How is My Healthy Twin Affected by TRAP?
Overloaded Cardiovascular System
The heart is our largest muscle. When we work our muscles, they get bigger. With TRAP, the heart of the healthy twin can enlarge. The healthy baby’s cardiovascular system can become overloaded. The baby can go into heart failure if the underdeveloped twin becomes too large. This seems to be less of a risk if the baby is less than 50% the size of the healthy twin. In summary, blood is pumping from the healthy twin through the shared arterial blood vessels in the placenta to pump blood in a reverse direction to the acardiac baby. The healthy twin is at risk for heart failure depending on the size of the other baby.
If the healthy baby is on overload pumping more blood, he or she will also increase blood flow to the kidneys. This potentially increasing urine output, which is basically amniotic fluid, which in turn, may increase the risk of a premature birth. It all depends on the size of the other baby. Again, if on the smaller size, none of these warning signs will be seen.