Two Scary Turned Positive Twin Pregnancy Stories: Vanishing Twin Syndrome and TTTS

Last updated on December 23rd, 2025 at 11:40 am

With the extra complications of twin pregnancy, you may find yourself fearing or bracing yourself for the dark side of pregnancy. Here are two twin pregnancies where scary complications turned into miracles. 

Story 1: Vanishing Twin Syndrome with a Re-Appearing Twin

When I went to the doctor at 6 weeks, they told me I WAS pregnant with twins, but that I had vanishing twin syndrome because only one of the babies was developing.  

The other sac was empty. My family mourned, but my mom kept saying she felt as if the doctor was wrong.  It was hard to keep telling her the doctor was right.  

I went in two weeks later, and another doctor verified the vanishing twin, but said my body had not yet reabsorbed the vanishing twin.

I went in two weeks later, and a third doctor did my ultrasound and said, oh there he is!  

He was, after all, developing normally just like his twin. 

For a whole month, I mourned the loss of my baby, and by a miracle, got him back. They are now healthy 7-year-old twins.

Moral of the story? Even the doctors can be wrong. Every twin parent’s’ situation is unique.

Story 2: A Hopeful Case of Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome

I was 30 weeks and 4 days. It had been 14 days since our last ultrasound where we got told that our babies were sharing nutrients above average, and it had been 12 days after our twin baby shower. 

We came into our 2-week ultrasound a little more concerned due to some pain I had developed days after the baby shower (which we were monitoring and thought it could have been fatigue from carrying 2 babies). At this appointment, we were hoping it would be the same answer as always: “the boys are doing great.” 

While looking at the ultrasound, it appeared different—more fuzzy and not easy to evaluate the babies.

Then it went by “quick” and the sonographer stepped out. My boyfriend and I did our best to keep our cool. Moments later, in came the doctor who told us, “the moment we’ve been fearing is now happening, the Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome has begun and you must go to labor and deliver now. Looks like we might be having some babies today.” 

Twin B’s anatomic fluid was at 11 mL, while Twin A had 1 mL and was no longer growing. We were in shock. I began to tear up and my boyfriend kept his cool to not worry me. We left right away. 

We got every red light possible and it seemed like we’d never get to the hospital. Once we did, we waited 30-40 mins before we got a room. Therefore, I thought “it’s serious, but we must have some time.” 

I settled into a triage room since they were a full house. They wired me up with the heart monitors, and one of the resident doctors still came in to talk about my “birth plan.” We even talked about steroids for 24 hours to make sure the boys’ lungs would sustain the delivery. 

Then things took a turn…

In came the Attending stating Twin A’s heartbeat was dropping, and it was time to prepare for a C-section. About 5 minutes later, the Attending comes back in with a whole team letting us know I need to be rushed to the OR because Twin A’s heartbeat dropped drastically and Twin B’s heart was also becoming compromised. 

They rushed me to the OR–like literally rushed me, shouting at everyone to move, hitting and pushing items out of the way. I barely made it with enough time to be able to take the epidural. 

I was crying with true emotion, praying my boys would make it out alive. They gave me magnesium, which put me in a panic because my body was heating up, and I couldn’t breathe. 

The care team reassured me I was going to be just fine. Then I focused on my stats to help me keep calm because my babies needed me. My boyfriend was allowed to be by my side. The boys were born at 6:00 pm and 6:01 pm and weren’t breathing. 

They were rushed to the pediatrics team and dad followed. At that time, my boyfriend still appeared calm, but his heart began to sink. He thought the boys didn’t make it. 

Then the doctor and nurses began to celebrate that the boys were breathing after being intubated and taken to the NICU. At that moment, we became NICU parents: a whole new world. 

The NICU days and beyond

Not knowing what to expect, we learned things as we went. We visited our boys daily, read daily, and held them daily. From trending 2 weeks in the right direction to having setbacks that made it feel like we’d never leave the hospital. 

The boys eventually began to get on track and completed milestones necessary to come home. 

Twin B came home first after 1.5 months and Twin A two weeks after that. Twin A had developed chronic lung disease and came home with medications and oxygen. 

I wish I would have known more about the NICU. It’s truly an emotional roller coaster ride. Th silver lining of this journey is we got additional support and education from the nurses, and as first time parents we really did not take that for granted. Also, it really molded us as a couple and parents. 

Fast forward to today, our boys have been home for about 2 months. Twin A weaned off oxygen (still being monitored) and we’re making memories. This is our birth/NICU experience and what a journey it was!

I’ve learned to be a better mom, partner, and person as well as the importance of not only being strong but stepping back and taking a breather.

The personal stories in this article were shared with us by Regina Bartechko and Jessica Martinez in November 2022.

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Want to read more inspiring and positive twin pregnancy and twin birth stories? Check out these articles too:

• I Gave Birth on The Driveway: One Twin Mom’s Story
• I Had a Normal Twin Pregnancy and Delivery
• Happy Twin Pregnancy Stories

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