IVF embryo split - twins!

[2022mm]

Hi all

Found out earlier this week at our viability scan I am pregnant with identical twins after our one embryo split into two - it was the biggest shock of our lives and we are absolutely over the moon after a long road with IVF and infertility.

However after the initial high I am now finding the anxiety of losing one or both overwhelming and the higher risks the pregnancy may have. I want these babies so much. So far my symptoms have not been too bad and I feel ok (I’m 8 weeks tomorrow). Both babies were same size measuring perfectly and with great heartbeats. But am dreading the next scan and if they will both still be in there alive and ok. Not sure when my NHS 12 week one is as not had a letter but tempted to book another private in at 10 weeks.

I suppose I’m really just looking for any positive stories and hope that everything can be ok if anyone else has been through similar? Trying to keep positive thoughts.

Not ivf but also expecting identical twins - 11 weeks now and I feel your nerves. All I can say is one step at a time. It's hard to relax but just remember as of now you are pregnant with two- enjoy it.

My SIL had IVF and I know she was entitled to more scans than usual due to this - could you not see if this applies to you too? It might just set your mind at ease.

Nothing to add but CONGRATULATIONS

I had my DTs via ivf, and had multiple private scans to reassure myself that they were both still going strong. From memory, the 4 weekly scans kicked in from around 16 weeks with the consultant straight afterwards, and then I saw the midwife 2 weeks after so I never went longer than 2 weeks without seeing a medical professional.

My symptoms would regularly disappear during the first trimester, so I had more private scans to reassure myself. Probably unnecessary, but I wanted to know what was going on either way.

I was lucky, I had an nhs scan at 9 weeks due to having a uti and saw the heartbeats, things progressed wonderfully and I delivered them at 36+5.

Good luck with your pregnancy, I hope it all goes smoothly 💐

@2022mm this is exactly what happened to me. I had 1 embryo implanted and that split into twins. My identical twin girls have just turned 1. The pregnancy was obviously a little more complicated. But it seems your babies are doing well at present.

In terms of what happens next after your 12 week NHS scan you will be refered to a twin specialist. Where you will have fornightly appointments and scans from 16 weeks. So they will keep a good watch on the babies. My girls were fine apart from arriving at 33 weeks (3 weeks prior to my planned section). But they are now crawling around causing chaos.

Let me know if you want any more information

Do you know what they split into? Are they MCMA, MCDA or DCDA? That will greatly affect their odds of survival and viability.

Yes, this is really important.

My single embryo split into two, my ID boys were MCDA so they shared a placenta but had separate amniotic sacs. I had them at 32 weeks because my placenta had failed.
Congratulations - I'm also a twin and I think having a twin/triplet/etc sibling is the greatest gift your children can receive ❤️

Thank you all so much for your messages. Now we are over the initial shock we are cautiously excited and just hoping things go as smoothly as they can now. Have booked a private 10 week scan next week so just trying to keep positive and hope things are all going ok in there! Keep fingers crossed for me please. Then the first NHS one is just booked for just shy of 13 weeks.

Hoping by then they can tell by then if MCDA or MCMA - really hoping for separate sacs but what will be will be and as I keep telling myself - I can’t control the outcome so worrying and manic googling are not the going to change anything! (Easier said than done .. 🙃)

If its any consolation, the panicking and symptom checking and worry ahead of scans happens with a singleton too, so much as it's stressful, it's pretty much normal.

Good luck and congrats!

How are you getting on now @2022mm?

Thank you for checking in on me 🙂

All is going well so far I hope - I had another private scan at 9+2 and all was fine, both were still measuring right on track and the same size. My 12 week scan is next week at 12+6 so just keeping everything crossed that all still well then! I think if this scan is ok I can start to allow myself to get excited, at the moment it still seems almost too good to be true! My waistline is definitely expanding so I hope that’s a good sign..!

Hoping we get confirmation next week if there is a membrane separating them also. They noted at the 9 week scan that there were two yolk sacs so if I have read correctly I hope that means there is more chance of being MCDA but we’ll see.

Hi, just saw this and wanted to wish you well. We had the same happen to us with IVF - such a shock as most of the IVF twins you hear about come from transferring two embryos!

Identical twin pregnancies are often scary but the majority do get through them OK. You should have scans every two weeks after 12 weeks. I ended up with weekly scans because we had sIUGR, i.e. one baby was very small, which was very frightening at the time, but all OK in the end. You will need to have the babies by 36+6 at the latest, or earlier if there are problems. E.g. we had ours at 34 weeks which is standard for sIUGR.

Not IVF but I’m 34+3 with MCDA twins.
I 100% understand your fear but please remember the majority of mono twin pregnancies are uncomplicated. That mantra got me through. You’re monitored so closely and it’s reassuring. You’ve got this :)

Which one was it @2022mm?

MCDA confirmed at 12 week scan and everything was looking great then, they measured 5 days ahead. So we have our first 16 week consultant app coming up this week then every 2 weeks after that - hoping everything is still progressing as it should. I’ve kind of accepted i’ll just be worrying all the way through now as that is just my mindset with pregnancy after our journey getting to this point - but trying to stay positive, enjoy as much as I can and I’ve not been told of and reason to worry so far so fingers crossed all is well. I’ve heard some will tell you the sex at this appointment, I hope so!

@2022mm things will be fine, take it a scan at a time and look after yourself 💕
they told us the sex at our 16wk appointment, not that the boys were particularly shy! you are welcome to message me if you wanna chat MCDA twin pregnancy and beyond!

Hey just wanted to wish you the best of luck twins are just incredible! my DCDA ivf twin boys are already 9 months old now. I have to say the hospitals really did a fantastic job keeping such a close eye with constantly scans and appts you don't go longer than 2 weeks without a visit and heartbeats always checked etc.

The worry of a twin pregnancy never goes away but it does get easier once you start feeling them both wriggling around!

Also - they did confirm sex at 16 weeks for us too :)

Best of luck x

That's great news! I think worrying just comes with being PG, don't think you ever really stop!

I just wanted to jump in as this is the only thread I can see where someone is in a similar situation :)

I am 10 weeks tomorrow with IVF twins, but they think mine are two embryos that have implanted :) I'll know for sure at my next scan!

How scary but very exciting! It's my first pregnancy after TTC for 4 years, 3 year IVF :)

Congratulations @IVFGotThis05!

Huge congratulations @IVFGotThis05! It’s really such a whirlwind going through all that IVF and infertility brings and then finding out it’s two. I’ve found so far although I’ve had a lot of worries along the way (I think you are just conditioned into a different way of thinking having gone through infertility) everything so far has gone smoothly. Exciting times and best of luck for your next scan, my 12 week one the pictures were so clear it’s my favourite one I’ve had so far x

Congrats to you all!

My IVF embryo split too and I now have 21 month old identical twin boys. 9 cycles of IVF, some days are challenging but they're the best things that have happened to me!

9 rounds of IVF? Wow that must have been so challenging.

Your DTs sound amazing