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When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

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When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

Multiple births

How did you give birth to your twins and do you wish youd done it differently?

38 replies

neonrainbow · 04/10/2016 09:01

I am nearly halfway through my pregnancy with twins and since way before i got pg i have been worrying about the birth. All this time I've been leaning towards a section as rightly or wrongly i see it as a less risky way to give birth. Im scared of the prospect of birth injuries and the risk of an emcs, especially of having the first one vaginally and the second by emcs. I haven't yet spoken to a senior consultant about the risks of both am hoping to do that next week.

My midwife and doctor i did see say they will be pushing me towards a vaginal birth. Im trying to keep an open mind and am considering doing a hypnobirthing course to try and help me alleviate my concerns around vaginal birth. My twins have separate sacs and placentas.

So I'm looking for other people' experiences really and reassurance of twin births. Can anyone help?

OP posts:

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allegretto · 04/10/2016 09:10

I had a planned csection and wish I had had natural but I wasn't given the choice. (I live abroad and my hospital only did sections for twins). I had had a previous vsginal birth though. I would talk to your doctors to alleviate your fears.

Beebeeeight · 04/10/2016 09:22

I think it will depend on what births you've had before.

FeeFeeLaFew · 04/10/2016 10:09

Very keen to see the responses to this as I am 32 weeks pregnant with DCDA twins (my first pregnancy) and can't decide what route to go down. I've heard conflicting things about the relative risks for mother and babies. It's the assumption that I should have an epidural, be induced if I go pas 37 weeks, will need to be constantly monitored etc that makes me think a 'natural' vaginal birth is going to be hard to achieve and that that will make complications more likely. But still worth pushing for?

AndNowItsSeven · 04/10/2016 10:13

My twins are identical , different sacs same placenta. I had a vaginal birth much to my relief.
A c section is not safer if twin one is head down and everything is going well. plus the though of major surgery and caring for twins was a horrible prospect.

Beedoo123 · 04/10/2016 10:15

I was keen for a natural birth, my consultant was leaning towards a section (big babies) so we decided on a compromise... Booked in a date for a section at 39 weeks, but if they came before that decided I'd go for a natural birth. In the end they stayed put and I had a section. It was a great experience, I was in 2 nights and home. Only thing was it took my milk a bit longer to come in so if I did it again I'd stick with the section but make sure bf was better established before I went home.
Good luck, it is non-stop once they arrive but completely amazing!

scater · 04/10/2016 10:19

I had a planned section brought forward to 36 weeks due to growth restriction.
I was always going to have a section as our first daughter was stillborn so for me the experience of labour was Tainted if that makes sense.

I found it a brilliant experience and found the recovery fine.

scater · 04/10/2016 10:19

I had a planned section brought forward to 36 weeks due to growth restriction.
I was always going to have a section as our first daughter was stillborn so for me the experience of labour was Tainted if that makes sense.

I found it a brilliant experience and found the recovery fine.

scater · 04/10/2016 10:19

I had a planned section brought forward to 36 weeks due to growth restriction.
I was always going to have a section as our first daughter was stillborn so for me the experience of labour was Tainted if that makes sense.

I found it a brilliant experience and found the recovery fine.

scater · 04/10/2016 10:19

I had a planned section brought forward to 36 weeks due to growth restriction.
I was always going to have a section as our first daughter was stillborn so for me the experience of labour was Tainted if that makes sense.

I found it a brilliant experience and found the recovery fine.

scater · 04/10/2016 10:19

I had a planned section brought forward to 36 weeks due to growth restriction.
I was always going to have a section as our first daughter was stillborn so for me the experience of labour was Tainted if that makes sense.

I found it a brilliant experience and found the recovery fine.

AlpacaLypse · 04/10/2016 10:23

I very much wanted to have a natural birth if at all possible. In the end, the girls decided they were coming at 33+5. I had an epidural just in case. My slightly older daughter arrived head first just as she was meant to, my slightly younger one however went transverse. At this point the registrar attending started to twitter on about having a section to get her out, however my lovely midwife and wonderful mum (who was doing the birth partner bit for me) asked for a consultant opinion. Consultant rearranged dd by 90 degrees so she was pointing the right way, although now feet first rather than head first. More twitterings about c section from the registrar. However she sailed out perfectly well, I was home less than 36 hours later, and able to get a decent night's sleep before driving myself back to hospital every morning to be with them in SCBU for the four weeks it took for them to get up to a reasonable weight.

The epidural was very effective at managing the pain, but did cause me to be very nauseous for about 12 hours - otherwise I could have left even earlier. I know it was the epidural as I've had exactly the same symptoms after another one a year or so ago.

The girls are currently doing their A levels btw, and are both considerably taller than me, so didn't take any harm from their early arrival!

AlpacaLypse · 04/10/2016 10:25

scater for your first dd.

scater · 04/10/2016 10:31

I had a planned section brought forward to 36 weeks due to growth restriction.
I was always going to have a section as our first daughter was stillborn so for me the experience of labour was Tainted if that makes sense.

I found it a brilliant experience and found the recovery fine.

BingBongBingBong · 04/10/2016 10:31

I want to start by saying I haven't had twins - however I have had a category 1 EMCS after a hard labour and I have had an ELCS. I know there are risks of twins with vaginal delivery of the first twin then the second turning requiring an EMCS (though I do not actually know what the statistics are). My EMCS recovery was so hard I simply cannot imagine having one after delivering a baby vaginally. On the other hand, my ELCS was beautiful, calm and the recovery was much easier as I was much better rested beforehand.

Best of luck with whatever you choose to do OP. My SIL had an ELCS with her twins and she had a very lovely experience.

neonrainbow · 04/10/2016 10:50

It's my first pregnancy so i have nothing to compare to!

OP posts:

scater · 04/10/2016 13:54

Sorry about multiple posts, it kept saying it failed to post

2014newme · 04/10/2016 13:56

C section, Booked for one but they came early so was emergency in the end. In hospital for a month after I had a lot of complications but would still make the same choice.

2014newme · 04/10/2016 13:57

My consultant advise was that section is less risky for the babies but more risky for the mum which was spot on.

Freco010 · 04/10/2016 14:02

My identical twins were delivered vaginally. It was a great birthing experience, I hadn't really made a decision before birth and I was steered towards vaginal as I'd had my son 2 years prior with no issues. I would say try to relax and go with the flow (I know this is easier said than done!)
However you do deliver the most important things is that you and your babies are happy.
I would have liked some more info prior about c section and procedure for twins births so would advise ask questions and discuss all scenarios with your consultant. Good luck!

Freco010 · 04/10/2016 14:05

P.s mine were delivered with gas and air, this was encouraged by my midwife during labour. My understanding was that I would have to have an epidural so worth checking your hospitals policy.

Caper86 · 04/10/2016 14:14

I aimed for a natural, and then was pushed into being induced at 37 weeks (no reason other than protocol). This led to an emcsec as they weren't ready to come out yet, which led to T2 being put in NICU. Whatever you decide to do try and wait til babies are as ready as they can be (as long as there's no risk to you or them). I really regret being induced! Good luck xxx

2014newme · 04/10/2016 14:19

"natural" isn't always good, whatever people mean by it. Mine"naturally" started to come 7 weeks early. Luckily for them the unnatural steroids intervention meant that they didn't have lung problems.
Don't get hung up on natural, many babies especially twin babies would not be here today if it was left to nature.

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Freco010 · 04/10/2016 14:29

2014newme makes a very good point! All birthing methods are natural. It's either vaginal or by c section. Both ways deliver babies.

joleyn · 04/10/2016 14:31

I was induced at just over 37 weeks. Both babies were head down and had a natural birth (with an epidural).I was keen not to have a c section as I have a toddler too and was worried about recovery time. I was home less than 24 hours later, a few stitches but fine. I think you have to do whatever you feel comfortable with and if you want a c section push for that (my consultant would have been happy with either choice).
Good luck

joleyn · 04/10/2016 14:33

And totally agree with the above posts - all that matters is that you and your babies are okay and it doesn't matter how that happens

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