Natural twin births?

[justhayley]

Hiya,
I'm expecting twins next year and was wondering what the chances are of avoiding a c section?

I have 1 DS who I had a dream labour with - just 4 hours from 1st twinge to cuddles and no pain relief.
The idea of a section really frightens me. Are twins usually born by ElCS because they need to be delivered early?

Anyone know what the % of twin natural births is?

Thank you x

Just over half are born by C section according to this:

www.tamba.org.uk/Pregnancy/Birth-Plans

I don't know what the % is but I had (non identical) twins without a c-section.

They were a couple of days past their due date, so full term. Mind you I was only expecting to have 1 baby, so it was a bit of a shock to hear the midwife shout bloody hell there's another one!

This was 30 years ago though, babies weighed 5'6 and 5'4 and I had a tiny bump

I had twins nasturally three weeks ago. I had two previous vaginal deliveries, they were 37 weeks so nearly term, and they were DCDA so relatively low risk as twins go, so hospital were happy to let me try. You don't say what kind you're carrying - I think you are much more like to have a CS with identicals. I don't know stats but I know two other non ID twin mothers who have delivered naturally!

I think you need to trust the doctors more than you would with a singleton and go with the flow. even if you manage a natural birth you should be prepared for more intervention than you might like - I had an epidural, delivered in stirrups in theatre, twin 2 was delivered by forceps by the surgeon. I got away without any stitches though - the birth was a piece of cake compared to the last two weeks of pregnancy.

I considered having a CS to avoid the risk of intervention, but glad I didn't - I think establishing breastfeeding would have been a lot harder just because of the logistics of manhandling positioning two, and like you I have older DCs to look after as well.

Congratulations and good luck!

Mainly depends on the type of twins and what position they are in, particularly twin 1. A decision will probably be taken beyond 30 weeks on this basis.

littleomar
Did they not give you an episiotomy because you were having forceps? If not that was a lucky getaway, also if you didn't tear due to the forceps that would've been v lucky too!

Congratulations on your twins!

no CS here either - forceps for twin 1, twin 2 footling breech, 35 weeks, but we made it! They'll be 10 in a couple of weeks

I had a natural birth without much intervention, using just gas and air for twin 2

I am currently 35 weeks with DCDA twins. Ask your consultant what you should expect as each Trust have different guidelines. The Trust I am under stipulates natural birth if twin 1 is head down regardless of lie of twin 2. They also say that between 40-50% of twins are born by c-section. Our Trust does not allow ELCS without medical need.

We planned for a natural birth, the babies decided otherwise. Both were transverse and I ended up with a EMCS.

Your consultant will only talk birth options with you after 30 weeks.

Amandine - I know I got off lightly! T2 was nearly out, they didn't turn her. I swear self hypnosis helped me relax and focus enough not to tear. DH thinks this is bollocks and it was luck.

I too had more intervention than I would have ideally liked, but they were both vaginal, and twin 1 was my best birth out of all of my children (apart from the fact I had to have her in hospital) and fully natural. Twin 2 was basically an induction, because she was 3 hours in coming(!), but when she came she came out bottom first in 2 pushes after they eventuallly broke her waters. So not fully natural, but vaginal and unassisted.

I found the statistics really unhelpful when I was researching, because I was looking for good studies that were relevant to my situation, so DCDA twins who were growing very well and went to full term. So many studies seemed to include extra issues.

I wasn't able to engage the consultant in a proper labour chat until I had my 36 week appointment.

MUCH much luck to you.

Just, it all will depend on the type of twin you are having. i had identical boys, and they shared one placenta. In this scenario, twin 2 can be in trouble very quickly and you end up with a c section anyway.

I had mine at almost 36 weeks as my blood pressure was varying a lot for the last few weeks. From week 2 I had the injections to help mature the lungs (had them 2or 3 times). By the time they were born, they were big and had VERY healthy lungs!!

Good luck to you. Having twins is incredibly difficult, but very very special.