interesting placenta

sunshine · 01-13-2009, 12:45 AM

so mama had a funny placenta on an early ultrasound, dr diagnosed extra lobe, thought it might cause a preg. complication or birth complication.

mama went ahead with birth center vbac, basically forgot about placenta problem as nothing came up in preg.

at birth, the placenta didn't come quickly (took 45-50 minutes aprox), and midwife gave angelica and pitocin just in case. but finally came and was huge.

turns out placenta was 2, which had grown together, and on side of the "extra" part, a tiny little mineralized fetus, about 12-13 weeks old. so there were twins, one died and that baby's placenta grew into the survivors, helping that baby grow to over 9 lbs.

the midwife told about the placenta and lost baby and encouraged them to name it, bury it and pray for it, and be grateful about the miracle of the survivor because they usually die too, soon after. it was very moving and beautiful. the mom and dad were glad to know about the lost baby.

just curious if anyone else has heard of this? it was both amazing and sad and beautiful, all in the joyful after moments of birth.

earthgirl · 01-13-2009, 06:20 AM

JessicaE · 01-13-2009, 08:27 AM

I was pregnant with twins with my second pregnancy. I lost one early on, and there was a anomaly in the placenta when my son was born, which my midwife said was the reabsorbed twin. She really wanted to show it to me after my son was born, but it made me so incredibly sad to have those mixed emotions of a lost baby's birthday on my living son's actual birthday. A little different, though, because I had known from early on that I lost a twin.

Comfy · 01-13-2009, 10:07 AM

I have heard of this. Sad and Happy in one day.....wow

madiesmommy · 01-13-2009, 10:14 AM

Wow. The body's ability to do what it needs to, to keep that other babe alive, is so amazing.

gentlebeginnings · 01-13-2009, 11:05 AM

It is amazing how our bodies can still nourish the living baby and yet not get rid of the one that did not survive. I'm sure it had to be sad for the couple, but thankfully, they did deliver one healthy baby! I'm so happy that the midwife seemed to be so kind and understanding for the one they lost. I'm sure that made such a difference on how the couple dealt with the loss.

MindOverLaborDoulas · 01-13-2009, 11:53 AM

That is incredible!

My sister had something "odd, but normal" looking on her 20 week u/s with my niece. When she was born the placenta came out and nothing was said. (hossy w/ OB)
Two weeks later she was still having huge fist-size clots. She was scheduled to go back to the OB because of the bleeding on Tuesday morning. Well, Monday night she hemmoraged (l know it isn't spelled right, but ykwim). Blood was everywhere, including on top of the refridgerator.
She was rushed in to have a D&C. What they found was another full size placenta. At some point Shelby had a twin but it stopped growing. The OB didn't say anything about a mineralized fetus, and this really has me wondering if maybe there was one with Shelby's placenta too!
Very interesting!!

Nicole E · 01-13-2009, 12:31 PM

Wow, amazing. Happy and sad at the same time.

DoulaCBE · 01-13-2009, 03:07 PM

Yep, I had a client who had this happen.

Her placenta's were HUGE two grown together like two huge basketballs that covered an entire large cutting board. She dehydrated and took her placenta in capsules.