Full-Term Twins… But Still the NICU? What Expecting Twin Parents Should Know
If you’re pregnant with twins, you’ve probably heard this:
“If you can make it to 38 weeks, you’re golden.”
And while 38 weeks is considered full term for twins, it does not guarantee a complication-free delivery.
In the latest episode of my podcast, Twin Sleep Talk, I sit down with a twin mom who carried her babies to 38 weeks (full term) and still unexpectedly faced a NICU stay when one of her babies struggled with oxygen desaturation.
Her story is honest, tender, and incredibly important for expecting twin parents to hear.
Because full-term doesn’t always mean smooth.
Carrying Twins to 38 Weeks, and Still Facing the NICU
Most twin pregnancies deliver preterm. So when you make it to 38 weeks, it feels like you crossed the finish line.
That was her experience.
They induced at 38 weeks… the “gold standard” for twins.
Healthy weights.
Strong heartbeats.
Everything looked good.
And yet, one twin still needed the NICU.
Not because of extreme prematurity.
Not because of a major complication.
But because oxygen levels weren’t stabilizing the way doctors hoped.
This is something many twin parents don’t realize:
Even full-term twins can require NICU monitoring.
Why Expecting Twin Parents Should Tour the NICU (Not Just Labor & Delivery)
Most hospital tours focus on the delivery wing.
But if you’re expecting twins, it’s wise to also ask to see the NICU.
Here are questions every twin parent should consider asking:
If one twin is admitted and the other is not, what happens?
Can I room in with my admitted baby?
Can both babies stay together?
Are parents allowed overnight access?
Is there housing available if I’m discharged but my baby isn’t?
These are not dramatic questions.
They are practical ones.
And many parents don’t even know to ask them. I honestly would have never thought to ask these questions until I heard her story.
Recovering From a C-Section While Living at the Hospital
One of the hardest parts of this experience wasn’t just the NICU itself.
It was recovering from a C-section while emotionally split between two babies.
One twin discharged.
One twin admitted.
Pumping around the clock.
Walking hospital halls in pain.
Trying to bond while managing fear.
Twin motherhood is already intense.
Layer in medical uncertainty, and it becomes overwhelming fast.
But They Were Full Term…
There’s an assumption many people make when they hear “38 weeks.”
“Oh, then everything was fine.”
But most twins are born preterm, so when you carry to term, people assume you avoided complications altogether.
That simply isn’t always true.
And when you experience difficulty after “doing everything right,” it can feel confusing and isolating.
You can be grateful your babies are healthy.
And still grieve that your experience was traumatic.
Both can be true.
Postpartum Depression After a Traumatic Twin Birth
Medical stress during delivery can increase the risk of postpartum depression and anxiety.
In this episode, we talk about:
Processing NICU-related trauma
Feeling like you “shouldn’t” struggle because your babies are okay
The emotional whiplash of twin motherhood
When to seek support
If you are currently healing from a difficult twin birth, please hear this:
You are not weak.
You are not dramatic.
And you are not alone.
Listen to the Full Episode
In this conversation, we cover:
Delivering twins at 38 weeks
Why full-term twins can still need the NICU
Questions to ask your hospital before delivery
Recovering from a C-section with one twin admitted
The emotional weight of one twin in and one twin out
Signs of postpartum depression in twin moms
🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
Listen Here
If you know someone expecting twins, please consider sharing this with them. A simple forward could genuinely prepare them for possibilities they didn’t know to consider.
In the Newborn Season With Twins?
If you’re currently home with newborn twins (whether after a NICU stay or not), I have a free Newborn Twin Sleep Guide that walks you through:
What sleep is realistic in the first 12 weeks
How to keep twins on the same rhythm
Night survival strategies
When to introduce gentle structure
You can download it here:
Free Newborn Twin Sleep Guide
Twin motherhood is intense, but you were never meant to do it alone.
Grace and rest,
Laura