9w+6d days pregnant with twins and symptoms stopped 5 days ago. Should I panic?

[MofM]

Hello,

I believe that after graduating from the Fertility Network forum thing would be easier, but this is definitely not the case.

As the title says, all my symptoms (nausea, tiredness, sore boobs) stopped suddenly last Wednesday (9w+1d), after an early scan (8w+6d) that confirmed two strong heartbeats.

I spend the weekend on Google, where I found a mix of "not worry, mine also disappeared and went back with a vengeance a few days/weeks later" and "this was the only sign of my silent miscarriage, I am so sorry for you".

I have no pain, no bleeding. I feel absolutely normal.

My next antenatal scan will be in 20 days (12 weeks scan with the NHS antenatal team), and I am now wondering if I should book a reassurance scan for the end of this week.

Has anyone had any experience or word of wisdom regarding this?

Thanks a lot xxx

----

UPDATE: I booked a reassurance scan today (10w+4d) and both twins are doing well and were very active during the scan! I am posting the update in case some other anxious soul comes this way!

[Pnw2020]

Hi.

I wouldn't want to speculate on the change in your symptoms. Hopefully nothing to worry about but if I were in your situation, I would probably have an additional scan.

I opted for the Harmony test so had that done at 10/11 weeks (scan + bloods) and then a week or so later the NHS scan. I personally wanted the genetic testing due to my age but was told that it can be harder to get the necessary NT measurements with twins.

[MofM in reply to Pnw2020]

Just called a clinic near my house that does reassurance scans. The first available appointment was for Saturday morning, but I already feel much reassured!

We were also thinking about some form of NIPT (harmony, panorama, ...) but while someone says that they work well with twins (especially if dizygotic, like mine), others say that they are not reliable. So we decided to wait for the NHS evaluation at 12 weeks 🤞

[Pnw2020 in reply to MofM]

Wishing you well for the scan. Going forwards the NHS often do private scans at a very reasonable cost too.

[Fruitandflowers]

You could speak to your midwife if you have one yet, or the EPU, but I had lots of private scans early on, and it was the only way I could keep the anxiety at bay. I was a bit worried about stories of them being 'baby photographers' and not good for actual medical issues or if anything was wrong, but if you check they have properly qualified sonographers and ideally ones that work for the NHS, they should be able to give you the initial care you need. I was incredibly anxious and upset when I went and they were very sensitive and supportive when I explained about IVF and previous losses. I had times where the symptoms had gone and I was bleeding, later where the baby's movements were intermittent, or something didn't feel right, and I didn't know what was normal, a genuine concern or just my anxiety. It was all fine in the end and I hope it's the same for you.

[MofM in reply to Fruitandflowers]

I called the midwife on Friday but she was not very reassuring. She says that if there is no bleeding and no pain it should be normal. I did not like the "should be". I appreciate that every pregnancy is different and they cannot give anyone certainty, but she sounded everything but reassuring 😅

I have now booked a reassurance scan with a clinic near my home for Saturday. I hope that they are qualified, but also if they are just "baby photographers" if there is a heartbeat they should be able to pick it up, right? Now I am more worried about a missed miscarriage than some other developmental issues. I keep these for the time around the 12 weeks scan 😂😂

Honestly, I can't relax and I am not sure I will be able even after the 12-week scan. How did you cope?

[Fruitandflowers in reply to MofM]

Yeah, I had constant bleeding and I was told by the midwife that if it was brown it was ok and only to call the EPU if it went bright red or got heavier - both happened but I called and still I was told not to worry. They were right in terms of no risk to the baby as it turned out to be a growth on my cervix but I only got to having it diagnosed by going to the consultants, so it's a tough one between not wanting to bother them and going with your instincts. I also didn't feel any movements until late on (turns out I have an anterior placenta and that's normal but again worried me). In a way that's why the extra scans were so important as I could see that the baby was there and moving (totally oblivious to my panic), hear a heartbeat... But before each one I could hardly breathe as I expected the worst. So the way I coped was the scans every few weeks The 12 week NHS one and genetic risk assessment (if you have that) helped but it probably wasn't until the 20 week NHS scan that I felt even remotely like this might be ok. Once you start to feel the baby/ies move that also helps hugely and when that got a bit more regular, it put an end to my scan 'habit'. So I don't have any other advice re coping, but I will say you can't worry the baby away - I have given that a really good testing

[MofM in reply to Fruitandflowers]

I've noticed that midwifes are usually no stress, but as soon as you get to speak to a consultant everything changes. In my NHS cycle I started bleeding massively at 5dp5dt (red very fresh blood and a lot of it) and the midwife told me of just upping the progesterone because at that point they couldn't do anything for me. As soon as I managed to get the consultant on the phone he told me to run to the hospital. I had an injury from the egg collection and I had already lost about 1 litre of blood...

I think I will subscribe to the regular scan club! Thanks a lot for your answer xxx

[Positivechangeplease]

Ugh this is the worst time. I can’t tell you how hard the 12 week wait is. I had my scan out at 13+2 and I was so worried I had them bring it forwards. Thing is, symptoms can come and go… and the fact you’ve had any is a good sign. The scan was a good sign. If you really want a reassurance scan it won’t hurt… I think you need to do what you think is best. But I can tell you this is the worst wait of time. Hopefully successful 12 week scan settles your mind at rest.

[MofM in reply to Positivechangeplease]

My 12 weeks scan will be at 12+3, so quite good, but, still, it looks years away! Did you manage to relax after that? Honestly, I doubt I will be able to relax even after the 12-week scan. How did you cope?

Anyway, I just called a clinic near my house that does reassurance scans and booked for Saturday morning, and I already feel much reassured!

[Positivechangeplease]

Oh god I know. Even my partner remembers how awful that time was. I’d previously MC’d so I was even more a bag of nerves. So glad you have another scan booked. The only thing was I was feeling so sick to about 11 weeks I probably had less time to think about it. But not much I could do except count down the days. I fully expected her to find nothing on that 12 week scan so I was extremely shocked when there was a baby wriggling around.

[MofM in reply to Positivechangeplease]

My partner is as stressed as me, if not worse. We also had several pregnancy losses, and when we discovered we had a positive pregnancy test he said he was glad of not being the one carrying otherwise he would miscarry immediately just because of the level of stress he was having 😂 Now he looks at me at regular intervals (we are both WFH ATM) and it feels a bit awkward: he is definitely looking forward to me starting feeling miserable again 😂😂😂

I also expected bad news for the 9w scans, but then everyone in the scan room smiled and congratulate me, and so I know that they were both still there! Strangely, I was very relaxed for the first scan (7w), I knew somehow one embryo would be there! I don't know, my mind is playing a lot of tricks on me!

Thanks for sharing your story! xxx

[Positivechangeplease in reply to MofM]

Aww that’s nice but it’s such a rollercoaster. I know how hard it is. I had an mc from an unexpected natural pregnancy after having done ivf that got frozen because I had developed polyps. Still had to have them out after the mc - and sadly I got a decent scan at 8 weeks and didn’t mc until 12. Which is why I was so flappy until the the 12 week scan. Then I had a failed fet with my best embryo. But at my 7.5 week scan this time she explained how good it was looking, the yolk sac lovely and round. But from all the anxiety I think you’ve done the right thing getting a reassurance scan in. I probably should have done the same. The good thing to know is that your eggs are only as old as they were when they were frozen. So yours are youthful even if you’ve aged (something that works for donor users) so you have a greater chance of success! 😁 let us know how the scan goes but I’m sure it will be good, I know what it’s like constantly touching breasts to see, wondering if the sickness that’s dropped off is normal. Everyone is different and I’ve all the faith that you’ll come through this with flying colours 🌈😁

[MofM in reply to Positivechangeplease]

You had a hell of a journey I admire your strength.

Actually my eggs are only a few months younger then me! They were frozen between June and August (not sure which embryo from which cycle were used) and the transfer was December 😅

I also could not get any reassurance from my two scans, despite them praising the shape, heartbeat, placenta position, ... Let's hope this third scan gives me some peace of mind until the 12w scan, and that it will get easier from there -- but if I know myself, it will not 😂

🤞🤞🤞

xxx