Week by week Twins calendar: pregnancy in weeks 36-40


4-8 8-12 12-16 16-20 20-24 24-28 28-32 32-36 36-40

Most mothers carrying multiples will deliver around this time. Babies born before now may require special care in an intensive care unit. However, it is a fact that mothers carrying more than one child generally do not remain pregnant as long as those women carrying one child. At this point of the pregnancy, you probably are feeling a great sense of being "done" with the pregnancy. Try to enjoy the last few weeks, as you will soon miss the feeling of being pregnant.

Most twins will weigh in around 5-7 pounds. If your babies are much smaller than this, they might have to remain at the hospital until they reach a healthy weight to go home. Babies that are much smaller than this will have a hard time regulating their own body temperature and will have to stay warm inside of special baby beds.

Labor and delivery of twins is not very much different than that of a single pregnancy. Of course, there are more babies to deliver, but the process is the same.

Ongoing Symptoms

A sense of completion
Change in appetite
Breathlessness
Change in sleep pattern
Anemia
Glow of pregnancy
Edema
Backache
Pelvic pressure
Braxton Hicks contractions

To Think About This Month

Finalize birth plan
Last minute baby items
Insurance concerns or questions

At The Doctor
Your doctor may set a date for your delivery if you need a cesarean section delivery. Otherwise, you will wait until your water breaks or you start dilating and having contractions. Your doctor will be doing pelvic exams to see what type of progress your cervix is making. As any questions about the upcoming delivery. He will also be checking:
1.) Weight
2.) Blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rate
3.) Breast exam
4.) Pelvic exam
5.) Fetal heartbeat
6.) External palpation of the uterus
7.) Urine screen
8.) Ultrasound assessment
9.) Heart and lungs



Comments by 36-40 week pregnant Twin mothers

Showing 1-47 of about 47 comments from week 36-40
1

AmandaMoon - 8.2 hours ago
Oh I forgot to say that I was 36 1/2 weeks when I had them. I went into natural labor but once at the hospital they put the inducing meds in so that they could have control of the delivery a little better. I went up to the hospital at 11 am, they put the meds in at 12 pm, I had them a little after 3 pm. So quick!
• Hello Folks! Had my boys on Halloween Day! Braxton (Baby A) was 6.01 lbs and 18 1/2 inches born at 3:04 PM head first, Chase (Baby B) was 5.09 lbs and 18 inches long born at 3:07 PM feet first. Both were born vaginally (yay!). I've recovered very quickly! I was up walking around at the hospital as soon as the meds wore off! Thanks for all the support!

asumta1 - 21.9 hours ago
Hi All My babies, One Boy and one girl (surprise) were born on 3rd Nov. Patrick John weighs 6lb 8oz and Magdalen Sophia weighed in at 5lb 4oz. They are gorgeous. I had a vaginal delivery with epidural. I was 38 weeks 1 day. All of us are doing great. Will post photos soon.

twhitehead - Friday, 6 Nov
Well I am 37 wks 5 days cant believe tht I have made it this far my c-section is scheduled for Monday so just 3 more days!!! YEA!!! Cant wait and so ready to meet them and be able to see my feet again!

babies5and6 - Tuesday, 3 Nov
37 weeks 3 days. These babies have turned to a different position every week I have had an ultrasound. Every way but head down. Maybe this week they will turn and stay put.

SMOOTHMOMMY - Monday, 2 Nov
FINALLY I AM A MEMBER I HAVE BEEN READIN ABOUT YOU LADIES AND YOU ALL STAY SO POSITIVE I AM ON MY 4TH PREGNANCY WITH TWO LITTLE BOYS LIVING AND ONE IN HEAVEN...I AM PREGNANT WITH FRATERNAL TWIN GIRLS AT 37 WEEKS BIG AND STRONG.....I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GO INTO LABOR ON MY OWN SO MY C SECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY NOV 6 WHIC MAKES ME 37 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS MY BABIES ARE AN ESTIMATED 6 ALMOST 7 POUNDS...IM SO EXCITED SCARED OF EPIDURALS THOUGH THIS WILL BE MY 3RD BUT EXCITED AND VERY HAPPY BECAUSE THESE ARE MY FIRST LITTLE GIRLS

asumta1 - Thursday, 29 Oct
My babies are now both head down, can't believe B turned. I am 3 cm dialted and scheduled for induction Tues if I dont go before then.

mimik - Tuesday, 27 Oct
I have had my dr. rupture my membranes by two of my singleton pregs. it just causes the body to go into more active labor. i dont see why it should interfare with delivery. the only way it would interfare is if when the water breaks the cord comes down first, then they do c/s right away.

sf-mama - Tuesday, 27 Oct
Does anyone have experience with artificial rupture of the membranes to start labor? I am having tons of good strong contractions but only dilated 1cm. Scheduled to rupture membranes on friday. Does it lead to a successful vaginal delivery? I am hoping for a VBAC

mimik - Tuesday, 27 Oct
had dr apt yesterday. i'm 37w2d today. u/s showed that baby a still head down. baby b turned slightly from breech to partially transverse. i went from being 2cm dilated last wk to 3cm this wk. i went tonight to a chiropractor who does accupuncture that can help the body go in to labor if its ready. (every time i go to him he's amazed at how out-of-whack my back gets in just a few days!) I went to the mall today to get some walking around done. so far all it accomplished was to make me exausted and to make my legs kill!!!

momof3twinsonway - Tuesday, 27 Oct
Hey everyone! My twins are now 10 weeks old! I can't believe it. I just wanted to say that I know you guys (women) are miserable but keep them babies in as long as you can. I wanted mine out also. They took mine at 36w6d because of my blood pressure. My son (kyle) came home with me and our daughter (kaitlyn) was in the hospital for 16 days becuase of immature lungs. I don't wish that on any of you. It was sooooo hard to have one home and one at the hosptial. They also thought at one point they were going to have to put our daughter on a respirator. She was on oxygen, feeding tube, she has to have a pic line inserted. She had blood drawn everyday, x-rays because of fluid on her lungs. Yeah, I know it doesn't happen to all twins but it does happen. My son was 5lbs 8oz and she was 5lbs 14oz and even though those are great weights for twins and she was bigger she was the one who had problems. Good luck to all of you and God Bless!

janaesbbs - Tuesday, 27 Oct
YAHOOOOO!! i made it to 36 wks! OK, now how do i get them to come out? we scheduled the c-section for week 38 but I am so so miserable. it hurts to move, i cant walk, I just want this to be done. The babies are measuring big at almost 7 lbs each right now and at yesterdays ultra sound the were both breathing in the womb! after being on bedrest for the last 3 months and all that medication I thought when they took me off last fri i would go into labor right away.....no luck. everyone tells me to walk around but it hurts too much :( is anyone else having a hard time even moving?

bbcoop - Monday, 26 Oct
PP weight loss seems to vary...I had gained 50lbs-10 in the last two weeks-ouch. I barely lost 15 lbs 1st week and only 10 more by week 6pp but if I remember right, it was aroudn wk8-12 that I was finally able to get within 5 lbs of my prev. weight...I still get on the scale and bounce around between my original weight and 5 lbs more at 6mos PP, but I really eat lots of junk, don't exercise, and havent made a genuine effort...I had also purposely gained 10 lbs before pregnancy per dr recommendation and haven't bothered taking that off yet either so I'm 5ft4 135 instead of 120-125.

steph2009 - Monday, 26 Oct
I have a question... I was just wondering whether anyone else is having trouble working out which bub is kicking? I only ever seem to feel kicking on one side (in two distinct places but still...) and it worries me sometimes. Anyone else with the same concerm?

asumta1 - Monday, 26 Oct
Hi Mimik My babies were head down and breech until last week when B turn sideways. I am holding a lot of fluid too in my legs,ankles, feet and hands. I am scheduled for an induction versus section on the 3rd Nov, i will be 38 weeks 1 day by then. I might attempt vaginal birth if B is still transverse and nothing else changes with A. I hope I go before then though. Keep us updated on your progress. I hope all turns out as you want it to.

jennamoz - Sunday, 25 Oct
mimik--I wouldn't worry too much about the water weight gain. With my last set of twins, towards the end I was pretty swollen and especially after having them. With twins you have to expect the much extra water. Hope that helps

mimik - Sunday, 25 Oct
asumta1 - one head down and one transverse is alot better then what i have, one head down and one breech. Most drs wont attempt vaginal deliveries with breech, but will do so with transverse cuz it's more likely that baby will turn on it's own. my dr scheduled a c/s for next friday, i'll be almost 39wks then!! i better not drag out that long! my legs are retaining so much water that if i lean my leg on something then it leaves an indentation for a long time. i hope it's not dangerous. tomorrow i go to dr so i guess i'll ask then. have u/s, nst and dr. visit. i hope she tells me to go straight to hosp!! lol!!!!!

asumta1 - Sunday, 25 Oct
Hey ladies I am 37 weeks tommorow, and feeling every ache and pain. Could hardly walk yesterday. Doc wont do anything with me until week 38. If i don't go before then I'm before looking at scheduled induction versus section. All will depend on babies position and then decision can be made. They are currently one head down, one transverse. Hoping baby B turns for a vaginal delivery. Good luck to all in the final weeks and hang on in there. It is not easy, I now : )

babies5and6 - Saturday, 24 Oct
Yeehaw, I made it to week 36. My doctor will induce next week if the babies remain breech.

meseale - Thursday, 22 Oct
To all the moms out there worried about loosing the baby weight...my boys are 4 weeks old today...i weighed 182 when i delivered and am now down to 130 4 weeks later...my pre-pregnancy weight was 125...the weight will come off just give it time! If anyone has any questions i would love to give advice. Labor dust and healthy babies to everyone!

sf-mama - Thursday, 22 Oct
Ahhhhh! Rounding the corner to 38 weeks. At last u/s twins were 6lb12oz and 6lb10oz. Why won't they decide to take the dive already! Come on!

tracyl79 - Thursday, 22 Oct
hey mimik u will go soon girl... sounds like your body is almost ready and also c section I totally think was a good idea and better for the babies.I had a c section 3 weeks ago tomorrow actually and 1st one i had it was so scary becasue i didnt know what was going to happen, but afterwards i was thankful and realized it was easier then my vaginal deliveries. :) yes it takes time to heal and believe me u want to make sure you take the time to do so but its so worth it. I hope that helps you

asumta1 - Tuesday, 20 Oct
Hi Mimik Looks like we have the same due dates. Can't believe I made it to 36 weeks myself. Was convinced I would have had mine by now. Mine are fraternal too, dont know the sex. My babies are positioned the same as yours also. I was hoping for a vaginal too, but was told they will only do it if two babies are head down. Was told B can still possibly turn. You will probably go into real labour before the C section, I hope you do. I understand your frustration. My doc said she wont let me go over 38 weeks, but then again I dont know what their schedule looks like,so it could pan out to more. The babies weights are good and you lasted this long so it could be a blessing in disguise. Won't be long now, but I am sure you are sick of hearing that. Good luck,and keep us posted.

mimik - Monday, 19 Oct
Hi! Can't believe i made it here!! 36w1d with fraternal boys. baby a is head down 5lb14oz and baby b is breech 6lbs. till now i was told that as long as baby a is head down they will attempt vaginal delivery at least for first. Now today at my dr visit they said they're scheduling me for a c-section!! between my group of drs and the group that covers for them every other night (which in itself is an issue i'm upset about), only 1 out of 6 drs will attempt to turn and deliver baby b vaginally. First my hub and i were very upset at the turn of events, but we realize that they mean the good of the babies and it is best for them. Now my dr is telling me that the first opening they have available is at 38w5d!!!! I can't wait so long! I hope to go into real labor before then. right now i'm 50% effaced and 2cm open. I can't take this anymore!! Last night i went in cuz i was having so many contractions and cramping. Nothing doing, just a UTI which she said can cause labor-like symptoms!

nicolerene042 - Monday, 19 Oct
good luck ladies. my baby boys are 4 months and three days and they keep me super busy. keep them in as long as you can sf-mama. my baby a went to the nicu at 37 weeks 5 days and weighed 5.3 and baby b came home with us at 6.11. the hardst thing you have to do is take one home and leave one i did everything to to get them out and im glad nothing worked. he only went to the nicu for 7 days low blood sugar. probley due to ttts.

sf-mama - Sunday, 18 Oct
Thanks Tracy. Just increasing in the misery factory by the day

tracyl79 - Sunday, 18 Oct
Gracie&thetwins... I also had a c section only 2weeks ago, and i also felt a little natious with a temp of 99 but i am getting over all of it now. I weighed myself the other day and have lost 45pounds woohoo but still got a ways to go b4 im happy. I think losing that much has alot to do with the reatainige of water so i wouldnt think it would make you feel sick. I believe having a c section takes alot out of you and your body so feeling that way for a little bit i think is normal. Like i said its been 2 weeks for me and i think i am finally starting to feel better, i hope that helps
• SF-MAMA.... u r gettin close girl let them bake as long as they will becuz you want them as healthy as can be. I made it to 36weeks and had my boys 2 weeks ago and even being a few weeks early you can tell they could have used that few weeks more, but i so know where u are comin from about HELLO GET THEM OUT haha be patient tho girl there comin :)

jennamoz - Saturday, 17 Oct
I have a questions for all of you mommies expecting twins that have had previous c-sections:::::: Is your Doctor saying that you'll need to have another c-section with your twins due to a previous c-section?

sf-mama - Saturday, 17 Oct
Ahhhhh! I am officially alone on here. Not dialating, and these babies are not going anywhere. I feel stretched soooo thin that my belly skin might explode Aliens-style. I will be 37 weeks tomorrow and my chances of a VBAC seem to be disappearing as these kids get too large. NST tests 2x next week, 1 u/s, one OB, blah blah. Babies were 5lbs each at 33wks, they are ready. ANY ADVICE? How do I get them out. We have had sex every day for the past week, I walk, I eat everything spicy I can find. ANYTHING?

gigantor - Saturday, 17 Oct
Blessedx2, I went in for a scheduled induction. I wanted to be able to choose my doctor. I made it to 38 weeks and I was glad I did. I have about 10lbs left of pre-pregnancy weight, but I eat like there is no tomorrow...lol It's still going, but now it's much slower.

Gracieandthetwins - Tuesday, 13 Oct
Hey ladies! Just wondering, out of all you who have had your babies already, who has lost a ton of their baby weight very quickly. The day we went into the hospital to have the babies I was 191 (normal weight 135) when we got home I was down to 177 (to be expected). A week later I had lost a total of 40lbs! I still have about 15 to go to get back to pre-babies weight, however, my question is...has any of you felt ill like excessively tired, weak, headache, dizzy, small fever 100.7. I was just wondering if this is how I feel b/c of the weight loss or if this is normal after a c-section?

Blessedx2 - Tuesday, 13 Oct
To twinmama2be, gigantor, and tracy...how did the babies finally come? Did you all do any tricks to finally give birth? or did you just have to wait patiently?
• Hello to all. I've been referring to this site for most of my pregnancy but I've never joined. I am currently in my 37th week and miserable. I thought that my doctor was torturing me by allowing me to go longer but after reading a few of your comments, I now do not feel alone. I am 3-4cm, effaced at 90%, stationed at -1, and have been have contractions for the past two weeks. And still no babies. Baby A (girl) is 6lbs 3oz and Baby B (boy) is 6lbs 13 oz as of last Monday. Last wk they both were head down but this week the boy is now breech. I am striving for a natural vaginal birth so I hope he turns back even though that hurts like cramp. I am soooo exhausted and can't wait for this pregnancy to be over. Does twins run in your family? I am a twin and my mother is a twin. And now I'm having twins.

gigantor - Monday, 12 Oct
I agree twinmamma. We could use a section of our own...lol I heard a lot of good things about another website (twinstuff) but have not checked it out yet.
• Congratulations twinmamma2b! I'm glad you got to go home with your little ones.
• Nicole, I left a private message on your profile some time ago. Can you please let me know the answer to that?
• Congrats Tracy! Great weights for your twins!

tracyl79 - Thursday, 8 Oct
well ladies i had my twin boys on the 2nd woohoo...thankful to be done and they are very healthy :) BABY A was 6.14 19inches and 7.11 19.5inches they both were great and never had NICU time and i delivered at 36weeks 3days. Thanks for all the help getting thru all of this to all of you if anyone needs to talk or has questions please dont hesitate to ask. thanks again ladies and goodluck to all of u

misnisha - Tuesday, 6 Oct
im 39 weeks and still no babies i think im about to lose my mind both babies are over 7lbs and both head down, and the doc still didnt schl me to get induce... i just cant wait till this is over with

nicolerene042 - Friday, 2 Oct
i just wanted to say ladies my boys are 15 weeks old and i have lost all of my baby weight. yes all of it. i was 145 before the day i delivered i was 210. but my shape is not the same anymore but oh well.

Leisa Jo Simmons - Wednesday, 30 Sep
Hey Gigantor, I had my babies also on the 21st but I was only 34.3 wks. I had pre eclampsia so bad, my kidneys were terrible and my liver and my blood pressure was so hi. I felt wonderful i had no idea how sick I was. Jake was 5.2 and Lexi was only 3.4. He was taking all the nutrition. I think it was a blessing i was so sick . She had only gained 2 ounces in two weeks and he gained over a pound and a half. They are doing great. The had nose canulars for two days and that was all. jake takes all his feeds from a bottle and Lexi takes three a day. They are 5.3 and 3.9 now. They are doing awesome. So glad to hear your babies are big and healthy. Take care.

tracyl79 - Wednesday, 30 Sep
hey ladies ..I finally made it 36 weeks babies are weighing 6.4 & 7.1 wow know wonder why everything hurts on me. I been having contractions for awhile and only dialated to 1 efaced at 30% and both babies are breeched so i have to have c section....lord i am scared. My doctor wont schedule me tell i am 39weeks isnt that just to far?

sandral - Tuesday, 29 Sep
oic, my right side is the one that is very swollen, and my c/s is scheduled for 10/8 at 11am scared!!!! but like you said 3boysme it's worth it and glad i carried them for 38 weeks.

gigantor - Tuesday, 29 Sep
sandral, my ankles were like that too. Only my right side started to swell first, but the lefty caught up in a few days. A week after giving birth I can finally see the original shape of my legs. Still some water, but almost completely gone.

3boys4me - Tuesday, 29 Sep
Yeah, today I celebrate 37 weeks pregnant. I have a c/s scheduled for next tues because baby A is breech. 7 more days to go. I can't believe it. This pregnancy has been so LONG. My body is achy and sore and it is hard to move around but Term babies are so worth it!

sandral - Monday, 28 Sep
Congratulation! today I'm 37 weeks very prego!!! but getting swollen on one side ?

irishmama - Monday, 28 Sep
Many congratulations, meseale and gigantor- I've been logging in every day or so to see if there was any news of your babies. Well done. It's great that you both had natural deliveries also! twinmama2b- I completely agree with what you said. The last 6 weeks of my twin pregnancy were the hardest thing I've ever gone through,physically and psychologically, even as regards getting no sleep. I'm breastfeeding both my babies every few hours, so still don't get much but at least I'm now comfortable. Had a bath last night and luxuriated in the fact that I could Bend Forward and Turn On The Taps ! Hadn't been able to bend for what seemed like a century. Had to use my feet to turn on and off water for the last five months. Makes you really appreciate all the little things about being physically independent.

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