Twins, Triplets & More Support Group

Triplets & More","This community connects people seeking information and experiences about multiple births. Different names for multiple birth are used, depending on the actual multiple. Common multiples are two and three, known as twins and triplets respectively. Share your thoughts and find whatever support you need."

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/ Twins, Triplets & More Support Group

what is the earliest fetal age twins can survive

brryyanna28
brryyanna28
im 29 weeks pregnant with twin girls and alot of people tell me that twins come out premature at what week will twins be able to survive without having to staay at the hospital for long
deleted_user
deleted_user
My reading tells me the about half of all twins are born before 36 weeks but there are alot of factors involved. The youngest babies I have read about were 25 weeks and they obviously spent months in a NICU but I have also read stories about babies 33-35 weeks only staying a week or 2 in the hospital. Best I can tell you is try to make it as long as possible. 37 weeks is the goal my doc gave me. The longer they stay inside you the few long term complications the babies may incounter. The best advice I recieved was to take a tour of the NICU at your hospital so that IF you have to spend a few days there with your babies it will not be so scary. You are 29 weeks so most babies born after this point survive but the longer they stay inside the better :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
At 24 weeks they are considered viable, with a 50/50 chance of survival, but there would be a lot of complicatiions that could arise and the NICU stay would be lengthy. Just discussed this with my drs yesterday bc we hit 24wks and they are no longer checking my cervix bc of the above. At 29wk we were told they have a 80% chance of survival with short stay in the NICU if everything goes good. (usually 2 to 4wks) The goal is to make it to 36/37 weeks before they arrive.
deleted_user
deleted_user
When my boys were in the NICU (35 weekers) the docs told me that the rule of thumb is plan on them being in the hospital until their due date. They did say often they don't actually have to stay that long, but it's best to plan on it so you aren't disappointed if they do. In my case, one of my boys was released after a week, the other after two, but everyone said they were big and very "full term" looking for 35 weeks.

And I also have read that babies are viable at 24 weeks - but obviously there are lots of potential complications (at birth and in later development) that can arise due to prematurity, so the longer they gestate the better! Good luck!
MomHopes
MomHopes
Like others have said 24 weeks is considered viability date. I have a friend who had her twins at exactly 24 weeks. One baby lived and is now a happy healthy toddler. Sadly, her other baby passed away a few days after birth.