IVF Pregnancy Information

1. mervat
   
   

   Hey Ladies. I just thought I would see if there is anyone else who is carrying their second set of multiples??? My first ultrasound is tomorrow, but it is seriously looking like I have my second set!!

   A little history.

   1st IVF 2002 xfer 1 blast BFN
   FET 2002 xfer only 2 blasts that made the thaw G/G TWINS born 03/03

   2nd IVF 03/08 xfer 1 8 cell BFN
   1st FET 05/08 xfer 1 10 cell BFN

   3rd IVF 06/08 xfer 2 5 day blasts(froze 2) BFN
   1st FET 08/08 xfer remaining 2 blasts BFP

   Betas
   13dpo 69
   20dpo 1136(still not looking like twins)
   23dpo >5000(clinic machine only goes to 5K)

   This last number doubled in 34 hrs which is faster than before when I had twins. My first ultrasound is tomorrow. I just wondered how you all felt to find out you were having twins again? I love my girls, and they are the light of my life, but it is so hard. They are now in Kindergarten, so maybe it wont be too bad. We transferred 1 embryo so many times just to get a singleton. I feel blessed no matter what, but I just wanted to talk to some other moms who have this feeling of OH MY. No sleep for the next year!

   Mandy
   5w2d

3. Spyridoula
   
   

   Thanks for posting...I had been meaning to see if there is anyone else out there. I am 8W5D with my second set. We are VERY lucky and now very excited. In all honesty...when I was getting my beta numbers, I was getting more and more freaked out and the ultrasound confirmed it...yes, twins again....oh my! It took me about a week to absorb the news...couldn't really think or talk about it too much (stress) but now I am fine and really thrilled. I think it will be so great for my girls who will be about 2.5 years when the new little ones come. Obviously, it will be a TON of work for a few years at least but I am thinking more about the long-term benefits.
   We only transferred 2 during our first fresh cycle in 2006 and also during this cycle back in July 2008. On transfer day of this cycle the doctor said they were \"good\" but not great (hence we tx'd 2---had been planning to tx only 1). I am older too (38.5) so we had never thought both would take. I guess it was just meant to be. It is better than continuing to live the IVF hell, if you know what I mean. Sounds like you have been through a lot so I hope you have great results. For your info...my betas were as follows:

   15 DPO 372
   19 DPO 1725
   22 DPO 6033

   These numbers were higher and doubling quicker than my first set...so that is why I was convinced it was multiples again.

   I agree that your last number jumped quite a bit. You'll have to let me know what you have brewing in there!

   I think it is great that your girls are a little older and will be great mommies' helpers.

   Good luck to you!!

4. Gulsen
   
   

   Hi ladies,

   I am suspecting I'm carrying my 2nd set of twins as well. We have 6 year old boys (from our 1st IVF in 2001) so because they're older & really want siblings I'm not as stressed at the thought b/c they will be such big helpers...but man twins are a lot of work! Here are my betas...what do you think?

   13dpo (8dp5dt): 239
   15dpo (10dp5dt): 576

   We transferred 2 blasts - one 4AA & one 2AA...ultrasound on 9/22 then I'll know for sure!

   Valerie
   4w5d

   PS - when people tell me all the time, \"you really have your hands full\"...I always reply that I'd rather have them full than empty!

5. narayanan
   
   

   Hi there,

   I was hoping to find some other moms out there who were pg with a second set of twins! I've got 2 year old boys that we adopted when they were 2 weeks old. We were planning to adopt a baby girl & were almost done with the paperwork when we decided to give it a shot to get pregnant. I'm 36 so the window seemed to be closing soon on our opportunity and so in July we tried and I'm pregnant with twins. My heart lept out of my chest when I saw the u/s and realized we were going to have 2.5 year old boys (who are very active) and newborn twins!! I'm over some of the shock, but I think I'll kick into major planning mode when I pass the 12 wk mark and am ready to start telling people. I'm just 9wks now - due on April 14. No family in town. It's definitely going to be interesting!!

6. Gulsen
   
   

   Hi ladies...ultrasound yesterday confirmed my suspicions - we are having TWINS again! I'm totally excited! Saw & heard both heartbeats & they were measuring right on target. I'm due May 15th but will probably deliver in April. My first set of twins are b/b and 6 years old...they are hoping for sisters (as are we!) so think pink for us!

   Mandy, what did you find out at your u/s?

   How're things with you, narayanan & Spyridoula?

   Good luck we all definitely need it!!!

   Valerie

7. Spyridoula
   
   

   Congratulations Gulsen on your wonderful news. You are doubly blessed again! That is awesome.

   Things are great here...I am 10w5d and am actually feeling less tired (or I am just used to it by now). I will be thrilled to get through the first trimester and then can relax a bit more. My due date is 4/16/09 but it will be late March or very early April at the latest (no later than 38 weeks). Looking forward to our Spring arrivals.

   Have you told anyone? I am a pretty private person especially about fertility treatments. I am sort of dreading telling people its twins again becasue I don't want to field all of the rude questions / comments and obviously I am now looking like the textbook fertility patient. I guess I should just be happy that I am in this position but it still worries me what I will have to listen to. I just feel that it is no ones business. Does this concern you or are you very open about this?

   Congrats to all!! narayanan...we are days apart. How are you feeling?

8. Gulsen
   
   

   Hi lucky,

   I guess I'm the polar opposite of you & have been extremely open about IVF - I think it's a miracle and I'll tell just about anyone who wants to know...so far I haven't had any rude questions, or felt like anyone was judging me; however, I trust those who I've shared with and have felt nothing but love & support from family & friends. Many knew we were trying IVF again after many years & many losses, so all who knew were cheering for us & were thrilled that it worked.

   With just my 1st set of twins, sometimes strangers would ask if twins run in my family, and they do (my sis has twins, my cousins are twins, my maternal grandpa has twin sisters), so a lot of times I'd just nod & say 'yes they do' just to keep things short & uncomplicated.

   You never need to answer any questions you feel uncomfortable with.

   Are you showing already? I started showing w/ the boys at 8 or 9 weeks...I'm only 7 weeks and definitely have a bump...I heard you show earlier with 2nd pregnancies, but this is ridiculous, right?!

   V

9. Spyridoula
   
   

   Gulsen,

   I am showing already and have been for a few weeks (I am only 11w1d). Is is kind of frightnening. It is especially noticeable as the day goes on---is this the case with you too? I am pretty superstitious and REALLY wanted to keep this a secret until I at least got through the first trimester but getting hard to hide. With my first twin pregnancy, I didn't tell work until about 18-19 weeks! I will be lucky to hold out 2 more weeks at this rate. We have a family wedding this weekend and hopefully people will drink a lot and not notice my bump!

   I am feeling less tired so that is a huge relief.

   Take Care

10. narayanan
    
    

    Hi Lucky & Gulsen,

    How fun to see your posts - I also have been keeping it a secret and it is getting hard because I've already gained a good 12 lbs. and my belly is bulging! A friend was staring at my belly and talking about how she was going to start TTC #2 a couple of days ago. I know she was fishing for me to tell, but I want to wait until my next u/s to make sure all is well before telling the whole world. I'm private too and I think I'm still a smidge in denial. I'm totally excited, but worried that something might go wrong.

    I can't believe how hungry I am! I am eating all the time! What I used to eat the whole day I now consume in one sitting! And TIRED - still very tired. Maybe it's chasing my two boys plus working part time and all of that. I'm trying to nap everyday though.

    I've got my first appointment with a perinatologist on Oct. 6. Have either of you gone yet? I'm wondering about the genetic screening, etc.

11. Spyridoula
    
    

    Hi narayanan,

    I am not seeing a Peri...just sticking with my regular OB that does a lot of High Risk (lots of patients over 35, etc.). Anyway, he'll refer me to a specialist should some issue arise but for now just sticking with him. I live in a major city and he is affiliated with a very large teaching hospital so I am comfortable with his care. He was all over everything last time and was able to get me to 37W5D with my first set of twins. I can only hope to get that far this time.

    I had my first trimester screening (nuchal measurment, etc) yesterday and it went well, thank God. I was really dreading it b/c I am 38.5 years old and was just worried. Actually the risk numbers for this set are actually lower than with our first set of twins. It is only a screening (and not diagnostic) so you never really know for certain about issues but I feel pretty good and now I am a little more relaxed. What kind of genetic screening are you doing?

    I think my husband and I have decided to keep this set of twins a secret---will just tell everyone that it is a singleton. What do you think? Sounded a little crazy to me at first but can you umagine the surprise later (if it works that is).

    Hope you are feeling well.

12. sefrimed
    
    

    Hi Ladies,

    Congrats to you all!!!! Very exciting - neat thread to read!

    Do you mind if I barge in and ask your thoughts on my betas? I am a bit freaked out at the moment.

    We were blessed with twins in 2005 (fresh IVF tx 2 embies).
    We had quite a few frozen and decided to try some FETs this year - only tx one blast. On our second FET (just this month) we got a BFP. We only tx one because I have cervix issues and had a very tough twin pregnancy. Here our are betas:

    11dp5dt (16dp0) - 242
    13dp5dt (18 dpo) - 696

    My re said when he gave me my second beta \"We are really hoping it didn't split\"
    Um, yes, so of course now I am freaking out.
    Based on your recent experiences, do these look like twin betas to you?

    Thanks for your feedback. I wish you all H&H 9 mos - very exciting - congratulations!
    Holly

13. Spyridoula
    
    

    sefrimed,

    Congrats on your pregnancy. Oh, how I know the feelings and emotions going through you at this moment. I was there just weeks ago. I nearly lost my mind worrying. Now I am really excited about it!

    Here is my 2 cents from the research I did. As background, we transferred 2 blasts this time...but when I was getting my betas...the numbers were so high, I was convinced that both took plus one spit therefore resulting in triplets. In order to get myself in off the ledge (yes, I know this would have been a blessing but I was freaked), I believe I read that if you have identical twins, there is typcially one placental and so the beta number would look more like a singleton beta number. That is why people with identical twins are really surprised at an ultrasound. Now, I don't know if there is a way for ID twins to each have their own placenta (which puts out the HCG hormone) and therefore have a high beta number that would look like a twin beta. Does that make sense?

    Good luck and keep up posted! When is your ultrasound?

14. salam73
    
    

    lucky: if the identical twins split really, really early then they will have their own placenta/own sac. But it is more common for them to share a sac, I believe, yes. But that's why some people have twins and aren't positive if they're idential or not (without a DNA test). If they're sharing a sac or placenta then you know for sure. But when they're separate, you can't really say for sure until they're born, etc.

    sefrimed: I'd say your betas might be twins, but not definitely. By comparison: my recent betas were 14dpo: 239, 16dpo: 497, 20dpo: 2290 and there are two in there right now-- and some other recent twin moms have had much higher betas, but some have had lower. I've recently seen people with your numbers go either way, but more ended up with singletons, as I recall. As mentioned, though, if it's identical twins in the same sac the beta numbers wouldn't show it. But while ICSI raises the chances possibly, it's still pretty remote-- nowhere near the way that IVF generally raises chances of fraternal twins dramatically.

15. sefrimed
    
    

    Thank you both for the information. It is very helpful.
    My first US is October 15th.
    I hate the waiting!!!

16. sefrimed
    
    

    It's one!
    We found out this morning.

    Thank you all for your feedback. H&H 9 mos to you all!

    Holly

17. Spyridoula
    
    

    Hey narayanan and Gulsen,

    It has been awhile since i posted on this thread but wanted to check in to see how everyone is doing. Have you delivered your 2nd set of twins yet? narayanan, we are in a very similar situation in terms of our first set being around 2 1/2. I am interested to see how your adjustment has been if you have had the newest babies yet.

    I am still pregnant and starting to get a bit more nervous about the enormous task ahead of raising 4 little ones. We are very excited of course but I know all too well the amount of work it will be so it is making me worry a bit. I'll be 35 weeks tomorrow and trying to hang on for a few more weeks. All is going relaly well with the prenancy but they could come soon as I am dilated 2.5 cm - 3cm. Well, hope everyone is feeling well and best wishes for smooth deliveries.

    Lucky

18. narayanan
    
    

    Hi Lucky!

    It's so interesting to look back at prior posts - the time has gone fast. I'm now 35 wks 2 days and very anxiously awaiting the arrival of the girls. I've had a few trips to the triage with lots of contractions, but I'm not dilated at all. I'm so physically uncomfortable, I'm READY to give birth anytime now.

    Though I am terrified of how it will all go when I've got to manage my boys and the girls at the same time. Thankfully, I arranged to have family come to stay with us for about the first 4 months - different people back to back - so hopefully my guests won't think of themselves as guests and will really help a lot. My toes are crossed. We also started my boys in preschool 3 days per week and they love it. So that will be a help too.

    Do you have plans for how things will go for you once your babies arrive? Best wishes for a smooth delivery. Are you anticipating c-section or vaginal?

    narayanan

19. Spyridoula
    
    

    Good to hear from you, narayanan!

    It is very interesting to hear about someone in the same (very unusual) situation as I am in! There are not many people that have experienced 4 under 3 so it is hard to really guage how life will be. I am getting more nervous but know that we will manage somehow. I joke that I won't be leaving home for a few years (It won't be that bad though).

    To answer your questions, I am going for a scheduled c-section. I had a vaginal delivery for Baby A and emergency c-section for Baby B last time around (nightmare but pretty rare) so don't want that again. I was tempted to try a VBAC but just too much risk for me with twins again. I would rather take on the risk for myself than risk anything with the babies. It will be very hard not lifting my girls for 6 weeks but, oh well....Doctor also suggested c-section so that is that. Scheduled for 4/2 if I make it that long.

    In terms of my plans after the delivery--we'll have a night nanny to help for the first 8-10 weeks or so which is what we did with our girls. It is expensive but worth every penny. I will still be nursing them so still getting up but she'll take care of everything else. That is about as far as we have gotten with planning. I am not much of a planner if you can tell....didn't even need to find out the genders. I think we'll just have to take it a week at a time. I have lots of family in the area for help here and there but no one that can just stay with us for weeks, etc. I am planning on going back to work full-time too so that is really what is making me worry the most. We have an amazing day-time nanny, but 4 kids is a lot for even the most energetic and gifted care givers. Lots to still sort out! That is great that you will have so much family support to help out the first few months. I won't be turning down any help that is for sure.

    Well, please keep me posted on your progress. That is great that you are not dilated yet. I sort of feel like it could happen any day now. I am carrying much lower this time and they feel like they are going to drop out of me! I have had a really smooth pregnancy but it has been much harder this time with caring for two active toddlers.

    Best of luck to you and please keep me posted!

    Lucky

20. narayanan
    
    

    Hi Lucky,

    Since my boys were adopted when they were 2 wks old (born at 33 wks), this is my first pregnancy. I've been having contractions for so long now - since 28 weeks - and finally I'm starting to dilate. I was one centimeter and 50% effaced as of yesterday. And today I'm having a lot of cramping/contractions so I think things are moving along. Though baby A is head down and B is breech & the bigger one. So the docs are saying that I could deliver A vaginally, but there's a 50% chance of needing c-section for baby B and I'm so torn on how to proceed. I guess when the time comes for delivery we'll figure it all out, but I don't want to end up recovering from both. If I don't deliver by this coming Monday, she'll schedule me for c-section for 3/30.

    Keep me posted!

    narayanan

21. Spyridoula
    
    

    narayanan,

    Sounds like you have a dilema on your hands with regard to your delivery options. I am actually surprised your practice will deliver you vaginally if Baby B is bigger and breech. I guess every place is different. Well, good luck with your decision and I hope you have a smooth go of it whatever you choose. Hopefully you won't have both to recover from. That wasn't fun for me although the c-section recover was far worse than the vaginal recovery (which was minimal as I recall).

    Curious - are you currently at home with your boys all day long? I am still working full time (desk job) so we have a day time nanny. Thank God, though, because I really wouldn't be able to care for my toddlers all day at this stage. These babies are really sitting low and are putting a lot of pressure on my vaginal area which is making it difficult to get around. I think I would need help if I was taking care of the girls full-time. Well, hopefully you are feeling ok and getting help if you are home with your boys. That is great that you have them in pre-school which will provide you with a break. Will probbaly be a challenge to get out of the house though to drop them off /pick them up I would think? It is all of these logistical things that make my head spin when I think about life with 4 young kids!

    I went to the doctor yesterday and there is no real change. I am still dilated about 2.5 cms and not contracting. I think if anything happens before my scheduled c-section, it will be my bag of water breaking. That is what happened with my first pregnancy, although it wasn't until 37W5D. I am happy that I have surpassed the 36 week mark and whatever happens now I am fine with.

    Take care and I look forward to hearing your next update.

22. salam73
    
    

    My doctor is willing to consider a vaginal delivery if baby B is breech, but only if Baby A is the bigger baby. (And even in that circumstance, it may depend on which doctor is on call that day-- some won't deal with breech at all). I'm 31.5 weeks and I'm pretty sure they've moved back to head down both of them and hope they stay that way-- I'll get confirmation and next week's ultrasound-- and past 32 weeks the doc said they're not likely to move (in a twin pregnancy). If both are head down I want to attempt a vaginal delivery, but if either is breech, I'm likely to opt for the c-section, because what I really don't want is half and half (one delivered vag and one via c-section), because then you get the worst of both worlds!

23. narayanan
    
    

    Yes, I am home with my boys full time. I work from home part time while they nap - or at least I am until my girls come. It is challenging sometimes - the boys want to climb on me, have me pick them up, etc. They don't understand why I can't do the things I've always done and I don't want to tell them it's because of the babies because I don't want them to associate anything bad right from the start.

    I had an appt with my peri today and he said that the worst scenario is to have a vaginal and then a c-section - the risk of infection is so high. But the girls are closer in weight now (weighing in at 6 lb 4 oz and 7 lb 7 oz!) so they should be easier to do vaginal/breech. I guess we'll see who is on duty when the time comes to deliver. If I don't deliver by Monday they'll either schedule me for an induction or c-section for the following week.

    Best of luck to you too!!!

24. labudash
    
    

    lucky: if the identical twins split really, really early then they will have their own placenta/own sac. But it is more common for them to share a sac, I believe, yes. But that's why some people have twins and aren't positive if they're idential or not (without a DNA test). If they're sharing a sac or placenta then you know for sure. But when they're separate, you can't really say for sure until they're born, etc.sefrimed: I'd say your betas might be twins, but not definitely. By comparison: my recent betas were 14dpo: 239, 16dpo: 497, 20dpo: 2290 and there are two in there right now-- and some other recent twin moms have had much higher betas, but some have had lower. I've recently seen people with your numbers go either way, but more ended up with singletons, as I recall. As mentioned, though, if it's identical twins in the same sac the beta numbers wouldn't show it. But while ICSI raises the chances possibly, it's still pretty remote-- nowhere near the way that IVF generally raises chances of fraternal twins dramatically.

    Hi guys, as a mother of identical twins resulting from a five day (blast) transfer, I wanted to clarify here.

    You can only have 2 seperate sacs and placentas in identicals with IVF if you had a 3 day (or less) transfer. A blast (5 plus day) transfer MUST result in sharing of placenta. It's too late for them to form their own with a five day tx.

    My boys shared a chorion (outer sac) and placenta, also known as mono di twins.

25. salam73
    
    

    Hi guys, as a mother of identical twins resulting from a five day (blast) transfer, I wanted to clarify here.You can only have 2 seperate sacs and placentas in identicals with IVF if you had a 3 day (or less) transfer. A blast (5 plus day) transfer MUST result in sharing of placenta. It's too late for them to form their own with a five day tx.My boys shared a chorion (outer sac) and placenta, also known as mono di twins.

    Good point-- by Day 5, they're past that \"really early\" threshold for splitting that I mentioned, and hence can't be in separate sacs if identical.

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