How long is your OB letting you go before delivery?

[twocutes]

I was wondering how long your OB will let you will go before you deliver? I had heard twins don't go past 37 or 38 weeks due to the umbilical cord possibly wrapping around the neck and other problems related to severely limited space in the uterus. My doctor today told me that there are no restrictions on how long twins can go and I could even to go 40 weeks! Is this unusual? Thanks for any input.

[preggy peggy]

Ive just replied to your other thread and was going to mention this then.....my doc says that 36 weeks is normal, and thats all she said, now this is why i really want to change my OB, there is no point in asking her any questions cos she gives me some stupid answer or half an answer.
I have heard alot of peoples OB's say 38 weeks cos 40 weeks is not doing the twins any good but on the other hand i have heard some people go right upto 40 wks.



helena
g/g 10/07/03

[DaddyX2]

38 weeks is the maximum they will let us go according to our doctor....

[Steph12]

My dr. has the same thoughts as yours. He doesn't think I'll make it to 40, but has no problem letting me go to 40 if all is going well. He just told me at one of my recent appts. that my magic number is 32 weeks. As long as I make it to 32w, I can have the twins at my hospital and don't have to go in to Boston.

[2moreDevs]

I was finally able to ask this question at my appt. yesterday. My doctors are very hesitant to commit to a set time frame as they pointed out that so many factors can change the whole plan, but they said so long as both babies are head down and no C-section needs to be scheduled, they will let me go a few days past 38 weeks before inducing. If a C-section needs to be scheduled, they will do this at about 37-38 weeks. I was told they will try to hold off labor if it startes beforel 35-36 weeks. Here's hoping things start naturally for everyone at around 36-37 weeks!!

[dgreatdr]

I was having this same debate (mentally) I asked my doctor how long would he let me go...he said as close to 40wks as I can make it. But I was speaking to one of the senior doctors that I work with and he stated that twin pregnancy should not go beyound aroung 38wks....due to placental insufficiency...the placenta can no longer grow and thrive once the uterine contents have gotten so compacted and there isn't alot of space. At this point I think I'm going to ask to be sectioned or induced at around 37-38 wks (37wks is considered full term)....why take the chance?

[twocutes]

Thanks for all the feedback! It's great to hear what other people will be doing for their twin delivery.

dgreatdr: someone else also told me that due to lack of uterine space as the babies grow the best time to deliver twins is around 37 weeks, so I am also going to tell my doctor I want to be induced at that point. Do you think doctors will be receptive to a patient telling them when they want to deliver? If not, I will have to find research articles to bring in to him.

Good luck to everyone!

[mommyof5]

My doc is wanting to wait until 39 weeks. I'm almost 34 weeks and the twins have both been heads up since week 28, so I'm certain they are not going to change positions. I tried to bargain for earlier delivery, but he's not going to change his mind unless the peri (who does the u/s in my case) agrees to do it sooner. I am hoping that it will all kick in naturally before it gets to 39 weeks or I will lose it!! Good luck
Kathrine

[dgreatdr]

I thought that I would be induced or sectioned around 38-39 wks but my doctor is not hearing of it. He said he will let me go until I go into labor...and one of the babies are breech so I am very frustrated. I feel like if you know that I am going to be sectioned I should get it before I get to the point were my children are in fetal distress. My doctor is around 65yrs old and comes from a different age in medicine. He wants to deliver the first twin who is breech vaginally (or at least try to) and he IS NOT GIVING ME THE OPTION OF AN ELECTIVE C SECTION. I'm a little pissed but in a way I respect him because he is sticking to what he believes is right...but he also knows that I am a physician and if he makes wrong choices after I have implored him to do otherwise...and the standard of care in obstetrics now dictate otherwise...and he still sticks to his own way...then he must be very comfortable with his choice and is doing the right thing...we'll see. My children are healthy and thriving now and I am 37wks and 3days...hoping I go into labor soon...cause I'm tired.

[proudmomoftwins]

When I was pregnant I asked my doctors, specialists in mutliple and high-risk pregnancies, several times how they felt about letting twin pregnancies go full term and they were always vague and noncommittal. Finally at 39 weeks I was begging so much for an induction they sent me to the hospital. The induction didnt work so I waddled crankily out of the hospital. I went back a week later and a sonogram showed that one of the babies was now transverse. I asked to have a csection because 1. what if the induction didnt work again and 2. what if the transverse baby didnt turn and I needed a csection anyway? So they said ok.

Dena
Calvin and Jacob 6/14/2003

[dgreatdr]

Proudmom...I'm feeling a bit like you did I guess. Because I don't see the point of inducing or waiting for natural labor to occur when all signs indicate you are going to have to be sectioned anyway.

[dosmas]

I just wanted to add my two cents. This is one of the most surprising things I have found discrepancies on from doctor to doctor. My doctor told me at my first visit that I should be prepared for a c-section at 37 weeks. I had a previous c-section and statistically speaking twins usually went that way. He never ruled out a vaginal birth but scheduled my C/S when they went breech about a month ago.

My sister who is an ob said she delivers her twins at 38 weeks and she was very adamant about that. She said that 37 was too early. My conclusion is that 37 and 38 is very standard, and that many are born before so it really doesn't matter for most moms. I am completely comfortable delivering my babies at 37.

The third point of view I have gotten is my perinatologist who keeps telling me I won't make it to 37 weeks because statistical speaking twins arrive in the 35th-36th week. She says this even though I am having no contractions and my cervix is long and closed. I found this opinion rather funny but good to hear because it made me get my hospital bag ready.

As far as the docs who want to wait, I am not sure why they are not more flexible. It seems entirely appropriate to take your patients desires into consideration and schedule a C/S if they want at 37 and 38 weeks. From all I have read a C/S for twins is not elective it is an option.

Good luck everyone.

[homebirthedtwins]

I went past my due date and ended up with really big, and wonderfully healthy babies. Both of mine were breech too and I obviously didn't end up with a c/s. I did, however, have two prior homebirths and an excellent midwife with a peri. back-up at an EXCELLENCE hospital 5 minutes away.

I did a lot of reserch, 8 weeks of it, and found a birth team that was not only EXPERIENCED with homebirth of twins and breech but also very comfortable with it, under certain conditions.

I do know that I had to relinquish control and any thoughts of what was going to happen. I really was open to anything as long as the babies were healthy. I did not fear the hospital nor any complications.

If you can, find out about what are normal complications at birth. That way if they do happen, you are neither surprised nor worried. And you will have confidence in your doctor if they do come up.

Just my opinion. But MOST of all, TRUST your instincts. You really are free to do what you want. And if you want to be induced, and your care provider and you feel that it is safe for the baby and you, then go forward with trust.

[TwinsAreComing]

My ob said that any time after 35 weeks is okay, but she'll let me go until 40. But she got another dr working in her office who saw me last week for the first time and he said he'd induce at 37 weeks. I'm REALLY READY for them to be born, but I don't want to compromise their health. one is head down and has been the whole time, but the other one is transverse. He said she might turn, might not, so I'm REALLY hoping to avoid a c-section. My mom has cancer and we'd like to travel with the (first!) grandkids to see her at Thanksgiving, so the earlier, the better for us. It's a long trip - any advice about traveling with infant twins?