Is it one placenta or two?

Hi everyone- first time poster; long time lurker here. I'll try to keep it brief. We did IVF and transferred 2 embryos. At our first ultrasound (6 weeks), they saw 2 sacs with 2 babies and what looked like a 3rd sac with no baby that was starting to "dissolve." The IVF doc said we'd never know for sure, but it looked like one of the embryos had split but only 2 survived. At 2 subsequent ultrasounds at that clinic, we only saw 2 sacs/2 babies (last u/s there was around 8w).

Our next ultrasound was our Nuchal Translucency Screen at the hospital, at 13w4d. The tech said she "couldn't tell" how many placentas there were, so she went to get a high risk doc to take a look. He said he was pretty sure there was only one placenta and told us of the possible complications with that. He said we should come in at 18weeks for our big u/s and then every other week after that to monitor for TTTS.

Today, 18w4d, we had the big ultrasound and the tech kept saying she was "confused" by the placenta(s). There was a "gap" in it. Unfortunately, I didn't ask for a picture of that, but I saw what she meant. The placenta didn't stop, but got really thin around where the membrane met the placenta. Actually the membrane went to one side of the gap. It was a definite "T" where the membrane met the placenta(s). No "lambda" sign. She got another tech to take a look, who said the same things and they sort of came to a consensus that there were 2 placentas. They were definite boy parts on both babies.

Fortunately, everything looks fine growth-wise, so I am extremely grateful. But in the back of my mind, I keep thinking what if there really is only 1 placenta and something bad happens before my next ultrasound (which isn't even scheduled!). I am kicking myself for not requesting a doctor come in and take a look this morning.

Anyway, I'm really sorry this was so long! If you're still reading, thank you. What should I do? I was thinking about making an appt with the peri that originally saw 1 placenta. My DH says I'm "borrowing trouble." This has been such a roller-coaster ride!

 

What did your 6 week u/s look like? If it was one black "hole" with 2 babies inside then I would say they're mono/di (one placenta) or did you have 2 distinct black "holes" with a baby inside each?

 

There were definitely 2 black holes at the first ultrasound. Thanks for the reply!

 

It's possible 1 could have split and you're having identical twins each with their own placenta, that would be a good thing. I think I would call the doc from your 13w4d u/s and make an appointment, he's the one who said you need an u/s every other week after your 18w u/s.

My first u/s was at 10 weeks (that's when we found out we were having twins) and it looked like the babies were right next to each other with no membrane in some of the shots and other shots showed a thin, wispy membrane. You can check out my blog if you want to compare how yours look to mine.

Here's a link to determining chorionicity, it may help. Determining Chorionicity

Congratulations and best wishes for a continued, happy, healthy twin pregnancy and beyond!!

 

Did you have a 3 day transfer? If you had a five day or six day, they MUST be fraternal. If you had a 3 day, it IS possible for them to be identical. Day five plus is too late for them to share anything.

If there were 2 black holes, they ARE di di but if you had a 3 day, they can still be identical.

 

Thanks for the replies- I was just really confused and surprised after the 13w ultrasound and they said there was only one placenta, especially after seeing 2 distinct black holes (actually there were 3 at that first ultrasound). Then I got really scared when I read all the stuff about TTTS! That's my main concern. It's hard for me to stop worrying now.

It was a 3-day transfer. Thanks again!

 

It is definitely worrisome to be pg with twins but if your babies are di/di then that is the "safest" type of twin pg to have. Congrats again and try not to worry too much (there will be plenty of time for that when they are born!)

 

Don't worry, it's very common for placentas to fuse and look like there's only one. Both times our placentas fused before 9 weeks and by the 11 week u/s looked like 1 placenta. The first pregnancy we thought the entire time that the twins were ID and shared a placenta until they were born and are DEFINITELY fraternal (one brunette, one redhead) and the placental analysis came back saying there were really 2 placentas that had fused in very early pg. This time we found the twins very early and saw 2 yolk sacs, so we know there's 2 placentas, but by the 11 week u/s she said that if she didn't see those yolk sacs that she would have assumed there was only 1 placenta.

Anyway, it's very common and nothing to worry about!