Possible TTTS - 17 weeks

[GingerJanee]

Hi all!

I had my fortnightly scan and the consultant advised one of the twins stomachs is smaller than expected. She didn’t give measurements and I’ve checked the notes the only reference I can see is “6% discordance” - based on Dr Google (I know I shouldn’t be googling) 15-18% is seen as danger zone discordance. The babies are measuring 172g and 162g so 10g in the difference which didn’t seem too bad. I do know she’s watching out for TTTS but there was equal amounts of amniotic fluid and both babies were moving and heart rates seemed fine.

She’s asked me to come back next week for a rescan. Depending on how the stomach is measuring then I’ll either be back to fortnightly monitoring or referred to the specialist team in a different hospital.

I’m really just looking to find out if anybody else has experienced this and if so what was the outcome? I’ve ran through every scenario in my head but just thought I’d get these thoughts down! Is my doctor just being overally cautious or is this a worrying situation?

Edited: to change the word baby to babies

Hi OP,

I have twins but mine are DCDA so didn’t have the worry of TTTS, however I was seen every 2 weeks, and this is typical for twin pregnancy from 16 weeks onwards. Twins are monitored pretty closely especially MCDA and MCMA, I had cervical length checks, growth scans, Doppler and cord flow checks along with all the usual pregnancy/midwife appointments, I got to know my hospital very well!

As for TTTS if the size discordance does come in to a range that is cause for concern they will refer you to the fetal medicine hospital where a specialist consultant will scan and review you. There is a laser treatment that they can do that has a good success rate in treating TTTS. The fact is though that they will monitor you for this throughout your pregnancy as there is early onset and late onset, however it is completely possible to just have a smaller twin and no TTTS issues.

There are several specific twin Facebook groups that you can join where mums on there can advise you much better as they have had direct experience with TTTS.

Wishing you all the very best on your twin journey 💐

Thanks so much for replying! Feel like I’m going round and round in my head at the moment, yes we’re having MCDA twins so definitely been kept a good eye on but I’m just finding the experience very intense with the ‘wait and see’ mentality. I would like to know every in and out if I could :)

Hoping all stays ok though as I’m very fond of my consultant and the midwives and would dread moving to a specialist team especially as I’m based in Northern Ireland so laser ablation isn't possible I would have to travel to England so I’m toes and fingers crossed we can avoid all this.