Dating scan shock

[emma911030]

Today I went for my dating scan. The lady scanning me initially was a trainee who was a sister within the hospital.. either way. She found baby and said there we are with little heart flickering and said and there's just the one to which my response was thank god i think I'd have a heart attack If there was two.. so the sonographer kinda said Woohh (I thought that was her response to my comment) but she got the scanning lady to move across to which there was a second baby. I literally said are you serious.. followed by 'fuck' (excuse my language) and I burst into tears I didn't know what to do. Was on my own cause obviously have to go on our own. My appointment was at 9 this morning and I'm still not sure I've got my head around it. I was dating at only 10 weeks 6 days so I'm back again next Thursday when I will be 12 weeks exactly.. I already have a little boy and when there's are due he will 2 months before his 2nd birthday. I'm literally no idea how I'm going to cope with 3 under 2. But before I even get to that I'm so terrified something is going to go wrong it's really playing on my mind and worrying me.. how can I get over this shock and worry.

just come across your post and thought id reply ive got daughter 5yrs old im on my second pregnancy iv only got the one but i can say you will be able to do it god wont put u thru nuthing you cant handle , atleast your children will grow up together in the same kinda age group where as i think i waited to long to have my second one but i will say try to introduce your 2 year old to having siblings even if thats role playing with a baby doll it deffo will get easier and by doing that ur introducing your child to change but youll be fine ! stay strong

I was similar. I had no clue I was expecting twins until the twelve week scan. My dd was just over 2 when the were born. I won’t pretend it’s easy having 3 but it’s fine. Like everything it has advantages and disadvantages.

If it helps my twin pregnancy was fine, no worse than my singleton. The first thing that you and the doctors need to find out is if the babies share a placenta, this will have a huge effect on the risk of pregnancy. They will either be DCDA which means they have their own placenta and own amniotic sack. MCDA which means they share a placenta but have their own sacks to a degree. And then MCMA which share a placenta and also share a sack. This last type is the highest risk. Once they know which category your twins are they will plan your appointments and then just take it from there, one stage at a time

Congratulations. It is a shock, but also great.

Thank you @mummysk and @BigGlasses for commenting.
They said it appears they have one placenta, the sonographer couldn't stop telling me how risky twin pregnancies are and everything. My hysterical crying clearly wasn't a bit enough give away to stop talking.
I saw the screaning doctor after but obviously too early for the screaning yet but was saying I will have the option next week but then that they will see me every two weeks through the whole thing 😳 which I guess I should take some sort of comfort from because it will be closely monitored etc and act accordingly quickly if needed. I think I worry because this pregnancy wasn't exactly planned so it was already a shock to get over the fact I was having a second let alone (if all goes well) a second AND third. I wasn't planning on telling family about this pregnancy for a while but I feel like I'll end up telling them sooner for extra support. I hope I sleep well tonight and can start tomorrow with a fresh mind and positive outlook x

Gosh, that sonographer sounds really insensitive!

Its a shock to find out you're having twins and lots of people have mixed feelings about it and worry how they'll cope. But I don't think I know any twin parents who (once they got used to the idea) didn't come to see it as a good thing. There's loads of people who'd love to have twins but never will (it's not like you can plan it!), so I feel we're really lucky.

I remember feeling like carrying twins increased the risk of just about everything pregnancy-related, but remember that just because those risks can happen, it doesn't mean they will. Lots of people have perfectly straight-forward twin pregnancies - mine was actually easier than my singleton one. There's a great thread on here where loads of people have shared their experiences of run-of-the-mill twin pregnancies - I found it very reassuring:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/multiple_births/3558274-stories-of-twins-born-37-and-all-ok

I have a slightly larger gap than you will (2 years 2 months) and while I wouldn't call it easy, it's not been as hard as I thought it would be either.

Hi OP this was me 3y ago!

I had a private scan at 10w and the sonographer went all quiet. I asked, could he not find a heartbeat and could he please just say. He snapped out of it to tell me in fact he was looking at TWO heartbeats!

We already had a 2yo. My husband just wibbled "three sets of nursery fees" and I felt a bit like you.

Twin pgs are riskier but the majority work out fine. And twins are great.

My two surprises are sitting next to me at the breakfast table with matching his n hers bibs, eating huge bowls of porridge and making cheeky comments on everything! It is hard but do-able.

Hey @emma911030, I'm having twins too and my other daughter will be a bit older at 2 and a half when they are born. We also have a ten year old girl too. I am the op on a very supportive thread for people due around the same time as you, especially if you are induced or given a section a few weeks early. There are a few other ladies on the thread having twins too on the thread as well

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3924003--Due-Late-Nov-Early-Dec-its-bump-time?msgid=97352262#97352262

What a shock to get on your own.

If they're sharing 1 placenta then they will see you for scans every 2 weeks from 16 weeks. They will be looking out for signs of ttts which is a dangerous but relatively rare (15%) condition where there is an uneven share of the placenta. You will be under consultant lead care and should see a special twin midwife.

Chances are they'll be fine though, and you can choose a vaginal delivery or a c-section which will probably happen around 36/37 weeks. They tend not to let identical twin pregnancies go further than this due to concerns around the placenta. There are always exceptions of course.

Twins are amazing, welcome to the multiples club! I didn't have another child, but honestly you will cope because, we'll what's the other option? There will be tough times, but watching their bond is simply amazing!

So I think I've just about got my head around the whole twins part - for now. Although still can't believe I'm pregnant again. I am 12 weeks today and by 10 weeks last time I had pretty much told my family cause I couldn't hold it in any longer. Only my close friend and step sister know but are both sworn to secrecy although when I tell my dad and step mum I'll do it with my step sister with them to as she knows I'm pregnant but not twins so she will still have a shock..
I was suppose to go for my dating scan today and nuchal screening but 2 days ago my son was sent home from nursery with a rash and high temperature. I work in a hospital and was able to get him tested but we hadn't got results by the appointment time so I wasn't able to go :( luckily he tested negative which is great but still gutted I missed seeing babies again.
I now have to wait until the screening team arrive tomorrow morning so I can get another appointment, I really hope it doesn't take long to come through as the longer I wait the more I worry somethings gone wrong although no bleeding or anything to suggest mc. Think I just came to unload really - sorry ladies lol hope your all well xx

I had no idea I was having twins until I went to my dating scan and I was 13 weeks along... My reaction was pretty much like yours. I think the sonographer was even more shocked as it was her 3rd consecutive set of surprise twins that morning! She started our appointment saying " you'll never believe the morning I'm having" after us she was speechless!

Hi emma, I'm also expecting MCDA twins. I'm a few weeks ahead of you. Be prepared for lots of appointments! They told me at my dating scan that I've have scans every fortnight, but I hadn't realised I'd have 3 appointments at 16 weeks (midwife, scan, consultant) and apparent this pattern may repeat depending on how scans go.... phew!

Sorry that you missed your dating scan, but I'm sure they'll reschedule you soon. And you will be seeing a lot more of them than you would for a singleton!

It's quite a shock finding out, isn't it? I have to admit I wasn't totally surprised (I was VERY sick, and had quite a large bump at 11 weeks, so the thought had crossed my mind), but a friend of mine with twins says her reaction was very much like yours . Remember, you still have plenty of time to adjust your plans before the twins turn up.

Hey @crazychemist thank you for your message.. they phoned today and they can't get me in until the 3rd July now as it's the only time they could get a double slot I'm absolutely gutted cause I'm just worrying every minute about what if something is wrong. So it's going to be a really long 2 weeks 😢.
I'm not working at the moment due to shielding so I could do with something to fill my time lol
Shock... yes!! Lol I apologised for swearing. It was one of them times I really could have done with not being on my own lol but never mind.
I'm getting more used to the idea but also with my other little one having been a bit poorly I'm thinking how to fudge do I deal with twins poorly and if he's poorly at the same time etc I'm just going to combust I think. I'm sure it will be excessively overwhelming at times but I'm sure will get through! xx

When I found I was having twins I left the scan and cried! (I was also by myself and it is a big, big shock.) I had a two year old and a five year old when they were born and it was very tricky and overwhelming at times but now they are toddlers and an absolute joy. They haven’t been lonely in lockdown because they always have each other.

Congratulations OP. It is a very fun club to be part of once you are over the shock!

@crazychemist it's funny you should say you weren't totally surprised I had felt a little funny for the fact I had started to get a bump but also I had had a few dreams about twins which is weird now thinking back to it.
How are you doing?

@emma911030 to be honest if your son's symptomatic even of he's tested negative he could still have or have had the virus. We know lots of people have tested negative and been carriers or have the virus so it's very good you are not going in for two weeks and you guys should be isolating for that time I would think.

As you work in the hospital I'd have thought they would have told you that really, it seems very irresponsible of them not to, I mean you could have brought the virus into the hospital where they'll be other pregnant women obviously waiting for their scans!

@ChampooPapi I'm not working at the moment due to underlying health condition. When I spoke to occupational health to book the swab for my son they said if it's positive he has to isolate for 7 days then the rest of the household 14 but if it's negative then we don't have to isolate. I think the government guidelines with regards to healthcare workers was if you get symptoms we are to self isolate immediately and get tested and if the test is negative then we can return to work as normal straight away and no longer continue isolation. The nursery said the same thing because of when he could then return to there.. obviously if I knew there was a chance that I could be a danger to anyone else I certainly wouldn't be putting myself into them situations. I myself haven't had any symptoms and my sons symptoms have gone after 2 days. I'm very careful with what I do with regards to hygiene and protecting etc myself because of my own health problems anyway

@Gunpowder thank you! I figured it will be, I feel it would be a little less daunting if they were my first babies as it's all I'd know lol but I'm getting a little more excited about it all now although still a little terrified lol. I think my main worry at the moment is the pregnancy going well. Unfortunately my memory is tarred by a terrible experience a friend from school went through with her twins :( I have to remember that there are sooooo many twins in the world who have been born happy and healthy and make it to a decent delivery date x

There are some horrible stories about twin pregnancies because they are more risky. But there are also lots of positive ones, even from people who have had TTTS etc like me.

Try not to google too much, but do make yourself familiar with the TTTS symptoms. I wasn't and so didn't seek help as soon as I should have.

@twinmum2017, do you mind if I ask what your warning signs were with TTTS? I feel like I wouldn't spot most of the symptoms I've heard of - large uterus, rapid growth.... those things seem like they'd happen with twins anyway, so I'm not sure I'd think there was anything wrong. I feel totally vast already at 16 weeks!

@emma911030 that's a shame they can't get in you in before 3rd July. Will they still be able to date you and get the measurements they want at that stage? All is well with me, feel a bit enormous though, although I can't be as big as I feel as I've seen people that know me and they haven't said anything. Can't believe I'm already into maternity leggings though, with DD1 I didn't get those out till I was nearly 6 months. Kind of wondering whether I'll fit anything by the end, twin bumps must be pretty huge! Perhaps I'll just wear a sports bra and let it all hang out!

Was in Sainsburies earlier and had a thought..... they sell baby clothes, but they only start at ones for 7.5 lbs or so. My DD was 6 lbs when she was born, and I got her some preemie clothes in Mothercare as most newborn stuff swamped her. I gave them away though to someone at work who had an early baby. Now that Mothercare is gone, where do you get stuff like that? I assume that twins will need teeny tiny clothes to start with.

@crazychemist I know yeah. Well they said it will literally be the very last day that they'd be able to do it so fingers crossed they manage. I guess if they can't quite get it then they will do the bloods but do a quad test instead maybe? Not sure.
I hope it goes really quickly though!
Oh gosh I know yeah, I had to go bed last night cause I was so uncomfortable cause I felt huge and my tummy just felt so ridiculously full. I'm glad I don't live near family or anything as they'd probably notice I'd put on a bit, I think baggy clothes are the way forward for a minute lol especially until I get past The fat/podgy who ate all the pies stage haha.
I've had a look on google about twin bump sizes where people have documented their bump and some of them for almost term were huge 😳 I'm not going lie I struggled with back pain with my little boy. I've already purchased a bump/pelvis support so hopefully that will come in useful!
Yeah I can imagine they need real tiny stuff, although I think if they spend any time in NICU/scbu I think they tend to just have a nappy on don't they I think. But obviously won't know until they're here whether they'll be going there or not. I look at the baby clothes in morrisons and see the tiny baby ones and my heart melts. I have no idea about where you'd get the preemie stuff from without mothercare x

@crazychemist not at all. For me it was a rock hard bump that 'popped' over night, and pain at the top of my bump and in my upper back that I couldn't ease no matter what position I stood/lay/sat in. I remember thinking 'how on earth will I manage another 14 weeks?'

Boots do some really nice tiny baby and small baby bits starting at 5lb. Asda also do premature baby bits although I'm not sure how small they start.

If they have to go to NICU because they're premature then they likely won't wear clothes to begin with, and if you don't have small enough then the hospital have loads! You'll get more of an idea of size at your later growth scans though.
Mine were born at 34 weeks and we're 3lb5 and 3lb9. They were considered small for gestation though and hadn't grown at all since 32 weeks.

Also my twin bump was never that big. Only 1 placenta and babies totalling 7lb13 so no different to a single pregnancy really!

@twinmum2017 I hadn't thought of the fact although there are two babies they're smaller so makes sense about bump size. My first was 7.11 so big enough, I've always been quite small (until first baby anyway lol) so my bump felt massive cause I wasn't used to having much of anything in the form of belly.
thank you for info about your TTTS experience! x

Just wanted to reassure you re bump size, I had what would be considered large twins and my bump was mentally big ( I'm quite small) I was convinced I would never look anything like my pre pregnancy self, but whilst I'm no elle mcpherson ( I'm too lazy and greedy) my body doesn't look like it was ever that big. Good move with the pelvic girdle, I needed one.

@crazychemist sorry to bother you. You mentioned in a comment on this thread about amount of appointment etc when you say midwife do you mean normal community midwife or do you only then see the specialise twin midwives at the hospital? X

I had a scan at 9 weeks, 1 baby. Acti) didn't the whole phew, thought it was twins as I'd felt so bad

12 week scan she goes, oh so you're having twins then...

Erm, what? We were in total shock and when she said MCDA I just sobbed as I knew l the risks and DS was a very poorly baby.

They're 6 momths now, no complications, in size 9-12 clothes, eating, fighting over toys, unable to sit up yet and utterly in love with their older brother.

You'll get there op. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it.