Please help, can I get some insight and advice?

Question

I am 26 weeks pregnant with mono/di twins. My last appt was Monday and the doctor explained to me that my twins are not meeting the mark right now on the growth chart. They were both around 1lb 10oz and as far as their other measurements, head, legs, etc, they seemed to be measuring 21-22 weeks. This was such a major disappointment to me and immediately has caused me to worry now everyday and blame myself. I personally haven't gained much weight, but they have been gaining weight every time I go to the dr. I feel like I'm definitely eating a lot, but I think I need to eat more frequently and more protein and anything that can help their development at this point to get them to where they need to be and try exceed it.
I go to high risk appts every 2 weeks and my last appt was around the 22 week mark, in which they were developing right on target they said at the time (both 14oz) and now they aren't progressing or possibly retrogressing? I did some of my own research and from what I've seen my twins could be considered the 10th percentile which it seemed is the lowest standard for their development.
I'm so worried and am wondering if anyone has had a similar experience. The dr told me I will go back again in 2 weeks and they will check growth again and she said hopefully they will hit a growth spurt in this time and if not we'd go from there. She also told me at this point with twins if I go into labor and they can't stop it, they would let me deliver and I just want my babies to be as strong and healthy as possible if that scenario were to play out.
So if anyone has any similar experiences they are willing to share or also any advice in gaining more weight or contributing more in the babies development that I can do such as diet tips, certain foods anything that will help me gain more or help them get more nutrition and protein. I am now trying to add more protein to my diet to help as much as possible. But any advice, suggestions or something that helped in your personal experience would be more than welcome!
Thank you for reading this! Thank you to anyone who may have any advice at all for me! I truly appreciate it because I am desperate to do whatever I can!

Answer

I have mono/di twin boys. I can't remember when exactly my little guy was diagnosed with iugr but he went from the 10th to the 8th to the 3rd percentile we were on frequent monitoring. The doctors kept telling me it's the placenta that wasn't providing enough (and when he was born his cord was 1/2 the size of his brother's!), that I was encouraged to eat a healthy diet but it was nothing I did that caused him being small. I would anticipate it's the same for you - try to eat healthy but know that it's not your fault that your babies aren't growing quite as well. The doctors are monitoring as frequently as they feel like they need too; later in my pregnancy I got to twice a week monitoring which ended up being a really good thing because my boys were diagnosed with late-onset twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome requiring a C-section at 33 weeks 4 days. They have been in the NICU for 11 days and they are so healthy and thriving even though my little guy is small, they're both doing really really well. Just working on growth and being ready to feed at the breast when they can but doing really well with their feeding tubes in the time being. As hard as it is try not to stress, know that your body is working hard to grow these babies and you're in good hands of the doctors checking on everything they need to be checking on. Best of luck!

Answer

I know you said it a couple of times, and the previous person did too but PROTEIN is key!! I had mono-di boys and when they would slow or seem to stop growing I'd double (or more) my protein intake. Eat your regular diet PLUS at least 2 protein shakes a day. I liked the chocolate premier protein shakes or just even a slimfast advanced shake because it had the best taste and most grams of protein per bottle than others. When I'd do this their growth would take off by the next appointment, and if I slacked off you could definitely tell by slowed growth.... My MFM doctor told me they'd be small, probably 4lb-5lb range at term if I made it. I made it to 37 weeks and they were born at 5-11 and 6lbs!

Answer

I don’t have your situation, but I also have mono/di twins. I would just make sure you are eating as much protein as possible. I replaced sweets with chocolate protein shakes and honestly, I’m not eating many veggies because I’m trying to fill up on protein. That is really all you can do.
My husband was a growth restricted baby (40 years ago). He was full term because there weren’t ultrasounds back then and no one knew. He only weighed 3 lbs at birth. My MIL told me yesterday that he was only in the NICU 2 weeks and he gained 2 lbs during that time. He is a big guy today (over 6’). 
It is scary, but I think your babies should be just fine! Even if they are small, they will catch up. Are they checking Dopplers every 2 weeks?

Answer

Following - I’m 22 weeks and in a semi similar situation. One of my twins is in the 14th percentile and is being monitored for growth. I get how you feel cuz it’s making me so worried and I’m just trying everything I can not to stress about it. But if anyone has any helpful suggestions to up our babies’ growth, I’d also like to see them!

Please help, can I get some insight and advice?

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