Having twins or triplets?
Having more than one baby at once is called a multiple pregnancy. This can be twins, triplets, or more. It has become more common in the UK and 1 in every 65 births is a multiple. In Somerset, twins happen in about 1.5 in every 100 pregnancies.
Most people with twins or triplets have healthy pregnancies and babies but having more than one baby can cause some problems. You might have stronger pregnancy symptoms or other health issues like anaemia, pre-eclampsia, or gestational diabetes. Your healthcare team will keep a close eye on you to help you stay healthy.
There can also be some problems for your babies:
- Problems with the placenta which can affect your babies’ growth.
- Your babies can also be born too early.
- Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) can happen when twins share a placenta. This makes one baby get too little blood and the other get too much. You will be offered scans to check for TTTS and offered treatment if needed.
If you’re having more than one baby, you will get extra care from a team of doctors and midwives. They will help you with things like mental health, nutrition, possible complications, and birth choices.
You will also have more antenatal appointments and ultrasound scans to check on your babies.
| Twins | Triplets |
|---|---|
| For a uncomplicated twin pregnancy where the babies each have their own placenta, you will be offered ultrasound scans about every 4 weeks from 20 weeks of pregnancy. | For uncomplicated triplet pregnancy where each baby has their own placenta, you will be offered ultrasound scans every 4 weeks from 20 weeks of pregnancy. |
| For a uncomplicated twin pregnancy where the babies share a placenta, you will be offered extra support and scans every 2 weeks from 16 weeks of pregnancy. | If any of your babies share a placenta, you will be offered a scan every 2 weeks from 16 weeks of pregnancy. |
When you have more than one baby, it’s important to know your choices for giving birth. Talk to your midwife or consultant/doctor about how you want to give birth. They can help you decide if a vaginal or caesarean birth is advised, when they know what kind of twins/triplets you are having. They will also help you to decide the safest time for the birth.
In the UK, many twins and almost all triplets are born by caesarean birth. You might choose a caesarean birth if the babies are not in the right position, or if you had problems during a previous birth.
You can have a natural birth with twins too but there may be medical reasons why is not advised for your babies. If you do, it helps to have an epidural for pain relief, but you can talk about it with your midwife or consultant/doctor.
When you need to make a decision about your care, the law says that your doctor or midwife should give you all the information you need to help you make a decision that is right for you. This is informed consent.
Support for Parents with Twins and Triplets
There are groups like the Twins Trust that can help you learn more and get support during your pregnancy and after your babies are born.
Twins Trust | Twins Trust – We support twins, triplets and more…
Sadly, losing a baby is more common with multiple babies because of problems with chromosomes, shared placenta, or early birth. There is help for those who have lost a baby from groups like:
Towards Tomorrow Together Towards Tomorrow Together – Towards-Tomorrow (Together) or the
Twins Trust | Twins Trust – We support twins, triplets and more…