Any risks of carrying twins over 38 weeks and why?

[dragonrides]

My OB has been pressuring me to have a scheduled C-section for my twin boys, they said its not good for the twins to go over 38 weeks but I didn't get sound, convincing explanations. My instinct is to carry them as long as possible, hence a labor C-section.

Anyone knows any studies/analysis/stats done on this particular issues? Or anyone has carried twins over 38 weeks had (or not had) problems?

Thanks!

mine were born at 35 wks, but I have friends, including people on here, whose twins went beyond that and one who was induced at 42 wks, not aware of any reason for it not being good for them, the longer in there the better as far as I know

good luck and congratulations, twins are fab!

I assume that yours are not sharing a placenta or sac?
The main reason that they want twins born at around 38 weeks and not later is because of the risk of the placentas failing. It is our local hospital's policy (and I think it comes from the multiple birth foundation) to deliver by then if they haven't arrived of their own accord.

I don't know how high this risk is and it's something you might want to talk to your Drs about or contact the MBF who should have hard figures. However, a lady at my twins club lost one of her twins because this happened to her. Her dr went against his hospital policy and gave her an induction date of just over 39 weeks. When she arrived at hospital they found out that her little boy had died a few days earlier because his placenta failed. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I can understand why you don't want to be induced and I know many twin mums have got to 40 weeks+
without any problems but I don't want you to think it is
risk free.

Good luck whatever you decide. Twins are fab

They can do ultrasounds to check the placenta though, can't they?
If it was me I'd hold off on the section (and why is it automatically a section, BTW?) until labour starts naturally. Dates can be innaccurate and so could inadvertantly result in an avoidable premature birth.
If they/you are worried about the placenta just ask for regular scans post-38 weeks.

Out of curiosity, why a section?

I don't know how far along you are now but by the time 38 weeks come you may need to have the babies for your own sake as much as theirs (and i'm generally very much in the 'leave things go at their own pace camp')

Carrying two full term babies is extremely difficult... a woman on my ward when i had ds2 had twins who were 7lb 8oz and 8lb 4oz... she was in bits, she'd gotton so big she could barely walk and her body was utterly knackered even once they were born... she had no stomach muscles at all, trying to get out of a chair was nigh on impossible and that was the least of her worries

Thanks girls, for all the great information, really appreciate every single input! The standard protocol here in North Carolina apparently is 38 weeks scheduled C-section. We are still doing the research on our options.

Why C-section? This is, in my mind, better for the babies than having them induced. We don't feel comfortable taking Pitocin and Epidural, since it may cause the fetuses go into distress, with a C-section there's less drug going into their brain.

A home birth will be ideal for us if we were carrying a singleton, we love the idea of bringing them to the world w/o cold lights in a surgical environment (Documentaries: The Business of Being Born & Orgasmic Birth) and I believe for a normal healthy woman, she can absolutely be in control and let nature take its course. However, lay midwives (CPMs) are prohibited from practicing in North Carolina, so that option is taken away, we did find one CPM in the area and we will be talking to her to see whether she can attend the birth as a doula - so maybe eventually we will be able to have an IV-free, drug-free real natural birth at the hospital (I am sure we will have to put up a fight for it) but I am not afraid of it - they have to get our signature to give us drugs so we just won't sign it.

The failing placenta is a concern and my OB mentioned it as well, I will consult the ultrasound specialist and see whether he will be able to closely monitor the placenta after 38 weeks, since my last ultrasound, at 20th week, showed the two placenta started to fuse, so if it does fail, we may lose both of them (they are fraternal and in their own sacs).

Thanks again, very much!

I think you will find that there will be far more drugs going in to their systems if you have a c section, the pre meds, the anaesthetics, the antibiotics, pain relief after the section (if you are breastfeeding obviously).

If they are well grown fraternal twins there isn't a good reason not to wait a few extra weeks imo. Good luck.

We just returned from a tour at the birthing center 2 minutes away from our house. We were actually really impressed with the setup there. They have a jacuzzi, and we will be able to use a squatting bar for different position, and dimming lights, birthing ball. So we are pretty happy, now we need to work on finding a midwife and have our OB agree to have her present at birth...we feel more comfortable trying out a natural birth there now, which is good. We will try to carry them as long as possible and closely monitor the placenta