What to do about one lost twin?

I am 27 w pg with my 2nd baby.  At 18 w I had a routine U/S, where the doc informed me that we had lost a twin at about 10 w.   I'm going through grieving and guilt.  Guilt about not being sad enough for the lost baby, and about not being grateful enough for my healthy baby.   I am becoming more concerned about the birth and whether there will be a recognizable fetus born with my healthy baby.  If there is a chance that there will be a fetus born with the baby, I don't want the hospital to just dispose of it.  Is there any chance there will be a recognizable fetus  when the baby is born?

[Yummymommy]

Im nw 10wks pregnant. 2 and 1/2 weeks ago i found out i was pregnant with twins, reason being that i ended up in the hospital becos i started bleeding but it lasted 4 a day then stopped, 2wks later i went 4 an u/s and twin A was there but the sac with twin B was empty and the cervix is open that crushed me in a way i was mad at my self but stil felt selfish and guilty becoz im not giving thanx that the other baby is still there and fine so far. Im hope that in some way wen i go back 4 another u/s the other baby shows up, but yet stil i kw it may be impossible becoz of my open cervix. As 4 you twinmom im not sure what the out come will be 4 you and your unborn baby but hang in there and just kw ur not alone im rite there with you  xxx keep me posted...

[waitingwithhope]

I think that if your loss was around 10 weeks or sooner, it would be considered a "vanishing twin" in which case, the fetus usually would be reabsorbed and disappear and it would be unlikely that there would be a recognizable fetus when your other bay is born. I am so sorry you are going through this and I think that you should allow yourself to feel and grieve as you go through this in your own way. I think it would be very difficult to be so torn in emotions- both happy and excited for the new one but devastated for the little one you lost. I have read too that when you lose a twin in the early part of the pregnancy, that the outcome for the second baby is usually good and that most people will go on to delivering a very healthy baby- I hope that this will happen for you and, again, I am so sorry you lost your other little one :(

[AnnieBrooke]

I had a vanished twin at 8 weeks, didn't learn about it until week 11.  It was visible in the ultrasounds until about week 20 but then it was no longer.  Don't worry about seeing a visible embryo when the other baby is born, it is unlikely.  It does dampen your joy at the pregnancy when one is lost, it's like going to a birthday party and a funeral in the same room, the day you learn about the vanished twin.  But as the pregnancy progresses, this feeling abates, and the pregnancy you are dealing with takes precedence.  The little one who was lost is never forgotten, but it's like a little star in the sky sending you twinkling light.  There's nothing to do but be glad you had it with you for just that brief time, and wish it godspeed.  It came and left for its own reasons, and you won't know why until the day (a long time from now) when you meet again.

[jewell1117]

I lost a twin at 23 weeks...At my sons birth there was a baby, but it was badly decompressed...It was considered a stillborn, and we had her named and cremated...It is very unlikely you would see anything from 10 weeks.  As sad as the whole experience was, it made me appreciate my son that much more when he arrived!  He's a blessing...Good luck and stay positive!