Possible IUGR Twin (Interuterine Growth Restricted)

My grandson was diagnosed with IUGR, and they planned on just letting my daughter go to 36 weeks with him and then taking him c-section. Not because of the IUGR, but because of other health problems with my daughter. Anyway, her water broke at 34 weeks, and he weighed 3 pounds, 5 oz. An average 34 week baby is 4 and a half pounds. Elijah did amazing, was in NICU for 4 weeks with no health problems, just growing. He is now 16 months and caught up developmentally, but still a petite guy.

My last baby (a singleton) was IUGR. I was just monitored closely, twice weekly nst's. At 38 weeks there were some question about fetal distress, so we went ahead and induced labor.

With my twiins, they watched for that as well. My twins were small, but were growing. But none of my previous babies were huge either. You just may be prone to small babies. Of course with twins, they tend to be a bit mroe proactive in keeping tabs anyways. I would venture to say, that ultrasounds from time to time to measure growth, and nst's to make sure there are no signs of fetal distress, and let you carry. If there are concerns, valid ones, they may deliver early. It really is a play it by ear kind of thing.

One thing about "percentages". I wish docs would shove those growth charts up their a$$es. Some kids are smaller than some generic chart. Some kids are larger than some generic chart. It is just a chart, and by itself, doesn't mean a thing.

I have not heard of IUGR, but I did want you to know that I delivered my fraternal twins at 33 weeks and everything went fine. They were in the special care nursery for 2 weeks and then got to come home. One was 1/2 pound heavier then the other and 2 inches longer....the smaller one actually did better then the larger one in the beginning.

So, if they do decide to deliver, don't be too nervous. They know how to take care of these babies. My twins are now 6 and have had no problems from being premature.

Most important, congratulations and enjoy every moment. It goes by so fast. I won't tell you it is easy, because it is not, but so rewarding. My twins love to play with each other now and entertain each other for hours.

Good luck!!!

I am SO pleased you're having TWINS! Congratulations! However I don't know what ANY of your abbreviations mean! Sorry!

I doubt they would deliver based on just smaller sizes at this point. It is definitely better for them to stay in as long as possible and safe. What they will be watching for is a decrease in percentage from either or both babies, or a growing discrepancy between the two of them. Of course the NST is looking for signs of stress based on their heartrates, and that could be another indication to deliver. They are most likely just fine and your doctor will keep a close eye on things. If you can make it just 3 more weeks that is usually the goal for twins, it is not too far away. Good luck.

We were monitoring the growth of my twins from 25wks on. They were consistent until around 32-33wks at which time Baby A was slowing down. They were delivered naturally 2 days before 36wks. Baby A was 4Lb 12oz & Baby B was 6Lbs. We all went home together 3 days later. By 1 year they were 22.3 & 23.3 Lbs.
Congrats & good luck to you!!

Congratulations on your twin pregnancy! This happened to me too with my fraternal twins. At 29 weeks I was admitted to the hospital on bed rest because my son had not grown in several weeks. Their goal was for me to get to 34 weeks. My water broke on the first day on my 34th week and they delivered them by c-section. My daughter went home after 11 days and my son went home after about 21 days. Though my son was smaller for the first few months he eventually caught up and now they are both average in their percentages. They're 6 years old now. It's very scary when it's happening because you don't really understand everything that's going on but I think that the doctors these days do everything they can to ensure a safe delivery. Good luck with your babies!

I totally believe that a Dr. will scare every pregnant woman at least once during a pregnancy. I think it is to cover themselves from Mall-practice suits. Anyway. My son does have IUGR. We got him when he was 2-1/2 weeks old. His birthmother worked 3 jobs and would sleep 3-4 hours a night. It wasn't until she was in her 8th month that she got any prenatal help, because of streph. I have been searching the web for several years. There is a difference between low birth weight and IUGR. I say listen to your Drs. You have already made it to 33 weeks. Which is great for twins. I wish you and your family all the best. I am here if you need someone to talk to.

Take care
J.

Usually IVIg works to stop the not growing. This happened to me at the very beginning. I start IVIg per drs orders , i had a reporductive immunilogist working with us though so he was really good at this compared to my maternal fetal medicine group. I also was induce at 35 weeks and my twins were 3 and 4 pounds and did great! They did stay in the hospital for a week to keep body temp and be able to sit up and breathe on their own, they did not need ventalators or anything just the bilirubin lights for jaundice and a feeding ng tube in their nose to help gain some weight but that only lasted two days. If you are not comfortable with IVIg it is a blood product then I do not know what else they can do, what about steroids??? They did have me on prednisone 20 mg and then tapered me to 10 mg by 20 weeks and then at 27 weeks game me shots of dexamethasone so they would be ready. Do you have immune problems or allergies? Iwill be thinking of you all!
J.

Hi, my friend had Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome which sounds similiar - they saw a specialist that told her to drink Ensure drinks to increase the size of baby number 2 that was smaller. Her husband went to Costco and bought the drinks by the case. It worked! when she delivered both babies were big and healthy and the doctors couldn't believe she ever was diagnosed with TTTS. Perhaps you should try? Good luck and I'm sure everything will go great!

There was a study published in The Lancet (very reputable journal of medicine) back in like 1993 that showed lower birth rates and growth hormones when M. had more ultrasounds. May be worth looking into it. I imagine with twins they probably push to do lots of ultrasounds.

I agree with Jill A. Just enjoy this time and stop stressing. The doctors know what they're doing and they know how to care for premature babies. When I had my first set of twins (I have two sets with one in between) they told me if I could make it to 32 weeks, I was totally good to go. They ended up being delivered via c-section at 38 weeks, and now they're 6. The next set of twins was born at 36 weeks, again no issues. Twins have more stress in utero than a singleton so they are tougher.

It is not easy, but they are wonderful!