My sister's having twins and some1 told her full term for twins is 33 weeks!!??

[Mumblesmummy]

Is that true???

I'm pregnant too, but I'm having only one baby so I've no idea about twins, and obviously intend to carry my little one until 40 weeks.

Really surprised me that someone has told her 33 weeks for twins... is that normal? She's having a C section by the way.

She's clueless in every possible way and usually comes to me to ask me questions as I'm further on than her.. but I'm stumped this time.

Any opinions are very welcome and TIA

hi this is interesting to me because when i went for my 12 week scan ( only 15 weeks now) they told me to expect to deliver at 34 weeks?? but everyone who i have spoken to since (friends who have twins) have told me thats not the case, but they definatly told me that at the hospital????

Hi Aprilgirl - are yours identical? ID twins esp if they are monoamniotic will probably arive earlier as that is a very high-risk pregnancy. If they are non-id and in their own sacs then it could be 40 weeks+. Who told you that at the hospital? Cos just cos they work there doesn't mean they know anything about twins

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Yes, I have heard that keeping hydrated really helps. Also easting fish is supposed to be good for keeping twins inside!

I was told by my obstetrician that 37 weeks is considered term for twins, but I think it makes a big difference if they are monozygotic, monoamniotic and monochrionic. The more monos the more likely they will be early! Mine are non-ids.

yip mine are identical.... person who scanned me said that i would deliver early... but since then i have been told they would keep them \cooking til as long as poss xx

Why would anyone doctor their LMP on records?

They're only trying to help you, after all.

I suppose if you wanted to resist being induced at the end you might doctor your LMP...

Aprilgirl, the person who scanned you - don't know how qualified they are to speak about twin birth! The docs will certainly want to try to keep them in there as long as poss. I think with ID twins they scan you every 2 weeks after about 28 weeks to check for twin to twin transfusion. If they spot that they have to deliver asap. Otherwise, as long as you and the babies are healthy, they will certainly not intervene.

Term is term no matter how many you're having.
Providing all is well you should aim for full term.
I went into labour at 24 weeks which would have been disasterous. Thereafter the buggers showed no interest in seeing the ootside world.
I was induced at 38 but only because I was so big it was becomming difficult to move around our 3 storey house and I hadn't slept in weeks. I think the babies would have happily hung on for another fortnight.

IM CURRENTLY BEING SCANNED AVERY 2 WEEKS NOW ANYWAY AND HOPING BABIES WILL STAY IN HERE AS LONG AS POSS XXX

hi glad i found this thread im 16weeks pregnant with identical twins each have there own sac but share a placenta. the midwife at hospital says i should be scanned every 2weeks due to being a higher risk but midwife at my gp says definetly not. then again hospital midwife says they will arrive early gp midwife says not really. can anyone help i dont no whos advice i should be going by its driving me mad.

Hi Tye, I'm no expert on identical twins, I only know that twin to twin transfusion is a risk and that is why sometimes they induce you/do a c-section early. My friend had id twins at 36 weeks by c-section. The scans are to check for t2tt so it is up to you whether you want them or not.

There are loads of twin mums on this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1216/498670 - they will be able to answer your question better than me

And come and join our antenatal thread for expectant multiple mums! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2290/453417

your midwife is right and your gp is talking rubbish.

Shared placenta id twins share a blood supply - and that can get complicated - hence they scan every 2 weeks to make sure they are not missing developing problems.

Mine are id - we were scanned fortnightly - and a bit more often at one stage when they thought there might be a developing problem. There was no problem in the end - and they were (and are - they are 5 now) fine.

Try and make sure your consultant it a twin specialist.

by the way - mine were induced at 35 weeks because one stopped growing - but others have id twins that went longer.

I have just had my twins at 39 weeks and weighed 7lbs and 3oz and 6lbs and 5 1/2 oz. I had a problem free pregnancy so there was no need to start me any earlier.

My sister was told to be ready from 28 weeks onwards but actually carried to term and so did a lot of the other mums she has met through a local twins group.

The lungs are not fully formed until 38 weeks.Babys born before that may have to go unto the ventilator. One of our twins had stopped growing at 33 weeks and so my wife had steroids for 3 days to help develop the twins lungs.She was enduced at 34 weeks. Both where fine and did not have to go unto the ventilator. The girl was 5lbs 7oz the boy 3lbs 7oz. They are home now and doing fine. Released from hospital at 38 weeks.

I am expecting identical monoamniotic twins (one placenta, but two sacs). I have been getting scanned every two weeks and am now 21 weeks - every two weeks they check that the fluid and growth is equal for both twin -I have a specialist and he has been really helpful. He told me today that they will be inducing at 36 weeks, if I can hold out that long, as it is safer to avoid any late signs of TTNS.

This is also consistent with all the books I have read. At 36 weeks babies should be fine and he said I should be out of hospital the next day - lets just hope I am fine until then! But feeling good so far.

Though I didn't get the home birth I wanted because there are so few midwives out there, I did carry my twins happily for 40 weeks and they came out 7.5 and 8lbs.