Premature Birth One of the reasons multiple pregnancies are considered higher risk is because 50 percent of them deliver prematurely. A premature delivery occurs prior to 37 weeks of gestation, while a normal full-term pregnancy lasts 38 to 42 weeks.
While most multiple pregnancies are healthy and result in healthy babies, there are more risks to be aware of when you're pregnant with 2 or more babies. If you're pregnant with more than 1 baby, you're at higher risk of pregnancy complications, such as iron deficiency anaemia and pre-eclampsia.
Additionally, when your babies share a placenta, there is a greater risk for complications, such as twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Your physician will closely monitor your pregnancy to check for potential problems. One placenta and one amniotic sac. This is the riskiest and rarest type of twin pregnancy.
Identical twins share the same placenta, which may make the risk of cerebral palsy greater when there are complications, such as one twin dying in the womb.
The hardest thing about having twins is...
“Managing the movement of two babies. Carrying them both up and down the stairs, getting them into the car, etc.” —Simeon R. “Often having to make one baby wait!” —Catharine D. “Being outnumbered—the logistics of two on one is definitely the hardest.
The chance of a twin miscarriage that affects both babies is around 5 to 10 percent, says Robin Kalish, MD, FACOG, a specialist in high-risk pregnancies.
While there are risks associated with all twin pregnancies, dizygotic (fraternal) twin pregnancies usually bring about the least amount of complications, carrying the lowest risk of all types of twins. Worse complications are possible with monozygotic (identical) twins because the embryo is dividing.
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.
Most twins are born healthy. A twin pregnancy can mean a higher chance of health complications so you'll need extra check-ups. Twins that share a placenta or inner sac need to be checked more closely. It's good to know whether twins are fraternal or identical for health reasons later in life.
Mums-to-be of twins usually start their maternity leave at 26 weeks. But it will also depend on your health, how well your pregnancy is going, and the type of work you do. Talk to your line manager or HR department if you need to leave earlier than 26 weeks, if, for example, you have complications with your pregnancy.
"One of the things that is postulated as causing morning sickness is high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin, and we know that levels of this hormone are higher in twin pregnancies, so women carrying twins have a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting in the first trimester," says Al-Khan.
Some doctors will prescribe a level of bedrest to women pregnant with multiples after 24 weeks to help control the risks surrounding preterm labour, whilst others will take a wait and see approach and only prescribe the bedrest once there are reasons behind it.
Just 40% of twin pregnancies go full term.
Twin pregnancy timetable milestones
The second milestone is 28 weeks, when viability skyrockets. Ninety percent of babies who make it to this stage of gestation survive. Long-term complications — including cerebral palsy, vision and breathing problems — are still a possibility, however.
Twin pregnancies are at high risk of stillbirths compared to mothers carrying just one baby. This risk increases 13-fold if twins share the placenta, and five-fold when they have their own placenta. Stillbirth risk also increases as the pregnancy advances so mothers are often delivered before their due date.
Before 37 weeks' of gestation, the two babies were at equal risk, but at term the risk of death was higher in second twins (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.7 to 3.2, P<0.001). This was even more marked for deaths due to “intrapartum anoxia” or trauma (3.4, 2.2 to 5.3).
What are the benefits for the twins? Their buddy is always there. They've known each other since they can remember and that is very comforting. They are also a little more social than the average child since they are used to being with another kid since the beginning.
Everyone has the same chance of having identical twins: about 1 in 250. Identical twins do not run in families. But there are some factors that make having non-identical twins more likely: non-identical twins are more common in some ethnic groups, with the highest rate among Nigerians and the lowest among Japanese.
You shouldn't share the same bed with your twins because it increases the risk of SIDS. But the AAP does recommend that you room-share — having your twins sleep in your room, each in their own bassinet or crib — ideally for the first six months.
Length of Your Stay In the Hosptial Room After Delivery
An uncomplicated vaginal delivery will usually require a 1to 2 night hospital stay, averaging about 48 hours. If you experience any delivery complications or have a C-section, you can expect a longer stay of 2 to 4 days.
At 8 weeks pregnant with twins, you've likely seen (or will soon see) your babies on an ultrasound. Pregnancy symptoms at this time include morning sickness, bloating, food cravings or distaste, fatigue, breast changes, frequent urination, and increased vaginal discharge.