Having Twins Before 40 Weeks is Safer

By Kai Colvin - Senior Medical Research Editor | July 11th, 2012

Encompassed by the largest study addressing uncomplicated twin pregnancy, a team of University of Adelaide scientists endorse women pregnant with twins should elect to give birth at 37 weeks.

As published in the British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 235 women in Australia, New Zealand and Italy, who gave birth in the early birth group (37 weeks) were significantly less likely to have babies born small for their gestational age compared with babies born to women in the average care group (38 weeks or later).

Lead researcher, Jodie Dodd of the University of Adelaide's Robinson Institute and the Women's and Children's Hospital stated, “Infants of a twin pregnancy are recognized to be at risk of problems during pregnancy, particularly from a slowing of the rate of growth in one or both twins.”

Taking great interest in the matter of optimal timing for healthy twin births, Professor Dodd further added, "This slowing of the growth rate can result in low birth weight, which is associated with an increased need for care in the neonatal nursery in the short term and increased risk of health problems in later life, including heart disease and diabetes. There is also the risk of one or both twins being stillborn.”

Twins are now a collective part of worldly culture, thanks to the advances in reproductive technology. Twins are conceived naturally just 2 percent of the time; for those who get pregnant with infertility treatments the rate is over 40 percent.

Across the world, IVF specialists are accomplished at selecting the most viable eggs and sperm to combine— defined as the embryo. Each IVF clinic is diverse in the number of embryos allowed for the embryo transfer into the woman's uterus.

Single Embryo Transfer— a process by which one good quality blastocyst (or day 5) embryo is transferred back to the patient.

The goal of the study is to further educate and help improve clinical care for women with natural twin pregnancies or twin pregnancies resultant of IVF treatments to have fewer complications at birth—ultimately leading to a healthy lifestyle for both the mother and baby.

While 40 weeks is considered full-term pregnancy for one baby, 37 weeks is reflected as full-term for a twin pregnancy. The risk of stillbirth in twins increases slightly after 38 weeks.

All over the globe healthy twins are born every minute; however it’s imperative to be highly familiar with the possible complications that may exist. Choose a gynecologist or doctor who primarily focuses on high-risk pregnancies.

If you are expecting twins, risks increase for:

Pre-eclampsia
Gestational Diabetes
Twin-Twin Transfusion
Premature Birth

As with all multiple births there is increased risk of complications, but with passionate support and expert guidance of an IVF specialist you can increase your likelihood for a normal pregnancy and healthy babies.

To learn more about multiple births, find a doctor in your area.