Hi all
My twin girls are due to be delivered at 34 weeks, and at last scan (30 weeks) were at estimated weights of 2lb13 and 2lb14. They're not going to be big babies, I'm hoping for almost 4lb each but perhaps I'm being overly optimistic?
I'm really just looking for people with similar experiences to share their stories. I just don't know what to expect and quite frankly am terrified for them. X
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Premature birth
34 week twins
54 replies
loopylou1984 · 22/01/2017 16:49
OP posts:
MiniMaxi ·
23/01/2017 08:43
Not twins but our son was born at 33+6.
Our experiences, obviously every case is different but hopefully this will help set the scene, prepare and reassure you.
(NB: I had a placental abruption which was the reason for early delivery - his size was pretty good at 5lbs.)
First things first: he is now 22 weeks, is doing amazingly well, and is a great size for his corrected age (just below 50th centile). There's every reason why your twins should thrive too.
Some bits and bobs:
- I was given a steroid injection the week before to help boost his lung development. Ask about this if they've not done it already.
- He needed 2 days in the NICU with help breathing, feeding and an antibiotic drip. The staff were amazing and we could visit him whenever we wanted to.
- We stayed in hospital on the postnatal ward for 2 weeks after he was born as he could only leave when he could feed enough by himself (up to then he was supplemented by a feeding tube which the midwives had to help with). It was quite stressful not knowing how long we would be there because nobody told us most babies don't have a good suck reflex until 35-36 weeks. Prepare to be in hospital for a couple of weeks: bring books, magazines, plus whatever you need to be comfy.
- Nobody told me I should start hand expressing ASAP after delivery (as he went straight to NICU after a C section) - that + stress + prematurity may have been a factor in almost zero milk supply so he's been formula fed since birth which wouldn't have been my choice. If it happens to you please don't worry, he was on prescribed Nutriprem 2 formula which is great.
- Once you're home, if bottle feeding try the Dr Brown's preemie bottles. They're fab.
Hope all goes really well for you. Let us know how it goes and feel free to ask any questions you have.
dontstopmovin ·
23/01/2017 12:14
DS was born at 34 exactly after my waters broke at 33 weeks. I was given 2 steroid injections as soon as my waters broke to help his lungs mature, definitely worth asking about. He was born by emergency c section and weighed in at 4lbs 8oz. He needed help breathing for a couple of days (CPAP) and was in an incubator for about a week while he learned to maintain his body temperature. He was fed through a tube for a couple of weeks while I expressed at 3 hourly intervals (hand at first then with a pump), then eventually he developed his suck reflex and started to BF but with formula tops as he wasn't gaining weight quite as quickly as the Drs hoped for. In total we were in SCBU for 17 days until he could feed properly and reached 5lbs in weight. It was hard work but you'll get through it with the support of the SCBU staff who are absolutely amazing, I cannot speak highly enough of them, they taught us how to confidently care for DS and looked after us emotionally too, don't be afraid to ask them anything at all. One thing I wish I had done was keep a diary as it would have been amazing to show DS when he's older. Despite the rough start DS is now the most lively, active 14 month old, he's hit all his milestones (some by his corrected age and some by his actual age!) and has now caught up weight wise and is on the 25th centile for his actual age. Good luck OP, just take it one day at a time, will be thinking of you
neonrainbow ·
23/01/2017 14:07
Thanks mini! 
i had to stop for my own mental wellbeing but I'm proud i got a few weeks.
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MiniMaxi ·
23/01/2017 20:16
Oh a couple more things for later on... In no particular order:
As a pp has said you might feel like your twins are a bit "behind" developmentally (compared with other babies born at the same time). Just try to stay focused on their due date and consider development based on that. For example, our son smiled at 12 weeks - 6 weeks later than normal, but he was 6 weeks early!
Also, once you get the twins home, expect them to mostly eat and sleep right up til around their due date. Then they'll change and start behaving more like a "normal" new born. You might even literally notice them "wake up" around that time as if they've just been born 
Cuddle them as much as possible, as soon as you are able to! Slings could be good but you need to make sure the one you get is suitable for premature babies.
Finally (until I remember something else...!), please try not to stress too much - it will feel overwhelming but you will get through it. Before you know it you'll forget they were even premature!
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