Literally a full internal exam during twin natural birth

[Bex174]

I'm due with twins at the end of June and yet to be told whether I'm going down thee vaginal or c-section route, so trying to get prepped for both possibilities in advance.

Just watched a you tube video of a natural twin birth and it looked like the consultant literally put his whole arm into this woman after twin 1 was born to check for the position of twin 2!! It seemed to cause the woman far more pain than the actual birth part. He didn't even tell her he was doing it or ask permission, just seemed as soon as the baby was on her chest, in he went!

Just wondering how common this intervention is? The video was american so could be different here in the UK?

Not sure why they couldn't just check the position from the outside, like a midwife does? Just use 2 fingers like a regular internal? Or use an ultrasound?

If I'm honest, I hadn't worried much about natural birth until I watched that, now I'm pretty concerned by the thought!

Anyone with vaginal twin birth experiences that can help me with this?

I had my stomach 'palpated' (seemed like the doctor was trying to get through the mattress!)

Friend had a James Herriot style delivery with antibiotics after for twin 2 got stuck and the instruments were not suitable. She had similar problems with her first single child too, so it was not really a twin effect. She had no anaesthetic and said it was fine, the doctor was good and it was not that big a deal. No problems after either.

You usually have an injection to get twin 2 going, then they feel from the outside. It was like having one, then a short break in the procedings, then another . Not like America.

do you know I really cannot remember any internal thing going on, I think they pulled twin 2 out with a ventouse thing.
At that point I did not really give a shit as long as there were two live babies.

It's not just position of the second twin that is checked but the Drs like to check how well baby has come down into the birth canal and to ensure no cord has come down as well.

But ive never seen a Dr put their whole hand/arm up. Just a normal internal.

Aw thanks guys, knew I could rely on you to put things into better perspective!

Phew... that really was an off putter, typical that it was the first ever video I'd had the courage to click on to watch! Don't think I dare to watch any more now...

But if you're all saying its done by palpating from the outside here with a potential normal internal, then that makes me feel tonnes better about the possibility!

Thanks again :)

Had my twins last week and nothing like this. They broke the waters of te second twin and I pushed her out as usual although she was breech.