Wombtwin survivors are the sole survivors of a twin or multiple pregnancy. An average of 1% of births in the world are twin births, and research has revealed that for every pair of twins born there are at least 10 singleton babies born whose twin died in the womb - their “womb twin”. There are more than 600 million womb twin survivors in the world, which is 10% of the entire population, but until recently we could not identify them.
It is astonishing that society has somehow managed not to notice or correctly identify such an enormous group of millions of people. This is probably because until the 1980s the loss of a twin in the womb was not fully recognised or acknowledged. People can hardly be expected to pay any heed to the needs of the sole survivors if the lost twins remain hidden from view.
Research using ultrasound scans has shown us just how many twins are lost even in the first few weeks of life. These are called “vanishing twins” but they don’t really vanish - they die. Their tiny bodies may be miscarried, disintegrate or gradually fade away, leaving tiny traces that an expert may be able to identify but that many people would not even notice.
Since the amazing day when I realised that I am a womb twin survivor, I have been looking for the others. One by one, womb twin survivors came to me from all over the world. With their help, I have learned how to identify them and help them heal. I know that womb twin survivors have a need to understand why they feel as they do: in order to help them, I intend to bring these little lost twins out of the darkness and into the light. This book is their story.
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