Childbirth not only introduces a new member in the family, but also marks the beginning of motherhood. Pregnancy always induces excitement in the life of the expectant mother and father. However, if you are diagnosed with twin pregnancy, then it is fascinating and interesting to live this phase. Scroll down to learn the anatomy of the body and growth of twin babies at 36th week of gestation period.
Multiple pregnancies bring a lot of joy to the expectant parents. However, such a pregnancy needs to be handled with care. A human pregnancy lasts up to 9 months (36 weeks). This period of pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. The first two trimesters, in case of twin pregnancy is similar to that of single pregnancy. By the end of the second trimesters, the babies weigh two pounds and are 9 inch long. Once the multiple pregnancy enters the third trimester, the babies begin to grow faster and it’s the time when the expectant mother must handle the pregnancy well. Before learning about the last stage of multiple pregnancy, let’s take a look at how twins are formed in the womb.
Twin pregnancies will rarely occur, out of which 70% are non-identical and 30% are identical twins. Non-identical twins are commonly known as fraternal twins. Identical twins are formed out of single fertilized eggs, that separate into two embryos. This process takes place during the first week of pregnancy. If the eggs split during the first three days, they are likely to develop their independent amnion, placenta and chorion. However, if there is a delay in splitting of eggs, the babies are likely to share amnion, placenta and chorion. Fraternal twins, develop in two different fertilized eggs and have their own placenta, amnion and chorion.
Twin Pregnancy Stages
As seen earlier, pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. Each trimester consists of three months.
First Trimester
First trimester consists of 12 weeks. During this stage, you can be diagnosed of twin pregnancy and suffer from first signs of twin pregnancy. The development of body organs begin quiet rapidly. Though the babies are growing so fast, they will appear only 2-3 mm long. As the pregnancy advances to 8 weeks, the babies grow up to 4 centimeters and weigh one gram. Towards the end of first trimester, the embryonic structure will have completed and the babies will have grown up to 9 centimeters long and weigh 20 grams.
Second Trimester
The 13th week marks the beginning of the second trimester. As the pregnancy progresses to the 16th week, the weight of the babies will rise up to 120 grams and will grow up to 4 inches long. At this stage, the babies will begin to swallow the food nutrients and soon get their little organs functioning. As the fetus produces urine, it forms amniotic fluid. As the pregnancy reaches the 20th week, the babies grow up to 7 inches and each fetus begins to develop their own amniotic fluid. The membrane wall, that protects the fetuses, is very thin and delicate. The movement of the babies increases and even the growth of their bodies is complete. Though the body is fully grown, the internal systems need to become mature, to assure the survival of the babies. Lungs and brain continuously develop during pregnancy. By the 24th week the babies weigh one and a half pound and measure up to 12 inches long. The babies at this stage, gain some fat under the skin. Soft furry hair begin to cover the skin and also develop vernix caseosa coating. The hands and the legs are folded up to the chest and their head is also bend downwards. The mother will frequently suffer from slight pain at this stage, as the babies kick and stretch for space.
Third Trimester
After the successful 24 weeks of twin pregnancy, it is now time to get prepared for the third trimester. This is the most crucial stage as this period brings you close to the birth of your tiny little twins. By 28 weeks the weight of the babies will have increased to 3 pounds and will grow up to 15 inches long. The fat will rapidly grow under the skin and facial features will become more clear. The babies slightly move their eyelids and even begin to respond to the sound. In the 32nd week the babies weigh around 4 pounds. As the mother reaches the 36th week of pregnancy, the babies will have completely grown and preparing to come out. By the end of 36th week the babies will put on 5 pounds of weight and will develop the last layer of fat from the nutrients they receive. During this week, the babies develop surfactant to help the lungs to expand and allow the baby to take its first breath.
It is wise to admit the mother, once she is in 36th week of gestation period. At this stage, the doctor will check if the babies are in a head down position for the delivery. As the babies prepare themselves to get into the head down position, the pelvis will begin to increase and the mother will start suffering from uterine contractions. The babies tries to move and get into the uterus which results into intense contractions. With the expansion of uterus, the size of the stomach decreases and also reduces the mother’s appetite.
Pregnancy Trimesters Indications
| Pregnancy Trimesters | Indications |
| 1 | Constipation, breast tenderness, fatigue, frequent urination, morning sickness, increase and decrease in saliva, leakage from nipples, nasal stuffiness, increase in the heart rate, breathlessness |
| 2 | Anemia, larger abdomen, increased heart rate, headaches, stretch marks, vaginal discharge, swelling feet, fatigue, increase in appetite, change in sleep, heartburn, spine curving, decrease in urination, change in sexual desire |
| 3 | Bleeding gums, leg cramps, overheating, edema, constipation, fetal movements, stretch marks, change in appetite, nasal stuffiness, breathlessness, carpal tunnel syndrome, leakage from nipples, heartburn, change is sexual desire |
Thirty-six weeks is the time to become more careful about the health of the mother. At this time, the babies are getting into the position to come out. Therefore, the mother must stay away from stress and other tensions and must take as much rest as possible. This assures the birth of healthy twins and even prevents you from falling into further complications.
