are twins always early?

[PrincessScrumpy]

Just found out I have identical twins (really odd as I had an identical twin but it's not hereditary so just coincidence!) - Babies are due September (so right on the cusp for selecting school start). Is there any chance of going almost full term or do I need to plan for August babies?

With identicals there is probably more chance of them being early than non id, but not all are early. There is more chance of complications with id, so you will be checked more regularly.
To be honest I would plan for August babies so you aren't shocked!
Congratulations by the way, I am expecting twins in July

My hospital delivers id twins at 36 weeks.

We weren't allowed to go past 36 weeks with ours. I know quite a few people with twins- id and non-id and none of them went full term. I did meet someone in the hospital though who went full term so it is possible!

hospitals near me have a policy of getting twins out by 39 weeks. I know someone with identicals who managed to push it to term at 40, but that is quite unusual. I had mine (fraternal) at 37.5 as I had cholestasis of pregnancy and I was told they needed to be out by 38 weeks.

My id twins were delivered by planned CS at 38 wks (although at that stage we still thought they were non id)

i was induced at 40+3!

I was induced at 38+6, but the 'rules' have changed now so they tend to do elective c-sections at 36-38 wks as far as I know

Check your hospital twin policy, and the Multpile Birth Foundation for birthing recommendations

the twin policy here is not before 38 weeks unless problems, whether id or not.

mine B/G were delivered at 37 weeks, normal delivery, 53 mins apart. my friend had id girls delieved at 32 weeks due to the fact that one of the girls stoped growing. now they are 3.5 and have the same height and weight.

ID twins here, I had them at Queen Charlotte's where the multiple birth foundation is based. I was supposed to have a c section at 36 weeks which is what is reccomended for id twins but I ended up having them when my waters broke at 34&3 weeks. I think you have a 40% chance of early labour with id twins.
Congratulations btw

I am pregnant with ID twins and my hospital are inducing me at 36 weeks... one consultant said 34 but I questioned this if everything is fine and managed to push them to 36..obviously if something happens before then it will be out of my hands anyway.

I think it depends on the hospital and consultant I was also told by one consultant that it HAD to be a cesearean..I have asked about going for a vaginal birth...so we will see....

Deff ask about hospital policy. Apparently twins can come early but then so can some single babies....

Congratulations!

I am having id twins, was told right from start c-sec at 37 weeks. I am 36 weeks now and they want to leave me until 38 weeks when I am booked for induction and have agreed I can try for a natural delivery because I have already had a baby naturally. If this was my first it would be a c-sec at 37 weeks.....kinda wishing it was my first!

Oh glad i found this thread, have been wondering the same thing as im 38weeks with non-id twins, been booked in for induction on friday. And so far i think i'll make it to my induction (v-birth as both are head down + i had a vb for my first born.)
I'm booked into Queen Charlottes so maybe non-id twins have to be delivered by 38weeks?

Hi
My hospital said they aim for 39 weeks and a natural delivery with non-ids
I think my hosp is in the NHS equivalent of OFSTED "special measures" though! and again!

My hospital says that they induce at 38wks if they don't come earlier as it's not recommended that they go beyong that point.

A number of twin mums i know are trying to get induced at 37wks as new evidence suggests that between 37-38 is the best for twins.

I had identical twins at 37 weeks and was induced. By this point i was desperate to get them out as it was more than uncomfortable and I could hardly walk.
I was monitored like mad for the previous 2 weeks though to make sure they were ok.

I had non-id twins 6.5 years ago and they broke my waters when I was about 3 days off 40 weeks! Not sure about id though, sounds like they tend to induce you earlier (although a midwife had laughed at me when I asked if they would induce me and told me they NEVER had to induce twins...how wrong was she!)

My non-ids were one day shy of 40 weeks.

I had no ids at 38+6 planned cs weighing in at 6lb 7 and 7lb 5 and had a textbook pregnancy..no problems at all (just breech-transverse positioning)

I had my ID twins at 36+5 so didn't need to be induced in the end and had a natural labour : ) T1 was 6lb8 & T2 5lb15.

Thought id give an update - i did make it for my induction but the next morning i was already in labour so no need to induce. (i was 38weeks + 1, non-id).
:)

I was 'full term' and hospital were happy to allow me to go to 40 weeks plus! Luckily it was a couple weeks before that that I went into labour.

I'm expecting id twins in October-my hospital has told me they will take them out at 38weeks if they don't arrive themselves beforehand.I've been told to expect them anytime from mid September!

When I had my first set they said c-sec at 37 weeks but I only got to 33 weeks (meant to be non ID but they are infact ID) then the 2nd lot (now 4 weeks old) they said they have changed procedure and now c-sec at 38 weeks as less likely to be breathing problems but I got to 36+5 this time (meant to be non ID buti think they are ID, need to get them tested)

i've been told that if i get to 37 wks they will induce if babies are in right position for natural birth if not i will have section. they seem keen for me to have natural delivery though, as they said the'll go with that even if only the "first" twin is in the right position, but might mean emergency section for the second if they aren't correctly positioned. i'm due 9th nov, but been told to expect them by 19th oct at latest. BTW, mine are id twins