So What Exactly Is TTTS?

From our website Fruit Of The Womb Angels www.fruitofthewombangels.org

So what exactly is TTTS? 

TTTS (Twin Twin Transfusion Syndrome) is a unique condition in pregnancy for twins and multiple babies who share a single placenta. The difference in what defines a pregnancy as monochorionic or something different depends on the day the embryo splits during fertilization. 

A split of the embryo in the first four days results in dichorionic, which is similar to fraternal twinning. These type of twins have the lowest complication rates. A split of the embryo in day four or more results in monochorionic, which will share a single placenta. A split of the embryo between four to eight days the monochorionic twins will have separate sacs of water (diamnionic) despite a shared placenta, but after eight days they will also be in the same sac (monoamnionic). Diamnionic monochorionic, four to eight days split, are the most common placental type for identical twins, and most cases of TTTS occur in this group.

​What makes a difference and causes TTTS to occur are the presence of blood vessels in the placenta that connect the umbilical cords and circulations of the twins, and the second is the variations in the way the twins share their common placenta.

This is a condition that must be monitored closely in pregnancy, if TTTS occurs then steps must be taken otherwise the life of the babies is in jeopardy and could be fatal.

Steps you can take if you feel your pregnancy falls into risk for TTTS category. 

1- Talk to your doctor about increasing your nutrition by adding extra supplements to your diet, talk to a nutritionist and/or use apps like My Fitness Pal to track you're diet. 

2- Consider bed rest and/or lower physical activity. Studies have shown that patients who had more nutrition added to their diet while paired with bed rest had a lower risk of a fatal outcome in pregnancy.  

3- Information is your friend. There are plenty of support groups, websites and books that can provide you with the details on what type of pregnancy you have and what you can do.

​Our Advice :

The best advice we can give after our experience is to become informed about everything. Don't let your doctors be quiet. If there could be a risk in your pregnancy learn what you can do while there is still time to help prevent further complications in the future. 

One thing to keep in mind is that not much can be done to prevent TTTS and you should not blame yourself if your multiples develop a TTTS pregnancy. 

Many doctors will say that this condition is not common; as far as I'm concerned this is something that is becoming more common or that there is more exposure about it now. Otherwise there wouldn't be hundreds of stories and reports of the procedures that have been performed to help save the lives of TTTS multiples. 

Most important to remember is what you do is your choice. Do what you feel is best for your pregnancy and the lives of your babies. This is not your doctors pregnancy, it's yours.