Induction at 36.5 weeks?

Hi everyone,

I'm having twin girls and am due the second week in September at 38 weeks middle of Sept if I went to 40 weeks. My doctor said that since both girls are head down and have been a little bigger than expected at each ultrasound that she would induce me at 36.5 weeks if they were measuring at 6lbs or more. When I heard the news I was thrilled because I'm ready to get this pregnancy over with. Everything has been smooth so far and I've been very fortunate. I just have the usual swelling of hands/feet, carpal tunnel, and I'm exhausted nowadays. You all know the drill! Long story short, after my appointment I started to think, hmmm, i've read that twins should bakle as long as they can up until 38 weeks, should they keep baking? Is there a reason she wants to deliver the babies earlier than 38 weeks? Has anyone else had this happen? This doctor has delivered many sets of multiples over the years and I trust her, but after the excitement of "wow, this may be over within two weeks instead of four" I started to think "huh, I wonder why?" I have another appointment with her next week and will ask the doctor, but just wanted any suggestions becuase now i'm curious~

Thank you for the help!!

Summer

 

I think if you can hold out and there are no problems or complications, let em cook! 36.5 weeks is great and I'm sure they'd be fine, but if you don't mind- the longer the better. My boys were born at 35.4 weeks and my youngest had to be transfered to a NICU 30 minutes away for respiratory issues. I didn't have the choice of keeping them in longer, but if I had, I would have waited.. Having a baby in the NICU and not taking them home together is hard. Good luck with whatever you decide to do and congratulations on your twins!

 

are they mono-di? my doc was talking induction at 36 weeks because of the risk of acute twin twin transfusion. it didnt matter for me in the end though since my water broke at 35.1. thy were healthy but had to go to NICU for 9 days due to prematurity and needed to grow and regulate body temp. it was nice actually because i got to go recover at home without having to take care of two babies.

 

If there is no medical reason to induce preterm, then don't Mine were estimated over 6lbs each at 34 weeks already and that was definitely not a reason to induce. I had to wait til past 38 weeks (hospital won't do it earlier with twins if there are no medical reasons). They were close to 8lbs a piece. 36 weeks is preterm and u/s can often be wrong (especially when estimating big babies). My best friend was estimated to have big twins at 37 1/2 weeks, they were upper 4 and lower 5lbs range. They were estimated 7lbs range. So again, I would never agree. Size itself is not an issue if your body is doing well and the babies are doing great too. You may end up with 36-weekers, preterm and possibly smaller than estimated and/or in NICU? What take that chance?

 

I want my babies in as long as possible (yeah, I know...get back to you when I'm further along..lol) but I'm so far from home and don't want to have them in the NICU in Germany for weeks when I get get them back here...

 

as long as fetal movement/HR's were okay, my office wouldn't induce/schedule a c-section until 38 weeks.....

 

My OBs don't induce before 39 weeks unless there are complications. This is for both singles and multiples. They do twice weekly stress tests to make sure babies are doing OK. 36.5 weeks would be way too early for me. Size by u/s is far from exact and a larger size does not ensure lung maturity or abscence of any other preterm complications. I had to deliver at 34w6d and I would have given anything to keep them cooking longer. They were in the NICU for 15 days and a host of other issues. Please push for a later date.

 

I would not ever try to hurry babies along unless there was some danger to them from continuing inside. Just because they can survive on the outside doesn't mean they're really ready to face the world. Those last few weeks seem to take forever, but they really do come to an end. And the babies are getting the growth they need. I went into labor a day past my due date. I think there's a big difference in how a 40-week baby handles the world, learning to eat, sleep, etc. Mine have been incredibly easy (especially compared to my one baby who was born at 37 weeks.)

 

Hey girls! This is all great info. My doctor told me that he likes to take twins at 36 weeks if both are head down and I am dead set on Vaginal birth, if not he would wait till 38 weeks.....so from what u all are saying, I feel 36 weeks may be too early head down or not. So regardless of how scared I am of Csection, on want these babies to stay in and cook as long as possible...being hopeful that they will wait till at least 36 weeks. For some reason I feel like they will come early and i hope it is just anxiety.

 

Unless there is a safety reason for inducing at 36.5 weeks, I would wait a few more weeks. Why risk NICU time if you don't have too?