Twins - 37 weeks??

[Expectingtwins1975]

Question for all you ladies having/had twins - during your antenatal appts, have you been given an indication of when they will induce you if not already gone into labour. My booking appt was with a student midwife and she insisted that I wouldn't be induced until 39 weeks - but all the books I've read suggest that it's unusual to go past 37 weeks - and that the womb stops working adequately at 38 weeks??? Confused!

i was induced at 38 weeks if that helps, after a scan showed what you just said.

At one of my appointments someone, I can't remember who, suggested that I would be induced or have an esc by 38 weeks.
I think that gets put off if they are very busy on the labour ward.
I didn't get that far so don't know.
When are you due ?
It's really exciting stuff, my 2 are 3 now and I miss having 2 snuggled up babies on my chest.

I had mine at 38 weeks, went into labour naturally. A friend was begging to be induced with hers at 40 weeks! I had regular scans where they checked the blood flow in the cords- that's the best way to tell if the placentas are still working properly. If not, they will induce. If they are working well I don't think there is usually a need to induce early.

Mine are ID twins, so the hospital policy where I was, was elective C section at 36 weeks. I actually suggested we wait until 37 weeks and consultant said no (I didn't mind, was just suggesting).

Thanks for yor replies - my odd is 4 July but was expecting them to come before this.

Are they non- identical? I assume so. I never got a clear indication of when they would induce me, but had mine (identical) at 35 weeks so maybe never got that far. You should be being scanned regularly and if there is any indication of placenta not working or growth slowing you will be induced. Congratulations on being 37 weeks pregnant with twins - its hard work. And good luck for the birth - it rerally won't be long now.

Mine are ID and were born by ELCS at 37 weeks.

I had my section at 38+6! Word of warning, if you have your consultant appt in the district (rather than in hospital) then make sure your last one is early in your 36th week. I was seen at my last appt at 37+3 and so they called up the hospital to book me in And I had to wait til almost 39 weeks for a slot as all other slots were booked up in my busy teaching hospital. It wasn't ideal and that last week was v v v hard.

I had mine at 37+6, elective cs. They're 21 months now. The placentae can become less effective after 38 weeks, but not always. I struggled hugely at the end, my dd was only 18 months when the boys were born, so active toddler plus the twin pg was very, very hard. But it was worth it for two big healthy babies (5lb10& 6lb9!) .

I had mine at 37+6, elective cs. They're 21 months now. The placentae can become less effective after 38 weeks, but not always. I struggled hugely at the end, my dd was only 18 months when the boys were born, so active toddler plus the twin pg was very, very hard. But it was worth it for two big healthy babies (5lb10& 6lb9!) .

I had mine at 37+6, elective cs. They're 21 months now. The placentae can become less effective after 38 weeks, but not always. I struggled hugely at the end, my dd was only 18 months when the boys were born, so active toddler plus the twin pg was very, very hard. But it was worth it for two big healthy babies (5lb10& 6lb9!) .

C section booked for 38+0, babies born by EMCS at 34+5.

Thanks ... Think I've been over estimating how early they might arrive - was (wrongly) assuming 37 weeks at the latest ..... Might have to rethink the date I start ML and put it back a couple of weeks.

I guess in the end they pretty much will come when they want to anyway.

My consultant was happy to let me go to term initially but a scan at 38 weeks indicated that twin a (dtg) had stopped growing so she booked an induction at 39 weeks - I ended up going into labour 2 days before the induction though and it only lasted 4 hours so all was good.

I had an ELCS at 38+1 due to breech babies. If I hadn't planned the CS then is have been left to go in to labour naturally. I suspect the midwives and consultant would have got twitchy at 40 weeks, but there was no talk if inducing early without a good reason :)

Nice guidelines say

37 weeks for DCDA twins
36 weeks for MCDA twins
34 weeks for MCMA twins

DFs non identical twins IVF were induced on her due date, they were both heavier at well over 7lb than my two 6+ 39 week singletons.

They are 17 so rules have probably changed (she wouldn't have had two embryos first cycle now I suspect, which is a weird thought as they are both lovely. It's impossible to imagine one without the other.)

They still do 2 embryos Nocomet - mines were ivf first cycle - they pushed to put back 2 embryos. I only had 2 viable embryos so I think they figured they might as well put both back in.

Thanks again for replies - has been really interesting to hear other people's experience ... I don't actually know anyone who has had twins so completely no clue what to expect

If it helps my consultant has said we will discuss birth plan at 28 weeks (I am 26 weeks now) but has intimated that I will be induced at 38 weeks. I start my maternity leave at 34 weeks (although leave at 30 weeks due to holiday). All the advice I read suggested around 30 weeks, particularly if you commute or have other children to look after (I have a 3 year old). This is partly due to risk of early labour but also energy levels. I have to say I can't wait to finish as I'm exhausted! But mat leave is a very personal decision and some will and have gone on much longer without any problems.
Finally if you haven't found it already do check out the tamba website. Loads of useful info plus they offer workshops etc. Their short Practical Parenting Seminar is only £5 per person. See www.tamba.org.uk/. If you join they also offer discounts e.g. Clarks, Jojo Maman Bebe etc

My friend who had twins and was induced at 38weeks

Lots of hard work in the early days and lots of joy to follow, if DFs two are anything to go by.

And good luck

Thanks :) am booked onto the tamba practical parenting course end of the month

Twins are awesome . Bloody hard work, you'll most likely not remember the first 6 months too well
You don't get a second for yourself so anything you need doing in the next year do now!!

It's also the most amazing experience - I can't describe the feeling of holding 2 babies in your arms or seeing the 2 of them snuggled up together.

Mine are 20 months, they communicate in a way only they understand, they kiss & cuddle each other, play wrestle (which mainly involves rolling on the floor giggling), they hold hands in their pushchair and comfort one another. Their bond is incredible and it's a complete privilege to bear witness to it so when you are surviving on snatched snippets of sleep and feel like a zombie just remember it doesn't last forever!