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Childbirth

Pain relief for twins?

20 replies

strawberryandaflake · 27/11/2015 11:27

Hi ladies, have any of you had DCDA twins, both head first? I'm just wondering what pain relief you chose and why?

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strawberryandaflake · 27/11/2015 14:11

Anyone??

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bluishskies · 28/11/2015 15:17

I'm currently 34 weeks with DCDA twins so I can't really answer how various pain relief affected them. But with my DC1, I took everything on offer. I started with a TENS machine and moved on to gas and air when I was put on the drip. I had pethedine so I could sleep for a bit because I was making very little progress. Then they upped the dose of syntocin, so I had an epidural. When it kicked in, all I felt was sweet sweet relief. When the baby was born via EMCS, she was fine. She breastfeed from the start and she was awake and alert.

This time around, I am skipping the induction and having an ELCS. I'll try to come back and tell you how it went.

Good luck!

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strawberryandaflake · 28/11/2015 16:06

I'm avoiding a cs at all costs as I can't be out of action for that long. Confused

Yes, let me know how it goes! X

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bluishskies · 29/11/2015 15:37

To be honest, I never thought I was going to have a c-section either. I was also convinced that I was going to go way past my due date. But lo and behold, DD was born 40+1. So my only advice is to be flexible because you never know what will happen during labour. But I hope things go as you hope!

How far along are you?

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strawberryandaflake · 29/11/2015 20:39

36+2 and twins are never usually allowed to go past 38. The end is in sight!

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Lifeisbeautiful2 · 29/11/2015 20:59

I laboured with twins although I need up with a c/s. I started with gas and air and progressed to epidural, as they had me on increasing amounts of syntocinon plus they like to have one in place if they need to get twin 2 out quickly.

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strawberryandaflake · 29/11/2015 21:03

Were yours both head down too? How big were they? X

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Lifeisbeautiful2 · 29/11/2015 21:13

First head down, second transverse. They were just over 7lbs each :)

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namechangedtoday15 · 29/11/2015 21:22

Mine were early but I'd agree with a pp that you probably need to be more open minded with twins than a singleton. I had pethidine, I have no real memory of labour. It just made me feel drunk. Stopped / helped with the pain but I was out of it really and regret that. Different people react differently, and labours can change too.

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chunters · 29/11/2015 21:45

I had twin 1 head down and twin 2 transverse and an early delivery at 32 weeks. I did labour as they tried to halt it at first. When those drugs didn't work I had a pethidine and an epidural then eventually an EMCS under general aesthetic. Pethidine as others have said allowed me to get some sleep (laboured for 11 hrs prior to EMCS). Had been booked in for an elective CS @ 37 weeks as my worst fear was that I would have a vaginal delivery followed by a CS if twin 2 did not turn after delivery of twin 1. Appreciate that you have both head down so this may not be a consideration for you.

However as others have said please be more open minded about a CS. In all honesty the recovery phase, for me, was not a massive deal. Again I do know that this is not the case for everyone but as I said for me it did not put me out of action for very long at all.

Good luck OP - my twins will be 14 in January it has been an amazing journey so far :)

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doodlejump1980 · 29/11/2015 21:59

I had dcda twins 10 months ago. Both head down. 37+6. Was induced so had pessary then drip. Laboured for 8 hours. I had A LOT of fluid retention, which meant that NOT ONE of the three epidurals worked for me. I was as high as a kite on gas and air though!! Ended up with an emergency section after they lost baby A's heartbeat (I could still feel him moving- the two clips were faulty) All a bit traumatic. But I'm fine (now) and the babies are great... but teething... They were 7.5 and 6.4! Good luck!

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strawberryandaflake · 30/11/2015 09:24

I am open minded, and will do it if it means saving a baby, but as I say, I absolutely can't be out of action for 6 weeks if I can help it.

Hmm, seems like pethidine hasn't been popular. Anyone done it just with gas and air or a mobile epidural?

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strawberryandaflake · 30/11/2015 09:26

Thanks Doodle. Yours are similar in size to mine! Smile

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FoxesSitOnBoxes · 30/11/2015 09:30

I've not had twins but I did have a section and was only really out of action for a week. Yes it hurt but it was a whole world easier to recover from than a 3rd degree tear was. Pain was controlled afterwards with paracetamol and ibuprofen and I hobbled about a bit at first but it really was totally manageable! Guess I'm saying don't worry too much about it.
Also gas and air is wonderful! And get a tens machine too. But generally just go with the flow and you'll be fine.

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strawberryandaflake · 30/11/2015 10:03

I've been training to be a yoga teacher which I had to put in hold right before my final exams because babies finally decided to grow. I have to leave at least 6 weeks before I can start practising again and I need to do my exam so I can start work. This is what I mean by out of action!

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FoxesSitOnBoxes · 30/11/2015 10:39

Aah. Hope it all goes to plan

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zzzzz · 30/11/2015 10:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lifeisbeautiful2 · 30/11/2015 15:45

Slight caveat - if you're relying on scans to estimate weight, they can be way out. I was told mine were 5lb 9 and 6lb 3 at 38 weeks, they came out a week or so later at 7lb 1 & 7lb 2!

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ButtfaceMiscreant · 01/12/2015 14:31

I had DCDA twins, both head down, vaginally 7 weeks ago using just gas & air. It was my second delivery (first was a lengthy induction ending in forceps) but I recovered well with just 3 stitches.

They were delivered at 36+6. I was induced but only required my waters breaking, no other intervention i.e. pessary, syntocinon drip. I did have a drip started once Twin 1 was delivered to make sure my contractions continued, as they can stop once the first baby is born (this is standard practice I believe) and another drip once delivery was complete for 4 hours to make sure my womb contracted back down (again, standard practice I think).

If you want any advice/information just shout! I was incredibly lucky with my delivery, but had to stay in hospital a few days due to the twins needing 3 hourly blood sugars as they were technically premature (by 1 day) and hospital protocol dictated it for premature births.

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YoungMummy69 · 01/12/2015 15:47

I had my labour in water with my twins and could've given birth in the pool but chose not to! I also had gas and air which helped during the peak of contractions and through some pushing! I'm preggers with twins again and due any day now! I'm hoping for the same kind of experience and pain relief and have put that in birth plan. Good luck babez 😘 hope everything goes well with your labor and birth xx

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