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You are here: Home / Blog / Mono Mono Twins: Caroline and Rebecca’s Story

Mono Mono Twins: Caroline and Rebecca’s Story

September 25, 2017 By Shann 10 Comments

Mono Mono Twins

Until I was pregnant with twins, I had no idea there were so many different types. Not only can twins be identical and fraternal, but they are also classified by how they share a placenta and/or sac. There are Di Di twins, Mono Di, and Mono Mono twins.

Twinning is determined by how early the egg splits during fertilization. If the egg doesn’t split all the way, the twins are conjoined. Next, Monochorionic monoamniotic (one placenta, one sac) happens, which can lead to complications because there are two umbilical cords twisting around in that same sac. Monochorionic (one placenta) diamniotic (two sacs) happen next, and they also have many complications because of that shared placenta. If two different eggs are fertilized, they will have their own placenta and sac (Diaminotic Dichorionic,) making them fraternal, or one egg could have split very early on, which means they are still identical.

Phew. It’s pretty confusing.

No matter how confused you may be, your doctor should not be confused. They should be able to determine if the twins are sharing a placenta and/or sac by your 12 week appointment at the very latest.

My doctor was able to tell that my twins were sharing a placenta at my very first appointment, which was 8 weeks. She wasn’t able to see if they were in the same sac or if there was a membrane separating them, so she sent me to a specialist.

If your twins are Mono Mono or Mono Di, you need extra monitoring and specialized care from a Maternal Fetal Specialist. Many twin pregnancies have no complications, but the ones that do, can be very serious, and  I know this personally.

Today’s micro preemie miracles not only fought through a complicated pregnancy, but also through a NICU stay. Please meet these sweet girls, as told by their mom, Annie.

Information about Mono Mono twins and pregnancy. Complications you should be aware of, and how to find the right Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist

1. Tell us about your babies.

Caroline Grace and Rebecca Ann were born at 26 weeks and 5 days. Caroline was 1 lb 15 oz, and Rebecca was 1 lb 13 oz. They are Mono Mono twins, which means there is 1 sac and 1 placenta.

It’s a rare type of twins that only happens to 1 in every 10,000 pregnancies.

They are my 4th and 5th babies.

I went to Pasadena for TTTS (Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome) laser ablation surgery on my placenta at 22 weeks. Because these types of twins share everything, they wanted me to go into the hospital at 24 weeks for 24/7 monitoring. The cords could twist and knot, and it could have taken both of their lives.

Mono Mono twins 1 week old

2. How long was your NICU stay? What was the hardest part?

The girls were born on February 23rd, 2017. Rebecca came home May 26th,  2017, which was two days before my due date. So, 93 days, I think.

Caroline didn’t come home until June 6th, 2017.

Both girls had Bilateral IVH Brain Bleeds.

Rebecca was 4 and 4. And Caroline was 4 and 3.

Rebecca was intubated for the first 2 months,  and Caroline for only 2 weeks. Then, she went to the cpap.

Rebecca required steroids to get off the vent. They tried two times unsuccessfully to get her off the vent before they gave her the steroids that helped.

Both girls where severely jaundiced. They where under the lights for the longest time.

The doctor suggested that I pull Rebecca off life support 2 days after she was born due to the complications: Apnea of newborn, Atelectais, Bradycardia, Breech birth, congenital anemia, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, Dysmotility of stomach, Hydrocephalus, Hyperglycemia, interstitial Pulmonary Emphysema, PDA, Heart Murmur.

Caroline was transferred to a different hospital on 5-16-17 to get a VP Shunt placed in her head due to her having Hydrocephalus. They where doing LP (lumbar punctures) every week, and sometimes 2 times a week. This started at about 2 weeks after birth because her head just kept getting bigger, and it wasn’t resolving.

Caroline had her shunt placement one week before she came home. The next day after the surgery, I was told to say goodbye. Her body was rejecting it. She was so swollen all over and began to have seizures. That has all since resolved. She does not have them currently.

Both girls have CLD (Chronic Lung Disease.) When Rebecca came home, she came home on Oxygen and a Pulse Ox Monitor. When Caroline came home, she didn’t require any assistance.

Mono Mono twins 3 weeks old

3.Do you know what caused your premature birth?

These are babies 4 and 5 for me. My 6th pregnancy.

Other than TTTS, I had no complications. I was in the hospital for 4 days when my placenta ruptured, and I bled out on the table.

Mono Mono twins

4.How are you and your baby/babies doing now?

Both girls are happy and healthy. They coo and talk to each other.

Rebecca loves to smile and roll over. She even scoots on the back.

This journey is unlike anything else I have been through in my life. It hasn’t always been easy. I suffer from PTSD and PPD due to the whole thing.

Milestones aren’t really being met. But, We will get there.

Caroline starts PT (Physical Therapy) in October because she is very delayed. However, Rebecca is right where she should be.

No surgeries besides the one for Caroline.

We have been cleared from the Eye Doctor, and the Girls no longer show any signs of ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity.)

Mono Mono twins

5. What advice would you give to a new preemie family?

Don’t be afraid to ask for another nurse or doctor to explain things. If you don’t like they way your child is being treated, tell the NICU staff and have them changed.

I got blessed to have an amazing nurse who was with my girls from the beginning. I did tell one doctor she wasnt allowed to care for my children. She made me feel like they where a burden, and they were taking up space in her NICU. I refused to allow her anywhere near my babies.

If you have family and friends, don’t be afraid to reach out to them and ask for help. Even if it’s to wash your clothes while you try to nap.

It isn’t an easy journey, but you were destined to take it.

Mono Mono twins

Mono Mono twins

 

Thank you so much to Annie for sharing her precious Mono Mono twins with us. If you, or someone you know, is pregnant with twins, please make sure to see a doctor who specializes in twin pregnancies. If you need help finding the right doctor, please send me an email, and I can help you.

Any supportive comments or questions for Annie and her family can be left below.

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Filed Under: Blog, Micro Preemie Mondays Tagged With: brain bleed, Conjoined, CPAP, Di Di twins, Diamniotic, Dichorionic, fraternal, identical, IVH, micro preemie, micro preemie monday, Mono di twins, Mono Mono twins, Monoamniotic, monochorionic, NICU, premature birth, ROP, TTTS, Twinning, ventilator

Comments

  1. Rockermocking says

    September 25, 2017 at 8:38 am

    wonderful story! also really good point about not liking doctors/nurses and asking for different ones. Some medical staff see tragedy so much it blinds them to possibility that perhaps your baby is different and will beat the odds. If you have an unsupportive NICU doctor, you need to request a new one–same thing for nurses.

    Reply
  2. shelah moss says

    September 25, 2017 at 9:28 am

    I also had no idea there were so many different types of twins. What an amazing story!

    Reply
  3. Lindsay @ The Flynnigans says

    September 25, 2017 at 11:36 am

    Wow, just precious. I’m always learning so much from your Monday blog posts.

    Reply
  4. Bree Courtney says

    September 25, 2017 at 11:39 am

    What beautiful girls with beautiful names! My wonderful mother-in-laws name is Rebecca Ann, so it’s extra special!! So interesting to learn about the different types of twins other than identical and fraternal.

    Reply
  5. Kim Airhart says

    September 25, 2017 at 12:53 pm

    They are so tiny and beautiful. Such a miracle.

    Reply
  6. Beth Kondrick says

    September 25, 2017 at 1:05 pm

    Such an amazing journey – I never knew a lot of this info about twins. Thank you for bringing an awareness about it! And what beautiful girls! Love their names and the cute little matching hats!

    Reply
  7. Kimberly M says

    September 25, 2017 at 1:28 pm

    They are such beautiful girls!
    I am so incredibly sorry to hear that you battled with PTSD and PPD – I too had that with my son, although my birthing story wasn’t anything like yours. I can definitely sympathize with the emotional battle/toll. I hope that you’re doing ok now or are getting help and support. You’re not alone. xoxox
    Thank you for sharing your story here. Your little sweet peas are fighters and are so gorgeous.

    Reply
  8. Kelly Siech says

    September 26, 2017 at 6:22 am

    I just can’t believe how strong mom and babies are. I’ve been through my share of medical issues with my kids, but nothing like that and not even sure if I would make the same choices as you. You are so strong and I admire you.

    Reply
  9. kerri says

    September 8, 2019 at 2:04 am

    o had twins at 30+2 week my little girl was 807grams and my boy was 1528grams it seemed sk unreal and such a long trip getting through NICU. All the app after u leave it never ending i read these stories and i go straight back there. yes unles you have been in this situation you will never truly understand what a NICU parent goes through.

    Reply
    • Shann says

      September 8, 2019 at 7:02 pm

      Yes! Thank you so much. How are your twins doing now?

      Reply

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Meet Shann

Shann Hi! I'm a mom, writer, and dancer. I love sharing my parenting experiences, my healthy living tips, my money saving ideas, and our travel plans. My passion to help other women inspired this blog. I hope you'll stay a while and come back often.

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