Pregnant with Monoamniotic Twins

[Rowan1204]

Hi There,

I am 7 + 3 weeks and found out last week that I am having twins. This was quick a shock but furthermore we are expecting the rare type of identical twins, monoamniotic, which means they share the same inner sac as well as the same outer sack. Apparently only 1% of all twin births are this type and only 10 cases occur in the UK each year.
This might mean I will struggle to find someone UK based in the same boat but wanted to put it out there!
I am feeling quite scared about how the pregnancy will go and the expected complications later on. I have been told I will be monitored every week from 12 weeks onwards and most likely will deliver around 32 weeks at the latest due the high risks involved in this type of twins pregnancy.
After having my son in 2009 - easy breazy pregnancy and lovely quick waterbirth in a birthing center - this has all been quite a shock!
Hoping to find some support here, even if just about having twins (daunting in itself!) but if anyone has advice for Monoamniotic, even better! :)
Any help or advice much appreciated.
Jennie x

Hi Jennie

I have non ID twin girls, just past 1 year, so have no very specific advice. After reading your post though I just wanted to post my support. It is scary when you're first told its twins; I definitely was. Amongst other things I was worried about my body - not in a vanity way - more a " will I be able to do it" way. So I do identify with you a little.

My boss happens to have twins and she did say that because of high IVF rates and later pregnancies, the UK is one of the best places in the world to have twins as its that bit more common.

Your monitoring sounds very thorough - I ended up being monitored every 2 days from 33 weeks - and although it was a lot more medical than my first pregnancy, I did feel that at least any issues would be picked up and dealt with.

I ended up having to exert myself a little both pre and post pregnancy in terms of my own health and my girls so I would also say that if you have questions or you don't agree with something/ need more information don't be afraid to ensure you are listened to and do turn to professional agencies to get 2nd opinions such as TAMBA and in my case an OC specialist agency.

We are all fine now, and my girls are wonderful.

Good luck and make sure you keep posting for support. It's an incredible thing to have twins and yours are extra amazing!

Hello, I was also told I was expecting monoamniotic twins - then around 8/9week scan they noticed a very faint membrane seperating them in the inner sac, less scary but still scanned every other week etc. To be honest I really liked the regular scans, made me feel safe. I had a really good pregnancy, elective c-sec at 38 weeks and worked up until 36 weeks (youth worker). I really love being a mum of twins, they are brilliant and for the first few months I would greet them in the morning with 'good morning my little experiments........... who knows whats gonna happen today'........... pretty much sums up how I felt. I loved holding them both and as they got a bit bigger I loved being cuddled by four little arms.

3.5yrs on - still love the cuddles

You will be brilliant and its the best job in the world, enjoy.

Congratulations Rowan. I have nearly 7month old id boys. They are hard work, but not as hard as you think... mad they are marvelous and llovely and lush and cute and fun and gorgeous! !

No experience of mono mono but definitely get on to tamba. Contact them directly, look on the message boards in their website and' like' their FB page and you can add a post asking for mono mono mums.

What part of the country are you in? There might be a twin club in your area that might be able to help too.

I know it must be scary but trust you are in good hands and you will be well looked after.

Hey Jennie!
First of all. Woo hoo!!!! Congratulations and welcome to a very special club
I have ID twin girls who will be 1 on thurs. I was told they were mono/mono at 12 weeks but on closer examination at kings they found a very, very feint membrane between the girls. It's very common for the membrane to be missed if thin and feint. I was seen every fortnight by kings and my local trust. It made me feel much more at ease knowing my little buns were being so well looked after. I had a c-sec at 33+1 and I was looked after so well. My girls are thriving little things. One of them took their first steps today
Good luck hon. It truly is so special

Congratulations :-)

I have identical girls (not mo mo) and non identical boys, twins are fab and great fun - get used to the sarcastic comments though!!

Hi All,
Thank you so much for your replies.
It's great to hear from twin mums whether Momo or not - its really lovely to hear from people who have experienced the same shock (but also excitement of course!)
I am hoping that they do find a membrane at my 12 weeks scan, which is happening around xmas time. Although I did have a 3d internal scan after the normal scan that I last had, when the consultant was made aware that the sonographer believed them to be Momo, he gave me another scan, so had a good look. But still hoping that this may have been misdiagnosed.
I will also get in touch with Tamba and hopefully chat some more to you all on here to get some twin advice!
Thanks again all. x

Just thought I would update for anyone interested!

I was admitted to hospital at 9 weeks with HG and some abdo pain and so they gave me a scan and found.....a membrane separating the babies!

So many of you were right - and they are not Monoamniotic but they are Monodiamniotic - have I said that right?!

So they are identical! They both looked really healthy and were growing equally etc - so now just have to wait until next Thursday for my 12 weeks scan - will be 12+3 by then - and then my first official appointment with the consultant on the 7th Jan. I have researched a bit on TTTS but going to try to shelve those thoughts at the moment and hope we wont have to worry about that.

I am much less scared of everything now and mainly just excited, although still trying to imagine coping with two newborns at the same time! scary!

Looks like I might start to be more of a regular on here - if all of you experienced twin mums are willing to help with all my silly questions!

Just wishing you a huge congratulations, I forget all the terms but I have 2 year old Id girls, like yours I think, they shared a placenta but were in separate sacs, they were born at 34&3 and we were home after 5 nights.

Lots of luk and best wishes to you

Thank you LaVita

How exciting!! I'm an identical twin and even though my sister and i are all grown up with husbands and children she is my best friend and i wouldn't be without her :)

Good luck and be ready for lots of fun x

Yay! Great news. I'd love another set of twins...tee hee!

Brilliant news Rowan, now all u have to do is sit back & enjoy the ride X

im on my 3rd set of twins lol.

1st set non id boys now 5

2nd set unfortunatly lost one DD but other DD is fit and healthy now 19 months

and im now 26 weeks pregnant with 3rd set of non id twins only know the sex of one (being cheeky and hiding)

it can be hard work I wont lie but its very rewarding.

I was told at 7 weeks pg I was expecting monoamniotic twins and went away and did alot of googling which was not helpful.However I did read that most diagnosis of mono twins turn out to be straight forward ID twins. This was what happened to us and At 12 weeks a membrane was found and I now have 6 year old ID twin girls who were born after 37 weeks and were home within 2 days.

The chances are your twins will not be mono and you will have a staright forward id twin pg.

Congrats having twins is the best.

My ID twin boys shared a sac, and were born healthy at 37 weeks. Recently read your post about having TTTS, hope all is going well and fingers crossed for the 28 mark! x

Maybe expecting my second set, doctors tomorrow for HCG retests.

Congratulations! I am 13 weeks with MCDA twins and like you, at an early scan they thought it was momo, but have since found the membrane.
I too am obviously a bit anxious about the risks but the odds of a successful outcome with 2 healthy babies are overwhelmingly on our side. Yay!!

Just realised mamablue was referring to a different thread, really hope all ok xx

Hi cheerymum.

Yes they found my membrane at 9 weeks thank god! All a bit scary.
I am sure you will have a great pregnancy. Try not to worry. I hope you are not feeling too sick - although mine had started to ease off a bit by then. Good luck, its a journey but this is only just the start - eeek! Xx