This is kind of a morbid question...

...but just out of curiosity, if one of the babies were to die in utero, I know that early on in the pregnancy, they would just be re-absorbed into the momma's body...but at what point is the baby no longer "absorbable" and what happens if that were to happen? Would you have to have a selective D&C?

(I'm not asking for any specific reason/fear...but just curious...)

 

I dont have any real answer...but from what I've heard/been told, they would not do a selective D&C. it would be too dangerous for the other twin. The mother would have to 'deliver' both babies at the time the surviving twin was being born.
I dont know how far along you would be for the twin to not absorb..im guessing any time after 20 wks or so??

 

I believe they leave it there. From the stories that I've read that was my understanding. They moniter you closely to make sure the other one doesn't go into stress from the death of one but as long as there are no complications. It has to be hard on families to continue to see one getting bigger and growing stronger while the other one is motionless on the side with no heartbeat and a lot smaller. I couldn't imagine how that must feel.

 

well, i can't tell you from my own experience because i lost my daughter somewhere in a four hour time period the day i had them. But i do know another twin mom that lost one of her di di daughters at 23 1/2 weeks and carried them another 10 weeks where she delivered both of them around 34 weeks. Truly amazing story.

 

My OB told me that they leave him/her there. Even with selective reduction, they don't take anything out. If it's early enough the fetus will be resorbed (I believe up to 12 or so weeks, someone correct me if I'm wrong). But if it's too far beyond that I don't think the fetus can be resorbed; I believe s/he just stops growing, and the other one continues to grow.

 

we had a friend that was having twin boys. She lost one at about 5 months. She had to carry and deliver both. it was only recently that her husband told my husband that it was difficult to identify it as a baby. it was more a lump of tissue - a large mass.