NT Scan Update

On Friday, I went in for the nuchal translucency screening. We’d been counting down the hours until the ultrasound. It’s one of those bad-ass ultrasounds where they can look at the baby in 3D with real-time motion. The morning of, I was practically trembling with anticipation and anxiety. It’d been over three weeks since my last peek at the babes and I was so nervous that something had happened in the meantime.

Everything thankfully went fine! Both of the babies looked great. They were squirming, flipping, turning, kicking, bouncing and generally using my uterus as a trampoline. The tech determined pretty quickly that she’s almost 100% certain that they’re identical because their dividing membrane is almost invisible and they appear to share a placenta — this is called monochorionic, diamniotic twins, if you’re curious (there’s really never 100% certainty in determining identical vs. fraternal until the babies are born, unless they are in one amniotic sac– which, thankfully, ours aren’t. But she and the doctor were pretty set in their determination).

Both babies measured well within normal range for their nuchal folds, meaning they most likely don’t have Down syndrome. Their nasal bones are all good, neck/chin position is good, spines and limbs all look good. I was so, so, so relieved to see that everything is going along just perfect.

Well, almost.

Two items to note: 1) Right now, my placenta is completely covering the cervix (a.k.a. placenta previa). They said not to worry about it; it’s so early and there’s plenty of time for the uterus to grow and for the placenta to move with it. However, that means no sex whatsoever! The next ultrasound is scheduled for July 7, at which point we’ll also get to find out the sex… and if we get to have sex. Sure seems like a long time until the next scan!

2) The babies share a placenta. This may or may not turn into a problem called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. There are all sorts of details about it, but basically one twin ends up getting all the nutrients and having a huge amniotic sac, while the other twin has almost no fluid or growth. From my (obsessive) reading, it happens in about 15% of diamniotic, monochorionic identical twins (what I have– two separate sacs, one placenta. It’s apparently the most common type of identical twin). That means there’s an 85% chance that there’s nothing to worry about. However, if something goes wrong, it can go terribly wrong. One or both babies can die, and until relatively recently, TTTS had few treatments.

So I’ve read that the TTTS Foundation and the specialists who work with them recommend getting weekly ultrasounds starting at 16 weeks to monitor for this problem. It seems excessive, but I’d rather go excessive than be ignorant of a big problem. I hope I don’t have to worry about it at all.

Now, it’s doctor shopping time. Knowing that the babies share a placenta, I’m feeling a little more pushed to find a specialist I think– especially since I looked up my current OB and found out he’s not board certified… which is something I’m not even sure should be a worry. Ugh, I hate doctor limbo.

The specialist we saw on Friday didn’t sit well with either of us. She was pretty brusque and standoffish. Nice enough I guess, but definitely didn’t make us feel like she gave a shit. We were “just another set of twins” to cut out and deliver. I asked her if she thought I stood a chance of delivering without a c-section. She gave us a small smile, sat quiet for a few seconds, then gave a small shake of the head. Her attitude was definitely not supportive of a vaginal birth, let alone anything without drugs.

I’m having a very tough time coming to terms with that, especially since I want to find someone who will keep a close eye on me, but won’t be quick to cut me open. I wish to god I could have a drug-free birth, but I pretty much know that ain’t happenin’. From what I’m reading almost everywhere, they make you have an epidural “just in case” they need to haul you off to have a c-section. I can’t even tell you how upset that makes me. I already feel violated and out of control of my own body just based on the fact that I have no choice but to do a hospital birth. See how fucking complicated I have to be???

Anyhow, there are few maternal-fetal specialists around the area, but I’ll be calling the ones I’ve found starting tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe I’ll find my dream doctor out there somewhere!

Off topic: I told the edit department, so I’m out of the closet now. A couple of them admitted to wondering if I was.

Oh, and here are the rest of the ultrasound pics of our beautiful babes!