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When can you be induced with twins?
As a reminder, induction is when the doctor encourages Mom’s uterus to contract and thus start the labor process. Inducing labor may be done via many different methods so talk to your doctor about what that means in your situation.
So that begs the question, when is it safe for Mom to be induced to bring those babies into the world?
Induction of your twin babies is really up to you and your doctor.
You may find that your twins arrive even before you have a conversation about induction.
Twins can be born significantly early, particularly when compared to a singleton child. As we have discussed before, twins are born on average at about 36 weeks of the twin pregnancy. Your doctor may be open to inducing Mom anywhere after that 36 week mark.
In the case of our twin pregnancy, the doctor didn’t want to plan anything until we had reached 38 weeks of the pregnancy. So typically, between 37 and 38 weeks is when the doctor may approve an induction for your twin babies if the twins haven’t already been born by then.
You’re going to have weekly checkups with a doctor plus probably weekly ultrasounds to see how the babies are doing. The doctor will be very aware of the the growth situation of the twins and of the health of Mom. These frequent check-ups also give indications of how long those babies can make it before it’s time for them to be born.
Our girls were born at 36 weeks of the pregnancy. We had gone in just for a regular checkup when we found out that my wife was having contractions and it was time to have the babies.
(RELATED: Check out the Dad's Guide to Twins Youtube channel for additional helpful twin tips and tricks videos.)
You may find that your twin babies are in no hurry to exit the womb and may then need to be induced a 37-38 weeks. Of course this is a conversation you’ll need to have with your doctor because your doctor best knows Mom’s health condition and baby’s health status and how long those babies can go and still be healthy.
Ideally, you want to keep those babies in as long as possible so they can continue to grow and develop (particularly their lung capacity). But once they’re beyond that 36 week mark, they are usually going to be okay and will be healthy and just fine.
By 38 weeks, it’s probably time for those babies to be induced and to come out.
So on your next doctor visit during the twin pregnancy make sure you ask when Mom could be induced if it came to that. You just may hear “38 weeks”.
