Short mamas

This sounds like kind of an odd question, I'm sure, but does anyone know if having twins is harder/riskier for someone who is really short? I'm 4'11" and these babies will be babies #6 and 7 for us. I typically get very large when pregnant because I'm so short there's no where to go but out. It scares me to no end to think of how large and uncomfortable I'm going to be with two babies in there. I've had two babies who were over 9lbs and the other 3 were in the lower to upper 7lb range. I just can't even imagine having two inside me that will most likely have a combined weight that's more than my largest singleton. Anyone BTDT?

 

I'm 5'1" and also pop out pretty far. I made it to 37 weeks, 1 day. They scheduled a c/s then because I had run out of space for my amnions, and I was nowhere near going into labor. My girls were 6,9 and 6,13. No NICU time. No complications for me, no difficulties in the pregnancy at all. You have a proven uterus, so your odds are good that you won't have any problems. I was somewhat uncomfortable after 34 weeks, but it didn't get bad until 36 weeks, and 8 days later they were born. GL!

eta: My first was 9,8 and my second was 7,8.

 

I'm responding to keep track of this thread.

I am 5'0 on a good day. I was miserable when I was pg with DD b/c I gained 30 lbs. The weight was just too much for my little bones. DD was 7 lbs 8 oz. Even if I have two 6 pounders.... that's still five more pounds of baby than last time. Oh, my back!

 

I am 5'2" and went to my 37w3d scheduled c-section (breech and transverse) with no complications, but yes I got really, really huge. I too had two babies over 9lbs. and the other two were 7 and 8lbs somethings.
My boys were 7lbs 11oz. and 6lbs 14oz.

Here's a great thread that was posted some time ago, but has a lot of great answers.

http://www.twinstuff.com/forum/index.php?s...7&hl=petite

BTW: CONGRATS!!! How exciting for your family!

 

i'm more on the average side of things (5'4") but i always wonder about the difficulties of a twin pregnancy for petite women because a friend of mine (who is 5'0") was told that it wasn't a good idea for her to have twins (she was doing a round of IVF) because she was so small. it would be difficult for her to carry to term. i always thought that was kind of a strange thing - and now i know it's not true! also, i always think of Amy Roloff - she carried twins (not sure till what gestation) & she's a little person! so i figure if she could do it, it must be possible.

 

I am 5' 1" and got to 34w 6d with no bed rest or restrictions. They decided they were ready when my water broke. The girls were transverse the entire pregnancy and born at 4lbs 2oz and 3lbs 15oz by c-section and only spent a week in the NICU.

 

QUOTE(pamallhoney @ Feb 6 2009, 07:34 PM) [snapback]1179512[/snapback]
I am 5'2" and went to my 37w3d scheduled c-section (breech and transverse) with no complications, but yes I got really, really huge. I too had two babies over 9lbs. and the other two were 7 and 8lbs somethings.
My boys were 7lbs 11oz. and 6lbs 14oz.

Here's a great thread that was posted some time ago, but has a lot of great answers.

http://www.twinstuff.com/forum/index.php?s...7&hl=petite

BTW: CONGRATS!!! How exciting for your family!

Thank you so much for posting this. Reading the experiences of others has helped ease my mind a lot.

 

I am 4'11 and had no problem. I was enormous, to this day my SIL marvels at it. You will do great.

 

QUOTE(miss_bossy18 @ Feb 6 2009, 09:03 PM) [snapback]1179549[/snapback]
i'm more on the average side of things (5'4") but i always wonder about the difficulties of a twin pregnancy for petite women because a friend of mine (who is 5'0") was told that it wasn't a good idea for her to have twins (she was doing a round of IVF) because she was so small. it would be difficult for her to carry to term. i always thought that was kind of a strange thing - and now i know it's not true! also, i always think of Amy Roloff - she carried twins (not sure till what gestation) & she's a little person! so i figure if she could do it, it must be possible.


Yes, I was going to mention Amy Roloff. She had twins and then went on to have two more!

 

I'm 5'1 and didn't really have any risks due to that. I delivered at 36 weeks 6 days by scheduled c-section. The babies were breech and transverse and I was just so big and very very uncomfortable. We did an amnio to make sure their lungs were mature first. My DS was 6 lbs 2 oz and DD was 6 lbs 5 oz. I still can't believe I had so much weight in me! At 26 weeks I stopped working because I was so big and short that I could no longer drive safely and I was just really uncomfortable. The last month I contracted A LOT but no cervical change. It sounds like you're able to carry big babies so you should be just fine. Just listen to your body and get plenty of rest. Congrats to you!

 

QUOTE(LMW1015 @ Feb 7 2009, 10:12 AM) [snapback]1180653[/snapback]
I'm 5'1 and didn't really have any risks due to that. I delivered at 36 weeks 6 days by scheduled c-section. The babies were breech and transverse and I was just so big and very very uncomfortable. We did an amnio to make sure their lungs were mature first. My DS was 6 lbs 2 oz and DD was 6 lbs 5 oz. I still can't believe I had so much weight in me! At 26 weeks I stopped working because I was so big and short that I could no longer drive safely and I was just really uncomfortable. The last month I contracted A LOT but no cervical change. It sounds like you're able to carry big babies so you should be just fine. Just listen to your body and get plenty of rest. Congrats to you!

I was wondering about how long I would be able to drive. I'm usually just barely able to drive at the end of my singleton pregnancies because my belly is almost touching the steering wheel. This will definitely be a totally different experience.

 

QUOTE(mikeyswife1999 @ Feb 7 2009, 12:17 PM) [snapback]1180657[/snapback]
I was wondering about how long I would be able to drive. I'm usually just barely able to drive at the end of my singleton pregnancies because my belly is almost touching the steering wheel. This will definitely be a totally different experience.

I could drive if I HAD to for a few weeks after this but it wasn't very safe. My belly would rub on the steering wheel. It feels so weird to finally be driving again!!

 

I really don't think that it has to do with height so much as it does that your uterus has shown it can carry the weight. I was actually told I have tiny organs (don't know if thats my problem with carrying to term or not). I am 5'2 and only carried my singletons to 36 weeks, we knew there was very little chance that I would carry multiples to term. My first goal was 34 weeks, then the drs told me to really try for 32 weeks.. I made it to a day shy of 29 weeks. But I really don't think it had to do with my height. I think my uterus just can't handle the weight and it really likes to contract...

 

I am currently 37 weeks pregnant with twins, I am 5'2, and I am huge!!!!!!! My belly is SO BIG!!! I stopped working around 20 weeks, just because I am on my feet all day at work. I will have a csection on Monday and I am so EXCITED... I can't wait to get these babies out and in my arms!!! You can do it, just drink A LOT of WATER and stay OFF your feet as much as possible, I also have a 2yr old so its hard but we did it!!!!!