Last updated on August 8th, 2024 at 03:41 pm
This week on the Twiniversity Podcast Nat chats with Amanda Blankenship about learning at 25 weeks gestation that her mo/di identical twins had Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) in utero and needed emergency laser ablation surgery. Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome is a rare condition that can occur when abnormal blood vessel connections form in the twins’ shared placenta, creating an uneven blood flow between the babies.
This episode is sponsored by Dr. Brown’s.
Are you struggling with your own Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome experience? Read about coping with TTTS here.
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My Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Experience
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Amanda Blankenship is the mother of 3 boys, 21-month-old Identical twin boys, and a 3.5-year-old boy. She is a registered nurse in Southern California, working on a busy medical-surgical floor.
Proper Care for Your Identical Twin Pregnancy
How to Cope with a TTTS Diagnosis
Twin to Twin: From High-Risk Pregnancy to Happy Family, a memoir about a TTTS experience by Twiniversity MoM Squad member Crystal Duffy
Top 3 Pieces of Advice for Other Parents of Twins
- Make sure you get a playpen for the living room. I never thought I would use it or need it, and now 2 years later we still use it daily. Currently as a block area, but definitely as a safe space for the twins or my toddler (or me to fold laundry).
- No matter how independent and organized you are, take help when it is offered, in any form. The importance of sleep to your mental health cannot be overstated and there is no shame in letting people love you and give you a break or an extra set of hands.
- Everyone says it because it’s true, try to keep them on the same schedule as much as possible. It doesn’t mean they are the same baby, it just means there is one of you and two of them (you’re outnumbered).
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Top 3 Things You’d Like Our Listeners to Take away After Listening to Your Story
- Preemie time = bonus time. They arrived earlier than expected so do the best you can and give yourself some grace. They aren’t going to remember this anyway, so don’t be hard on yourself!
- Don’t expect that anything with two babies will be the same as anything with one baby. You will feel guilty about not having as much one-on-one time to devote to each, or downtime to just play and cuddle. It’s going to feel like an assembly line and groundhog day for the first year, but if they are loved and safe you are doing a great job.
- You know yourself better than anyone. If you aren’t okay don’t hesitate to speak up and take the steps needed to get help. There are so many resources for help, but if no one knows you are struggling no one can help you.
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