Parapagus (pa-RAP-uh-gus) twins are joined side to side at the pelvis and part or all of the belly (abdomen) and chest, but with separate heads. Each twin may have two legs or, less commonly, the twins share two or three legs. Many ischiopagus twins share the lower GI tract, as well as the liver and genital and urinary tract organs. Ischiopagus (is-kee-OP-uh-gus) twins are joined at the pelvis, either face to face or end to end. Rachipagus (ray-KIP-uh-gus), also called rachiopagus (ray-kee-OP-uh-gus), twins are joined back to back along the length of the spine. A few twins share the genital and urinary organs. Some pygopagus twins share the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Pygopagus (pie-GOP-uh-gus) twins are commonly joined back to back at the base of the spine and the buttocks. Some twins share the lower part of the small intestine (ileum) and the longest part of the large intestine (colon). Many omphalopagus twins share the liver and some part of the upper digestive (gastrointestinal or GI) tract. Omphalopagus (om-fuh-LOP-uh-gus) twins are joined near the bellybutton. This is one of the most common sites of conjoined twins. They often have a shared heart and may also share one liver and upper intestine. Thoracopagus (thor-uh-KOP-uh-gus) twins are joined face to face at the chest. Each pair of conjoined twins is unique.Ĭonjoined twins may be joined at any of these sites: The twins sometimes share organs or other parts of their bodies. How twins are joinedĬonjoined twins are usually classified according to where they're joined.

Conjoined twins can be diagnosed early in the pregnancy using an ultrasound.

And there may be more tiredness, nausea and vomiting early in the pregnancy. As with other twin pregnancies, the uterus may grow faster than it does with a single baby. There are no specific symptoms that indicate a conjoined twin pregnancy.

Join together definition