Twins born prematurely: is that always the case?

Most cases of twins are born prematurely. Yes. Multiple pregnancies can greatly increase a mother's risk of preterm delivery. However, will all twins automatically be born prematurely? In fact, preterm labor itself is actually very risky for the safety of the baby. Check the facts in this article.

Why are most twins born prematurely

Multiple pregnancy is one of the risk factors for preterm birth. The March of Dimes even reports that the higher the multiple of twins in the womb, the higher the risk for the mother to give birth prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy). In general, twins are born at 34-36 weeks of gestation, while triplets are generally born at 32-36 weeks.

The exact cause why pregnant twins are prone to preterm birth cannot be ascertained. However, there are several conditions that can trigger labor to occur earlier.

Here are some risk factors that can cause twins to be born prematurely:

1. Preeclampsia

Being pregnant with twins puts you at 2-3 times more risk of having high blood pressure than being pregnant with one baby. As a result, you are three times more likely to develop preeclampsia. A survey found that 13% of mothers who were pregnant with twins had preeclampsia. The reason is, this 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 mothers because it can lead to seizures, strokes and liver damage. Preeclampsia cases in general must be resolved immediately by early delivery.

2. There is a problem with the placenta

Depending on whether the pregnancies are identical or fraternal, the placenta you have when you are pregnant with twins can be only one or even two per child.

The placenta will stick to the inside of the mother's uterus during pregnancy and release by itself at birth. However, the placenta in multiple pregnancies is larger than usual, which can increase the risk of dangerous complications for both the mother and the baby. The most common placental problems that occur in multiple pregnancies are placental abruption and placenta previa. Both of these conditions can lead to twins born prematurely.

3. The amniotic sac ruptures prematurely

In general, the amniotic sac will burst during labor. However, it does not rule out that the membranes may break early, especially in multiple pregnancies.

Premature rupture of the amniotic fluid is at risk of infection if labor is not carried out immediately. This condition then triggers the delivery of twins to occur earlier. Premature rupture of membranes is associated with nearly 40 percent of preterm births and can result in an increased risk of health problems in the newborn - including cerebral hemorrhages, bone deformities, neurological disorders and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

4. Identical twin pregnancy

Identical twins occur when 1 egg that is fertilized by 1 sperm cell turns into an embryo and undergoes division. Because they come from the same embryo, identical twins share the same genetics and DNA, and share the same placenta and amniotic sac. This can increase the risk of having one of the babies entangled in the umbilical cord during pregnancy, which could be life threatening. In some cases, the best option for identical twins is preterm delivery.

In addition, there is one serious complication that may occur with identical twin pregnancies - namelyTwin-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 have a build-up of amniotic fluid, then press the other twin against the uterine wall. On the other hand, the other twin is receiving too little blood, so he is small and does not grow properly.

5. Undeveloped fetus in the womb (IUGR)

An underdeveloped fetus (IUGR) is a condition in which one baby is too small or both twins do not grow properly. Placenta problems, low amniotic fluid, andTwin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) are some of the risk factors for IUGR in multiple pregnancies.

You will be advised to have preterm labor if one of the smaller twins stops growing, or both stop growing.

Can you prevent the risk of preterm birth in multiple pregnancies?

Remember, having one or more of these risk factors does not guarantee twins are born prematurely. The risks listed above only increase the chances of it happening.

You simply cannot prevent premature birth. However, you can reduce the risk by having a healthy pregnancy. Maintain your diet and body weight to avoid increasing blood pressure, stop or avoid smoking and drinking, take prenatal vitamins, manage stress well, and regularly control your pregnancy to the doctor for signs of danger.