Hi Ladies,

Can those of you who went to "full term" with twins and had a planned Caesar (as opposed to an emergency one) can you please tell me at what gestation you had yours booked for?

My OB told me yesterday that they consider "full term" for twins to be 38 weeks and thus they would be doing the Caesar at 37 weeks.

Does this sound "normal"? As much as I cant imagine how big and uncomfortable I will be at that stage, I would like to keep them in there as long as possible. On the other hand, with this funky growth in my cervix blocking the way I also understand the risks of going into labour naturally and the consequences of the babies not being able to get out.

At what stage did you have your planned Caesar?

Thanks!

Mine was booked for 37 + 4. I probably could have argued the point of trying to wait till 38 weeks or so, but I wasn't very edumacated during my pregnancy and was very trusting of my OB. And it was only a couple of days, which at an earlier gestation would have made all the difference, but at that stage I didnt feel it was too much of a problem.

The girls had other plans anyway, and had a punch up at 11pm smack on 37 weeks, and my waters broke. They were born the next day (c-section) at about 5am.

Babies were fine except Jules was low birth weight (not dramatically though) and could have done with some help feeding, but the hospital didnt seem to think so. Otherwise perfectly fine healthy babies.

I was booked in for a planned CS from the start at 37+2. Could have been 37+6 if I'd chosen the other day that the hospital booked in caesars. I made it to the date with not one BH or false alarm or anything. I think they might still be in there 4 years later if we hadn't evicted them! They seemed very settled!

No problems with either baby here either.

I had my planned C-section at 37+5wks, they wanted them out asap as I had developed Obstetric Cholestasis, I could have gotten further into the pregnancy if I had wanted but it was safer to get them out asap.

My ceasar was booked for 38 weeks but my waters broke at 37 weeks 4 days (at 1am!) so they did a caesar the next morning at 6am. They were 2.5kg each which is a decent weight for twins, must have been all that KFC I was eating

38+1.

I cried at the obs office at 37 weeks and said please please take them out now. His response was that if he took them out earlier than that, then if something untoward happened, he would feel responsible, and he said I would feel guilty too.

IME he booked the date based on the fact that I made it to 39+4 with DD. 38 weeks is what he considered to be full term for twins.

Am glad I waited, it wasnt that bad, looking back now. And they came out 2.9 and 3.1kgs, into my arms and able to breastfeed - no complications. It was the perfect birth experience!

37 weeks. All good home by day 5.

Many Obs are leaving it until 38 weeks now because of the associated issues with 37 week newborns. MOST are fine but some have lung maturity issues and require oxygen for a day or two and it's fairly common for them to be slow, sleepy breastfeeders, some with an uncoordinated suck reflex. It's nothing that can't be fixed and the breastfeeding stuff usually sorts itself out within a week or two. If it happens it just makes the whole breastfeeding thing a bit more work until they get it.

There isn't any good evidence to prove that twins mature any quicker than singletons. That week can make a big difference to your babies. One of the issues for the hospital is the chances of you going into spontaneous labour and having to have an emergency caesar in the middle of the night. They are well prepared for this happening as it happens all the time but they do prefer planned caesars to happen when they plan them. 50% of twins come before 37 weeks so there is good chance of this happening. However, when babies come into the world after labour has started they are a little more prepared for life outside than they are if a cold caesar is done.

If you're concerned about a 37 week planned delivery then have a look at some information online and then take it back and discuss it with your Ob. Hopefully you can come to an agreement that you're both happy with. Of course other complications may take this completely off track between now and then but I understand that you do have to have a plan in place.




Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Jul;195(1):172-7. Epub 2006 Mar 30.

Neonatal mortality and morbidity rates in term twins with advancing gestational age.
Soucie JE, Yang Q, Wen SW, Fung Kee Fung K, Walker M.
OMNI Research Group, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study carried out with 60,443 twin pairs from the United States (1995-1997). Analysis was restricted to pregnancies that had reached at least 37 weeks of gestation;


RESULTS: The neonatal mortality rate increased significantly after 40 weeks of gestation (twin A: odds ratio, 3.47 [95% CI, 2.29, 5.38]; twin B, odds ratio, 2.52 [95% CI, 1.75, 3.67]). There was also an increased risk of neonatal morbidity in the > or = 40 weeks of gestation group for twin A and B (Apgar score, < or = 3; odds ratio, 1.88 [95% CI, 1.18, 3.02], 1.74 [95% CI, 1.21, 2.52], respectively). There was a decreased risk of assisted ventilation in the 38 and 39 weeks of gestation group for twin A (odds ratio, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.77, 0.97], odds ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.72, 0.95], respectively) and a decreased risk in the 39 and > or= 40 weeks of gestation groups for twin B (assisted ventilation: odds ratio,
0.83 [95% CI, 0.73, 0.93], odds ratio, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.72, 0.92], respectively).
CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the optimal date of delivery for twins should be <40 weeks of gestation; there was no compelling evidence for delivering at <38 weeks of gestation.

37+2 here - ob considered 38wks term too. could have gone to 37+5 but it was good friday hence no elective surgery. boys were 2.65 and 2.95kgs. by the end i was so huge that i was happy to get them out.

I was booked in at 37 + 1 weeks and I was so damn glad to get my twin girls out (3.4kg and 3.76kg). I was huge at the end, considering I have a medium athletic size 10 - 12 build. Had only minor issues with feeding - they were tube fed for the first few days and twin1 needed a bit of oxygen to get her going, but otherwise all good. I thought it may have been a little bit early, but I had a steroid injections and lots of scans, so they were pretty sure the twins would be alright. I don't think I could have lasted much longer being so pregnant. It was awefully uncomfortable at the end - sorry, but it is the truth for me.

Throughout my pregnancy I was advised to be induced by 38wks if I hadn't given birth before then but I always thought I would just go with the flow and let them come out naturally. By the end though if the doctor had advised me to be induced earlier I would have said a big Thank You as I was so big and uncomfortable. In the end I got to 38 weeks.

38 wks is considered term so a C/s at 37 weeks would not be too early

Thanks everyone.

It sounds like 37 weeks is an OKish time, but I would still prefer 38 if possible. (Feel free to remind me of this when I am huge and complaining that I just want them out now!!!). In my mind thats still "three weeks early", even if they say that 38 weeks is "full term" with twins. I think I will re-discuss this with my OB at the next visit and see if I can push it out at least by a few days. My reasons are as per FW post re lung issues and breast feeding etc. My next appointment isn't for three weeks, so I have a bit of time to do some research. Anyway - 37 weeks falls on a Saturday, so I will at least ask for the Monday. I really don't want the babies born on a Friday so I am in hospital on Sat/Sun. If the babies come on a Monday then I wont have as many visitors!! I'm already planning on asking friends to not come in, and only have family, but if its a Monday then that will make it easier for me!!

Another question I have for you is did you have an epidural or a spinal? I was asking about epidurals in the "Birth" section and until then I didn't actually realise that there was a difference between the two!!! Anyway, I asked the OB yesterday if they use an epi or a spinal and he replied "Both". His reasoning was that a spinal only lasts 3 hours and if there was an issue and they needed more time (yikes!!) then they could just top the epidural up.

Did anyone have both an epi and a spinal with their caesar? Thanks.

I had the epi and loved it, they left it in for 48hrs and it allowed me to control my own pain relief.

my sister has had both and she preferred the spinal.

I had my girls at 38+2.

I can't help with the epidural/spinal as I had a general due to major anxiety issues with needles.

Booked for 38 weeks on the dot. Ended up having non emergency emergency CS at 37+6 as waters had ruptured probably the day or so before (I hadn't known what it was and got it checked out while getting bloods done at hospital in prep for CS - caught a bus there). No paed care required for bubs.

I have to say I agree by then I was OVER being pregnant, but I would have waited it out if needed.

I am pretty sure I had both - I was pretty foggy the next few days, but that was sleep dep as much as anything. It was painful going in, but otherwise it was the least of my concerns/thoughts. I had a bit of recovery time after the CS as I lost a bit of blood, that was prob the worst bit of it all.

37+6 - 135cm or so around (I'm 164cm tall)

I was booked in at 38 weeks + 4 days (made it a Monday). With my son I was induced at 41 weeks and ended up with an emergency caesar after he presented brow and became stuck. So with the girls both being breech as well, I was always going to be a planned caesar. I remember hoping too it would be an earlier delivery, but I know they wanted me to get to at least 38 weeks.

ETA - I also had gestational diabetes both times, with my singleton I was able to control it with diet and with the twins I was mostly able to control it with my diet, but just needed to have insulin in the mornings. So even with GD the doctors were still happy to let me go out to 38 + 4.

The girls were 2.7kg & 2.9kg, born 1 minute apart. Just needed to have their temps brought up, which was done in our room.

I did have a spinal, which was great throughout. But because of my age and worn cartilage in my lower back they had an awful time getting it in. I was worried they were going to change their minds and make it a general.

Mine were delivered by elective c section at 38+1. 2.4 and 2.6kgs. Both to special care for oxygen therapy and warming. Twin 1 had 1 day in humidicrib. Twin 2 had 2 days as she had TTP (wet lung). The professor looking after their birth said they showed premmie tendencies so perhaps my dates were a little off. He said he'd put them at the equivalent of 37 weekers.

I never expected "full term" twins to require care so was suprised. We were a week in hospital. They breastfed well but were very tired and took along time to feed and put on some fat.. My Sister had a baby on Saturday, 41 weeks gestation weighed 4.3 kgs. The difference is truly incredible!!!!

I'd be pushing to go past the 37weeks if it was me.

I had a spinal with no dramas. Did not like being stuck in my room and bubs both being in the nursery afterwards though.

I can't say I was over the pregnancy. Think I was more anxious of going into labour every 5 minutes as EVERYONE kept telling me how twins always come early.. In reality most of my friends that have twins all went to 38 weeks +.

Good luck..

Hi there
I may have you confused with someone else but from memory you are on Clexane injections. If this is the case and like me you are on them for the duration of your pregnancy you may find it reduces the options for anesthesia during the Caesar. With my twins I was booked for 37 weeks (however they had different ideas) and my singleton was booked for 38.2.
With the both I had generals which I was fine with. With both times I was advised that due to the blood thinning actions of the clexane that Epis were not an option and that if I had weaned off the cleaxne I could have a Spinal depending on how the anethesist felt on the day. In both cases I opted for the general as there was still risks with the spinal.

I was booked in for 37 weeks much to my OBS disgust ( was my choice) they kept telling me what a horrible thing I was doing and that I should book iit in for at least 38.

Turns out I ended up going 36+3 emergency but I had had the steroids for their lungs.. they ended up having premmie problems anyways even tho they were both 3kilos and that far along.

hi am currently 29wks+5days and i am booked in to have a ceaser at 38wks as they are currently breech.. i am the same as you i am already very big and very uncomfortable and cant imagine how big i will be by 38wks but know the longer they are in there the better there chances of being healthier are... but at the same time wish they would take them a little earlier for the sanity of my body..

I don't belong here but saw it in current topics and wanted to say that at our place elective C/S for twins if there are no complications are generally 38 weeks for the reasons FW has described.-----I'd try and negotiate a couple more days but appreciate that it is a hard slog at this gestation.
Good luck

Hello!

I had my gorgeous boy &girl last week at 37w and 5d. Boy weighed 6p 13o and our little girl weighed 6p5o. Our son required oxygen for a few minutes but both went strait back to my room with me and stayed there until we came home on Tuesday. They are PERFECT!!

Good luck! It is sooooooooooo worth it

Ellie

I am booked in for 38+1, but with 4 weeks still to go, who knows what will happen.

I am just feeling so much better that I am not the only one who thinks that if they were offered earlier they would take it because they are so uncomfortable and over the pregnancy.

I know all the advantages and will wait it out, but some days are harder than others.

I was booked in for 38 weeks, bawled my eyes out so they changed it to 37weeks. 2 days later my waters ruptured and they were born vaginally at 35+2.

I was booked in for 38+5 but by the time I got to the end I would have gladly gone in earlier. The whole way through my pg the OB said he would deliver at around 37weeks so when I got to that and he wanted to wait longer I was so upset and disappointed. In hindsight it was the right thing to do but at the time I was so uncomfortable and tired and I was insluin injection 3 times a day for gestational diabetes. In the end, both were born healthy however so the OB obviously new what he was doing. The only problem the twins had was that one had a touch of jaundice and needed to be under lights for 24hrs.

mine were born via c/s at 38+2 weighing 2960g and 3535g

Without complications, I would push to 39 weeks with twins (scans showed that twin A for me had stopped growing).

I also had a spinal, was up and about the next morning and went home that evening

I was booked in for my c/s at 37 + 1 weeks. One of the twins' growth had been slowing down so my OB thought this was the best time for them to come out. We both were happy to see if I could get further along but the growth issue brought it forward.

I really could have kept going - I got to nearly 41 weeks with my first child and piled on a heap of weight. I think my body was primed to carry twins for as long as possible! I had Gestational Diabetes and controlled it with diet. I ended up losing a bit of weight but also having to stick with low GI foods meant I had huge amounts of energy! I felt fantastic!

Goodluck with your pregnancy!

38 weeks for me Seems like a lifetime ago! No complications whatsoever. All the best!

My twins were born by planned caesarian at 38 weeks (give or take a day).

Csection was booked for 37+4 but due to the fact my pre eclampsia was getting worse and worse they were delivered at 36+6.

That was only after a growth scan and it showed they were a good healthy weight
DS1 was 3.6kg
DS2 was 3kg

Me 5 days prior to them being evicted

38 + 4 here..... Had a spinal..... 7lb and 6lb 13oz....

Thanks everyone.

I'm now 31 weeks

Next scan/OB appointment is on Wednesday, so I'm hoping to get some "definite" answers. (Well - as 'definite' as they can give me!). Sounds like a lot of people did make it to 38 weeks, so I will push for that.



Miss*Nemo - Love the belly photo!!!

Awesome news Puddycat! Would love to meet up when they are here and you are upto it! Not long to go! Enjoy your sleep now!!

Puddycat, just wanted to say that these are YOUR babies, and if you would like them born at 38 (or 39) weeks, you have every right to do that. OBs can tell you what they 'want' you to do, but it doesn't mean you have to do it!

If your babies are happy and healthy in there, I can see no reason for them pushing for an early delivery. (It just seems to be "standard practice" now along with so many other things.) I know I will be waiting to go into labour if I have to have a CS. At least you know the babies are ready then.

Women have such different gestation periods in a single pregnancy, I can't see why it would be any different for a twin pregnancy (if they are given the chance to come when they want to) Just my 2cents worth

I have to say that in my case I agree with Bec. My boys were induced at 38w to the day. They were 5lb9oz each and spent over 2 weeks in the SCN - one needing CPAP then both having trouble regulating temp and feeding. But, as you can see from replies here, every baby is different.

They are happy healthy boys now, and never had any major issues, but I often wonder if I should have agreed to the induction at 38w or not. I suppose I'll never know if the outcome would have been any different had I gone further. I also had an easy pregnancy and felt great near the end, so maybe I would have felt differently on the issue had I been uncomfortable and over it.

I think I just wish I was more prepared for the possibility of the boys not being with me after birth. As Bec said above, I considered 38w pretty much full term and just didn't envisage any complications or that my babies would require any extra care. So if it was me, yes, I would be pushing for closer to 38w at least.


Good luck! Not long til you will be meeting your beautiful babies!

Aww thanks Puddycat.
I can tell you by that stage I well and truly just wanted them out! lol
Good luck