Hi everyone- My name is Jessica, I am 26 from the san diego area, with a beautiful daughter who is almost 6 and I am 15 weeks pregnant with fraternal twins! I guess twins run in my mom's family and she is adopted so it never occured to me this may happen. Wow its been overwhelming for me to find this out but I am dealing with it. I had a easy, uncomplicated pregnancy with my dd and delivered at 39 weeks and she was 8.5. I worked until one week b4 I had her as well, and I had an easy vaginal delivery with a fast recovery. So....does this mean I will go to at least 36-37 weeks? What are the risk factors for earlier births? How many ppl on here have gone to at least 36 weeks and beyond? What is the odds of having a vaginal birth compared with a c-section?? Also what is the typical requested maternity leave by doctors? I was hoping not to have to leave b4 32 weeks but is that unreasonable? If you have to leave earlier than usual do you get disability plus maternity leave pay? I'm sorry for all the questions but I am a mess any links to websites for this info for california would be great! Any other assuring info would be great too. Thank you guys and look forward to being here and meeting other moms!
:wavey: Jessica! Congratulations on your Twin Pregnancy and Welcome to TS!! There are A LOT of women on here that have made it to 36+ weeks with Twins! (I was just not one of them...) I believe in California you get up to 12 weeks before the babies are born, and 8-12 weeks after they are born (depending on whether or not you have a c-section or vaginal delivery). Your Dr can explain that to you. I am not sure what the exact number are for the odds of vaginal vs. c-section, but maybe someone else can help you with that. GL with your pregnancy! So glad you found us!
I'm a new mum who is pregnant with twins and now in week 14. I have a lot of queries revolving which kind of delivery method, how many weeks will I carry them till, will they require NICU care, etc. I'm very petite, standing only 5 feet 1. I heard from a friend (who isn't a twin mother) who told me petite woman don't usually carry their baby till full term (cos the body couldn't take it?) Will I deliver much earlier since I'm so petite and having twins? Is it true that natural is almost impossible for twins? To make things worst, no one in my family ever had twins so I couldn't turn to anyone for help. I'm realli in a mess!! Help~~
Vaginal delivery is completely possible. It depends more on your doctor than anything else. Seek a doctor who is experienced in twin deliveries and who is willing to honor your wish to deliver vaginally. My doctor is willing to deliver vaginally in any of the following combinations: vertex, vertex; vertex, breech; breech, breech. The only combination in which she will not deliver vaginally is breech, vertex, because then the necks can interlock and it becomes very dangerous. She would be less comfortable with delivering with twin A breech if I hadn't already had a successful vaginal birth. If you're a first time mom, then likely a breech baby A would result in a c-section. Even though I'm delivering vaginally, she did insist that it be done in the operating room with two doctors on hand. The second baby will be monitored via ultrasound while the first is delivered, to watch for any signs of distress. I am going natural with a doula, and my doctor is very comfortable with her being in the OR also. Not exactly the birth I had planned for my second pregnancy, but together with my doctor we were able to come up with a plan that I'm comfortable with. You just have to find the right doctor! About 45% of twins are delivered at 37 weeks or more, and about 50% of twins are delivered vaginally. There is always the risk that if you decide to go vaginal, the second baby will become distressed and you will wind up with both (vaginal for A, c-section for B ), but this isn't common. Average NICU stays by gestation: 24 weeks: 78.9 26 weeks: 82.0 28 weeks: 66.0 30 weeks: 47.8 32 weeks: 19.3 34 weeks: 7.4 36 weeks: 3.3 37 weeks: 4.2 based on data in California, complete data: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlere...artid=1752207. A great article on preterm birth (not specific to twins): http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic3245.htm Look at page 7 for a list of potential complications for the baby and their incidence by gestational age. I hope this helps a little. I'm also very petite, and carrying twins has been difficult for me. I'm 33 and 1/2 weeks now, and have been in the hospital for over 2 weeks on bedrest. I deliverd my singleton daughter at 37 weeks, and am striving for at least 35 weeks with the twins. I truly hope you are able to have an uneventful, full-term delivery with a doctor you trust! Congratulations! Pam edited to fix link
Hi Jessica, welcome to Twinstuff! :sign0016: Congrats on your twins! :Clap: Every twin pregnancy is so different and you just don't know what will happen. I too had a very easy pregnancy with my singleton, she was born at 41w was 9.5 lbs, everything went great. But somehow my twins were born 3 months early (see siggy). As for leave or bedrest that depends on each individual as well. As for disability pay, that depends on your employer and state. I was teaching part-time while pregnant with my twins and we didn't get disability, we had to use our sick and personal days that we had saved up. As for your delivery option, that depends on the position of the babies, specifically baby A. Good luck and welcome to Twinstuff!
I haven't had my twins yet, but I'm also hoping to get to at least 37 weeks. As everyone else said, it just depends on how your pregnancy goes. Mine has been uneventful so far. As for my leave, my doctor is taking me out at 28 weeks. I will not be on bedrest, but just taking it easy. One thing to note is that the doctor has to call it bedrest on your medical leave form for your company, but he told me it is more of just taking it easy. I switched doctors in the middle of my pregnancy, but my first one was going to take me out at 28 weeks also. I have heard that 28 weeks seems to be the magic number for a lot of doctors to take you out with twins, even if you are having a great pregnancy. I'm not in California, but I know that a lot of companies are different even within the same state for maternity leave/bedrest. At my old company I wasn't allowed to use my sick time at all. All bedrest and 8 weeks (for c-section) after the birth was considered short term disability. Then I could use vacation time or unpaid time for up to 6 months! At this company I have to use my 9 weeks of sick time up first, then I will use short term disability until 8 weeks after the twins birth, and then any vacation or unpaid time for another 4 weeks.
:wavey: Jessica and Welcome to Twinstuff!! :Clap: Congrats on your fraternal twins!! Like the others have said, every person and every pregnancy is different. My advice would be to listen to your body, call your doctor if you have ANY concerns and drink alot of water. How many ppl on here have gone to at least 36 weeks and beyond? I didn't have any prior pregnancies, but I did go to 39 weeks with my twins. I think that every pregnancy is so different, and a twin one compared to a singleton especially, that you just have to take care of yourself and hope for the best. I don't believe there are any indicators of how long you will go. What is the odds of having a vaginal birth compared with a c-section?? I'm not sure of the odds, but I would think as long as baby A is head down, and the doctor feels positive about you having a vaginal birth, you should be able to do it. Also what is the typical requested maternity leave by doctors? I was hoping not to have to leave b4 32 weeks but is that unreasonable? I think all doctors work differently. My doctor didn't feel comfortable with me working past 32 weeks eventhough I was perfectly fine and my job was being a teller, so I wasn't even on my feet much. I would definately talk to your doctor when you get closer to the date. If you have to leave earlier than usual do you get disability plus maternity leave pay? With my job, I did. I think you should contact your HR person at work and let them tell you the details of what you get. :hug99: I hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy!
QUOTE(WildBlueBerry @ Jul 7 2008, 05:29 AM) [snapback]863157[/snapback] Vaginal delivery is completely possible. It depends more on your doctor than anything else. Seek a doctor who is experienced in twin deliveries and who is willing to honor your wish to deliver vaginally. My doctor is willing to deliver vaginally in any of the following combinations: vertex, vertex; vertex, breech; breech, breech. The only combination in which she will not deliver vaginally is breech, vertex, because then the necks can interlock and it becomes very dangerous. She would be less comfortable with delivering with twin A breech if I hadn't already had a successful vaginal birth. If you're a first time mom, then likely a breech baby A would result in a c-section. I WISH I could find all of these doctors willing to deliver breech twins. I have called all of the practices that deliver at my hospital. One has 3 of 6 doctors who will ONLY deliver twins via C-section. All others, both babies have to be vertex, no questions. It really bothered me for a while, because I keep reading all of these stories of twin moms who say (at LEAST) that as long as Baby A is vertex, they can deliver vaginally, and I haven't found ONE doctor who would be even close to willing to do a breech extraction, even after a vertex A. I'm slowly resigning myself to the possiblity of a C-section, because I'm unfortunately not going to have much choice in the matter.
Welcome and congrats on your pregnancy! I made it to 36w3d with my twins, and they had no NICU time. I worked until 34 weeks, but I did work from home from 26 weeks on, as I was having a lot of contractions and my docs didn't want me driving. I think disability depends on your work ... I'm guessing time off is different in every state ... but in NJ I got 4 weeks paid before the birth, and 8 weeks after for a c-section. Then I could take more time off unpaid. I did have a c-section ... Baby A was breach and Baby B was transverse ... and they never moved position, so no vaginal for me! Good luck!
Congrats on your babies and :sign0016: . It sounds like everyone answered your questions about the pregnancy and birth so far. It is just a wait and see process. I was taken off of work at 16 weeks because I have a 10 month old at home, a hx of preterm labor (but not delivery), and I am a nurse who works 12 hour shifts. My doctor didn't insist but she suggested that if I don't take it easy I will probably end up on bedrest and with my little one I can't have that. At the hospital where I work (Arizona) FMLA is 12 weeks per condition. During that time I can use my accrued paid time off and extended illness bank accumulation. I also have a short-term disability policy that I pay for through my work and that is good for 6 months plus the delivery (6 weeks vaginal or 8 weeks c/s). After the initial 12 weeks I had to apply for medical leave so my job was guaranteed etc. I think it is different from state to state and company to company. I know the extension of my time off was up to my department boss. Good luck
QUOTE(jordynsmama+2 @ Jul 6 2008, 08:40 PM) [snapback]863039[/snapback] So....does this mean I will go to at least 36-37 weeks? What are the risk factors for earlier births? How many ppl on here have gone to at least 36 weeks and beyond? I think if you delivered early before it puts you at a higher risk for delivering early again. I had my twins at 38.5 weeks! What is the odds of having a vaginal birth compared with a c-section?? I think from all the polls its about 50/50 I had a vaginal birth. Also what is the typical requested maternity leave by doctors? I was hoping not to have to leave b4 32 weeks but is that unreasonable? Some woman on here work until the end, but it depends on your pregnancy and on your Dr. I was not even working and my Dr kept asking me if i was working and said that he would have pulled me out at 26 weeks. If you have to leave earlier than usual do you get disability plus maternity leave pay? I dont know.. but when I worked for HR in TX.. The woman just got the mat leave. and nothing else.. Its been a while though and i dont know the rules in CA. I'm sorry for all the questions but I am a mess any links to websites for this info for california would be great! Any other assuring info would be great too. Thank you guys and look forward to being here and meeting other moms! I hope i helped!! Congrats on your twins!! I was so scared from the time i found out at 17.5 weeks until i had them.. its so much fun having twins!!
QUOTE(EricaM @ Jul 7 2008, 10:40 AM) [snapback]863457[/snapback] I WISH I could find all of these doctors willing to deliver breech twins. I have called all of the practices that deliver at my hospital. One has 3 of 6 doctors who will ONLY deliver twins via C-section. All others, both babies have to be vertex, no questions. It really bothered me for a while, because I keep reading all of these stories of twin moms who say (at LEAST) that as long as Baby A is vertex, they can deliver vaginally, and I haven't found ONE doctor who would be even close to willing to do a breech extraction, even after a vertex A. I'm slowly resigning myself to the possiblity of a C-section, because I'm unfortunately not going to have much choice in the matter. Have you seen "The Business of Being Born"? (http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/) Doctors are so scared of getting sued, they push c-sections when they aren't necessary. It's very regional too, depending on the laws and common practices in the area. Anyway, you might want to try contacting a Doula in your area (http://www.dona.org). She might know which doctors will deliver vaginally with a breech B. Or try the local Le Leche League (http://www.llli.org) or Attachment Parenting international(http://www.attachmentparenting.org) chapter to see if there are any twin moms in the group who can recommend a doctor. Someone in your local Mother of Multiples group might know, too (http://www.nomotc.org/). And a final suggestion, I'd call the hospital, ask for Labor & Delivery, and ask the nurses which doctors have delivered vaginally with a breech B. Hopefully your babies will both be vertex and it won't matter anyway!
I was induced and had my girls vaginally at 38.5 weeks. I worked until the week prior and basically only took that time off because it was the Thanksgiving weekend. I have a desk job, so I wasn't on my feet much, which I'm sure made A LOT of difference. If you are on your feet most of the day at your job, your doctor will most likely make you stop working sooner. Good Luck!
Hi Jessica and Congrats on your twinsies!!! You have got some great advice already on here I worked up until 33 weeks & then chose to stop, could have gone another week or so probably (the commuting was actually the hardest part, my tummy was so far out)!!. I delivered at almost 38 weeks via planned c-section & no NICU time either. Sydney was 6lbs & Chloe was 4lbs 10oz. Good luck to you!
QUOTE(muscaria10 @ Jul 7 2008, 02:28 AM) [snapback]863146[/snapback] I'm a new mum who is pregnant with twins and now in week 14. I have a lot of queries revolving which kind of delivery method, how many weeks will I carry them till, will they require NICU care, etc. I'm very petite, standing only 5 feet 1. I heard from a friend (who isn't a twin mother) who told me petite woman don't usually carry their baby till full term (cos the body couldn't take it?) Will I deliver much earlier since I'm so petite and having twins? Is it true that natural is almost impossible for twins? To make things worst, no one in my family ever had twins so I couldn't turn to anyone for help. I'm realli in a mess!! Help~~ I am also really petite, not quite 5 feet tall!!!! I carried to full term for twins Being short/petite didn't change too much other than my tummy had no where to go but straight out! No one in my family had twins either, so I found Twinstuff & got all my questions answered & TONS of support on here ~ so feel free to ask away!
Congratulations on your pg and :sign0016: to TwinStuff!! You'll love it here . There are many of us who have made it to 36+ weeks. My dr. told me it would be a 50% chance for a c-section. Personally, I made it to 38 weeks, 1 day and had a vaginal birth. Usually the docs look for baby A to be transverse. Mine were both head down by 26 weeks and stayed that way the rest of the pg. My advice would be to follow your dr.'s instructions carefully. GL! Twins are so much fun.
QUOTE(jordynsmama+2 @ Jul 6 2008, 11:40 PM) [snapback]863039[/snapback] Hi everyone- My name is Jessica, I am 26 from the san diego area, with a beautiful daughter who is almost 6 and I am 15 weeks pregnant with fraternal twins! I guess twins run in my mom's family and she is adopted so it never occured to me this may happen. Wow its been overwhelming for me to find this out but I am dealing with it. I had a easy, uncomplicated pregnancy with my dd and delivered at 39 weeks and she was 8.5. I worked until one week b4 I had her as well, and I had an easy vaginal delivery with a fast recovery. So....does this mean I will go to at least 36-37 weeks? What are the risk factors for earlier births? How many ppl on here have gone to at least 36 weeks and beyond? What is the odds of having a vaginal birth compared with a c-section?? Also what is the typical requested maternity leave by doctors? I was hoping not to have to leave b4 32 weeks but is that unreasonable? If you have to leave earlier than usual do you get disability plus maternity leave pay? I'm sorry for all the questions but I am a mess any links to websites for this info for california would be great! Any other assuring info would be great too. Thank you guys and look forward to being here and meeting other moms! :sign0016: Jessica! It sure is possible that you can go 36 weeks and beyond! I went until 38 weeks. I had a scheduled c-section, baby A was breech and baby B was transverse. They were that way for most of my pregnancy. As long as your doc feels comfortable with a vaginal delivery, they will do it. My doc told me whether I delivered vaginally or had a c-section would depend on if baby A was breech or not. I worked until 36 weeks, I had a fairly easy pregnancy, my doc was not comfortable with me working any later then that, especially since my job was an hour away from the hospital. You will get great advice here on this site, welcome aboard and congrats on your pregnancy!!!
QUOTE(tamaras @ Jul 8 2008, 01:50 AM) [snapback]863918[/snapback] I am also really petite, not quite 5 feet tall!!!! I carried to full term for twins Being short/petite didn't change too much other than my tummy had no where to go but straight out! No one in my family had twins either, so I found Twinstuff & got all my questions answered & TONS of support on here ~ so feel free to ask away! Thank you! You have given me assurance! :lol:
Thank you everyone!!!! I feel better but now am wondering if my twins are identical. The dr said b/c their are 2 sacs they are fraternal, but she also said the placentas may be fused together.....does this mean they can be identical. the sacs are hooked together and separated by membrane. I am confused. lol.
Welcome! I am 5'3 and went 38 weeks (scheduled c-section due to breech baby) with my twins. THey were both mid 7 pound babies! They could be identical! Identicals can have their own sacs and placentas.
Congratulations! :Clap: :Clap: Since your twins have separate placentas, your chance of a trouble-free pregnancy is much higher than those with identicals. There are many doctors who treat fraternals as just slightly more high risk than singletons. The pregnancy won't be a breeze by any stretch of the imagination though because carrying twins if way different than carrying one baby. I carried my boy to almost 42 weeks and he was 9.8 lbs but, with the twins, my body came down with cholestasis and HELLP syndrome at 35 weeks. It just depends on how your body deals with the extra strain and stress. Your chances of a vaginal delivery depend on the positions of the babies. If both babies are head down, you can probably birth vaginally. If Baby A is head-down and Baby B is breech but smaller, some doctors are still comfortable birthing vaginally and then trying to turn the second baby or doing a breech extraction. I have no idea about maternity leave, it really depends on your doctor. There are actually some doctors who will put every twin pregnancy on bedrest in the third trimester, even if it's not necessary. One thing to consider is how you are going to feel after 28 weeks. That is often a wall for twin moms and they get exhausted after that. That's one reason why it's always suggested to have your baby shower before that point. Congrats again!
