Hello, I'm a writer and I need to know how long 'my' twins would be in hospital. They are to be born at 35wks gestation and I have them weighing 4lbs 8 and 4lbs 2 (are they realistic weights?) from my research they seem to be. Twin A the bigger one is gaining weight steadily but Twin B has had a couple of problems breathing. Would the healithier twin still be in SCBU or just in the nursery? Do all hospitals leave it until the baby is 5lbs to send them home or can they go before? Thanks!
2006-11-19 05:15:39 · 18 answers · asked by hypastarkimbo 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
SCBU is Special Care Baby Unit. SCBU is the same is NICU.
2006-11-19 05:22:13 · update #1
Hi, I had my twins (identical girls) at 35 weeks by planned C-Section. They weighed 4lb 6oz and 5lb 3oz so your weights sound realistic. Because it was planned, I was in hospital 2 days beforehand to have steroid injections to develop the babies' lungs before birth. This meant no problems with their breathing and they only spent one night in the 'hot room' of SCBU before they were moved to the low-dependancy room. We were there for 2 weeks because they needed to learn how to suck (that reflex doesn't normally kick-in until week 37-ish). They were tube-fed formula and my breast milk for the first 12 days while they learned how to suck. By the time we went home, the smaller baby was still under 5lbs but healthy enough to leave.
Depending on how detailed and 'dramatic' your storyline with the twins is, you know that there is a shortage of SCBU cots nationwide and sometimes Mum delivers babies in one hospital and then the babies are taken to the nearest one with available cots and Mum has to be moved there after?
I was lucky that mine were kept in the same hospital but I still wasn't able to see them for the first 24 hours after they were born because I had to wait for nurses to be available to get me up after the Caesarian - the longest and most distressing day of my life.
Hope this helps with your research - good luck with the book.
2006-11-19 08:13:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It will depend on their weight, as you seem to be aware. If the babies are over 4.5 pounds, some hospitals/doctors will allow them to go home if they are otherwise in good health. It is possible that only the more fully developed twin will go home first; however, many hospitals co-bed twins (and most will do so if you request it), so it's possible that neither will go home until the smaller twin reaches the appropriate weight. It's not really known why, but co-bedding (putting the twins in the same incubator in the NICU/SCBU) helps them to develop and gain weight.
2006-11-19 13:39:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My twins were born at 34 weeks and one stayed 2 weeks the other came straight home. They were 4 lb 8 oz and 4 lb 1 oz. The bigger one was 4lb 2 oz at the time she left the nusery 3 days later. I had to stay longer because of high blood pressure from preeclampsia and I got a fever or else she would have been released sooner. The smaller one who stayed in NICU, was on the respirator for 2 days, in the incubator 3 days and the rest of the time was just in need of the feeding tube. They let her out when she could eat 2 oz at a time and weighed 4 lb 8 oz.
Just for a bit more info for you: The one that was smaller had too little fluid around her and that coupled with my preeclampsia was the reason they induced labor.
2006-11-19 13:26:11 · answer #3 · answered by pebble 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My single girl was born at 34.4 weeks at 4.2 lbs. She stayed in the NICU for 11 days. She had jaundice and some trouble breathing and looked horrible hooked up to all the monitors but was fine. They sent her home after she had established good breathing, steady weight gain, ability to nurse, and ability to maintain constant temperature. That's standard, so I've read. Have also read that early twins do better than singles.
I hated leaving her in the hospital but in retrospect was able to pump a lot of milk for later and rest up, which made taking care of her easier when she did come home tiny and needy.
She's nearly 3 now and perfectly fine, as no doubt yours will be too.
2006-11-21 14:32:11 · answer #4 · answered by polsarah 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hiya, I had my twins at 35 weeks. My son weighed 5lb 1oz & my daughter weighed 5lb 4oz so they were quite nice weights. They were born a week before xmas last year & I was dreading being in hospital on xmas day as my eldest was only 14 months old & I didn't want to miss her opening her presents. Luckily though I was home the day before xmas eve so I was in hospital for 4 days. My son was jaundice so that was the only reason we stayed for that long otherwise I would have been able to go home after day 2!
It really depends on twin b, if he/she is having difficulties then you may be in longer than expected.
Congratulations & enjoy every minute of them x
2006-11-19 15:11:51 · answer #5 · answered by C Greene 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really don't know the answer to your question but I am hoping my information can help. I have 7 month old identical twin girls. They were born at 37 weeks 5 days. They weighed 6 lbs 13 oz and 6 lbs 6 oz. We went home after 3 days due to my having a c-section. If baby B is having breathing issues he/she may have to stay a bit longer.
2006-11-19 22:20:44 · answer #6 · answered by misslady792003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My twins were born 35 weeks and 5 days. Haley was 5pds and Wyatt was 6pds. Both started off with breathing problems but that only lasted a fews day. But we stayed in the NICU for 15 days because they needed to learn how to suck, swallow, and feed all at the same time. By the time we left the hsp Haley was 6pds and wyatt was 7pds. Good Luck with your twins!
2006-11-19 15:58:04 · answer #7 · answered by pixiewe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My twins were born at 30 weeks. Twin A was 3lb 15oz and Twin B was 2lb 8oz. Twin A stayed for 5 weeks ( he had sleep apnea and trouble learning to eat), This was at 5lbs and eating all feedings from a bottle. Twin B came home after 7 weeks. His lungs were not fully developed yet. He was off of the respirator after 2 days. He also had to learn to eat. He was 5lbs when coming home. I am happy to report that they are now 11yrs old and very healthy. Twin
B is still very skinny....LOL but also very tough.
2006-11-19 14:00:06 · answer #8 · answered by Michelle V 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Babys usually can leave the hospital at 5lbs and if there are no problems with eatting or breathing. They may keep the healthier one in the nursery unless you are doing in rooming, But if you would like them to be together tell you doctor, this may make twin b feel safer knowing her "other half" is there with her.
2006-11-19 13:22:34 · answer #9 · answered by Kellie R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the weights sound healthy, if twins were feeding well etc then they wud prob let them go home if they were slightly under 5lb, but 35wks is borderline for weather then can suck, i had a baby at 35wks 5lb 4oz she was in scbu for 2 weeks but only because she wouldnt feed, she was tube feed for 10 days b4 she mastered the technique.....hope this helps
2006-11-19 13:27:44 · answer #10 · answered by eyoremum2004 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋