Baby, oh Baby!

Before I begin - disregard anything I've previously posted about the babies....sigh.

I posted on Facebook earlier today that I had an appointment with a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist.  At the 18 week ultrasound they found a choroid plexus cyst on Baby A.  The cyst is of no concern and will take care of itself or cause no troubles.  The cyst along with other obvious markers can be a sign of a lot more problems.  I am happy to report that after a 1 1/2 hour ultrasound (yes, 1 hour 30 minutes) Baby A is perfect and Baby B is still perfect.  Baby A's heart rate was 157 and Baby B's was 168.  They were active and caused quite a few frustrating moments trying to get measurements.  Stinkers!!  Especially that Baby A.  I don't think I've ever had a kid be so uncooperative - in or out of the womb!!

 You can see Baby A's face in this one.  It isn't as clear as I would have liked, but you can see the right eye and nose bridge somewhat.  Stinker!!

 This would be Baby B's face with a good shot of the chin, mouth, and nose.  This one cooperated a bit more, but I think it was because of its position more than its willingness to be helpful.

 Baby B's most adorable nose and mouth!!!  Oh I can't wait to kiss that sweet little nose!

Probably the BEST picture of Baby A the whole ultrasound.  The baby moved toward the end so it was easier to get a good shot at that point.

So what I learned today:

I am official labeled with a Monochorionic-Diamniotic pregnancy.

This, to the best of my knowledge, means there is ONE placenta, and the babies are in their own sacs inside of another sac.  OK....need a picture???  The membrane between the babies is much smaller than what is pictured below.

The babies that share a placenta, but in their own sacs, can have the problem of TTTS or Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome.  This one I'm not as well informed as I could be.  According to a website called www.tttsfoundation.org here is some information if you care to read it.

Depending on the number, type and direction of the connecting vessels, blood can be transfused disproportionately from one twin (the donor) to the other twin (the recipient).

The transfusion causes the donor twin to have decreased blood volume. This in turn leads to slower than normal growth than its co-twin, and poor urinary output causing little to no amniotic fluid or oligohydramnios (the source of most of the amniotic fluid is urine from the baby).
The recipient twin becomes overloaded with blood. This excess blood puts a strain on this baby’s heart to the point that it may develop heart failure, and also causes this baby to have too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios) from a greater than normal production of urine.

This basically means we need to be monitored closely for fluid levels and baby measures.  As a result I am now scheduled for a fluid level ultrasound check every two weeks and a baby measure ultrasound every 4 weeks.  This is on top of my already scheduled OB visits.  Sigh.

What is the good news in all of this??  I have two very healthy, very active 98% sure IDENTICAL TWINS (thus the warning at the beginning to disregard anything I've said before!).  Is it possible to be sick of receiving information??  I am very tired of thinking I know something and then it turns out to be something else.  I guess it doesn't really matter - I'm having two babies and will only have to deliver one placenta.  That's all I need to know.

BEFORE YOU ASK - NO, I didn't find out what the babies are.  That will be my guaranteed surprise at the end of this journey.  So that means no one can plan ahead and buy twin gifts early - sorry!

Thank you for your prayers and good wishes.  I appreciate them and only hope someday I can return the favor.  God bless all of you!!