Hi All

I am 32 weeks today with our twins. Two weeks ago we had a growth check scan and was told by the sonographer that both babies appear normal however are only small babies. A checkup with my OB last week gave us the same results. He said we are expecting only small babies.

Every new person I meet once told I am expecting twins tells me that I cant possibly be having twins "I'm not big enough". I have two friends both 34 weeks pregnant that are the same size as me.

My OB seems to think because they are small they should be able to stay put and keep growing for a while. I am a little concerned at how small is small. Does anyone know if born at around 36 weeks but being on the smaller side, would they need help breathing, feeding etc.

Just starting to get really nervous now about when we will meet our new babies, have been having dreams for weeks about different scenarios, ie. last night DP missed the C section altogether and wasnt there when they were born.

Sorry to ramble but am anxious to meet our new babies and just hate not knowing when exactly they will come. Have just reread the "How many weeks gestation did you get to" thread. Seems an average is around 34-35 weeks.

At least we are 120% organised and ready for the babies to come......

Dear Megansmum

I'm sure everything will be fine...if your dr was at all concerned that your babies weren't "big enough" they would intervene...you still have quite a bit of growing time left. My girls born at 33 weeks (and 4 days) required very little help to get going, a little oxygen for the first few hours and lots of warmth, the main issue was to get them sucking for feeding, and this generally kicks in at about 36 weeks. Also to gain weight. But they did everything they were supposed to do when they were supposed to do it and we took them home after 4 weeks.

I didn't look much bigger than I did at full term with my first baby, but both girls were a good size for the gestation, even the midwives couldn't get over how the two had fit in me!!!!! They even rechecked birth weights because they thought they might have made a mistake!

As long as they are still growing and developing things will be fine...if you are at all concerned ask your dr. Ask them to explain what will happen if the babies are small, but alot will depend on how far you get. Twins don't fit into the "norm" for anything, which my dr was very good at explaining when talking about sizes and gestation. He said each week is a bonus!

All the best...and keep us posted with your progress!

Sharyn
Mum to Meg14/4/99
Hannah & Josie 22/3/04 (33 wks)
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Smile... and the world smiles with you!

Don't worry too much what people say, while pg with the twins I was told alot by strangers that I look small to be carrying twins, then there were alot that said that I was huge.

Small doesn't say much...so long as all their vitals are good, eg organs etc. In saying that, my girls where delivered at 35w5d and were 1870g & 2360g and were kept in SCN coz they were under 2.5kg but wasn't on oxygen. They were in a warmed cot coz they didn't have alot of fat.

Just take things as easy as possible, I know you must be feeling anxious atm, and don't worry so much what others say. So you will be holding 2 beautiful bubs in your arms.

Take care.

Jodie
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Hi - I have 10 1/2 week old twins - born at 36 weeks on Christmas Eve. I had my last u/s at 32 weeks, and the predicted weights were 1.9kg for my boy, and 2kg for my girl. When they were born they weighed 2.1kg for my boy (he stopping growing soon after that u/s) and 2.5kg for my girl. My girl only had feeding difficulties. My boy coped it all, breathing issues - although this only lasted a day or so, he then couldn't tolerate his feeds, so was on a drip for a day or two, and then he got jaundice. Emma was 100% tube fed for about 6 days, then we gradually introduced bottles/breast - she ended up being 100% bottle fed after about 12 days. Brandon was 100% tube fed for about 10 days, then we gradually introduced bottles and he ended up being 100% bottlefed after 17 days. They then came home after 20 days. Emma gained about half a kilo in hospital, whereas Brandon wasn't quite back to his birth weight when he came home.

Hi there

These comments sound so familiar. I was always told that I couldnt possible have two babies in there. My twins were born at 35.4 weeks and weighed 2.485 kgs and 3.107. Summer (my small bub) didnt need any help with breathing and was just tube fed my breastmilk until she was four days, them totally breastfed after that. Taylor needed a little help with cpap breathing and started proper feeding at one week.

A little tip for the feeding the bubs when they are in SCN. One clever twin mum told me to start expressing some colostrum (the essential and best part of breastmilk) at about 32 weeks. I use to put about 20mls in small bags and freeze it. When I went to the hospital to have the twins, we took it with us and put it in the freezer in NICU and SCN. The nurses then had my milk to feed the babies instead of having to give them formula which I so wanted to avoid. They never needed any formula because by the time I had used up the supply in the freezer, my own milk came in. The nursing staff were very impressed and so were we at the twins only ever having my breastmilk.

Hi,

I would not be concerned. My twins were born at 34 weeks and were low birth weight, Chelsea weighed 1400 grams and Dylan 1700 grams. They went straight into SCN into humidicribs. They were in humidicribs for a week and then spent another 2.5 weeks in the SCN in bassinets before being allowed to come home.

Before the OB delivered my twins I was given an injection to help develop the babies lungs. My twins only needed oxygen for about half a day and then the main concern was getting them to be able to maintain their own body temperature and getting them to learn to suck which generally does not occur until 36 weeks. They just turned 6 months old and are doing fine and are healthy weights. Chelsea is now 6kg and Dylan 6.8kg.

If your OB thought there was any reason to be concerned they would do something about it. Good luck and try not to worry. Get plenty of rest before your babies arrive.
Jodie

Jodie (31) mum to Dylan and Chelsea born 7/9/04.

Thankyou all so much for your reassuring replies. I appreciate it.

I am just getting very nervous, we are counting our blessings that all things have gone well so far and the bubs appear perfectly healthy, I have been reading babies born early and the twins threads to get as much info as possible

So it is fantastic to have all of these "experienced" multiples mums to help us "newcomers" out. Thanks again.

Hi
I wasn't overly big either for carrying twins both my single pregs was bigger.I carried the twins to 40 wks exactly(with dr's,family and friends telling me from 34wks onward that they would be here soon)they had other ideas to cosy.
My DD weighed 6pd 11oz
DS weighed 7pd
So for their weight I was quite acheiver

Ness (27)
DH (32)
DS (15-10-99)
DS (03-08-01)
DD (30-06-04)
DS (30-06-04)