Interval between twin births --

AI Overview

Twins can be born minutes apart (most common), hours apart, or even days, weeks, or months apart in rare cases of "delayed interval delivery," where doctors stop labor to allow the second twin more time to develop, with a world record of 90 days between fraternal twins in 1996. While most twins share birthdays, a significant gap can result in different birth months or years, especially if the first is born near midnight, notes the Washington State Twin Registry.

Typical Intervals

Minutes:

Most twins are born minutes apart, especially if the first is delivered vaginally and the cervix is already open.

Hours:

A few hours can separate twins, sometimes involving a vaginal birth followed by a C-section for the second.

Rare, Extended Intervals

Days/Weeks:

This happens when doctors delay the second birth for medical reasons, allowing the second twin to mature.

World Record: The longest interval is 90 days (3 months) for fraternal twins born in 1996, with doctors stopping labor to help the second twin grow, according to Twins Trust and Live Science.

Why Delays Happen

Prematurity:

If one twin needs to be delivered early (e.g., 28 weeks), doctors might induce labor for the first and stop contractions for the second to give it more time in the womb.

Separate Sacs/Placentas: T

his situation (dizygotic/fraternal twins) is more conducive to extended delays, allowing each baby more time to develop, notes The Washington Post.

Multiple gestation: time interval between delivery of the first and second twins - PubMed

National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)

Woman Gives Birth to Twins — 11 Weeks Apart | Live Science Aug 26, 2019 — News. By Isobel Whitcomb published August 26, 2019. The chances of the pregnancy were 1 in 50 million. A 29-year-old w... Live Science