Contents:
- Medical Video: 30 Week Premature Twins born at St Mark's Hospital- My Miracles!!!
- Why are most twins prematurely born?
- 1. Preeclampsia
- 2. There is a problem with the placenta
- 3. The amniotic sac breaks early
- 4. identical twin pregnancies
- 5. Fetus does not develop in the womb (IUGR)
- Can you prevent the risk of premature birth in multiple pregnancies?
Medical Video: 30 Week Premature Twins born at St Mark's Hospital- My Miracles!!!
Most cases of twins are prematurely born. Yes. Twin pregnancies can greatly increase a woman's risk of premature delivery. However, will all twins automatically be born prematurely? In fact, preterm labor itself is actually very risky for baby's safety. Check the facts in this article.
Why are most twins prematurely born?
Twin pregnancy is one of the risk factors for preterm birth. The March of Dimes even reported that the higher the number of twins in the womb, the higher the risk of the mother giving birth prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy). In general,twins are born at weeks 34-36 weeks of gestation, while triplets are generally born at weeks 32-36.
The exact reason why pregnant twins are prone to premature birth is uncertain. However, there are a number of conditions that can trigger labor to occur earlier.
Here are some risk factors that can cause twins to be born prematurely:
1. Preeclampsia
Twin pregnancy makes you more at risk of having high blood pressure up to 2-3 times more than being pregnant with one baby. As a result, you are three times more at risk for preeclampsia. A survey found that 13% of pregnant women twins had preeclampsia. Because the increase in blood pressure during pregnancy makes the placenta work extra hard to supply food evenly for your children in the womb.
Preeclampsia can be a serious problem for the mother because it can cause seizures, strokes, and liver damage. The case of preeclampsia in general must be treated immediately with early labor.
2. There is a problem with the placenta
Depending on whether the pregnancy is identical or fraternal, the placenta you have when you are pregnant with twins can be only one or even two for each child.
The placenta will attach to the inside of the mother's uterus during pregnancy and dislodge itself at birth. However, the placenta in twin pregnancies is larger than usual, so it can increase the risk of complications that are dangerous for the mother and baby. The most common placental problems in multiple pregnancies are placental abruption and placenta previa.Both of these conditions can trigger twins prematurely born.
3. The amniotic sac breaks early
In general, the amniotic sac will rupture during labor. But it does not rule out the possibility that the membranes can rupture early, especially in twin pregnancies.
Premature rupture of water is at risk of infection if labor is not immediately performed. This condition then triggers the delivery of twins to occur earlier. Early ruptured membranes are associated with nearly 40 percent of premature births and can result in an increased risk of health problems in newborns - including brain hemorrhage, bone deformities, nerve disorders, and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).
4. identical twin pregnancies
Identical twins occur when 1 egg fertilized by 1 sperm cell turns into an embryo and undergoes division. Because they are from the same embryo, identical twins share the same genetic and DNA, and share one placenta and one same amniotic sac. This can increase the risk of one baby wrapped around the umbilical cord during pregnancy, which could endanger his life. In some cases, the best choice for identical twins is premature labor.
In addition, there is one serious complication that may occur in identical twin pregnancies - that isTwin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). TTTS is a condition that causes an imbalance in blood flow in both twins. One twin may receive too much blood and experience accumulation of amniotic fluid, then press other twins on the uterine wall. On the other hand, the other twins receive too little blood, so they become small and do not grow well.
5. Fetus does not develop in the womb (IUGR)
Fetus does not develop in the womb (IUGR) is a condition where one baby is too small or both twins do not grow perfectly. Problems with the placenta, slight amniotic fluid, andTwin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) are a number of risk factors for IUGR in multiple pregnancies.
You will be advised to undergo preterm labor if one of the smaller twins stops growing, or both stop growing.
Can you prevent the risk of premature birth in multiple pregnancies?
Remember, having one or more of these risk factors does not guarantee twins are premature. Some of the risks above only increase the chances of that happening.
You really can't prevent premature birth. But, you can reduce the risk by undergoing a healthy pregnancy. Take care of your diet and weight to avoid increasing blood pressure, stopping or avoiding smoking and drinking habits, taking prenatal vitamins, managing stress well, and routinely controlling your pregnancy to the doctor for danger signs.
