Warning signs in the mother include:
·
The sensation of a rapid growth of the womb
·
A uterus that measures large for dates
·
Abdominal pain or tightness, or uterine contractions
·
Sudden increases in body weight
·
Hand and leg swelling in early pregnancy
Warning signs in the twins appear on ultrasound scans and
include:
·
Evidence of a monochorionic or shared placenta
·
A single placenta
·
Same sex twins
· A
thin, hard to see, dividing membrane
Evidence of TTTS
·
Polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid) in the sac of one twin
·
Oligohydramnios (decreased to no amniotic fluid) in the sac
of the other twin
· Size
differences (discordance) in the twins
· Hydrops fetalis (water in one baby's body from heart
failure)
It is crucial for parents with a multiple gestation to determine
their placental type early. With monochorionic twins, you
should watch carefully for the warning signs listed above.
Since TTTS is a high-risk problem that can happen quickly
and at any time in pregnancy, frequent examinations and ultrasound
scans are necessary to catch the problem early. It is critical
that physicians be aware of the warning signs. THE FOUNDATION
ADVOCATES WEEKLY ULTRASOUNDS WITH A PERINATOLGIST FROM 16
WEEKS GESTATION THROUGH DELIVERY TO LOOK FOR PLACENTAL SHARE
PROBLEMS AND TTTS.
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