UNTWINNED

Perspectives on the death of a twin before birth

Edited by Althea Hayton

ISBN 0-9525654-9-8

Paperback book

Price £15.99p

Published by Wren Publications 2007

It is now known that for every twin or multiple pregnancy that results in more than one baby being born, there are at least ten such pregnancies where only one baby is born: the sole survivor of the pregnancy, (i.e.. a womb twin survivor.) Worldwide, about 1% of pregnancies end in the birth of a twin pair.

This astonishing statistical calculation, if it is correct, would mean that 10% of the people in the world are the sole survivors of a twin or multiple pregnancy. Although for many years the loss of a twin at any age has been recognised as a real and profound bereavement, it has been suggested by many people, including surviving twins themselves, that the loss of a twin close to birth also leaves a deep impression of some kind on the survivor.

This anthology takes things that little bit further: is it possible that an impression of a lost twin still remains even when the twin died early on in pregnancy? This idea has caused considerable controversy among medical professionals and experts on twin psychology.

It is time for an intelligent and well-informed debate on the subject, and this anthology is designed to set out some of the existing knowledge for general consideration. This anthology explores four different aspects of the death of a twin:

PART ONE:- the impact of the death of a twin on the parents of the twins, the wider family and society as a whole.

PART TWO:- “Vanishing twin” phenomenon

PART THREE:- the possibility that we all carry some kind of impression of life in the womb.

PART FOUR:- the psychological effects upon the survivor of the death of their twin in the womb before they were born.

Read the introduction on this site