Vanishing twin syndrome is a rare, poorly understood pregnancy complication first recognized in 1945, explains the American Pregnancy Association. This syndrome occurs when one fetus in a set of twin or multiple fetuses disappears from a woman's uterus during the early stages of pregnancy. The fetal tissue of the disappearing or vanishing twin is then reabsorbed by the mother, placenta or other fetuses in the uterus. The potential complications of vanishing twin syndrome should be discussed with a doctor.
Abdominal Cramping or Pelvic Pain
Expectant mothers can experience unusual abdominal cramping or pelvic pain as complications of vanishing twin syndrome, explains the website What To Expect. Cramping can be uncomfortable and troublesome to pregnant mothers, as these complications mimic the signs of a miscarriage. Women who develop pelvic pain or abdominal cramping while pregnant should seek medical care immediately.
Vaginal Bleeding
Unusual vaginal bleeding can occur as a complication of vanishing twin syndrome, explains the American Pregnancy Association. An affected mother can notice the appearance of small amounts of blood in her underwear or on a piece of toilet paper used to wipe after urination. Expectant mothers who develop abnormal vaginal bleeding should consult a physician immediately.
Preterm Delivery or Cerebral Palsy
Approximately 7 percent of mothers diagnosed with vanishing twin syndrome deliver the surviving baby or babies before 28 weeks' gestation, according to a study published by Dr. Almog and colleagues in the February 2010 issue of "Reproductive Biomedicine Online." In contrast, approximately 1 percent of healthy mothers experienced preterm delivery. Early delivery is a complication of vanishing twin syndrome that can increase an infant's risk of experiencing development problems or cognitive deficits. In fact, health professionals with the American Pregnancy Association report that the surviving twin can be at risk of developing cerebral palsy, especially if the vanishing twin disappears during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
Low Birth Weight
Dr. Almog and colleagues report that approximately one-third of pregnant mothers in their study who were diagnosed with vanishing twin syndrome delivered low birth weight infants. Only 12 percent of healthy mothers experience similar complications. Low birth weight babies are more likely than healthy weight infants to experience respiratory distress or bleeding of the brain during the first few weeks of life. Decreased birth weight as a complication of vanishing twin syndrome can also increase a baby's risk of developing certain health problems, such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes, later in life, according to the March of Dimes.
References
- American Pregnancy Association: Vanishing Twin Syndrome
- "Reproductive Biomedicine Online"; Adverse Obstetric Outcome for the Vanishing Twin Syndrome; Dr. Almog, et. al.; February 2010
- What To Expect: Vanishing Twin Syndrome in Pregnancy
- MayoClinic.com: Twin Pregnancy - What Multiples Mean for Mom
- March of Dimes: Low Birthweight
