38 weeks with twins and still going!

[medicinemansgirl]

I made it to the 38 week milestone with no signs of any labor happening anytime in the near future. Since I carried our 1st set of twins all 40 weeks I'm thinking this will be much the same. I'm measuring much larger than I did with them...maxing out at 42 cm in fundal height at 40 wks with them and am now already measuring 48 cm at only 38 wks with these two. Their pregnancies have definitely been very very different. Everything's ready so now it's just a waiting game. As far as I can tell I'm already dialted to 4 cm...which is a huge deal since I usually don't ever dilate at all until labor actually begins. So, 4 less to go when things do finally kick in! I began taking Gentle Birth Formula at 36 wks to help tone and prepare my uterus and hopefully lessen any bleeding that could occur since it is well known for helping reduce bleeding after birth. So far I've been really pleased with it. If that's what's gotten me to a painless 4 so far than I'm good with it!! The Sabina and Angelica also arrived earlier this week in the event there is bleeding before the placenta detaches. These 2 also aid it in detaching too, though I have never had issues with this in any of my pregnancies. I was just more concerned about any bleeding that may occur due to having a larger than average uterus and having had so many previous pregnancies. Both Sabina and Angelica are safe to take before placenta is out so between those 2 and then having the Shepherd's Purse for after it is birthed I feel very confident and really excited about the upcoming births of our babies!!

So...38 weeks today it is...and still going! Everything's ready..now just need some babies!

[smeep]

Yayyy!!! Happy end of pregnancy and birthing vibes to you! I can't wait to hear the birth story!!!

[mataji4]

Go healthy mama!!! The measuring big could just be b/c these are babies 9 and 10. Were your other births unassisted as well? Enjoy your last days or weeks carrying these babies!! Soon they'll be in your arms, all snuggly and tender sweet!

[medicinemansgirl]

I've meassured big from about 21 wks on. Up until then I was actually measuring behind so we never suspected twins again. But starting at about 21/22 wks I jumped and started measuring anywhere from 3 ahead and just kept growing and expanding up to where I am now! LOL! I'm not concerned about measurements at all. I just figure it's a different pregnancy with different babies. I've always measured 2 cm behind in single baby pregnancies and topped out at 40 wks only measuring 38 cm. I measured right on target with my weeks with our 1st set of twins up until the last appt at 40 wks when I measured 42 cm. So to be this huge is actually kind of amusing to me. Just fun to watch the numbers go up with my massive size!

This will actually be only our 2nd UC. First 3 births were very typical hospital births with lots of interventions. Our 4th birth was our 1st set of twins, which was actually a really great hospital birth considering all that we'd been through and fought through with the medical comm. After that we had 2 assisted homebirths and are now on our 2nd UC. After UCing I don't think I could ever go back. We tried using a mw this pregnancy but by the end of it I was just fed up. My heart is to UC and labor in total peace.

I can hardly wait to post a birth story!!

[mauri456]

I'm not UC but am a twin mama so I wanted to say congrats

We're about in the same boat -- I turned 39 weeks on Monday.

Good work!

[Kidzaplenty]

Congratulations on making it so far! It is wonderful for those little guys.

[a-o-t-e]

Yay! Awesome to read! I'm 34w with my 2 and UP/UC. My mother has been saying 'all twins come early' and telling me it will be this month, but I think otherwise and love to hear of another who keeps hers in to the last Cant wait to read your birth story!

[MsBlack]

Wow--that is great news. Do you have any idea how big your bubs are? With your measurement, sounds like they could be pretty big. Well, that or you have a lot of fluid in there along with the babies. Either way, sounds like you have 2 healthy kickers in there--who seem happy to grow to their fullest extent before greeting you in your arms. Can't wait to hear your birth story

[medicinemansgirl]

Currently at 38 wks 5 days now!! Still going. Friday's a full moon so I have hope of an end being near! LOL! The world agrees that there are more babies delivered on a full moon than at any other time of the month. So, here's hoping for Friday....cause right now there's not ANY action going on. I can't wait to write my birth story!!

So far I have no clue how big babies are. I had the last u/s at 33 wks before we terminated care with my mw. At that point babies were estimated to be around 5 lbs. each From there it's said they put on about 1/2 a lb a week....so if that holds true we're looking at 8 lb babies right about now. We'll see how accurate that is. Right now I FEEL like I'm carrying two 8 lb babies. I have a close friend that went to 41 wks with her 2 and delivered at home with A 8 lbs and B 8 1/2 lbs. But at 40 wks with our 1st set they weighed at birth 6'4 and 7'2. So, I have a hard time beliveing these two are each 8 lbs. But then again, I'm measuring MUCH larger with this pregnancy so we'll see!

I'll keep you posted!

[MsBlack]

When moms don't know enough about nutrition, or just don't have access to as much food as they'd like to eat, twins can be on the small side--for both twins be 4-6lbs, or only one above 6-7lbs and the other significantly smaller (I don't mean with TTTS), used to be pretty 'normal'. Now, with better nutrition info, for moms who can afford to eat as much as they like with their multiples pregnancies, it is much more common to see twins at 7-8.5lbs each--or even more. Amazing what a woman's body can do, to accomodate new life! I have a friend who carried 16lbs worth of triplets to 37wks, and read a birth story years back (from Ina May Gaskin) about triplets that were all 7lbs +/-

[a-o-t-e]

Wow, good sizes Ms Black! A friend of mine birthed her twin boys at 40+3 and one was 9lb 2oz and the other 9lb 10oz! Her singletons were similar sizes

Not sure about the fundal height thing. I was measuring the same with both my dd and ds and dd was 6lb 10oz and my ds 4yrs later was 8lb 6oz.

This time I am 34w and measuring 42cms, but on palpation, I dont feel the babies are massive, but one is laying 'on top' of the other, so in my case, it is positioning rather than size that is influencing things.....

[BusyMumof5]

Well done!!!

Also a Twin Mama, I went into labour just before 38 weeks, but I was absolutely fed up with the comments from other Twin Mums' ''Oh my God, are you STILL pregnant with them, 50% of them are born before 37 weeks, and I had mine at 33 weeks'' Or such like to that, I was so fed up with them, I actually ended up blocking them and saying 'Oh, Well I was on 'bed rest' for weeks so I couldn't get online' Sometimes it was much easier :) 

Hope all turns out well for you x