Is there an 'average' for what week twins are born in?

[Amberc]

Hi all, very early days for me but I am fairly sure that it is unusual for twins to go full term (due to lack of space!) and wondered if there was a 'usual' number of weeks that you could expect to get to? We have no family to help us and a DS aged 2 so trying to think of what we'll do when the time comes and have a plan!!

Not sure about an average but I do know three women whose twins went full term.

I think a lot of them are booked in for automatic c-sections at 39 weeks. This probably skews the stats a bit.

I'd have my mind set at 37-38 weeks, which is technically full term, unless there's a problem like pre-eclampsia or TTTS, which will probably mean an earlier induction.

Ah - just read on 'twinsonline' that it's usually 37 weeks.

My twins are now 6 and I had to beg my consultant to induce me at 38 weeks (she wouldn't do it beforehand). The lead twin was head down and there was no medical need for a c-section so they induced me and let me get on with it.

I think that if there is a medical reason they might deliver early but if you don't have any problems, they'll leave well alone.

Try not to worry about the birth. Enjoy your time with them on the inside as it gets a bit hectic when they come out. Having said that, you'll be told some horrendous stories about twin births so to try to balance it out ...

My boys were 38 weeks (just). I was induced (drip) and confined to the bed (because no head was engaged) from about 9:30 in the morning. The contractions were fine and I managed OK with no pain relief. I suddenly needed some gas and air because things were starting to get a bit sore and when they checked I was pushing (involutarily). I had a lot of gas and air but nothing else. My first twin was born at 4.26 weighing 6lb 6.5oz and the second was born at 4.41 weighing 6lb 5.5oz. We came home from hospital the next day.

I'd recommend taking arnica tablets (from the healthfood shop) as I'm sure it helped the healing process enormously.

Good luck. You'll be fine.

Hi amberc, Another one here expecting twins. I'm 17+4 at the moment.

My consultant talked in terms of 38 weeks for inducing and I know of 2 ladies who were induced at 38+2 with their twins at the same hospital. Neither needed c-sections. He was wonderfully optimistic about a vaginal delivery , provided postioning is right for it, and despite the fact I had a third degree tear with DS2. I just hope I can get to 38 weeks!

Its not the birth that I'm worried about. Its the afterwards!!!!

I was just over 38 weeks, no talk of induction at my hospital, one lady went to 41 weeks! I had the joy of a combi delivery (1st twin normal 2nd twin crash c section) but thankfully it's rare (5%).

35+6 for mine.

35+5 when my waters broke. Had a section the following day (contractions never started). Was booked for a section at 38+4 anyway. Consultant wouldn't consider induction or section before 38 weeks. Section was because twin 1 was breech.

I was also interested about when to expect twins and found an old thread about it asking when most peoples twins arrived - I wrote them all down and calculated that 37 weeks was the norm (that included planned sections and inductions as well as a few really preterm babies)

Good luck

Thanks everyone! My problem is that we have to find someone to look after my DS when I go into labour (spontanteously or otherwise). Maybe a planned induction or c section would be better as at least I have a date but if things just happen naturally we are screwed. Me = no parents/rellies, DP = mum and sister in USA, Dad in Spain! Interesting to read about the deliveries too. Ideally I wouldn't have a c-section as again with no help and a 2 year old, getting over the op and trying to look after 3 little ones would be a bleeding nightmare!! Was hard enough with one last time!! Hey ho - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

Amberc-maybe consider a doula to be with you for the birth and have your DP watch DS. If you end up with a c-section (which is quite likely) then he might not be able to watch anyway.

Like Gibbering I went through an old thread when I was expecting my dts and as well as 37 weeks being average, there was also a roughly half split on c-sections (planned and emergency) and vaginal delivery so a c-section isn't "quite likely". Mine were born naturally at 35+6 with no problems.

Your DP also only couldn't be with you if it was an emergency carried out under general anaesthetic. I would agree with Forever that a doula might be a good idea for afterwards at least if you have no family around. I had one and she was fab at looking after me and keeping dd1 who was 2.9 entertained as well as stuff for the babies.

mine were induced at 35 weeks (one was not growing). The labour (including induction) was about 24 hours. I can't honestly remember who had DS1 then (he was 18 months) - must have been with my mum at our home - because DH was with me.

I don't think you can really plan for a given time - just think in terms of anytime from about 26 weeks on to official due date. You will be able to gauge it better as you get further along - you will know if you have any developing problems that may mean induction - which at least will be scheduled.

Have you any friends who could have DS ? If not - then I think you have to plan on DS being with DH and work out who goes with you. Not the ideal scenario for you - but DS has to come first.

by the way - second time around with newborns is easier. So whilst it will be harder with 2 - it won't be twice as hard as last time (if you see what I mean) - because you know what you are doing and have more confidence. And DS1 will be getting more independent and more able to play on his own sometimes, and even help fetching and carrying for you.

My ds1 is 18 months older than my twins - he was a great "help" switching on the music on the electric swinging cradle thing we borrowed. He loved it and would dance to the music (it drove me nuts). Regardless of the noise (and the fact that is took up a lot of space) borrowing that was a god send - one twin would often settle in there while I dealt with the other one - which avoided having to cope with one yelling while you were busy with the other one.

Thanks everyone! Great advice!

Hi Amberc, mine were born at 39+1 with EMCS after 8 hours of labour.Just wanted to say completely agree with the swinging chair-we got a second hand one very cheap, one of the best things we bought!Dont be fooled by "the lack of space"-just as i thought surely i wont get any bigger i did, last measure of my tummy at 37 weeks was 50 inches!!

Hi Amberc,
I am also expecting twins and have found the TAMBA Multiple Pregnancy Guide very useful, which you can download here. It has a whole section on what to expect during the birth, depending on whether you end up with natural or c-section. It also has more aggregate info on when twins are likely to be born: 0.7% before 27 weeks, 10.2% bet 27-32 wks, 46.2% bet 32-37 wks, and 42.8% over 37 weeks. I hope that is helpful for your planning!

Hi Amberc, I had mine induced at 38 + 2. I was enormous and quite uncomfortable by then but it was a fairly straightforward pregnancy and birth (my first). We had a twins antenatal class at the hospital and they said that it wasn't much harder giving birth to twins than a singleton as once the exit was open it was open if that makes sense! Obviously some people have v hard experiences but I think there is some truth in this and you won't necessarily have a difficult birth. Good luck!

Hi
I am 32 weeks pregnant with identical twins.
At our hospital it is normal to deliver identical twins at 37 weeks. My consultant told me that as they share a placenta they prefer them to be delivered then as the babies are fully developed. As far as I understand one placenta has to work fairly hard to support 2 babies.

If I was having non-identical twins who had a placenta each I would be able to go to 40 weeks.

Of course all of the above depends on the development of the babies, I am scanned every other week to check their equal growth as they share the placenta. I guess they will deliver earlier than 37 weeks if there are any concerns.
Hope that helps!

Non-identical I was 39 weeks (induction) -was desperate for them to be OUT by then!

DS1 (singleton) was born at 37 weeks in 36 hours with a huge tear (8lb) and 3 litre haemorrhage.

Was really anxious and scared for entire twin pregnancy, but 18 months later my non ID twins were born naturally at 35 weeks in 4 hours (5lb & 5.5lb). No problems. Another tear, but no big deal.

Had begged consultant for planned section at 37 weeks as was sure they would come early as per DS1 - it was flatly refused. Section was planned for 38 weeks but didn't need it in the end.

Good luck with everything