Twins have been known to stay in the hospital for months so they can have the needed surgeries and give them time to grow and develop enough to leave all the machines of the NICU. It's likely that your twins will fall somewhere in the middle of these extremes.
Depending on the type of birth you're having and any complications you or baby might have, expect to stay there between 2-4 nights. I had a Cesarean with twins and our insurance would have covered four nights but we opted to stay just three.
Twin births
Twins are more likely to be born early, often before 38 weeks, so it's important to understand your birth options. Less than 1 in every 2 twin pregnancies continues beyond 37 weeks.
Babies born before 34 weeks may go home closer to their original due date, especially if they have needed higher degrees of support in the NICU. If they're born at 34 to 35 weeks, they may need to stay in the NICU for two weeks. Twins born 35 to 37 weeks may stay a week or less.
A little more than half of twin pregnancies end in preterm delivery (before 37 weeks). While 40 weeks is the full gestation period of the average pregnancy, most twin pregnancies are delivered at approximately 36 weeks (range 32-38 weeks depending on the type of twin pregnancy).
They conclude, “In terms of short- and long-term outcomes, uncomplicated twin pregnancies should not be delivered before 37 completed weeks of gestation and that there is a limited benefit of prolonging pregnancy after that.”
A typical, single pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, but a twin pregnancy often lasts between 35 to 37 weeks. More than half of all twins are born prematurely (before 37 weeks), and the risk of premature delivery increases with higher-order multiples. Premature babies (preemies) can have health challenges.
The average weight of twins is 2.5kg.
What's a 'normal' weight for a multiple? About half of all twins weigh at least 5½ pounds at birth. (Below 5½ pounds, or 2,500 grams, is considered a low birth weight, with a higher potential for complications.)
Any baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature. Twins usually arrive around 37 weeks, weighing in at an average 5.5lbs (2.49kg). Triplets usually arrive around 34 weeks, weighing in at an average 4lb (1.8kg).
It's common for twins to be born by 38 weeks, and roughly 60% of twins are born via c-section. However, a recent study has shown planning an elective c-section does not maximise your chances for a safe birth.
If everything progresses normally during your twin pregnancy, you may not require bed rest. However, if you do experience complications or certain other conditions, your doctor may recommend bed rest.
Once you enter into your second trimester, you should expect to have two prenatal visits per month. During the third trimester, you should anticipate weekly prenatal appointments. Your healthcare provider may change the number of appointments based on the health of you and your babies.
Just as your belly slowly grows to accommodate baby during pregnancy, it'll slowly go back down to its normal size now that baby is on the outside. Postpartum belly progression varies from mom to mom. But, in general, you can expect to feel more like yourself within the first six months postpartum.
Caesarean section surgery usually takes 30-60 minutes, although the entire process takes a few hours. There'll be many people in the operating theatre with you. You can usually have a support person.
Bleeding after birth may last for a while
Bleeding often lasts for around for four to six weeks, but could last up to 12 weeks after your baby's born . If you're worried, you can talk to a health professional. Bleeding will start off heavy and red to browny red. It will become lighter in colour and flow over time .
Being pregnant with multiples doesn't necessarily mean that your pregnancy will be problematic. However, women carrying multiples do have a higher chance of developing complications such as high blood pressure and preterm labor. For this reason, all multiple pregnancies are considered high-risk.
Previous studies of twins have reported that the second-born twin is, on average, lighter than the first-born twin at birth (Glinianaia et al., 2000; Gielen, et al., 2007; van Baal and Boomsma, 1998).
Twins are usually born before the usual 40-week due date. For the mother, carrying twins can be more difficult than carrying a single baby. And her risks are higher for pregnancy problems. That's why keeping up with prenatal checks and tests is especially important.
The mean birthweight slightly decreased from 2462 g in 2001 to 2440 g in 2010 for male twins (p = 0.49). For female twins, the mean birthweight significantly decreased from 2375 g in 2001 to 2338 g in 2010 (p < 0.001) (Fig. 2).
Dropping 30 pounds two weeks after delivering twins is not uncommon. All that excess fluid (extra blood volume, amniotic fluid and water weight) — not to mention the weight of your babies themselves — goes away rather quickly after birth.
Full-term for twins is the same as full-term for singleton babies, technically: 39 weeks pregnant. But if your twins are born at 37 weeks, that's as close to actual full-term as many twins get. At that point, they have full lung maturity and should be able to leave the hospital within a few days of delivery.
Rate of twin births in the U.S. in 2020 and 2021, by month
In 2021, the month with the highest rate of twin births in the United States was July with almost 33 twin births per 1,000 total births.
Many authorities recommend that monoamniotic twin pregnancies be delivered by elective cesarean as early as 32 to 34 weeks of gestation due to the risk fetal demise secondary to cord entanglement. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring of both fetuses is required throughout labor and delivery.
Researchers have found that twins have a fetal lung maturity value that's 22 mg/g higher than singletons matched for gestational age.