Intro and a couple questions

lil_shocker · March 2014

Hello! I hope this is an appropriate place to ask this, but it makes the most sense to me.

I have a 2 yr old son. With his pregnancy I had a vanishing twin (from the u/s it appeared that had it kept developing it would have been identical twins). It stopped developing pretty early on, so I never really considered it a multiple pregnancy since it had already stopped by the time of the ultrasound. It really wasn't until after my son was born that I started looking into what a vanishing twin was.

My husband and I have been trying to conceive (and I have a few days before I can test positive), but I think we finally got it. I am wondering about my chances of having multiples again, and if anyone has succesfully carried multiples after a vanishing twin? Or have had a vanishing twin more than once?

I don't mean to offend or anger anyone, or suggest that this is in any way a common thing one should expect. I am just trying to prepare myself for what may come once a second pregnancy is confirmed. I haven't found much reliable information about this other than explaining what happened and the theories for why.

Thanks for any insight or answers.

pea-kay · March 2014

If they were identical, then it wouldn't increase your chances of conceiving twins again. But even if they were fraternal, chances are still fairly small that you'd conceive twins again.

KatieGummow · March 2014

pea-kay said:

If they were identical, then it wouldn't increase your chances of conceiving twins again. But even if they were fraternal, chances are still fairly small that you'd conceive twins again.

This. Only with fraternal twins does your chances increase...

"If you have already had a set of natural fraternal twins or multiples, then your chances of having another set of fraternal twins or multiples has greatly increased!

Lets take a quick look at the numbers:

Chance of having fraternal natural twins is about 1 in 90.
Chance of having fraternal twins with fertility drugs is about 1 in 35.
Chance of having identical twins is about 1 in 250.
Chance of having triplets is about 1 in 8,100.
Chance of having triplets with fertility drugs is about 1 in 700

Using fertility treatment boosts your odds to a staggering 1 in 3!

Second time around

Ok so you have already won the "Twin Parent lottery" once. What are the odds of you having a second set of twins?

If your first set of twins were fraternal, then your chances of having another set of fraternal twins is multiplied by four! That's 1 in 12!
If your first set of twins were identical, then your chances of having another set of identical twins drops way down to 1 in 70,000 or so.
If you are using fertility treatment, then the chances are the same as with your first set of twins.

- See more at: https://www.twinparents.com/articles/twin-pregnancy/twins-again-what-are-chances.html#sthash.xh62kXWQ.dpuf"

lil_shocker · March 2014

Thanks. I know it's jumping the gun a bit, and while there are indicators that are pointing to pregnancy as a likely explanation, I am not counting my eggs yet.

With my workplace beiing in mass chaos during my pregnancy with my son, I really only had time to process that my baby was healthy and growing. After my son was born it hit me that he had been a twin at one point, that a baby miscarried. It wasnt a fun "aha" moment and I don't particularly want a repeat of that.

So much is out of your hands with pregnancy (getting and being) that if I can ease my mind of this worry, that would be a fantastic thing.

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Intro and a couple questions

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