Can ultrasound miss a twin?

[SixtiesChild]

:confused: :confused: There is a history of twins in my family on both sides.
Having had an ultrasound at 10 and 12 weeks, I was certain that I could rule out twins. There was definately only ONE baby in ONE sac to be seen and I have the pictures to prove it.
I know this sounds a bit strange but Just recenly when I was lying down, I felt like the baby was almost touching my spine. I could feel something twitching inside the back of me. It felt very strange.
However, now that I am at about 17 weeks and am measuring large for dates. My doctor thought that she may have heard an extra heartbeat apart from my own whilst using the doppler and asked me if I am certain that I'm not having twins.
There are many reasons why I could be measuring large for dates including diabetes.

I am having an anomoly scan on Nov 9, so the mystery shall then be revealed
(I hope)
I am wondering if any mothers of twins know if it's possible to not see a second baby on the ultrasound. Is it possible for a twin to be behind another baby in the uterus but in another sac and not be detected by an ultrasound?

[justtwogirls22]

a friend had twins & the other was buried deep at the back & didn't show up till they delivered the first twin via c-section - needless to say everyone was in shock!

[lily81]

i agree, however mine showed up at 5 weeks as two tiny beating heatbeats!! i am a twin myself and my mum didn't know she was having twins until she was in labour and there were some complications. they sent her for an x-ray and found me!! i was glad i got plenty of warning with mine!!

[JanetF]

It's absolutely possible. U/s is a pretty poor diagnostic tool for lots of things. I hope you get some answers soon. *hugs*

[stellaj]

I don't know, i think it would be very had to miss though. I found out at 5 weeks, have you had very bad morning sickness? It is usually twice as bad as a single pregnancy.

[mumof4boys]

Hello there :p

I didn't have any morning sickness with my tripplets, but I was fairly large very early.
We didn't find out until I was 12 weeks and this was because I was still having my period which really wasn't, it was one of my babes not doing so well and we lost her at 21 weeks. :(

But in saying that I go to a multiple-birth play group and I don't think any one has ever mentioned, not having one of there multiples noticed, not that it doesn't happen, but I think an extra baby would be pretty hard to miss. ;)

[MamaFour]

I'd say it's possible - a friend of mine was told at her early early dating scan that it was twins (around 6 weeks) - she had another scan at 9 weeks and they said it was just one baby - and then her NT scan at 12 weeks and lo and behold.. it's twins :p
Although hers are both at the front, not hiding at the back like you have suggested.