It is a fact that more than 60% of twins are born before 37 weeks of gestation, that is, they are premature twins. This figure, provided by the National Institute of Statistics, in 2018, increases to almost one when it comes to multiple births of more than two fetuses.
On different occasions we have talked, throughout this blog, about the complications that both for the mother and the baby have being born premature. This time we will focus more when we talk about two babies, whether they are twins or twins.
Twins born prematurely, the premature
Multiple pregnancy is more complicated than when it comes to a single baby. Among the most common is preterm labor and birth. The higher the number of fetuses in the pregnancy, the greater the risk of premature birth. If a baby, or two, are born premature, there are organs in your body that will not be fully mature. In many cases they need help breathing, eating, fighting infection, and maintaining their body temperature.
Premature babies They are divided into subcategories based on their gestational age, extreme preterm infants are less than 28 weeks old, they are especially vulnerable; the very preterm, between 20 to 32 weeks, and the moderate to late preterm, are born before 37. Premature twins are usually small, have a low birth weight, under two and a half kilos. Some of your organs are not ready to face life outside the uterus and may present problems that affect your health in the short, medium and long term,
While it is true that the problems associated with premature babies are not too serious, some cognitive impairment that is usually detected before the age of five or possible breathing problems, When it comes to twins, things get more complicated, so they will need to spend some time in a neonatal ICU.
The same incubator for the two babies?
Most twin twins They need an incubator at birth. Different studies, including the one presented by the nursing team of the Neonatal ICU of the HM Belén Maternity in A Coruña, confirm that keeping them in the same incubator has important benefits for them.
Cobedding is a practice that consists of keeping premature twins in the same incubator or warming cot during their stay in the Neonatal unit. In a logical way, it is necessary to think that if the brothers have spent several months together in their mother's womb, touching and sharing the same space, they should not occupy different cubicles when they are born.
This practice of cobedding allows babies to maintain their special bond. It also facilitates the synchronization of sleep and wake periods, favors the so-called kangaroo method, based on skin-to-skin contact, and breastfeeding. On the other hand, it constitutes an emotional support for moms and dads.
Other problems associated with premature twins
In addition to preterm labor, preterm twins can have other problems. One of the best known is the feto-fetal transfusion syndrome that you may have heard of, and that occurs in about 15% of twins who share a placenta.
This disorder develops only in monozygotic twins. Happens when blood vessels connect within the placenta and divert blood from one fetus to the other. Over time, the recipient fetus receives too much blood, which can lead to overloading the cardiovascular system and causing excess amniotic fluid. On the other hand, the smallest donor fetus does not receive enough blood and has a reduced amount of amniotic fluid.
Feto-fetal transfusion syndrome it is treated during pregnancy by removing some of the excess fluid with a needle or through placental surgery. But sometimes, it may be necessary to cause labor, and for twins to be born earlier than expected.