I'm not an expert. But I did have twins and from the moment they were conceived (ivf) every dr conversation involved the words high risk. Statistically twins are just much more high risk and so that's what all the focus is on. I didn't relax for 35 weeks until they came out healthy.
Hopefully other better informed people will be around soon.
I'm pleased this is a happy accident and keeping my fingers crossed for you .

[Clobbered]

Congratulations!
That 50-60% miscarriage rate sounds way too high to be true - where did you get that from? I'd trust your midwife and Ob-gyn and leave well alone.
It's probably a bit too soon to tell for sure whether the twins are mono or di - when's your next scan?
Friend of mine had twins and was freaked out by all the 'high risk' stuff because she's a Dr, but they were all fine. Remember people love to tell you all the horror stories they know, but there are loads of healthy twins out there.
There's very little you can do to influence the outcome at this stage, other than being kind to yourself, eating well and staying as healthy as you can manage. Take it all a day at a time and enjoy being pregnant! Good luck

[miraculous2]

Thank you, kind people. I am ecstatic to be mum to these two little miracles, despite the fear and shock!

Next scan in 2 weeks. I'll try to stay cool and stop reading so much until then!

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

I got pregnant with an IUD supposedly in place and got the impression at the time that it was a common occurrence - 1991.

We were ecstatic to be having no.3, my doctor was emphatic that attempting to remove the coil was far more risky than leaving it in place.
It came out embedded in the placenta, after a normal, uneventful pregnancy. They wouldn't let me keep it (the coil)!

Not sure if any of that helps, and can't help with the twins questions.

I hope everything works out for you, try and relax is a good plan.

Congratulations, very exciting

[miraculous2]

Thank you Bewitched...

Midwife said she's known of a baby coming out HOLDING THE IUD!!! Presumably grabbed hold after the sac burst.

If it doesn't come out during the birth a) it's not in there at all and my body's expelled it sometime previously and b) they can search more aggressively and remove via keyhole in good circumstances - as far as I know IUD's can migrate through uterine wall and get embedded in other places too so best to get it out after the birth.

LOL at asking to keep it!!!

[slightlyinsane]

Imcucurrently 31+2 with mcma twins. We found out at the 12 wk scan that there was 2 in there and were originally told they were dcda. A week later someone else had a look at the scan we had a phone call arranging another scan because they were in fact mcma. It can be hard to find the membranes as they are so thin on a scan and depends where it is and how the babies are lying. As the wks go on you will get a clearer picture of the type of twins your having. Try not to worry about the high risk bit as having twins automatically puts you in that category. In my experience all it's meant is consultant led care and fortnightly scans. Congrats x

[BlindKitty]

Afraid I don't know all the details but my friend has just had a baby (11lbs 3oz!!!) with an AWOL coil. Hope that helps x

[Cheerymum]

How many weeks are you roughly? I had monodi twins but they thought initially they could be momo as they couldn't see the membrane initially. It gets clearer over time if it's there (and it usually is). Monodi much less risky than momo, but still high risk (higher than didi twins). Either way they are identical.
Stressful I know having a high risk pregnancy. Identical twins are awesome though. Try not to freak out, when are they scanning you again?

[SpottyTeacakes]

I got pregnant with a coil in, it was 'resting' on my cervix and they took it out at about 6w. My ob decided it was the least risky of the two. I think it really depends on the dr. For what it's worth ds is now a healthy 16mo congratulations must have been a shock

[Cheerymum]

Oh just noticed thread title says six weeks. Often very hard for them to spot the membrane before 10 weeks or so, so keep calm and keep us posted! Congratulations in any case!

[eurochick]

My bestie had twins and at each scan they changed their mind as to whether or not there was a membrane between them, and I think that's fairly common as it's difficult to see.

[miraculous2]

I'm amazed by all your responses - so glad I joined mumsnet!

Cheerymum - Next scan is exactly 2 weeks on from first (yesterday).

Benefit of a better few hours' sleep is not worrying so much if they're MCMA - I saw those two yolk sacs myself and don't much doubt we'll find the membrane eventually.

The bubs measured 1.7 and 2.2mm - (I'm laughing at myself a bit for saying this, but) is this normal for ID twins?! Growth rates being so different I mean...

Clobbered I found the source (although it wasn't the only one) of that high risk stat - caution here for anyone who'd be better off not seeing this:
www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/iud-removal-pregnancy-query-bank

I know the drill is to wait until 12 weeks but I feel I actually have to tell some people sooner. I've been quite unwell so far and now lots of appointments to keep, plus I need to get out of some of the more physical aspects of my job. And I need some support. I think I need to tell my team soon and my mum asap!

BlindKitty - lovely to hear of your friend's 11lb 3oz-er, my nephew was 11lb and weighed more than the twins in the next bed put together!!!

Thanks again for all these amazing responses. Off to see my GP again this morning then back to work.

Have a lovely day!

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

haha, I wanted to get it dipped in bronze or something and wear it as an earring

I hope you get lots of support and everyone co-operates with the changes you need to make.

Sunshine and to you too.

[rockstars12]

Hi miraculous I take it you're technically due December? You should come join us on the December thread. Be nice to also have someone else freaking out about having twins. I found out around 6 weeks and am having another scan today at 7 weeks. At the moment I have been told MCDA twins but its too early to determine chorionicity. Everything about high risk scares me and I am petrified about the scan.
My parents and brothers know. My work found out because I needed to go epu for emergency scan due to some bleeding. I've been off work for the past week with a virus as well and also started morning sickness a same time. Though I mainly get it in the afternoon. This has been the longest week ever.
Worrying I think is going to happen regardless, but you really have to take each long day as it comes and try to stay positive. My husband and mum have been really supportive and so far work have been understanding.

[miraculous2]

Hi folks

Husband called his far-away family last night, who are delighted.

I told my most senior colleague today (we're a small team and I don't have a boss at the moment), and I was shaking and teary on hearing myself say the things I had to say and she was utterly awesome.

Drove to see my parents, who were just lovely and are now feeling everything we are..! Came home and started calling the siblings so now most of them know (+ a couple are on holiday in remote places) and now we're all in the same funny whirl of shock, concern and joy. And more shock!

Telling people is scary but it was MUCH easier once I'd got that first one out of the way. It feels scary that I now have the responsibility of telling them all if something goes wrong but these are exactly the people I will need in the know if something does. And it feels right to have shared my important news and to not spend weeks pretending I can carry on as before and to not have to deceive anyone with my dreadful cover-stories!

rockstars it sounds like you're having a tough week but glad you've got the support too. I felt much better this morning and it was a nice reminder that I can have moments with good energy and no headache/ muscle aches - those moments will come back! And I will check out that thread! Take it easy

Must get some rest. Good night mums

[miraculous2]

Oh god.

Reality hitting me big time this morning!

[insideout]

Hi miraculous I have no experience with twins but my coil (mirena) went walkabout last year. I didn't realise until after I had a + pregnancy test!

I had 2 early scans at 7 weeks to see whether they could locate the coil (they couldn't) but they wouldn't confirm it was absent until my 12 week scan -the sonographer said that was because it's easier to see the whole uterus at that point.

I was told that if it had been there, they would only have removed it if they could see the strings and that it was only a slight increase in miscarriage risk (like 1- 2%) if it was in situ.

Try to relax and look after yourself!

[miraculous2]

Cheers insideout

I knew they could come out but until this I had no idea they also went walkabout in other directions... Hoping there's no sign at the scan next week and it really did just escape! Is it weird that nobody has actually just 'looked' for the strings or would they show up on the scanner if they were still in reach?

Trying to relax but waiting for the next scan it just feels like time has stopped. It's easier to take a day at a time and watch the changes happen (OMG boobs, hips, belly and love-handles already?!) but I'm still absorbing the news if I'm honest. I have days when I worry about everything that could go wrong but I'm looking after myself in every possible way, so I know there's not much else I can do. Despite changing shape quite suddenly I'm still losing weight, so just aiming to turn that around and keep getting more food into me! Not sick at all yet - what a blessing...

Hope you and your 'coil baby' are doing wonderfully well!

[miraculous2]

update from OP

Aah, scan day finally came! Everything is great.

Little twin catching up with bigger twin - now measuring 7w 6d and 7w 5d!

Both growing well. Strong heartbeats.

And... two amniotic sacs! They're mono-di (phew). That is better. Mono-mono was going to be a scary ride.

No sign of the coil - really might be long gone.

I'm gaining weight again and feeling pretty good. Still not a hint of nausea (I'll wake up in a minute, right?!).

Thanks for everyone's support. Not out of the woods yet but starting to see more sunlight today

Warm wishes to you all

[4littleones]

Just wanted to say I also got pregnant with the coil. Never found it, but my Son is now a healthy hyper 15 month old and I am pregnant again with the next one

[CaptWingoBings]

Sounds good! Congrats!

On the coil note, I had one in & the strings went missing - so therefore not sure if the coil had gone missing. Presumably someone has felt for your strings? That is all they can do, as I think a hysteroscopy would be too risky. Had an ultrasound that located it in my uterus but was told if it hadn't been there I would have had an MRI or CT scan, can't remember which is which, and then keyhole surgery.

[Jnmhat]

Hi Mums!
I need some support on my pregnancy.
I am 12Wks4Days with TWINS!
Due Date: 3/3/20
I have an Copper IUD that the doctors are saying to keep in. Any one experience this before?
Thx