Anyone's twins arrive before 37 weeks?

[pollyblue]

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?

Thirty-six weeks here and only because I had pre-eclampsia. Ended up, after 3 days of trying to entice the little buggers to come out themselves, with an emergency c-section because of me.

Dts would have gladly stayed where they were! Far too comfy in there. All went well though, only 24 hours observation in the SCBU and everything went fine from there. No health problems. Weights were 5lb and 5lb 4oz.

Mine were 36+5 (spontaneous labour and natural birth).

I too was terrified of going into labour when home (or out!) alone with DS1 (he was 22 months when DTs born). As it happened I felt first signs of labour about 8am one morning and rushed DS1 to nursery by 9am, came home, got a taxi to hospital and DD was born at midday. DH just made it (he was 1.5hrs away at work in London).

Good luck with your pregnancy. I think you will have same age gap as me with my three. I figured that if I did have DS1 with me then he wasn't going to come to any harm coming with me to hospital and I was all prepared to call an ambulance if need be (my family 2 hours drive away).

I had really wanted to keep them cooking til 38 weeks but by 35 weeks I was more than ready to get them out, I was shattered!

Polly I lost weight also during first trimester and I think I gained a total of 20lbs or maybe slightly less by the time I gave birth. Nobody I met believed I was having twins!

They were 4lbs 11 (DD) and 5lbs 4 (DS2).

Message for Pollyblue

My twins were born at 35 weeks (37 is the average, so it is not unusual for them to come earler. It's better they arrive after 32/33 because of potential breathing difficulties prior to this.) Apart from going in to special care for a week to be monitored & regain their birth weight (4 1/2lbs at birth) they were fine. Although they were always smaller than classmates at primary school, they are now 13 and average build compared to their friends. I didn't find their prematurity disadvantaged them physically or academically.

As long as the babies have no health problems I think you've got nothing to worry about. It's hard work at the beginning but enjoy the experience!

Pollyblue

I went into labour naturally after stretching across the bed too vigorously causing my waters to break! First twin was born naturally (ventouse) - after every form of intervention & piece of NHS equipment!.In labour about 19 hours. Second twin born 2 hours later by caesarian. Convinced that if it had been left to nature they would have been born at completely different times ( I gather that in the old days before scans etc. this did happen) but these days it's considered too risky.

had non-id twins naturally 11 weeks ago at 38.5wks - as had had DD1 at 36wks was concerned that 2nd time around with twins could be much earlier - had special scan at Fetal Medicine Centre in Harley St - only cost £50 and gives you a prediction of a very early delivery - i had a 0.7% chance of my twins arriving before 33 weeks - this gave me the confidence to stay at work til then. The first time i didnt make my leaving party at work as i had had her!

My ID twin boys were induced at 37 weeks and are now almost 6yr old. I had TTTS and the consultant expected me to go into early labour before 30 wks. I had the steroid injections at 24 wks as a precaution to mature their lungs and even at 37 weeks they thought they might need special care but didnt!I had a vaginal delivery one delivered by forceps the other ventouse 20 mins after as he didnt want to come out!!

my 1st set were c-sectioned at 38 weeks.

my 2nd set were c-sectioned at 40 weeks as there was no sign of labour starting and i wasn't allowed to be induced.

I was running around after 6 youngsters aswell-everyone was suprised things didn't start earlier!

my friend had hers naturally at 41 weeks last year

i went into spontanious labour at 28 weeks with my twin boys in under an hour i was 4cm and in hospital with people doing ve's and taking blood ect it was the worst experience of my life! i was then told there were no beds in the neo natal uni somy babies would be transered to another hospital after they were born! i had a injection to help develop the lungs. Luckily they stopped my labour but i spent the next two week stuck in hospital going in and out of labour and dilating further to 6cm! its not a pleasent experience and you are constanly scanned and hooked up to monitors!somethin which people always forget is that each baby has two sacks of water! twin 1s hind waters broke and then a couple of days later i woke up feeling like i had wet mysel and every time i moved i was wwetting my self! in fact twin 1s sac had ruptured and i was walking around with a slow leak! it was horrible i constantly felt wet and uncomfortable! his brother had a whopping 12cm of water and twi 1 ended up with 2cm! i eventualy went delivered at 30 weeks! it took an hour and 22 mins with 22 mins apart i only had gas and air. twi 1 was taken straight away and i did not see him for about 5 hours! twin two i got to look at and he was taken. they stayed in the hospital ia was booked into in the end.

They spent 5 and a half weeks in neo natal and twin two spent 24 hours ventilated and on morphine for the pain. It was the worst thingin the world to ee your baby like that. i could not hold twin two for two days i could only touch him through the door on his incubator. twin one had no problems as such aart from a rush to get into the world. they are now nearly 11 week old and are getting bigger! they are now the sze of a new born baby ( they weighed 3ib 4 and 3ib 12 at birth).

twin pregnancys are not always as easy as people make them out to be. i had a trouble free pregnancy up until i went into labour. so there is not always warning sighns. i was even being scanned every 2 weeks.

when you are pregnant with twins you need to be made aware of the dangers instead of just being told it will be ok. On the neo natal unit i witnessed many bad things that no new mother should see.

i went into labour because the twins had got to big for my body. so for two week my body was confused as my uterus was saying im full and my body was saying but the baby hasnt released any hormones to sy im ready let me out!!

just prepare yourself! i suggest you pack your hospital bag early just incase! luckily i had packed mine at 25 weeks!

enjoy your pregnance and if you work go on maternity leave as soon as you can i wished i had!

idobelieveinfairies - how many children do you have!!!!! you must be super organised! i feel i have to be and thats only with one set of twins!

I was wondering that lulururu! Eight or ten?!

Thanks for all your responses - twinmommy22, yes I'm going to get my bag organised early this time, I had a stay in hospital at 32 weeks with dd due to a bleed (I had placenta previa) and had nothing ready so I don't want to be caught out this time. Glad to hear your dts are doing well.

I saw a consultant last week who says I will be booked in for a section (dd was a section at 37 weeks) at 37 weeks, unless I go into labour beforehand, in which case I will still be given a section as soon as I get to hospital. He reckons 50% of twins arrive before 37 weeks so knowing that, along with all the info you've given me here, I'm prepared for anything now

37

My mam and her twin were born at 34 weeks, and they weighed 6lb and 6lb 1oz, my gran had only put a stone in weight on during her pregnancy. (to know my gran is to know that she was very++ prudish, and so if she said she was 34 weeks pregnant, then believe me she was!!!)

My waters broke for one twin at 30 weeks, and I spent the next two weeks in bed whilst they staved off contractions and administered steroids to mature the lungs. No idea why the waters broke so early; they suspected an infection, but couldn't find any trace of one. I had to have a c-section when the contractions started in earnest, since the doctors thought a normal birth would be unnecessary trauma for the babies. My DT were born at 32 weeks and spent 3-4weeks in ICU. DD was reasonably well at the birth (even cried as she came out), whereas DS was quite poorly and needed surfactant and ventilating.

They are two years old now and I never would have believed it back then, but almost all traces of the prem. birth have disappeared, and they look, and behave like any boisterous two year olds!!

Hi. I gave birth to twin boys at 31 weeks on the 1st October , after one of my waters broke on the sunday morning. had to have loads of scans, blood tests etc.
They weighed just under and just over 3lbs, and are in intensive care. they will be there until the 7th december which is when they should have been born!!!
I never had my bag packed - wish i would have done it at about 25 weeks!!!
ellac
x

Oh I had to have a c section under general anesthetic!

Hi ellac, I'm already packing my bag! Not going to get caught out this time...

Congrats on your sons, hope they do well and are home with you in good time for Christmas

i had my boys at 28/29 weeks (depends who's dates you believe). they were 2lb 8 and 2lb 4 they are now nearly 4 years old and I am expecting no. 3 in February.

I went into sponatenous labour which no one to this day has explained to me. I am seeing same consultant this thursday to discuss possible prem birth with this one, so might get more answers then.

have bag packed early and have a friend on standby to come and baby sit DD, but rest as much as you can and as Mars says, drink plenty of water and there should be no reason why you don't get to 37+ weeks.

Thanks Neeerly3, funnily enough I asked a good friend today if she would be our emergency 'Phone a Friend' if I do go into labour early and need someone to look after dd until my Mum can get here (she's a couple of hours drive away.)

Your boys are gorgeous!

thank you they are rather splendid! I have a phone a friend this time as all our family are miles away and with my history, the minute I feel a twinge I will be knocking the delivery suites door in!

Hi Pollyblue
I'm 32+2 weeks with twins, and have had 2 prem labour scares at 25 and 29 weeks with severe BH Contractions. Both times they did a test (bit like a smear) which gave a good indication as to whether I was going into labour in the next 7-10 days. Both times negative (phew!)
Both mine are breech so the consultant has booked me in for elective c-section at 38 weeks, although both me and my MW are convinced I won't go that far, so I'm having to be constantly vigilant as I don't want to be too far into labour before getting to the hospital as I really don't want a general anaesthetic for the delivery.
My advice is take every bit of help on offer, go to all the classes and if they don't have a specific multiple birth session ask to go on one at a nearby hospital if possible. Join TAMBA and your local Twins Club.
We live 45 mins from my in-laws and 2.5hours from my Mum so if my Other Half is at work I've prepared myself to dial 999 if my waters break. I suggest write down a plan for yourself because if you're in a panic you might even forget your own home phone number or where you live!
Good luck

My twins were born at 38wks by planned section (T1 was breech). They were 6lb6 and 6lb2 and we were home 40hrs later (the stay was due to the section rather than the twins, who were fine).
Good luck!

Hi i had twins at 28 weeks in February, spontaneous labour with no obvious reason behind it! but a natural birth, with epidural, as the second baby breech and may have needed a c-sec, but so small he just slid out! Both fine now after a few complications 9 months old now (6 months corrected) and sitting up causing trouble. Met some amazing miracle babies ranging in birth weights from 1lb 1oz up to regular size. But as for twins i have friends that have had to be induced because they hit the 37/8 week mark! needless to say they have 2 normal (big for twins) babies!

Hi

I got to 28 weeks but it is still so rare to go into pre term labour that early on so please don't worry. Our NICU journey wasn't a walk in the park but my boys are now happy, healthy 2 1/2 year olds with no major health issues and have met all their developmental milestones. One statistic that really shocked me was that at 28 weeks there is a 98% survival rate and a 95% survival rate with no long term complications. As the weeks go by those odds get better. I was really surprised the odds were so good and it gave me lots of hope

Just one other thing. Never be worried to contact your Delivery suite if you think there may be a problem. I started loosing my mucus plug and having loads of BH at 27 weeks then started leaking amniotic fluid. Because it was picked up early they were able to give me steroids to help mature their lungs which made a big difference. Also why worry about something maybe needlessly if you can get it checked out. That's what they are there for after all

Good luck and try to enjoy your pregnancy. Chances are you'll get well past 36 weeks and everything'll be fine! xx