Chances of undetected twins?

brittneymjohnson87 · April 2011

Just curious if anyone has heard of twins by surprise?

I've had 3 ultrasounds, but today at my 30 week appt the M/A heard 3 different beats at the same time, one was mine, one was Rylee's and the other? An echo?

My doctor didn't seem alarmed or anything but I had a mini freak out.

Anyone have any crazy stories?

CocoBrynne · April 2011

I guess it's possible, but I think it used to happen more yrs back when the technology wasn't very good. I would think it's be hard to miss a twin after 3 u/s.

damabo80 · April 2011

It could be the placenta/cord. It has a beat/sound to it. They listen to mine at each appointment, since she has growth issues.

No crazy stories, personally. But the stories I've heard of people who have an undected twin, was because they only had one ultrasound, they gave birth prior to 1995 (the ultrasound machines have changed a bunch since then), or they have limited prenatal care.

The fact that you've had three ultrasounds so far lead me to believe you only have one in there.

MFAinNYC · April 2011

damabo80:
It could be the placenta/cord. It has a beat/sound to it. They listen to mine at each appointment, since she has growth issues.
No crazy stories, personally. But the stories I've heard of people who have an undected twin, was because they only had one ultrasound, they gave birth prior to 1995 (the ultrasound machines have changed a bunch since then), or they have limited prenatal care.
The fact that you've had three ultrasounds so far lead me to believe you only have one in there.

x2 - Especially if they have done an anatomy scan. If they can see organs, I am pretty sure they'd find another baby in there as well!

pettycrocker · April 2011

Funny I told my midwife I'm sure there is another one hiding in there and she actually checked for another h/b. I was j/k but she was like "ohh let's find out" I've had a slew of ultrasounds also, so that would definitely be the shock of the century haha

That would have to be one sneaky little twin! I remember watching a show about a lady who ended up having one twin completely outside of her uterus (somewhere in her abdominal cavity attached to some organ.. I don't remember the details) so it never showed on the u/s. Stranger things have happened!!

brittneymjohnson87 · April 2011

I had no idea about the cord sound.. good to know

momtojake · April 2011

I am actually a twin by surprise. But I was born in 1983 and my mom never had an ultrasound or xray during her entire pregnancy with me and my sister. She kept telling the doctor she felt more movement during the pregnancy then she had with her prior two pregnancies but he said she was probably carrying a boy. Her water broke 6 weeks early, she got to the hospital delivered my sister and the doctor told her she was having another baby, 10 minutes later I was born.

MuseumMaven · April 2011

If you've had u/s, it's pretty hard to miss.

It's REALLY obvious as soon as they put the probe on my belly that there are two in there. Also, the heart rates wouldn't be exactly the same with twins - I had a non-stress test today, and you could see the two different heart rates go up and down.

Kimmy9j · April 2011

My level 2 u/s didnt detect twins but more than once I have been asked if I am having twins by Non-medical professionals

Thanks aholes

Sorry not what this post was about

aesf · April 2011

My friends mom delivered an oops baby (back in the 80s) to a 40 year old couple with 5 kids the youngest being 16. The oops baby turned out to be TRIPLETS. That is the stuff nightmares are made of. Also that lady should share her eggs. So damn fertile.

My cousin was a surprise twin but because he was surprise there was complications with his birth and there are some lasting effects. This was also in the early 80s.

I have never heard of it recently with anyone who has received pre natal care.