Vanishing Twin Syndrome is a term for early loss in a twin pregnancy- where one twin is miscarried but the other continues to live and grow and thrive. It’s a strange dichotomy where both life and death coexist simultaneously in the same uterus. It is reported in 20-30% of the time in multifetal pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.).
After a miscarriage or stillbirth, the body grieves. There is the emotional and spiritual pain of the loss of living in a no-longer pregnant body. Depending on the length of the pregnancy the reflection in the mirror may appear suspended between being pregnant and not being pregnant.
There is nothing like a loss to remind us all that life is fragile. Loss can be especially uncomfortable for the friends and family, who are at a loss themselves. It seems impossible how to figure out what you should not say or do. It can be challenging to find a way to support the ones in need.
Miscarriage is a heart-wrenching reality. One in four pregnancies will end in a miscarriage before 20 weeks, with most happening within the first 13 weeks. Sometimes understanding why miscarriage happens can help to prevent other future losses.
