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Multiple births

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HELP! So confused!

2 replies

KRH · 11/05/2010 17:03

OK - so another appointment at the hospital today and yet more confusion!

I was told at my 12 weeks scan that we were expecting Dichorionic Twins and this was then confirmed at my nuchal scan the next day. My notes state that twins are dichorionic and that at the 2 scans the LAMBDA (sp?) sign was seen. Our understanding of this was that we had 2 babies, in 2 sacs, with 2 placentas.

We went for our 20 week anomaly scan today and everything is fine with the babies (great relief!), but the sonographer referred to "the placenta". I questioned it as I thought it should be "the placentas" as there were 2 - but the sonographer said she'd been watching through the whole scan (she wasn't actually doing the scan but rather she was supervising a student) and she was sure there was only 1. I asked if this meant there was a risk of TTTS and she said it wasn't something we needed to worry about now as both babies are the same size.

We then had an appointment at the twin clinic, although we didn't actually see the consultant, just a Senior Registrar instead. We asked again about the placenta thing and were told there was no risk of TTTS as the babies were in separate sacs. She wrote on our newest notes that we are having DC/DA twins, which I understand to mean Dichorionic/Diamniotic.

I've come home and googled it because I'm so confused and everything I've read says that Dichorionic MEANS 2 placentas!!! It also says if there is 1 placenta there is a risk of TTTS and that needs more regular monitoring.

HELP! Anyone understand this - is it possible to have dichorionic twins with 1 placenta? Is there a risk of TTTS? Did the sonographer just get it wrong? (she was sure there was just 1 placenta) I'm not being seen again for 4 weeks and I don't know what to think!

OP posts:
GibberingGinger · 11/05/2010 22:17

I've no experience and only know what I've read in books but I didn't want your post to go unanswered. I think sometimes when there are two placentas, if they are close together on the uterus wall they can sort of merge a bit as they grow bigger and they begin to look just like one placenta. I've no idea whether this effects their function though. Or whether TTTS comes into play at all if the placentas merge.
I hope someone with more experience/knowledge comes along and sets your mind at rest

tartiflette · 11/05/2010 23:41

My understanding is that 'chorionic' refers to placentas, amniotic refers to the sac within the placenta - so if your notes say DC/DA that means they think there are 2 of both - I would ring first thing tomorrow and request another scan asap and make it clear why (ie sonographer has confused you with info which conflicts with your notes).

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