Fertility drugs and planning for twins

vaultgirlsam
vaultgirlsam Posts: 28 Member
edited November 18 in Motivation and Support
Been a user on here since 2012. I've lost ~30lbs and kept it all off for the last few years. Now, my partner and I are family planning. We specifically want to try for twins and we had our first fertility meeting yesterday. Our doctor seems excited for us, but she is also big on honesty -which is why I sought her out. The number one thing on my to-do list from her is to decrease my BMI, which I anticipated.

Anyways, I am back on here to get serious. I need to be 180-190lbs by our planned insemination day, July 16th.
I am scheduled to start taking the fertility drug Letrozole in June. No real fertility concerns otherwise....but I am still hella nervous!

Other moms of twins out here with advice to share?

Replies

  • bobble13
    bobble13 Posts: 1 Member
    Hi Vaultgirlsam,
    I don't have any advice on twins but am in a similar situation to you and am losing weight for fertility reasons/ivf and aiming for a better BMI!
    I would suggest not just calorie counting but try to get plenty of fresh fruit and veg. Apparently organic is better when preparing for IVF. I've also been taking pregnacare conception which helps you store the nutrients needed for conception. I'd try anything if I thought it would help... perhaps I'm gullible but IVF is so expensive, what's another £20 for supplements!
    I also got a cd for fertility meditation (by Zita West who also gives some good advice if you sign up to her news letter) - I never would usually consider stuff like this but a good friend fell pregnant with Ivf first time and swears it was helpful in relaxing her during the stressful times.
    Stay positive (I know it's hard) and I wish you all the luck in the world. I think that foregoing the food I crave is going to be worth it in the end!!
  • SafioraLinnea
    SafioraLinnea Posts: 628 Member
    I'm your woman for fertility questions. I am happy to share the honest truth with you. I have done a TON of research on the topic due to the fact that my daughter's dad required ivf with icsi to have a child.

    First and foremost: good for you for your current success at weight loss and maintaining your loss for a great amount of time!

    Be prepared to possibly gain some weight on the hormones. I gained 9lbs my first medicated cycle and 6lbs my second one. I was not impressed. It was water weight but it still sucked.

    Overweight and obese moms are at a higher risk for pregnancy related health issues.

    Intentionally trying for twins is extremely risky. The goal of any high quality fertility doctor should be a successful pregnancy of a single baby. If your doctor is encouraging and extremely on board with your desire for intentional twins I would be highly suspicious and find a new doctor because it is not ethically sound advice. Twin pregnancies carry inherently more risk both to mother and babies including weight gain, muscle injury, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, premature delivery, c section, and more.

    During my ivf cycles, we transferred two embryos each time on the embryologist and fertility specialist's recommendations because they weren't the best quality embryos. I lived in fear that both embryos would take and I would increase my risk factors but I happily ended up with my sweet girl by herself in there at her first ultrasound.

    The convenience of two children for the price of one pregnancy isn't worth the risks in my opinion. Yes, many women carry twins successfully with no problems (my grandma, my bff, and my cousin are three of them) but I would never intentionally choose to risk it for myself. Think of it like riding a bicycle without a helmet: many people do without issue, but the people who have issues could have prevented it just by making a different choice.

    One way or the other, I wish you the best of luck with your journey to building your family. Losing a bit more fat toward a healthier weight is a great first step.
  • Shull_rachael
    Shull_rachael Posts: 430 Member
    I don't really have advice for you but I wanted to say I think this is awesome and good luck!! We're trying to find a doctor to work with us and implant more than one embryo but it's been a struggle. I have a history of fertility issues and miscarriage.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,617 Member
    I am not a mother of twins, but I deal with a lot of twin data ... and from my observation, bearing twins (as in the last months of pregnancy and delivery) is not an easy, smooth process. It probably wouldn't hurt not only to lose weight, but also to get into shape ... build up your strength.
  • HeliumIsNoble
    HeliumIsNoble Posts: 1,213 Member
    Have you any idea what percentage of twins come prematurely enough to need neonatal care?

    Have you ever babysat two newborns at once?

    Have you read any guides or blogs about multiple pregnancy and caring for two children at once?
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,617 Member
    HeliumIsNoble wrote: »
    Have you any idea what percentage of twins come prematurely enough to need neonatal care?

    I do!

    As I said, I work with perinatal data. :)

    Hint ... it is not a low percentage.


    Not to mention ... what the mother goes through is rough too.

    Twins is not something I'd wish on anyone.
  • vaultgirlsam
    vaultgirlsam Posts: 28 Member
    I do have years of experience. I am licensed instructor. I used to practice SLP, but now I'm in the tech sector. I appreciate everyone's opinion! But do understand that no one has the full background on any story here.

    My lifestyle changes have been in the making for the last year. I am excited and I had to prove to my doctor that I am serious about taking my health during pregnancy serious.

    I have a family medical condition that will leave me sterile in about five years. There are more reasons behind our choice than "two for one"

    I was looking for advice that I couldn't find on my own Google search. I understand that twin pregnancy is a higher risks, but trust that this is not just some simple "two for one" choice.
  • vaultgirlsam
    vaultgirlsam Posts: 28 Member
    Shull_rachael wrote: »
    I don't really have advice for you but I wanted to say I think this is awesome and good luck!! We're trying to find a doctor to work with us and implant more than one embryo but it's been a struggle. I have a history of fertility issues and miscarriage.

    Thanks! Good luck to you as well! Thankfully I have no History of infertility and we are not doing IVF.

    I wish you all the best! It's hard finding a balanced doctor that's going to listen to your needs and work with you.
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