37 weeks

We've officially made it to 37 weeks as of yesterday and I think we're all surprised that I'm still pregnant! (To recap, my cervix started shortening at 25 weeks, modified bedrest, and my twins are mono/di). I was feeling pretty pumped about this, had a midwife appointment yesterday morning and all was well, followed by an ultrasound and clinic appointment at the hospital.

Ultrasound was great, Baby A is measuring 5 lbs 9 oz, and Baby B is 7 lbs 2 oz. Baby B was sleepy so they hooked me up to the monitors for a NST afterwards and both babies had lots of movement/acceleration and all that. Everyone I saw seemed to be in total shock that I was 37 weeks with twins - from the ultasound tech to the perinatal nurse to the specialist.

Finally, I get to see the doctor, not mine because she's on holidays but I ended up with the department head, so I would assume is pretty experienced and knowledgeable. He says everything looks good and asks if I have an induction date scheduled. I said no, no one had even brought it up to me, and he shows me, in my chart, where it says induction at 38 weeks! I think it's awfully strange that no one's mentioned that to me. I ask why we need to plan an induction if everything is going well with the babies, and he doesn't have a real reason other than most twins come before 38 weeks (which isn't a reason to make them come at 38) and that the babies are "ready". Neither of those reasons are very convincing for me to want to take the babies out early.

Both babies are head down, first baby is well into my pelvis. I am hoping for a natural vaginal delivery. I have had a previous natural vaginal delivery at full term (38w2d) with my son. I have no signs of labour yet but my due date is still 3 weeks away! I asked him about the increased rate of complications, including c-section, that comes with induction, and he said that's true. So I'm really not getting why I should be induced and I don't support medical intervnetions done "just because".

I guess I'm looking for some insight as to why other people were induced, and what the outcome was.

 

I know that most OB's dont let twins go past 38 weeks, especially for mono/di, because of the posibility of placenta deterioration. My OB refused to let me go past 38 weeks, I also had a mono/di pregnancy. I had a scheduled c-section at 37 weeks 1 day as my baby B was showing signs of failure to thrive. I also had a breach baby and a tranverse baby.

It is however totally up to what you and your doctor are comfortable with.

 

I had to have a C-section, both my babies were breech. I had it at 37 weeks and 5 days and honestly I felt like I could have made it longer, I had no pressure or sign of labor at all. I wanted to schedule it after 38 weeks, but my OB said he didn't want to let me go over 38 weeks because being that they were both breech, in case my water broke, a cord could have slipped out... My babies are born on the Friday before Labor Day and I was teasing him that he didn't want me to go into labor and ruin his Labor Day weekend . I hope they let you wait for labor, if that's what you want. Good luck and I hope you have an easy delivery and avoid NICU.

 

what my doctor explained to me is that there's a statistically higher rate of stillbirth in mono/di twins after 36 weeks, although the absolute risk is still quite low. my doc wanted to induce me at 36 weeks, although i was planning on refusing & requesting additional monitoring of babies instead. it became a moot point though because i went into labour spontaneously at 34w1d.

if your doctor hasn't given you a good reason, then i would avoid an induction - i feel the same as you that it isn't worth the risks "just because".

 

I was induced with my twins on my 40 week due date. Like yours, both were healthy and happy in the womb and no one could believe I was still pregnant! After 36 weeks I went in twice a week for ultrasounds mostly to make sure they were handling the pregnancy okay in there. My baby B's fluid was on the low side too, so they were monitoring that as well. He never went into a dangerously low fluid level, though. My doctor specialized in high risk pregnancies and she was okay with it as long as the babies were okay in there. We ended up scheduling the inducement because the placentas were starting to show signs of deterioration. Baby A was head down and B was transverse. They were born naturally, perfectly healthy and came home with me 2 days later.

Good luck!

 

My OB has also said that after 37-38 weeeks the placenta starts to deteriorate and complications can arise.
I was induced and while it was fast and painful (my epidural didn't work at first that's why!!!)it was still a great labor and looking back, it was SO nice to know my delivery date ahead of time -- and to have a fast labor instead of a 2 day labor or something!
I would definitely do it again (induction). Baby scored perfect on apgar test and there were no complications from induction, it was a vaginal birth.

 

My OB never said anything about induction. She said she would only induce should something go wrong. In my case I developed ICP and Baby A was losing weight rapidly. So, at 38weeks 5days I was induced and it led to a c/section after 21 hours of labour and both babies were head down. I really wished that I could have had them on my own. If I didn't have any complications, I wouldn't have been induced.

 

Congrats on 37w!!! My induction was set for 39w1d but I was di/di. In order to avoid it I asked for a stretch and sweep to try to stimulate things more naturally. I had the stretch and sweep at 38w1d and went into labour about 36 hours later (I was 3cm dilated when I got the s&s and about 80% effaced so things were going in the right direction anyway). Has anyone checked you to see if you have started dilating?

 

My last vaginal ultrasound to check my cervix was at 33 weeks, and it was near 2 cm. No one's checked anything since then.

I don't really get the placenta deterioration thing - can't they monitor that through ultrasound? I've been having ultrasounds weekly and they check the placenta, blood flow to and from both babies, umbilical FHR, all that. I would think that if the placenta weren't doing it's job, they would be able to tell.

I've read a few places that the rate of complications can rise after 39 weeks, but to me, even that extra week in the womb is important! Plus, the rate of complications rises with induction so it seems that it's just trading one risk for another.

 

I did not try vaginal, but I agree with the more natural stretch and sweep methods. I would also not be on board with interventions for the sake of interventions. Just because someone is the head of the department does not mean they will mesh with your birth philosophy.

 

the only thing to keep in mind is that the stats for twins who share a placenta are different than for those twins who have their own separate placentas.

as to the bolded - that's the exact decision you are making. you are essentially choosing between two different sets of risk. it's not an easy decision to make & only you can make it, with information & recommendations from your OB, and listening to your head & your heart. :hug:

 

My OB also said she wouldn't let me go past 38 weeks. She didn't give an explanation and my twins are fraternal.

 

I had di/di twins and my OB said that we would get to 38 weeks and then discuss our options if I hadn't gone into labour on my own by then.

I made it and then we did discuss. Same issues with the risk of placenta deterioration and also just the fact that those babes are fully running out of room in there by then. I myself chose a c-section (at 38w2d) based on that fact that my cervix was tightly shut, high, and posterior and in my OB's experience induction can be harder and less successful with first time Moms especially given the conditions of my cervix.

Really, 38 weeks is a pretty safe point for babies to be born. There are babies born at 40 weeks who end up with breathing issues or other things, so you never really know. Making it to 40 weeks isn't a guarantee of a healthier baby.

Now, if your OB was talking about inducing at 35 or 36 weeks then I'd say you had more of an issue on your hands.

If you want to avoid induction, I'd discuss alternate methods of bringing on labour such as the stretch and sweep discussed above.

Good luck!

 

Yes, that's why I went twice a week for ultrasounds, it was one of the things they checked. When they started to notice signs of deterioration I was scheduled for an induction a few days later.

 

I think you should stick with your gut.

I had fraternal twins, so obviously not the same, and was induced at 37 weeks. I was induced though because:

1. My blood pressure was 95/140 (laying down!)
2. I was 100% effaced and 5cm dilated
3. I was a first time pregnant mom, nieve, and didnt know any better.

My induction went OK (they were born vaginally) but I did have pitocin and ultimately an epidural (boo!).

Looking back, I wouldnt have made that decision again. With my 3rd baby, I delivered at 41w1 day, hooked up to nothing and stayed at the hospital a total of 12 hours from check in, to leaving.
If they are monitoring you, everything is healthy, well positioned etc. Keep baking Just my two cents.

 

After 38 weeks i really wanted to be induced. But had no dialation....so I was send home.
at 39+1 weeks my water broke.
By the time i was in hospital i had 5 cm dialtion, so no pain meds.
All went good! Keagan needed help otherwise he would still be in there hahahah ( he is very lazy)

 

My hospital wouldn't schedule before 38 weeks unless there were medical problems. I was induced at 38w2d. I was dialated for weeks, 4 1/2 cm when admitted without ever going into labor. I had a long, hard labor with my first (she was 9 days late, forceps, 4th degree tearing, etc.) but she did come out naturally. My twins were estimated large. They started Pitocin at 6 am and they were born at 10.32 and 10.36 am. Very fast and smooth. My son (B) by breech extraction. No problems whatsoever.