When to deliver?

Yvonne - posted on 10/07/2009

I delivered my twins at 37 weeks 5 days by emergancy C section because I went into labour and baby a was breach. My planned C section was five days later so over 38 weeks. I think each dr is a little different and each case is different but 37-38 weeks seems to be the norm.

Karen - posted on 10/07/2009

My boys were born 10 min apart at 40 weeks, 5 days via unmedicated vag birth. Twin B had been breech until who knows when. (And one knows when a baby's hard, full-term head is sticking in one's ribs.) All were surprised when what we thought was a butt turned out to be his bald head!

Have you seen

Karen

Maggie - posted on 10/07/2009

a friend of mine just had twins, at 40 weeks...no complications, they were both 7 pounds, and nothing went wrong. she went ointo labor, but because of position, she had a csection....i say tell your doc that you will wait it out if that's what you want to do, and if it is what you want to do, then just eat small snacks, not too often, no full size meals or anything, small amounts of liquids at a time if you hit 36 weeks, just incase you end up with a csection with labor.

Arica - posted on 10/07/2009

my twin girls where born at 34weeks! Doctors say they want you to deliver a 36-38 weeks!!! I say this your body will know...just let the twins do there thing....Trust us we know its hard because you just want them out. Your doctor will know.

Katie - posted on 10/07/2009

I delivered my girls at 37 weeks. My doctor said that that is "full term" for twins and that it actually gets somewhat dangerous to leave them in there any longer. They are usually ready, and a good size by 37 weeks. My girls were 5 12 and 5 6.

Colleen - posted on 10/07/2009

I had my twins at 39 weeks/4 days (I could probably give you the minutes too!).
From day one my doctor said there was no reason I could not go to a full 40 weeks.
I also was fortunate to have a vaginal delivery...also which he said early on would be possible. I think my doctor is one of the few left that is very "old-school" though. I liked that the practice allowed me to participate in those decisions. All of the doctor's were on the same page. My boys were born VERY healthy (Thank God!) at 7'lbs 5oz. & 7lbs. 6oz. They are 15 months old now & still thriving :)
Good luck to you

Summer - posted on 09/26/2009

I had a cesarean at 38 weeks and 4 days. My doctor said that in my case since I showed no signs of labor (dilation or thinning cervix) and had no complications or health concerns she did not want to take them before 38 weeks. The only reason it was at that time is because I did not want to wait to go into labor. I had an absolutely horrible and scary labor and vaginal delivery with my first child, so I chose the cesarean with my twins. I am sure your doctor knows what he is doing, but if you are concerned ask him to try to explain things to you in terms that you can understand. Doctors know that it is hard for us to sometimes understand things so they give us vague comments like there could be complications instead of actually telling us what the complications are that they are trying to prevent from happening. I know that my doctor sent me for a stress test and an ultrasound every week from like 32 weeks until I delivered. She said especially with twins that because there is less room for each baby there is greater risk of the chord becoming entangled around a baby or of the chord getting pinched in a way so as to deprive one of them of the oxygen and nutrients they need. Also because of these things twin babies especially when the mother has a smaller frame don't always weather labor well, so maybe your dr doesn't want to take the chance of allowing you to go into labor. Those may be some of the things your doctor is concerned about, but you should definately talk to him and ask him to help you understand why he believes it is the best choice.

Joey - posted on 08/30/2009

Hi! I'm 25 wks with b/g twins and my dr told me the same thing! We went for a hi-def ultrasound and the radiologist specialist came in and told us that everything was fine and they were right where they were supposed to be and then wanted to know if we had decided on where we were going to schedule our c-section! When I told him I planned on natural he told me good luck with that as drs in ohio routinely do c/s for twins! So far the only reason anyone can give me for a c section is that I'm 36 and that there are two! I didn't have any complications now nor with my 1st and she was natural so I'm going to be very vocal about this until such time that they can say that it is better for the babies!

Toni - posted on 08/14/2009

I had my girls at 31 weeks, i naturally went into labour, my girls were both perfectly healthy. my doctor suggested delivery at 36 wks. He said any longer than that had a risk of a very complicated birth for me and very distressful for them.

Mary - posted on 08/14/2009

Hi Kara, My fraternal twins are now 14 yrs old. I went full term, had them on their due date(40 weeks). My son weighed 7lbs 6oz and my daughter weighed 6lb 15oz. I had them naturally and had no complications. My doctor had told me that twins usually come about a month early, but it is better that they stay in as long as possible. I had no complications at all. I was uncomfortable at the end, but I stuck it out. I agree with the other post, every pregnancy is different andI would just ask your doctor what are the risk that he is concerned about for you and the babies. I hope this helps. Good luck and relax.

Ruth - posted on 08/12/2009

I agree with pretty much everyone else. Your doctor should know you and your pregnancy and your babies, so should have the best plan for you. But in saying that, when I was pregnant with my boys, almost everyone in the hospital kept asking me when I was having my c-section. I wasn't planning a section, so it annoyed me that all these medical staff just assumed that would be the case (not my twin doctor though). As it was, I was induced at 38 weeks + 2 days because I was fed up. Terrible reason, but I was stuck hundreds of miles away from my 2 year old daughter and just wanted to get home after already being away for over two weeks. All went well and the birth was reasonable and we all went home after a couple of days in hospital. Ask your doctor for the reasons. My twin doctor would have let them stay in as long as possible because I had no complications, it was my second pregnancy and both were head down.

Heather - posted on 08/12/2009

I am 37wks and 3days with twins, my doctor has no plans of inducing me. I plan on delivering vaginally, Baby A is head down and Baby B is breech. He did say that if I made it to 39wks then they would schedule a C-Section because it would be to much of a risk to deliver vaginally since the babies would be bigger (that is in case they couldn't get Baby B to turn). Hope this helps.

Jocelyn - posted on 08/12/2009

I was so uncomfortable around 34 weeks and so I started talking to my doc about when we could deliver. He said since 37 weeks is considered full term for twins he would induce me then but he really didn't think I would make i. I didn't- I ended up going into labor at 36.1 weeks. They were 5 & 6.4 lbs and perfect. We all went home together.
There are a lot of things that can happen in the next few weeks. I developed gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and was verging on pre-eclmapsia all after 26 weeks so just make sure you rest as much as possible. Really your doctor only has what is best for you and the babies in mind so I would do whatever he says. Good luck and congrats!

Beth - posted on 08/12/2009

Kara- I delivered my girls at 35 weeks. My girls needed to come out early due to growth restriction (they stopped growing). I have been told that 36 weeks is considered full term for twins. If your babies weight guesstimates are high that could be a reason to deliver early. I have heard of women who are having big twins are more likely to be induced/scheduled c-section.



I agree with previous posters that if you trust your Dr. everything should be fine. If your boys are born at 36-37 weeks they might have a couple days in the NICU or they may not..it really just depends. Good luck I am sure everything will be fine! The hard part is when they are born!! haha

Cara - posted on 08/12/2009

I don't understand why your doctor would deliver the babies early unless there was some complication with the pregnancy. I delivered my boys naturally at 39 weeks +2 days, one of the boys was delivered breech. They were excellent weights, 6lb 10oz and 7lb 1oz.

Marne - posted on 08/12/2009

This sounds like a problem between general and specifics. In general staying in longer is better for the babies. Ask him what specifically there is about your pregnancy that makes him want to deliver early. In my case I was having a problem with tacchycardia which put me at very high risk for cardiac complications if I had a labor so I had a planned c-section 2 days shy of 38 weeks. Is there something in your medical history that puts you at higher risk.? It could be anything from fibroids to asthma. Find out what the specifics of his concern is if this is something you really don't feel comfortable with.

Catherine - posted on 08/11/2009

I will have a c section at 38 weeks 5 days, seems like forever!

Sarah - posted on 08/11/2009

Quoting Heather:

My twins were born at 32 weeks. When I got pregnent though he told me he would deliver me around 37-38 weeks. It depends on a lot of factors, if you trust your dotcor I would listen to your doctor, he knows the whole picture.

I agree with Heather.  If you have a good relationship with your doctor - I'd listen to them.  Every pregnancy is different.  I delivered at 32 weeks with twin girls (preeclampsia).  But my doctor had planned on delivering at 37 weeks because he didn't think my body would take any more than that.  I would expect your doctor to take every precaution to make sure your boys are strong enough to deliver.  They tests they can run these days are amazing.  My girls were born very early, but very healthy. Good luck and trust it will all work out!  You have such an adventure to look forward to.

Dawn - posted on 08/11/2009

My doc said that he would let nature take it course, that the boys needed to stay in the tummy long as possible. He also said "You'll probably deliver before 38 weeks" and he was right, I went into labor at 36 weeks, I was blessed with a quick labor for that pregnancy :) the one before it was horrendous lol

Dana - posted on 08/11/2009

my doctor told me after 37 weeks it can be more risky for the babies. i delivered at 36wks 4 days and my kids were 100% healthy.

Heather - posted on 08/11/2009

My twins were born at 32 weeks. When I got pregnent though he told me he would deliver me around 37-38 weeks. It depends on a lot of factors, if you trust your dotcor I would listen to your doctor, he knows the whole picture.