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Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

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Original poster

Anyone's twins arrive before 37 weeks?

70 replies

pollyblue · 03/08/2008 19:16

I'm 12 weeks pregnant with twins - my midwife told me that 37 weeks is considered term for twins and there's no reason to expect i'll go into labour early, but what little i've read so far about twin pregnancies suggest that twins very often will be premature. Has anyone had their twins earlier than 37 weeks, and if so was there a particular reason?

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kitstwins · 03/08/2008 20:09

Of the six mothers of twins I know in real life, 5 had twins before 37 weeks. The sixth person got to 38 weeks. Our gestations were: -

Me - 35 weeks (emergency c section) due to bleed from placenta praevia)

Friend 1 - 31 weeks (emergency c section) waters broke (no warning although babies quite good size at over 5lbs each so doctors thought this may have contributed)

Friend 2 - 35 weeks (emergency c section) - waters broke as twin 1 footling breach and stuck foot through amniotic sac

Friend 3 - 35 weeks (emergency c section) - waters broke (no warning)

Friend 4 - 36 weeks had scheduled c-section due to restricted growth of twin 2 (getting a bit squashed)

Friend 5 - 36 weeks had scheduled c-section also due to restricted growth of twin 2

I was told by the MBF that around half of all twins are born before 35 weeks so I think it's worth expecting them to come a little earlier but to aim for around 37 weeks. If you have a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy then there's every chance you can get to (or beyond) 37 weeks.

Best of luck.
Kx

mckenzie · 03/08/2008 20:12

my friend has just had her twins at 36 weeks. She was induced due to restricted growth of twin 2. Her girls weighted 5lb 13 and 5lb 1 and are both doing beautifully (now 3 weeks old)

BibiThree · 03/08/2008 20:17

I had my girls at 35 weeks, growth restriction of twin A. They weighed 5lb04 and 4lb15, they are both fine now (just turned 1 year old).

Original poster

pollyblue · 04/08/2008 10:16

Thanks for your replies - i've been worrying about what we'll do with dd, who's 18 months, if i did go into labour early (we don't have any family close by). Now I know there's a chance that it could happen, i'll have to get my thinking cap on and work something out, just in case. Thanks everyone

OP posts:

rubyloopy · 04/08/2008 11:20

Message withdrawn

BibiThree · 04/08/2008 14:02

My warning time was Friday-Monday. Saw the Dr on Friday, he said See you Monday Bibi. Which is longer than some women get, but I'd say plan for an early arrival, be prepared and then the worst that can happen is that you're bored for 5 weeks at the end of your pregnancy.

MarsLady · 04/08/2008 14:09

One of the things that may help hold them in longer (mine came at 36wks, but I had a planned section because they were a transverse - sideways- lie with presenting cord) is your diet. Make sure that you eat really well.

My current client who is expecting twins is 38 weeks and 3 days. Her waters went this morning.

I have plenty of twin mum friends who went to 40 weeks.

37-42 weeks is considered term for all babies.

It's not a given that your babies will come before 37 weeks.

I hope you take to all the way to term.

goingslowlymad · 04/08/2008 14:34

I had twins at 28 weeks but blame diabolocal ante-natal care. My concerns were brushed under the carpet and I was told to carry on as normal despite me knowing something was amiss.

My advice is to listen to your body. If you feel something isn't right, say so. My daughter was 15 months when the twins were born so accept as much help with your dd as possible.

Sullwah · 04/08/2008 18:07

Mine came at 35 weeks - waters broke. Luckily I was sitting on the loo at the time so had minimum mess

They were 5lbs each and were both fine

I was given a steriod injection at 28 weeks to help develop the lungs in case of pre-term

Littlefish · 04/08/2008 18:52

My sister's were born at 34 weeks, weighing 4.5lbs and 5lbs. They spent 3 weeks in SCBU. They are now great hulking 4 year olds, taller than any other children in their class, in spite of being the youngest.

hattyyellow · 04/08/2008 18:55

I got to 38 weeks and 2 days and that was a planned section (twin 1 was stubbornly breech). I was showing no signs of going into labour so may well have gone on to full term.

I also panicked the whole way through that they'd come early - it's hard not to! The hospital told me to expect full term to be about 37 weeks if the pregnancy was relatively uncomplicated (which it was right up to the end). I gave up work at about 34 weeks in correlation with this.

Loads of luck to you .

retiredgoth · 04/08/2008 19:10

....the identical Urchins appeared at 32 weeks, through the aperture the Good Lord intended (though in a town 50 miles away as there were insufficient NICU cots nearer).

...a month in special care followed, with a few scares that seemed big at the time but were very soon history. They are now happy, gregarious 7 year olds.

...my sister also spawned monozygotes at 32 weeks, similar concerns at the time I recall. They are now learning to drive...

Enjoy your twins!

Original poster

pollyblue · 04/08/2008 21:23

Thanks all it's fab to hear how well ealry twins can do and really reassuring.

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pophas2beans · 05/08/2008 15:22

hi all - just had a quick read of of this thread and found it very interesting. I'm currenlty 14 weeks pregnant with itdentical twins. I've also been a bit concerned about pre-term labour and have been offered the chance to trial a pessary made of silicon that is fitted around the cervix to see if it helps keep my beans in longer. I'm stil uming and aring as to what to do.

Can I just ask another question? Have any of you that have posted on this thread suffered from Twin to Twin Transfusion? I haven't been diagnosed with it at this stage but well aware that I could be. I was wondering if TTT could be linked to pre-term labour.

jjh · 07/08/2008 22:27

mine born at 35 weeks by c section weighe 4.7 and 5.2 spent 2 weeks in ICBU. so healthy grow like weeds.

luckylady74 · 07/08/2008 22:34

My twins were born at 35 weeks - 6 and 7llbs, natural birth and no complications - they needed no special care. I think I just have babies a little early - ds1 was 37weeks and 9.9llbs. I was told by midwives that I had my dates wrong as they were big, but they were ivf so that would have been hard!

kateri · 09/08/2008 13:38

Mine were born at 32 weeks, possibly due to my lack of weight gain (despite eating loads!) - so do make sure you eat really really well, as marslady said! It's a perfect excuse to eat as much, and as high calorie, as you want!

My twins were 3.10lb and 2.7lb, and spent a month in hospital, but they had no real complications apart from being small, and were fine. They're just turned one.

Original poster

pollyblue · 10/08/2008 11:40

Kateri and MarsLady, I'd heard it was important to eat plenty during a twin pregnancy but i didn't realise just how important and what a difference it can make to the babies. I've just ordered a book on twin pregnancies and hopefully that'll give me so ideas about what i should be eating, calorie intake etc. I've lost quite a bit of weight so far, thanks to evil morning sickness, but once that clears up I'll sart paying close attention to my diet.

OP posts:

MarsLady · 10/08/2008 14:58

Polly make sure that you are drinking lots of water even through the morning sickness. Do be sure to eat well and look after yourself.

gruesomefoursome · 11/08/2008 07:22

Hi Polly, My twins came at 36 weeks on the thursday and they were home on the following tuesday, they weighed 4.6 and 4.14 and we had the neonatel nurse come out every day to check on them and weigh them. They are now strapping five year olds that look like the weasly twins from harry potter!! You should be scanned every two weeks so that the hospital can watch out for ttts but thankfully there are treatments available for it now which give the babies the best chance. My daughter was only just one the week before i had my twins and i only had my partner and motherin law at the time to help. Where abouts in the world do you live??

Original poster

pollyblue · 11/08/2008 14:24

gruesomefoursome, I'm in stroud, gloucestershire. I've just found out that a baby & toddler group in town has a twins group too, and I met the twins midwife at Stroud maternity hospital the other day, who said "shout if you need me!" which is great......I almost freaked out when I found out I was having twins and thought we would never manage - the replies here have been really reassuring and now i'm starting to think we're actually very lucky

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galaxymummy · 11/08/2008 15:34

Dear Polly
A mum in my twin antenatal classes just had her twins at nearly 38 weeks and had a normal birth.
So yes people can go more than 37 weeks and yes the birth can be good.

MarsLady · 11/08/2008 15:55

My client mentioned below had hers at 38+5 Doing well.

Jambuttie · 12/08/2008 14:48

I had my twins at 29 wks- they are 4.5yrs now

lulururu · 13/08/2008 00:41

i had mine at 40wks +2days after being heavily pressured into being induced. natural delivery (once induced) and 8lbs11 and 7lbs12. still wish i hadn't been induced as it led to a cascade of medical intervention. a friend of mine had her twins 2 days later at 40wks+2 days also. similar sizes, no probs, natural delivery (but also induced - same obstetrician).

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