While the average single baby weighs 7 pounds at birth, the average twin weighs 5.5 pounds. Triplets typically weigh 4 pounds each, and quads weigh 3 pounds each. Babies born at under 5.5 pounds are considered to have a low birth weight.
The average weight of twins is 2.5kg.
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).
And, babies born at this stage are not any more likely to have long-term health issues than their full term peers. Your babies weigh just shy of 5 lbs — though there is some variation in size at this stage!
At 36 weeks, on average , a fetus is 16–19 inches long and weighs 6.0–6.5 pounds (lb). Twins will be individually smaller in weight. Dichorionic twins, who have a placenta each, weigh an average of about 2,570.9 grams (5.67 lb).
Your twins' organs are fully developed and in place, although their lungs are still maturing. If you go into labour prematurely, you may be offered steroids to help your babies breathe after the birth.
The heaviest birth weight for surviving twins on record goes to Mrs. J.P. Haskin of Arkansas, on February 20 1924, whose twins weighed in at an eye-watering 14lbs & 13lbs 12oz, totalling 27lb 12oz. The Uk's heaviest set appear to have been the Warren's born on December 6th 1884 totalling 25lbs 8ozs.
The average gestational age for twins at birth is 36 weeks. Their lungs are well developed by 34 weeks, and all body systems are now functioning.
Delivering twins at 36 weeks
Babies born preterm are more likely to have complications and may need to spend time in the NICU, though this isn't always the case. Preterm babies may have problems with breathing, eating, or regulating temperature.
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.
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).
Twin delivery, on average, occurs around 35 to 36 weeks. Triplets and quadruplets may come even sooner. Moms of singletons, on average, deliver at 39 weeks. Since many twin births happen early, the average twin arrives weighing about 5 1/2 pounds.
Third trimester
Your goal now is to continue gaining 1.5 to 2 pounds per week through your seventh month. By 32 weeks, your twins may be four pounds each.
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.”
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.
More than 9 out of 10 babies born at term (37 to 40 weeks) weigh between 2.5kg and 4.5kg. If your baby weighs 4.5kg or more at birth, they are considered larger than normal. This is also known as 'fetal macrosomia' and large for gestational age (LGA).
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).
Twin pregnancies should not continue past 39 weeks because of the higher risks of perinatal death and long hospital stays at 40 weeks. The goal of labor induction in twins between 36 and 39 weeks is to prevent them from the increased risk of morbidity and intrauterine growth retardation after 39 weeks.
Your babies may weigh much the same as each other, or their weights may be very different. The average weight of twins is 2.49kg (5.5lbs) at 37 weeks, whilst it's 1.80kg (4lb) for triplets.
36-37 weeks if you are carrying twin babies that share a placenta (monochorionic) between 32 and 33+6 weeks if you are carrying twin babies that share a placenta and amniotic sac (monochorionic monoamniotic)
The birth process is similar to giving birth to a single baby. If you're planning a vaginal birth, your health team may recommend that you have an epidural for pain relief.
Such twins, known scientifically as 'MoMo', an abbreviation for monoamniotic-monochorionic, are some of the rarest types of twins, making up less than one percent of all births in the United States, noted the statement. It also stressed that such MoMo twin pregnancies have a high risk of fetal complications.
A Russian woman named Valentina Vassilyeva and her husband Feodor Vassilyev are alleged to hold the record for the most children a couple has produced. She gave birth to a total of 69 children – sixteen pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets – between 1725 and 1765, a total of 27 births.
Weight gain depends on a number of factors including height, body type, and pre-pregnancy weight. However, most women who are carrying twins are encouraged to gain 35 to 45 pounds. Women carrying triplets are advised to gain 50 to 60 pounds.