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Parents
Multiple births and premature babies
If there is a maternal family history of twins, or you have had fertility treatment, then you may be more likely to have a multiple birth. Multiple pregnancies often do not carry to full term (40 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period).
Twins, triplets and more?
Couples having quadruplets or quintuplets (and beyond) after fertility treatment are rare. The vast majority of all multiple births are twins. As a rough guide, out of 715,556 total maternities in 2005, 10,553 were twins and just 159 were triplets.
Twins occur in two ways:
- one fertilised egg splits into two, resulting in identical babies
- two eggs are fertilised at the same time (or at least during the same menstrual cycle) by separate sperm, resulting in non-identical babies
Usually the first time you will know for sure that you are having twins will be when you have your first ultrasound.
Your pregnancy will not be very different to any other. You may, of course, become bigger than mothers carrying just one baby, and the pregnancy could be shorter. The average length of a twin pregnancy is 37 weeks.
Delivering twins
Many obstetricians will recommend a caesarean section, particularly for first time mothers. However, some mothers delivering twins will be able to do so in the usual (vaginal) way, especially if both babies are head first. With twins, though, it is more likely that one of the babies will be breech (coming out feet first), and if it cannot be turned then a caesarean section may be necessary.
Premature babies
Any baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature. Factors that may cause premature birth include:
- multiple pregnancy
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- smoking or drug use during pregnancy
- poor diet during pregnancy
- pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure combined with protein in the urine, which restricts blood flow to the placenta)
- previous delivery of a premature baby
Care for premature babies
If your baby or babies are born prematurely they may need special care for the first few weeks of their life. This will often involve them staying in an incubator, which will help them to breathe easily and replicate the conditions of the womb.
Feeding is very important at this stage, and breast milk is best. If you cannot be with your baby all the time then try expressing milk for the nurses to give while you are away.
It is very important for you to touch, cuddle and talk to your baby. Even babies in incubators can be touched - just remember to wash and dry your hands thoroughly first.
