Twins due date question

[IAmWomxxnHereMeRoar]

Slightly odd query, but if you are expecting twins, is the due date the "normal" date it would be if a singleton, or do they reduce it as twins are always born early?

The background is I am having IVF very shortly (in a week!), and can't decide whether to have one or two eggs transferred. In theory my due date will be around 1 October for a singleton, which means I've been in my job a year and so I get generous company mat pay. If due date is less than a year, I'm on the legal minimum. If I did go for two, would the due date still be 1st October? It doesn't matter when they are born, just the due date.

It very much depends on the pregnancy. Often identical twins (one egg) will be induced early as they share a placenta.
Some of my fellow twin mothers got beyond 40 weeks as they were all healthy.
I only made it to 30 so didn't get far enough to have to worry about it.

Well it would not be identical twins if I had two transferred (and both worked of course). But my only question is due date, not actual date which a) no one knows and b) doesn't matter anyway for getting mat pay!

NHS guidance on twin pregnancy

The due date with mine was the normal due date as though I was having a singleton (my planned c section date was 3 weeks earlier though) although I only made it to 30

Due date would be the same as for a singleton, but it is likely you will deliver twins before that as you're probably aware. So you should get your full maternity pay x

Due date is the due date regardless of how many babies- they don’t develop any quicker if there’s more that one. However- most twins arrive by 38 weeks and most are induced around 37-38 weeks these days.

Wonderful! Thanks to everyone. Now I just need to get pregnant :).

Due date doesnt matter with mat pay
if they come early ur maternity pay kicks in striaght away??
if u dont qualify until 1st oct maybe that will affect it

It is your first round of IVF?

I really wouldn’t recommend putting two back. Twin pregnancies are very risky for the mother and babies and having twins is seriously hard work. I’d think carefully.

Good luck though - really hope it works x

@HermioneKipper
It's third, although my first two rounds of IVF (one transfer both time) both worked. So it's really my first try of IVF (for DC3). I'm not sure what to do, but I've always wanted twins since childhood and I've also wanted 4 kids for many years. I'm also certain this will be my last pregnancy (I'm 40). Totally not sure what to do - would have gone for one if the mat pay thing was an issue, but as it isn't........

@IAmWomxxnHereMeRoar

Speaking from experience as a twin mum, I would seriously recommend you don’t go for twins.

The pregnancy was very hard on my body at 35, I had horrific sickness that meant I was hospitalised with dehydration 4 times and have been left with diastasis recti. Which many of the other twin mums I know have also suffered with.

Especially if you have other children, I wouldn’t do it. Baby twins need so much attention, your other children will be inevitably sidelined.

Twins are wonderful but REALLY REALLY hard work.

Of course, it could go swimmingly so dont listen to me if you really want to go for twins.

Good luck whatever you do - hope it all works out