Sis PG with twins - date for CS is 38 weeks - do many twin pregnancies go that long?

[Buda]

Reason for section is one baby is breech and other is transverse. She is now nearly 36 weeks.

Doc says babies in best place. She is well. She is just a bit worried about being in hosp over Xmas. She has 3 other DCs. Obv if it happens that way there is not a lot can be done but I honestly thought they would deliver before Xmas. She has been given a date of 29th unless something happens in the meantime.

I though 36 weeks was considered term for twins. Am I completely wrong? (It has been known but not often!)

Bump!

A BIG bump - it is twins!

The profession considers 36 weeks 'term' but if there are no signs of distress, the longer the better really.

All 'term' means is that they won't try to stop labour should it happen. Twins often are earlier than singletons, but bear in mind that a lot of singles are 'late'

If she's worried, she should speak to the Docs, but they've given her a reasonable date, I think. They won't schedule surgery (or indeed an ordinary induction!) for when they'll be staff pressured, like over Xmas, so they've gone for the next convenient date. It's just good management.

That said, if she goes into labour early, they operate then and they'll be aware of that need, too.

Thanks ginnybag. I get what you are saying and what they are saying but would have thought that a section at the end of next week at 37 weeks would be sensible. The doc did mention that she would be better off not in hosp over Xmas when they would have a skeleton staff but it seems to me that that is what they are risking tbh.

Oh well. Fingers crossed that she has them end of next week or beginning of following week.

Poor thing. She is so uncomfortable. And worried that she will go into labour naturally - she goes quick when she goes. And her last DC was 4 weeks early anyway.

Is she definitely going for the section whatever? Because as I understood it in fraternal twins it's only the first twin's position that is considered, because once first is born second will usually descend head down... but I am no expert, just what I heard...

I'm carrying identical twins and they are booked for section at 35+6 (23rd Dec)... but that's because they are identical and risk of twin to twin transfusion, and also other complications... and that feels far enough away now I'm on bed rest, so I can empathise that she wants them out. However if she is keen to be home for Christmas I would have thought she stands more chance doing that heavily pregnant than a section just before - I know I will be in over xmas, and we're going to celebrate on the 19th, assuming I don't spontaneously labour before then!

Congratulations on your twins!

The section is definite - twin 1 is breech and twin 2 is transverse.

Anyway - fingers crossed it will be ok.

dur, sorry just re-read your OP and clearly missed the first line!

In all fairness I don't know anyone who made it as far as 38 wks with twins, so I guess she does need to be prepared to go in to labour spontaneously and move quick-fast to hospital to get the section... I'm even starting to convince myself I'm going to go in to labour spontaneously before 35+6 - I feel fit to burst, and the braxton hicks are intense... hope she does manage to avoid Christmas though if that's what she wants...

Thats the whole thing for me too Weegle. Have never heard of anyone making it to 38 weeks with twins. And her last DS was born at 36 weeks.

Same for me Twin 1 was section and Twin 2 transverse. I was booked in for a section when I was 30 weeks - they wern't changing their mind at all. Section was to be at 38 weeks but only made it to 35 as there were complications.

I have met one twin mother who went to 40 weeks but both babies were the right way up. She was in hospital on bed rest from 38 weeks just to be safe. But other than her I've never heard of anyone going past 38.

Hope she manages to avoid Christmas, I can't think of anything worse than being in hospital over Christmas.

I should have said Twin 1 was breech. (They were both by section obviously!)

My sister had a section at 39 weeks with twins although they had told her to be ready from around 28 weeks

A friend had a natural birth with twins at 39+ weeks (can't remember exactly)

A mum at school had twins at 38/39 weeks recently but not sure if by c-section or not.

Really pookabelle. That's interesting. She has said all along that she wants to have them after Xmas. I just really didn't see her getting that far.

Potplant - how were yours at 35 weeks?

I know, before she had her twins I had always assumed that they were born early but I think she may even know other mums through a twins group who went nearly full term.

I hope your sister has them after Christmas, and it is great fun having twins in the family

several of my clients have gone to 40+ with twins. It is doable. Perhaps one of the reasons you don't hear of them going beyond 38 weeks is because that tends to be the induction date.

Also should add that as they were nearly full term, one weighed 7lb and the other 7lb 1oz which is a lot of baby weight to carry around.

My friends boys were both a similar weight.

mine were induced at 38 weeks but I think would have gone another few weeks like my others. if they had the choice

My twins were both breech until 35 weeks when Twin 1 turned head down and Twin 2 was transverse. By 39 weeks (when I was induced) they were both head down - so they can sometimes turn pretty late.

Im one of a twin, and my mother had to be induced at full term 40 plus weeks to get us out. The longer in there, the better, if everything is well.

I was wrong then. Wow.

Thanks for all replies. I still don't think she will get that far but we will wait and see.

pookabelle - I don't think I will tell her that yours were 7 pounders! That might frighten her a bit too much! At last scan they reckoned twin 1 was 4lb 6 and twin 2 was 5lb 7. Her youngest DC was 5lb and he was a singleton!

We are very excited about having twins in the family. It came completely out of the blue although we have since found out that 2 of my Dad's sisters lost twins.

Sis had bad PND after her other 3 DCs and is bi polar too so we are all a bit concerned about afterwards also. Although she is SO much more self aware than she was and she controls the bi polar very well without meds.

She currently has 2 boys and 1 girl - her DD says she is moving out if the twins are boys!

That's exactly what DS1 said to me when I told him it was twins. I had him and two DDs. He said "I can love two, three at a push, but four and you're having a laugh. I'll leave home!" Fortunately for him there was a boy in there.

LOL Marsy!

A family member went to 39+3 with twins before giving in to an induction - there was literally no more room for them inside! Just under 8 lbs apiece when they were born. She was pretty much a beached whale for the last three weeks but wanted to make sure they had the best start possible.

UPDATE - Well she bled a bit this morning so went in to hosp and they are keeping her in overnight. They keep you in for 24 hours after a bleed. She had some mild period type pains. Been fine since.

Is not overly happy. Has chest and throat infection too. But knows she is in best place if there is a bigger bleed or anything happens.

Am talking my phone to bed!

I went into labour at just over 38 weeks with my twins. I think quite alot of people go to 38/39 weeks, at least half I would say of my local friends with twins. i would say the longer they are in the better. My singleton DS was a planned section at 37/38 weeks and was only just OK, could have done with another week or two in there!!

Mine were born at 35+6 and my first baby was at 37 weeks. Anything is possible with twins! Hope all goes well for your sister and her babies.

How's she doing Buda?