What kind of doc did you see?

[caheinz]

So, when you carried -- or are carrying -- multiples, did you stick with your regular ob/gyne, or were you able to find a specialist?

I was seeing a midwife, and got moved over to the ob side when we found out it was twins. Went today just to check in with them, and happened to get the newest doc. (To the practice, and to practice in general.)

Let's see... she kept mentioning that they would come early, and didn't mention a thing we could do to prevent that.

She told me that I only needed to eat about 300 more calories a day -- or one cup of yogurt or one glass of whole milk. And that most of the gain would be coming at the end of the pregnancy.

These were the two biggies that bugged me. I have the Barbara Luke book, and am of the mind that these little ones need to stay inside for as long as possible, and whatever I can do to make sure of that will be worth it in the end.

At one point, the doc even offhandly mentioned that they could certainly arrive by the end of August -- um, that would be by 32 weeks. Can't we discuss ways to keep them inside at that point?!?

The other docs in the practice are more experienced, and most have a high-risk speciality. I will definitely make the next appointment with one of them, unless I move altogether.

What is or was your experience? I don't think there are docs that really specialize in multiples all that close to me, and I'd like to stay as close to home as possible...

[tamie]

HI there, I don't post often over here, but thought I would throw in my 2 cents.

In my case I went to my OB/GYN. Prior to my pregancy, I always saw Dr G. Loved him for his quick and effecient bedside manner. Once I was pregnant and released from my RE, I started seeing him again. In this practice though, you have to see every doctor in the practice becasue any of the OB's could be delivering your baby.

However, at my 20 week appointment, I was scheduled with Dr A and DH and I both loved him. I guess he loved us too, because he specifically told us to book our appointments with him. He tood us through the rest of our pregnancy. While he talked with us about the risks, he also was very positive that it could be a pregnancy of no complications.

I was considered high risk because of the twins and my age, but since I had no complications with the pregnancy, I didn't feel the need to see a specialist.

I think that stinks about the doctor that you saw. I would definitley try out the other OB's in the practice and avoid that one!

Just so you know, I carried my twins to 37 weeks (considered full term with twins) and never had a day of bed rest or "Light duty". It can be done and I hope your pregnancy goes the same!

Good luck!

[caheinz]

Ugh. Just got off the phone with the office.

I'm trying to switch docs. I saw the one who is very very new -- all of the others have more experience. She told us that it wouldn't be hard to switch.

Well, apparently it is. They have to go and talk to the doctors to see if they can take me. I told the receptionist that I would be leaving the practice if they could not. (I'll get a call back today or tomorrow...)

I wasn't told to limit my activity at all. It was same advice as for a singleton, just that it might need to be cut back a bit sooner, but not soon enough to ward off an early delivery, I think.

Sigh. At least there's another ob/gyn office across the hall from this one if I really have to switch completely.

[Kindra178]

cheryl

Are you in Chicago? It sounds like my doc experience. I just switched practices, but I am not wholly comfortable with my doc's twins' advice. He said absolutely no more than 40 pounds, because that could cause preterm labor if I gain too much. He also wants me exercising as much as possible. i like Dr. Luke's statistics and I am trying to follow her advice.

[caheinz]

cheryl

Are you in Chicago? It sounds like my doc experience. I just switched practices, but I am not wholly comfortable with my doc's twins' advice. He said absolutely no more than 40 pounds, because that could cause preterm labor if I gain too much. He also wants me exercising as much as possible. i like Dr. Luke's statistics and I am trying to follow her advice.

Yep. Far west burbs.

And I agree on Dr. Luke. The advice of the doc I saw yesterday seemed a better guarrantee of a NICU stay than it did healthy kiddos.

[caheinz]

Update: Got a new, experienced doc in the office.

Hope this one is more reasonable.

[LaCostaMom]

I gave birth to b/g twins last month at 35w2d. Our girl had an 11 day stay in NICU for weight gain & our little boy was in for 18 days learning to coordinate suck/breathe reflex.

Because of the twins, my age & type 2 diabetes, I was considered high risk and sent by my OB to a peri who specializes in diabetic pregnancies.

Also, our little girl had a 2-vessel cord (1 artery instead of 2 in umbilical cord), so I was carefully monitored to check for growth discordance between the twins.

I breezed through 'til 28w and then went into the hospital for a week due to shortening cervix. I was put on magnesium sulfate (yuck!) and then sent home for strict bedrest.

My team of docs set goals for me - get to 30w, get to 32w and finally to 35w. They were born early, weighing 4lbs,3oz & 4lbs,5oz. Now at 1 month, 1 day old they weigh 6lbs,2oz & 6lbs,10oz. They are alert, sweet & good eaters & sleepers!

I started to read Barbara Luke's book but ended up giving it away. The nutritional guidelines would never have worked for me and my peri and OB didn't think the weight gain guidelines were particularly healthy. They just advised me to eat/choose healthy.

I gained 20 lbs (the last 5lbs in the last week due to edema) total and 2 weeks after the pregnancy I was down 24lbs.

As far as ways to prevent PTL - yes - there ARE things that can be done depending on your individual situation ranging from modified bedrest, bedrest, magnesium sulfate drip, nifedipine (to stop contractions), etc...

I really don't believe that not gaining enough weight is really going to have a bearing on PTL - I know various women who were pg with twins - everyone gained different degrees of weight & if you look at all the individual cases, you'd be hard-pressed to say that weight had anything to do with PTL or not.

Twins often do come early but certainly, the longer in utero the better (as long as there is no growth discordance between the twins).

Anyway - these are just my thoughts based on my experience.

Good luck to you during your pregnancy...twins are wonderful!

[SammyeGail]

I was at a big practice, the dr i had did have lots of experience, but after 3 visits I realized he might not deliver, it depended on who was on call. Check with your new dr. about that.

I called Delivery at various hospitals and ask for dr recommendations, the same name was given several times. I got in with him, it was a 2 or 3 dr office (can't remember, think one was retiring or only GYN), I met all the doctors.

When I was 5 months along DH was activated in the Army Reserves so we had to move and find another new doctor. I again called hospitals and was given lots of names, this city was much bigger. My sisters neighbor raved about hers and he was on the list so I went to see him. They were a 3 doctor practice, one retiring and one new, but experienced. I went to see them once a week until birth at 33.5 weeks due to pre-eclampsia. The boys were fine. I was dissapointed my regular doctor didn't get to do the devilery, the newer one did, but when he came in the room that night (we showed up at about 1:30AM) he knew my history my heart, not like he had just read my chart. It was a Sunday night and he said they had a meeting about me the Friday before because my dr. had a 'feeling'. I never thought I would, but I love the smaller practices.

Best of luck and let your dr know how you feel. Bring the Luke book with you to the next appt.

Samantha

[caheinz]

There are five docs in the practice, and I actually think I'd be fine with any of them at delivery. It's for the regular appointments over the next 5 or 6 months that I want to be seeing a more experienced doc.

I'll try to remember to bring the book. I'll also have a perinatal appointment just two days prior, and I know I'm getting the hospital's "multiples binder" at that point. I know there's nutrition info in there (why I'd want to wait until 16-18 weeks to get nutritional info is beyond me, but...), and I'm curious to see what it says.

The doc (that I won't see again) who told me to add 300 calories told me to check the March of Dimes site, and they even suggest adding 500 calories per baby above the first. Not as much as Luke suggests, but quite a bit more than the doc was telling me... (I did a quick look at sites around the web, and saw numbers all over the place...)

[Sophie1&2]

Congratulations on your twin pregnancy. You are in for so much fun, they're great.

Here's my 2 c's. I switched practices at 14 weeks and saw a night and day difference with the level of concern and care and I think it ended up making a difference in how far I made it. It sounded like you had a gut feeling and acted on it by seeking out someone else and I think you were right to do that.

I saw a perinatologist monthly, granted I had a family history of pre eclampsia and was considered 'advanced maternal age', but it made a huge difference to me. She told me that they were likely to come early and the best thing I could do was fatten them up so they would be decent weights whenever they arrived. She sent me to a nutritionist, which I HIGHLY recommend. I learned how to eat 100 grams of protein a day the healthy way and she gave me a link for a company that sells medical grade protein (powder that you mix). It's called Unjury. The nutritionist was $90 and my insurance paid for most of it and it was WELL worth it. She guaranteed she would 'take off what we put on' and I could e mail her with any questions. I think it's better than relying on a book from someone who doesn't know you own history, but no offense to Dr. Luke's followers. I was also told no exercise but I had a subchorionic bleed.

I did get severe pre eclampsia and HELLP syndrome which did not come as a surprise. My twins were born at 34.5 days and had no issues (were feeder/growers and spent 9 days in the NICU). My OB actually told me later that she didn't think I would have made it that long so I was very happy I had fattened the babies up and they were born so healthy.

Best of luck and listen to your instincts. I think you would be more comfortable getting further information on what to eat and thought this may help.