identical mcda twins - possibility of ttts

[laura907]

hello, I did post this in pregnancy thread but now I've found this multiples thread! I am 17 weeks pregnant with mcda twins.
At our 13 week scan the nuchal translucency for one twin was 4.2 and it was measuring about a week behind the other one.
The consultant said that this could be because of a number of reasons,maybe chromosones, the blood test for downs syndrome came back as low risk and there is the possibility of ttts.
we had a scan last friday and there is a 26% size difference between the two babies.
I am so worried that things arent going to go well, it has come as a huge shock, I have had 2 normal straight forward pregnancies and I just hope that everything will be ok
I just wondered if anyone had been through this and if anyone can offer any advice?
I have to go for weekly scans to keep an eye on things as the consultant has said at this stage all we can do wait and see.

I had DCDA twins so I don't know how comparable my experience is but at 16w one of mine was 5th centile and the other 45th. I was convinced it was down to IUGR and panicked. A lot. Next scan she'd caught up a bit. I think they just grew at different rates. She's still a lot smaller (at 7 months). Fingers crossed that's what's happening with you. I'm sure someone with experience of TTTS will be along shortly.

Good luck with your pregnancy.

Mine are mcda too. Fortunately they didn't have ttts but I do remember the worry every scan. I just wanted to let you know the measurements for mine weren't all that accurate I.e. You'd think the estimated birth weights would be pretty spot on given the number of scans but they were way out. Also a tiny measurement error can translate into a big difference. If it does turn out to be ttts, there is treatment now, hopefully someone will come along with experience of it.

hello Laura907,

I had MCDA twins and had ttts diagnosed at 17 weeks. It was a rapid onset and very aggressive. Also, like you I already had 2 children and was busy with them whilst worrying about the twins and visiting the hospital on average twice a week.

Its a tough time, waiting and seeing, a real worry and I feel for you. I was on a thread at the time with 3 others going through the same thing, I expect they will come on over to talk to you soon too.

At the moment you don't know what is going on so I'm not going to bombard you with a stack of information. But as Twicethehugs has already said, measurements fluctuate widely in short spaces of time and are not necessarily a sign of a problem.

Oh, I will just mention that my MCDA twins who were so severely affected by ttts are currently 2.5 years old and playing lego in the next room while plotting their world domination.

hang tough, I will keep checking in on you.

A 25% differential is considered significant and according to the NICE guidelines would be grounds for referral to a specialist unit if you are not already being cared for by one, but in the first instance monitoring would be the action taken, so that if it does accelerate or continue to be a problem you can get treatment quickly. Try not to worry, keep being scanned and remember that these days the lazer treatment if required is very effective.

I am watching with interest as I am also 17 weeks pregnant with MCDA twins. At my scan today, there was a bigger difference in size than the previous scans. They weren't worried enough to send me to the consultant straight away as I have an appointment booked with him on Friday, but like everyone else I am conscious of TTTS and can't help worry a bit.

I hope everything is okay with your babies. When is your next scan?

Sorry that its taken so long to reply, been so busy lately!
thank you for the info. The consultant does not think that it is ttts as the fluid levels around the babies has remained similar throughout, there is just under 30% difference in size between them so they are saying now that there is iugr (intrauterine growth restriction) in the one twin and the other one is growing normally, maybe because the smaller hasnt got as much of a share of the placenta. I had the amniocentisis done and the first results have come back as normal for both babies which is a relief. We are seeing the consultant every week for scans and we are going for a heart scan this week. all we can do at the moment is wait and see.

kicksandgiggles how did your scan go on friday??

Thanks for asking laura. The consultant wasn't worried about the numbers on their own, and said what they will really be looking at is the pattern of growth, so everything will be clearer after they have data from a couple more scans. I am trying not to worry unless they tell me to, but it freaked me out last time that the sonographer stepped out of the room to check with someone more senior whether it was okay to let me wait until my next consultant appointment! My next scan is on Monday.

I'm really glad that your consultant doesn't think it is TTTS and that the amniocentesis has come back normal. Good luck with your heart scan this week.

First post ever :o)
I am almost 14 weeks with MCDA twins. I've only had one scan so far (at 12 weeks when we discovered they were twins). At that point they were the same size (1mm difference which I assume is neither here nor there?). TTTS was mentioned as something that can happen with these type of twins though. We have no reason to think it will or no indication that it will but it's obviously a worry. I will keep an eye on this thread (if I can work out how) with interest :o)

I did NOT mean to do those scary smiley faces! lol