How long does a twin pregnancy last, and how is monitoring different?
Twin pregnancies typically last less time than a singleton pregnancy and call for closer monitoring — here's why.
While a singleton pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks on average, a twin pregnancy more often ends between 36 and 37 weeks, and triplets typically arrive even earlier. That's not a sign anything is wrong — the limited room in the uterus and the added demand on the mother's body naturally favor an earlier birth.
Monitoring is more frequent than with a single baby, with extra ultrasounds to track each baby's growth, especially when twins share one placenta (monochorionic twins), a situation that calls for even closer surveillance to catch any growth imbalance between the two babies.
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The risk of certain complications — preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, anemia — is higher with a multiple pregnancy, which is why prenatal visits are usually scheduled more often, frequently with input from a maternal-fetal medicine specialist.
How you deliver depends largely on each baby's position: a vaginal birth is still possible if the first twin is head-down, but a cesarean is more likely than with a single baby. Your care team will talk through the plan that best fits your situation as the pregnancy progresses.
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This information is general and does not replace advice from your healthcare professional (doctor, midwife, nurse, pharmacist). Every situation is unique: always check with them before making a decision. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency services.
