Thanks for sharing. Majority of mommies who had 2nd set of twins are those who carried fraternal twins before. As for identical twins are jewel cases that happens ones in a lifetime. I am carrying fraternal twins and hubby always had those strong feeling that we will have 2nd set in the future. Both ways are blessing.
Which hospital was your 1st set of twins delivered? I have read about pre-eclampsia and it's scary. How did your doctor identify them? During my last visit, I asked doctor from high risk clinic about the guidelines for twins delivery. Hospital guideline to induce for twins is in between 37-38weeks. An ideal weight for each is estimated 2.6kg+- without NICU. If everything is healthy, we can compromise till 39weeks since due dates, scanning details are always estimated. I am afraid of induction because what if the induction failed and babies heart rate become distressed? All of us know the answer to this is emergency c section. So now I am reading on natural induction such as walking, having sex and many more that we could do. Next guideline, after 2hrs of first twin born and second twin not responding, emergency c section will take place. But again I asked if she did came across the 2nd twin born a day after since fraternal twins are with their own sacs and own placentas. She smiled and answered yes there are such cases. If 2nd twins sac and placenta are still intact, doctors will not force baby out. She kept reminding me that doctors will always advise the worst cases to avoid dispute in future and it's up to mom to decide next. They will prepare a form to sign if we refuse and they will ahead if we agree.
I am planning for natural too since this far babies both are heads down and even so 1 is breech in future, hopefully not the first twin. Hope the best for your VBAC for your 2nd twins.
Hi Sharifah,
I delivered in Gleneagle. I actually had an uneventful pregnancy with only severe ms for the first 14 weeks. But things went a bit downhill from 30 weeks. At 30 weeks, I had mild contractions, warded for two nights, put on drips and had injections to help babies lung develop faster. Contractions stopped and I was discharged. Had a second scare when I had contraction again at week 35. Again warded for a night. Gynae give me injections and pills again but he says if contractions do not stop by next day, he is prepared to deliver me. Thankfully, it stopped. By week 36, I had traces of protein in my urine and blood pressure getting high. I also had swollen feet.
Hence, doctor make the decision to deliver me a week later. Cos he weighs out all the options. Waiting is no longer an option as preeclampsia can be very dangerous and can shut down my organs one by one. Besides, the babies are not growing significantly any longer in me. 37 weeks is almost full term for twins, so decided to take them out and reduce the harm to my body.
To be honest, weigh is just a guideline. Once babies are born, their estimated weigh will dropped as they shrink. A small baby can still have a fully developed lungs and avoid NICU. A friend who delivered a day after me had a 3kg baby but baby had difficulties breathing so in nicu for a day.
Most twins pregnancies will deliver before 40 weeks, so should face the dilemma if induction. Also doctors will estimate closer to edd when will babies likely to come out and administer injections to help babies with lung development. The lungs is the last organ to be developed. Hence the fear of nicu for premature babies.
Normally, gynae will perform emergency csect to remove twin 2 if twin 2 no movement after twin 1 comes out is cos of fear of infections. But of cos, if totally no movement, no sign of second wave of contractions, mother can make the choice not to touch twin 2. But it's rare.
My gynae also told me that with my situation, the babies must come out. Not advisable for natural anymore. If I insist, I have to sign a form.
With pregnancy and delivery, every case is different. We just have to follow the flow. Singleton pregnancy is already high risk in delivery where there's always a chance cervix won't open enough, labour too long and end up emergency csect. Let alone with twins where it is most important to ensure safety of both babies and the mother.
