Vanishing Twin or Hiding Twin?

[66CometGirl]

I am new to this forum but looking for opinons. This pregnancy has been a roller coaster from day one.

LMP = 5/28/10

Slight cramping expected date of period 6/25/10-6/28/10. Tested Sunday 6/27 faint positive, tested 6/28 Faint positive.

On 6/28 I went to the OBGYN and I got a negative urine test but they drew blood.

on 6/28 I went to the ER later in the evening for pubic pain. Tested positive

HCG's as follows:
6/28 - 65miu (obgyn)
6/28 - 90miu (ER)
6/30 - 175miu
7/12 - 20665 miu

I had a hunch of twins and didn't know why they dont run in either family, but dreams of two monarch butterflys and seeing them everyday and people joking got me curious.

OB scheduled ultrasound for 7/14 but on 7/13 around lunch I ended up back in the ER due to pubic pain again. They performed an ultrasound there. here is the photo.

<img> http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7128404_n.jpg </img>

The Ultrasound tech said it was two sacs but since the one on the right is way smaller that it probably wont end up being anythign and didn't bother looking at it further. The one on the left supposedly measured around 6 weeks and has a low heartbeat of 106. I have also been put on Prometrium 100MG twice daily because my progesterone came back low.

I guess my question is what are the odds this is possibly too early to see the 2nd twin as opposed to the worst case scenario of "vanishing twin" could a fetal yoke sack and fetal pole still show up later or is it to late? I still have the worst morning and day sickness and this is my 8th pregnancy, 5 miscarraiges all within the first 2-4weeks of getting pregnant and 2 live beautiful daughters ages 6 & 2.

Just wondering others thoughts. Thanks Oh and first prenatal visit is next tuesday. What do I expect?

[LSUtwinMama]

Did the tech measure the second sac? It's not unheard of for fraternal twins to measure a week or so different. It's way too early to dismiss the other sac as non-viable.

I have a friend from my local Multiples group who had a similar experience. 1 sac measured 6 wks with heartbeat, one measured 5 wks, no heart beat. OB told her she'd probably have a vanishing twin. At 12 weeks she had 2 healthy heartbeats and her fraternal boys are now fat happy toddlers.

Let us know what you find out next tuesday.

[66CometGirl]

oh wow! Thank you for that glimpse of hope!!! No as I said he almost didn't see it. When he viewed the first one it was all he saw. When he turned the thing sideways he caught some of it in the picture but didn't measure the 2nd sac that I saw. He just kept telling me it was too small to be anything and would probably disappear.

I was heartbroken. I will keep my fingers crossed then!!! Thank you so much! I've been trying to watch my HCG's to see if they keep going up more than double or dropping etc. I also have a tipped uterus so I thought maybe its just hiding!

[66CometGirl]

I went to the dr this week for a follow up ultrasound this past wednesday. The ultrasound tech wouldn't say a WORD to me about the 2 babies. other than "well I can confirm your definately having at LEAST one." but nothing on the 2nd sac. Luckily my husband was in the room and watched he said he saw her take photos and label it "sac one" then he said she started taking a full set of photos, then he said she moved it and did "sac two" which he said was significantly smaller and did a full set of photos on that one along with making me raise my hips to the sky for some photos. He also said he say one marking for heartbeat of 146 bpm, and another at 137 bpm but he isn't sure if it was the same baby's heart beat or two different since he's not familiar with ultrasounds.

I said did you see two sacs he said yes one was way smaller. I said did oyu see anything in the smaller sac, he said oh yea.

Today I am having MAJOR cramping again and I called the office to ask the nurse why and tell her it hurts. Receptionist said the nurse would call me back. Waited an hour and a half and the nurse never called. I called back and politely explained I still didn't receive a call back. She said, "ok hold on."

She placed me on hold with music, came back on and said, "are you still at the same number?"
I said, "yes"
She said, "ok because Dr. wants to call you back himself."

That was 2hrs ago!!!

Now I am really freaking out, I'm upset and nervous and frustrated. I dont understand whats going on with my body. I dont know if I have one or two babies and this is supposed to be a HAPPY experience. Talk about hormones & emotions! GEEZ! Any suggestions on what your take is? Shouldn't the 2nd sac be gone if its a vanishing twin?

[dannic]

Hugs, mama, that is rough! I have no idea about any of it, just thinking of you and a friendly bump!

[~Demeter~]

I think there are two... the sac might be measuring smaller BUT it might also be the only angle they are able to get at just yet. I don't have any experience here though, so I could be totally wrong. I hope the doc has called you back and I'm looking forward to hearing your update.

[66CometGirl]

so I heard back from the Dr. last friday. He explained that the 2nd Sac is a Vanishing twin...bummer. He explained its measuring around 5 weeks and is only a cluster of cells and nothing more. While the other baby is measuring around 8 weeks and has a healthy heartbeat. He said theres no way it will form into anything?

Yet Its been a week so far and no spotting or blood or anything. Just waiting for nature to takes its course i guess?

[~Adorkable~]

They actuAlly think vanishing twins or more common than once thought, since they are only now being seen because of early u/s.
sorry you have had to go thru his.

A few things to remember, losses like this are usually because of chromosomal issues and nothing you did at all, it was not that life's time, I hope that brings you some comfort.
Also you may not bleed or bleed that much, vashining twins are sometimes just reabsorbed quietly. This is different than a normal loss because you are still pregnant and still producing the hcg and the progesterone that holds onto your lining. So all that is leaving is the sack itself and that is very very small.

Take care of yourself and allow yourself to find the balance of remembering and feeling your loss and. Continuing to celebrate your ongoing pregnancy, I'm sure very few of us can imagine what I tough path that is.

[soccerchic21]

This happened to me with my first pregnancy. I actually passed the twin that I lost at about 6 weeks. Hugs to you!

[Skrimpy]

*hugs* for you mama. I didn't have an early u/s with my second pg, but when my son was born there was a second, fully formed sac with no baby in it. It took a little while for the "what ifs" to sink in, and I still feel a little bittersweet about his birth. Enjoy your pg now and know there is a little one out there somewhere else to keep watch over the little one you carry within.

[66CometGirl]

Thank you all for sharing and your kind words. A part of me is happy one is good. Another is wondering if my OB just missed something or possibly that there's a chance they could just be 3 weeks apart. I'm also scared to bleed. My nurse said it may gush out of nowhere. I will die of embarrassment. I dont like that he won't even give me another ultrasound until 20weeks now. What are you thoughts?

[finnegansmom]

I'm sorry about the twin. I have to say though, that chances are the baby won't "catch up" - twins 3 weeks apart don't seem common or even possible?
I'm not sure I would worry about a "gush". Your body could very well absorb the baby and not bleed at all. to you, I'm sorry you're going through this.

[MaerynPearl]

Yeah, it is pretty much impossible that they are 3 weeks apart... plus if the second sac is still measuring only 5 weeks... and your first ultrasound was two weeks ago it would have only measured 3 weeks then... in other words, it would not have been visible at all and would have been smaller than the cluster of cells that is now in it.

I think at this point, there should be no questioning your OB on what is going on and another ultrasound before 20 weeks really will not change the outcome.

[~Adorkable~]

well if you decide to the NT Scan, you will get an additional u/s at around 12 weeks, otherwise, yeah it is a suck waiting game