Identical Twins Share A Placenta...Scary?

Jessica - posted on 08/08/2012

I had identical twins and I went to my doctor one day and he was on vacation and his assistant scared the crap out of me with everything that could go wrong with identical twins. I don't think I slept good for 3 days! When my doctor came back he calmed me down and I never saw the other guy again! I had a perfect pregnancy with no complications or morning sickness at all. Stressing only makes things worse.

Kendra - posted on 07/30/2012

Im a 1st time twin Mom but I have other kids10,girl,4,boy 2,girl so I'm very aware of labor but im very scared n neverous about havn my twins I'm 15wks n there identical 1is gettn mor than the other but Im alil nervous dnt wanna stress but its scary congrats to all u moms

Shannon - posted on 09/09/2011

My boys were mono/di but the doctors did not see an actual menbrane separating them (as they shared the same sac) until I was like 12 weeks. Identical twins can be affected by TTTS regardless of them having the membrane or not. I have never heard of twins sharing an umbilical cord though???? I had identical twin boys in May 2009, ultrasounds every week and had them at 36weeks weighing 5.10 and 5.14. Good luck and best wishes

Donna - posted on 09/08/2011

you guys are lucky you all made it to 38 weeks i only made it to 29 weeks. the umbillical chords were tangled so bad that the blood and oxygen supply were being cut off and causing fetal distress. But it turned out ok bc now my daughters are 6 and you would never know the struggle they faced

Donna - posted on 09/08/2011

ive never heard of identical twins sharing an umbillical chord, i mean its possible.

Cheryl - posted on 07/09/2011

Tally, I just saw your mono/mono post. How far along are you? The membrane can be notoriously hard to find in the first trimester. They missed mine the first time but found it later.

Cheryl - posted on 07/09/2011

Hi Tally - I would recommend you find a twin specialist or high risk specialist. Your twins may well be just fine, and I hope they are. But you may be better off with a doctor who knows the risks specific to identical twins and the very different conditions they can present depending on when the egg split.



Terresa, WOW does your story sound a lot like mine! I was induced at 37 weeks (but ended in C-section), and my girls were 4lb 12oz and 4lb 14oz - so healthy they kicked us out of the hospital! I also worked until 1 week before birth. No dramas with the pregnancy, only the delivery. And even then the drama was mine, not my daughters.

Terresa - posted on 07/08/2011

Hi there! Congrats on your twin pregnancy...my girls are identical and shared one placenta and one sac. I had multiple ultrasounds early on where they did discover a very thin membrane wall seperating them so that was a relief but I was very closely monitored for the TTTS but didnt have any dramas. I was induced at 38 weeks and had both girls naturally weighing 5lb 7oz and 5lb 8oz.

I had a relatively good pregnancy, I worked up until the week before they were born so I remained very active. As long as you are looking after yourself and getting rest when you can you should be just fine. I have two older boys and the pregnancy itself does feel different compared to carrying singletons I felt mainly feeling more uncomfortable, more so towards the end as I felt a lot fuller with a lot more activity going on inside lol. Also I did get quite a bit of morning sickness right the way through, and I got quite a bit of swelling in my ankles and feet. But apart from that and the multitide of bloody ultrasounds (which I hated with the full bladder!!) it was just a matter of waiting very patiently for them to appear for when the real fun begins lol.

Good luck through your pregnancy, enjoy it as much as you can and get all the rest you can now before they arrive as I can guarantee they will keep you on your toes once they appear!

Michelle - posted on 07/07/2011

I also have twin identical boys and they are 4 1/2 years old. They did share a placenta (to whichmy doctor kept telling me how "huge" it was!) I had them at 38 weeks by C-Section.

Jannie - posted on 07/06/2011

I have a Twins Boys they are right now 10 months old and they are Identical share the same placenta but different umbilical cords I have them when I was 37 week pregnant and it's true a lots ultrasound all this because the Doctor wants to make sure they both are O.k., inside of you...

Kim - posted on 06/30/2011

Just do whatever the doctors tell you. I was 34 when I had my boys. It may be a little more scary, you'll probably be on bed rest and have tons of ultrasounds!

Tally - posted on 06/29/2011

My babies are mono/mono babies & even more risky, my babies share one sac. This is so scary for me; a first time mom, expecting twins, both twins in one sac and I'm over 35 so whewwwwww I have so many mountains to climb.

Kim - posted on 06/27/2011

I've never heard of twins sharing an umbilical cord, no idea if it's possible. Unless somehow it splits somewhere then attaches to each baby. Are they mono/mono or mono/di?

Tally - posted on 06/27/2011

Gee...guess I have 2 do my own research. What kind of doc is that to tell me they share one umbiblical cord?? SMH.. :=) Well, thanks for ur input Kim.

Kim - posted on 06/27/2011

They actually have one placenta and two umbilical cords.(each baby has their own) But it has been a debate in this community before that identical twins can have 2 placenta's too. Mine had one. Just as long as your babies are in two sacs, it is less risky. The only thing they will check for as time goes by is TTTS, twin to twin syndrome. This is when one twin will take all the nutrients from the mother, while the other twin gets less. Hopefully you have a good doctor and they know what they are doing, if so you have nothing to be worried about! :) Having twins in general no matter if they are identical or not is always going to be more risky than carrying a singleton. But doctors know this and make sure they take the precautions needed.