Do ultrasounds miss twins?

[organicmom3]

I've had two...one around 10 weeks when the doctor thought he heard two heartbeats...only one showed...and the expected ultrasound at 20 weeks...so I am probably just very paranoid....but I'm wondering if anyones has ever heard of the 20 week missing a twin?? The one was very clear and showed well... but I'm just having weird symptoms (to me) and seem paranoid......
for instance the early and strong (very strong) braxton hicks that started in the first trimester (about 11-12 weeks) , the EXCESSIVE movement where it seems that the movement is all over my abdomen, not just in one spot as my previous pregnancies were, and a lesser symptom...just putting on more weight than my previous pregnancies...it's not an alarming weight gain...but different for me...this is my third pregnancy but the last one was over 11 years ago! So maybe I'm just paranoid...probably...any thoughts?

[gmvh]

I'm sure it happens. I had an u/s at eight weeks and my twins were unmissable - clear as day. Good luck sorting it out!

[Intertwined]

Yes, it does happen. It's VERY uncommon with today's technological advances but I have heard of it happening. My twins were obvious from the moment she touched my abdomen with the transducer. Two heads BANG right in front of us. Poor DH said "is that what I THINK it is!?!?!"

Could you ask your care provider for another U/S specifically looking for a second baby based on your symptoms. Has he/she palpated a second baby? Are you measuring further ahead than is normal for you? Good luck!

[Valerieg]

It is unlikely but not impossible. At my 20 week u/s though you could see all the body parts everywhere as she was moving the jelly around with the transducer. There is no way they could have missed the second baby.

It's been a long time since I've heard of it going undiagnosed at 20 weeks. But you never know. If you're still curious ask for another u/s.

[obxbound]

It happened to me, but I my boys are momo twins, meaning they were in the same sac without a seperating membrane. I had an u/s at 9 weeks that missed them. I found out at my 15 week appointment when the u/s was an after thought, not something that was routinely done.

A reason for mine...without the seperating membrane it was very hard to distinguish two babies without the very hightech u/s. In the u/s in which we found out it looked like the boy were spooning.

[noralou]

They definitely can miss a twin in an early ultrasound, as several of the PP experienced. At my 7w ultrasound, the OB stopped looking when he found one healthy baby and his heartbeat, never finding my girl. At 24 weeks, I got my second ultrasound, and I can't imagine someone missing either one of them at that point.

[organicmom3]

Originally Posted by Valerieg

If you're still curious ask for another u/s.

I'm probably being paranoid...and part of me would rather not know if it could be helped as then they would automatically make me have a c-section......