I was shocked to find out how big my boys really were. This was to be my 3rd cesarean, 2nd scheduled. My hair was done and what I could reach was shaved!
Twins and triplets often don't have a chance to reach a healthy weight before they're born. While the average single baby weighs 7 pounds at birth, the average twin weighs 5.5 pounds. Triplets typically weigh 4 pounds each, and quads weigh 3 pounds each.
Although identical twins have the same genes, they don't always look the same. This is because children's health and development are shaped not only by genes but also by experiences in the womb and after birth. For example, a twin who gets less blood from a shared placenta might weigh less at birth.
Full-term for twins is the same as full-term for singleton babies, technically: 39 weeks pregnant. But if your twins are born at 37 weeks, that's as close to actual full-term as many twins get. At that point, they have full lung maturity and should be able to leave the hospital within a few days of delivery.
A little more than half of twin pregnancies end in preterm delivery (before 37 weeks). While 40 weeks is the full gestation period of the average pregnancy, most twin pregnancies are delivered at approximately 36 weeks (range 32-38 weeks depending on the type of twin pregnancy).
The worlds heaviest twins, with an aggregate weight of 12.58 kg (27 lb 12 oz), were born to Mary Ann Haskin (USA), of Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA on 20 February 1924.
The most significant percentage of twins (49%) was observed to be delivered at 37-38 weeks, and 6% were preterm. About 60% of mothers were between 25 and 35 years of age, and in 57%, this was their first pregnancy.
If Your Twins Were Born This Week
They are in good company as many twins are born during this period. Twins born during the 36th week have an increased risk of permanent health issues but generally speaking are healthy. Twins born this week average a hospital stay (including the NICU) of about 7 days.
As expected, first-born twins had greater birth weight than second-born twins. With respect to height, first-born twins were slightly taller than second-born twins in childhood.
The average weight of twins is 2.5kg.
Depending on where they implant, one twin may get a smaller share of the placenta than the other, resulting in less blood flow and nutrition to one fetus, and more to the other. This is called unequal placental sharing. As a result, the twins may grow differently.
Both of your babies are around 17 inches long now, and weigh at least 4.5 pounds. They're the size of a large butternut squash, and they're only going to get bigger!
Furthermore, it is known that twins are more likely to be born at a lower gestational age and lower birth weight than their singleton counterparts [36].
The Reasons For Early Delivery Include:
pre-eclampsia or high blood pressure. pre-existing diabetes or gestational diabetes. genital tract infection (e.g. chlamydia, gonorrhea) bleeding from the placenta due to placenta praevia or placental abruption.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), for example, recommends delivery between 34 and 37 weeks for twins with a shared placenta and at 38 weeks for twins with separate placentas. Some other physician groups recommend delivery closer to 39 weeks with separate placentas.
Expect the whole procedure to take a few hours. Maybe two or three, with a few hours on either side for check ups and aftercare.
This difference was apparent only in nulliparous women. No statistical difference was noted in the mean length of the second stage of labor (0.8 +/- 0.5 hour for twins and 0.7 +/- 0.6 hour for singletons). Conclusion: Twin gestations have a significantly shorter first stage of labor than do singleton gestations.
"The average weight gain is 25 pounds for singleton pregnancy and 30-35 pounds for twins. We don't want moms pregnant with twins to gain more than 40 [pounds] or less than 15 pounds."
Most people gain about 35 to 50 pounds during a twin pregnancy, with about 10 additional pounds for every additional baby in a higher-order multiple pregnancy. Although the thought of gaining weight can be daunting, it's vitally important for the health of the babies, and for you also.
“Having twins is not twice as hard—it's exponentially more difficult,” says Natalie Diaz, author of What To Do When You're Having Two and CEO of Twiniversity, a global support network for parents of twins.
You can receive Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from your employer for nine months (39 weeks). Maternity leave is per pregnancy not per child, so unfortunately you get no extra for twins, triplets or more.
Drink Alcohol, Use Drugs, or Smoke. It's never advisable to drink alcohol excessively, smoke, or take drugs, whether you are pregnant or not. When you are pregnant, doing so exposes your unborn babies to toxic substances, raising their risk of birth defects and chronic illnesses.
Being pregnant with multiples doesn't necessarily mean that your pregnancy will be problematic. However, women carrying multiples do have a higher chance of developing complications such as high blood pressure and preterm labor. For this reason, all multiple pregnancies are considered high-risk.