Monoamniotic twins - worried

[QueenOfThePumpkins]

Hi everyone,

I went for a private scan today as I am quite an anxious person and another three weeks seemed a long time to wait. We were shocked to find out we've got monoamniotic twins in there! Both measured at 9 weeks as expected and two strong heartbeats were seen

However, I (stupidly) started to Google this and it sounds firstly quite unusual and secondly quite high risk. I am really worried about our babies either not making it or being born with problems. This is my first pregnancy as well which makes it even more scary! Any words of wisdom?

Hi, I know you posted this a few days ago but thought I'd answer, my twins are mono di so had a risk of twin twin transfusion syndrome and all the other risks that come along with twins pregnancy.

I found it very hard in the beginning as I had a bleed at 6 weeks to relax and enjoy the pregnancy but I truly think that you just have to take every day as it comes, take every scan as it comes and trust that the doctors know what is best, I just had my 32 week scan and my twins growth has slowed dramatically, straight away I'm booked for another scan and already have plans for induction if things have gotten worse, so you will definitely be in the right place as you'll be having scans fortnightly I presume once you hit 16 weeks. Try and enjoy the positives! The extra scans are reassuring and help the pregnancy go quicker, it's lovely watching your babies grow, I felt these little ones move very early on ! Hope you're coping with finding out that it's twins ! Sending love x

Hi @soontobemummyof3, thanks so much for your message. Sorry for not replying sooner, I've only just seen. You are definitely right about taking each day as it comes. Wishing you all the very best with your twins, hopefully in a few months time I'll be in your position :) It certainly is a shock learning there are two in there! Just as we calmed down from that bit and fell in love with the idea, we were hit with the mono-mono bit!!

No problem ! It's very very daunting. Even at 33 weeks I can't believe there's still 2 in there, I don't think I will until they are actually in front of me oh and as for googling, do NOT google ! If you want to get info look on TAMBA, absolutely brilliant and full of practical and realistic stories rather than it being all doom and gloom ! X

I am in the same boat. By my LMP I'm 12 weeks today with mono twins. Absolutely petrified of the risks. Keep thinking the worst and wish I could stop. My scan was also a private one, have my NHS one on 4th Sept. I was talking to a midwife friend about it last night and she said there's sometimes a tiny membrane between the babies that isn't visible at first. She also said they can still have their own placentas which obviously is a better scenario than sharing one. We should try not to worry, but I know that's easier said than done!

Do you have a date for your NHS scan yet?

Hello everyone,

Just posting to update - I have finally had my 12 week scan. The twins are doing beautifully and they aren't monoamniotic after all!

@Ejb86 I'm so sorry, for some reason I didn't get notified of your comment and have only just seen it. Did they do an internal at your private scan? Mine was only abdominal. The NHS sonographer said that if they suspected monoamniocity then they absolutely should have gone internal rather than just speculating. She couldn't see the membrane at all until she did that, and then there it was, as clear as day! I hope (and very much suspect) that the same will be true for you :)

@soontobemummyof3, I hope all is going well for you too!

@QueenOfThePumpkins No, they only do abdominal at the private place. I went back last week to get checked after a car accident and still only looked like one sac. Hoping we find a membrane when I go on Wednesday.

Are yours sharing a placenta? I'm so pleased that they're not mono mono. When's your official due date? Did they say much else to you when you were there?

I can't bloody wait until Weds!

Oh no, I'm sorry to hear about your car accident @Ejb86, I hope it wasn't too serious :(

The sonographer had a really good look for ages but still couldn't see the membrane abdominally. It was only when she did the internal one that it "appeared". They are still sharing a placenta (and there are still higher risks with that), so will be identical.

The sonographer was fairly quiet compared to the one we saw at the private clinic, who I now feel said too much! She did ask a few questions about the private ultrasound and said it's pointless trying to determine amniocity without an internal scan. She pointed out the membrane once she found it, and it was crystal clear even to my untrained eye. She said that the twins were measuring at 12 weeks exactly and both had good heartbeats. She said "all looks fine" and that was all I needed to hear :)

I am officially due on 10th March, but I'm told that end of Feb is more likely as twins do tend to come a bit early. It's the same date I had based on my LMP and also on the private scan. When is yours?

@QueenOfThePumpkins LMP said 3rd March, private scan suggested 8th. I'll go by whatever they say on Wednesday. Glad it was all positive for you xx

Yes, the further along you are the more accurate the dating. I've been surprised that all 3 of my estimations have been the same!

Fingers crossed for a positive outcome for you too. If they are monoamniotic, there's a really good UK-based Facebook group for people who have or are expecting them. I spent a lot of time going through the photos of beautiful, happy looking mono-mono twins on there and reassured myself that the outcome does usually seem to be positive these days. I believe a lot of the statistics online are outdated.

Having said that, if you've only had abdominal scans so far then I'd say you're much more likely to receive the same news I did :)
Please keep me posted! x

@QueenOfThePumpkins Scan done. I have mono mono twins, due 7.3.20. 1 Measured 13+4 and the other measured 13+2. Consultant appointment next week as no identical twin specialists in today.

Sorry to hear they didn't find a membrane @Ejb86

It's really good that your babies are measuring well though, and that you're being seen by a consultant so quickly. I'm sure you will be very well looked after.

If you are on Facebook I would recommend joining a page called "UK MCMA Twins Support Group (Momo)" - lots of good advice, support and experiences on there. I never posted in case mine weren't MCMA, but did get approved to join and found a lot of comfort looking through it.

One other thing which you may already be aware of - if you absolutely must go reading online, don't look at anything American as they have a very different approach over there. It confused and worried me a lot more until I realised that!

Please keep updating (if you want to of course), I will be thinking of you.

@QueenOfThePumpkins I have joined that group, thank you. I've found someone on there who's been in the same situation as me and at the same hospital. They've had their care transferred to a larger hospital now though and had laser treatment to treat TTTS. It's all so bloody scary. I just want to enjoy my pregnancy. My first was so easy and straight forward, I've gone from one extreme to the other and I'm not coping very well. I think I'm going to look into counselling after I've seen the consultant. Feel like I'm spiralling a bit.

Oh bless you @Ejb86, it certainly is a lot to cope with. Especially when you hear the scary stuff about TTTS and things - that is on my mind a lot too with MCDA twins, which are the most likely type to get it. It sounds very unlucky to get it with MCMAs.

I'm really glad you've found someone at the same hospital, what are the chances! For many people I bet it's a really isolating experience, as it's so uncommon.

Counselling sounds like a good plan, have a chat with your GP and they will refer you to the right place. It's best to nip it in the bud if you feel like things are spiralling. In my area we have an antenatal mental health team, so perhaps something like that would be available to you too.

Look after yourself x