Full Term?

rubbaduck

I've heard that full term is a few weeks earlier if you're having multiples and that it is common to not carry full term. Does anyone have any tips for carrying full term, and avoiding the dreaded bed rest??? Thanks!

Carmela752

Full term is still 37 weeks, no matter what. 40 weeks is the "generic" due date for a singleton pregnancy. Twin pregnancies aren't usually allowed to go past 38 weeks, if they don't arrive before then on their own. About 50% of twins are preterm, which is birth before 37 weeks. Of that 50%, I don't know what the breakdown of weeks gestation is though.

I know a book with a wealth of information that a ton of ladies on here recommend is written by Dr. Luke, called What to Expect When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads. I ordered my copy from amazon last week and am waiting for it to arrive.

Two of my friends IRL have twins. One made it to 34w4d after being on bedrest starting at 31 weeks for bleeding related to placenta previa...the other one went on bedrest at 26 weeks after her cervix started funneling (found on ultrasound) and delivered at 31w5d while in the hospital on bedrest. All 4 babies are fine today.

Congrats!

tnkrbl21

Ditto everything PP's mentioned.  I delivered at 36wk3d and my pedi does not consider them preemie - they are full term in their eyes. 

macchiatto

Carmela752:

Full term is still 37 weeks, no matter what. 40 weeks is the "generic" due date for a singleton pregnancy. Twin pregnancies aren't usually allowed to go past 38 weeks, if they don't arrive before then on their own. About 50% of twins are preterm, which is birth before 37 weeks. Of that 50%, I don't know what the breakdown of weeks gestation is though.

I know a book with a wealth of information that a ton of ladies on here recommend is written by Dr. Luke, called What to Expect When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads.

Ditto. Babies born a little earlier than 37w might be healthy and do OK, no NICU time, etc. but they are still technically pre-term. I followed Dr. Luke's guidelines and made it to my scheduled induction at 37w6d with healthy, full-term twins! I did have modified bedrest the last 4 weeks but it wasn't doctor's orders; I was just getting really painful contractions whenever I tried to walk so I had to severely limit any walking around.

Temp159135562506975

babies born at 36w-38w are considered "pre term" (as per my doc/nurses)... before 36w are considered pre-mature.  Term is 37 weeks if it's one baby or 6... because by 37w the lungs are considered to be developed fully- after 37w babies just really put on weight.

the majority of twins are born at 35-36w... but many are born much earlier and many make it longer.  I made it to 38w1d and woudld have gone longer if my doc let me. We've had a lot of 38w+ twin pg's on here recently- it's wonderful!

Dr. Luke's book is the bible for multiple pg's Read it!  Most women on here follow the guidelines- but not the actual diet  b/c it's really hard to... but most aim for the weight gain goals and try to eat as much protein and dairy as possible, as she suggests.  That's what I did, and I also left work at 27w as she suggests.... and my boys were 6lb 6oz and 7lb 15.6oz.

 

PianoPlayingSarah

I just want to note that sometimes you can do everything you are supposed to and still deliver early.  A lot of it depends on your body and things that you can't control.  You can do everything right and still be put on bedrest.

I would suggest listening to your body.  If you are hungry, eat.  If you are tired, rest.  Don't overdue it. 

 

shoegirlt

i delivered at 39 wks and 2 days with my twins, via scheduled c-section, and never went on bedrest.  i never had any contractions, and will say i had a very good pregnancy minus the 4 months of morning sickness. but i really didnt do anything special, i think it mainly depends on your body, but for the last month i was in the drs office at least 2-3 times a week for stress tests to make sure the babies were doing ok.  i am still iffy about going so long though, my son only weighed 5lbs 3 ozs and my daughter was 7lbs 1oz.  i dont know if the weight diff would have been so significant had they been delivered earlier or not......but they were both healthy.....good luck!