Homebirth/freebirth with multiples?

[Getthebag2023]

Not asking for me! Trying to keep an open mind/ get a lay of the land as someone close to me has suggested this is her plan.

The thought terrifies me personally, but thought i would ask MN if they have done it safely themselves or know someone who has? I also know there's a difference between homebirth (with medics present) and freebirth (with no medics present) so clarification on any answers appreciated!

Depends on a lot. If both babies are at term and head down then I’d not worry so much.

mine were premature, one breach and one tranverse - I wanted all the medical support I could get.

You wouldn't worry about an unassisted birth of multiple babies? Ok then

World of difference between homebirth and freebirth. Which is it?

But no, I definitely wouldn't do either.

It’s a mad idea sorry

In an otherwise low risk birth, twin babies in a good position shouldn't be much additional risk. I wouldn't freebirth personally, or rather I wouldn't plan to. Plenty do by accident!

My friend free birthed both of her sons (separate pregnancies). I opted for home birth but had to go to hospital after 13 hours because I couldn’t handle the pain any longer.

Everyone stressed to me with my twins that a twin birth when everything is as it should be is not really anymore risky than a single birth. Free birthing would be a no no but I’d consider a home birth in those corcumstances

Home birth provided there were no complications but absolutely no way for freebirth

It was a generation ago now, but my grandmother had her large full-term twin babies at home (no options back then) and one was left with a brain injury that affected him for the rest of his life. Given the choice, I feel sure that she would have opted for a modern maternity hospital.

Madness. Absolutely not

Family member did it and one twin died. It was a low risk pregnancy. I wouldn't risk it personally and I did home birth a single baby.

I had 2 babies at home but no fecking way I’d free birth. I think it’s utterly mad. Sure it’s the way it was done for centuries… any idea what the mortality rate was???

what if twin one needs assistance and the labouring parent is busy delivering twin two. Twin births ARE riskier than singletons and she possibly thinking of free birthing because a midwife is reluctant to assist.

This has brought back some sad memories for me. Years ago when I had just left University one of my best friends was adamant that she wanted a homebirth for her twins and was encouraged in this idea by a group she joined. I looked into the data and talked to her about the risks to the second twin in particular but she wouldn't have it and told me I'd been brainwashed by the medical establishment. I won't go into details as it isn't my story to share but there's no happy ending. It's true that the risks are less if both babies are head down but not negligible. I'm not anti homebirth but I think it is foolhardy to consider it if you don't have a straightforward pregnancy and twins, whilst normal, are not straightforward. And considering giving birth to twins without professional help is just unhinged in my opinion.
Yes, women used to do this kind of thing all the time when they had no choice, and they still do in other parts of the world. But plenty of them, or their babies die or are damaged and a lot of that is avoidable.
I understand a woman's wish to have as little intervention as possible during birth, but it's the "as possible" that's important and I struggle to understand why anyone would put themselves and their babies into an unassisted birth situation deliberately. I'd be encouraging her to seek a middle road.

Having had just one baby with no medical assistance (they arrived a minute afterwards) I honestly do not understand why someone would choose that. It was terrifying. Although I went on to have a planned homebirth.

However I also understand how women come to mistrust medical professionals as they don't feel listened too.

Something like 1 in 20 second babies get stuck and need an emergency section after first twin is delivered. Also twins are much more likely to need additional help after birth. I’ve had twins, they are super risk averse, mines were mcda so riskier birth than dcda.

I personally wouldn’t have considered it tbh.

No way to a home birth and absolutely no fucking way to free birthing twins.

I would think they had been brainwashed.

I think anyone who genuinely considers this has some form of mental illness. And that's being charitable.

I'd consider a home birth for a single delivery with the support of a midwife.

Definitely not a multiple birth - I thought you were generally induced anyway? not sure how that would work at home.

And absolutely fucking not a free-birth. Never ever, and I live under 10 minutes away from a maternity hospital. I couldn't put that risk on my child or my own life and wellebeing!

I'd consider a home birth if the midwives were happy and a hospital transfer would be quick and easy. Not a chance would I free birth.

I was in a group where a mother free birthed. She had had a very successful free birth a couple of years previously after her local hospital had advised against home birth. She happily stuck two fingers up to them and told them what ignorant prats they’d been.

She was therefore very confident for the birth of her next baby and didn’t involve anyone medical at all any point in the pregnancy. That baby sadly died.

Twin one would probably be fine. Twin two, may as well flip a coin.

I managed to deliver twin one, the placenta and then twin two, without the back up of a big teaching hospital, I'd be one DC down.

No way I would risk my life or the twins'. Twins are complicated.

I had my oldest child at home with a midwife - but the two children at the hospital ondoctor's advice. No regrets.

.

Why on earth anyone would take the risk your friend is contemplating is unfathomable. It will be very difficult for friends and family if the worst was to happen because whilst they will feel very sorry for her, they will feel frustrated and ambivalent too and her ill-advised decision.

No one in their right mind would think it a good idea.

In my case it took the help of 12 people in theatre (good decision obstetrician who refused c section, the cost must have been 10 times that to give me two live births - he actually went home and left the chaos for someone else to deal with). A second obstetrician whose services had to be called on had to pass twin two down to the waiting forceps being held by on-shift obstetrician by manipulating him (actually pushing baby’s head and body down from outside) like someone kneading a huge ball of dough into a too-small tin. He managed to get the feet close enough for breach & forceps.
Twin one was spine to spine. Also forceps.

Someone did confide in me afterwards that this particular obstetrician (the one who’d refused the caesarean) was not well-liked (I am dying to name him, it’s all I can do not to) kept switching jobs. I often wonder what kind of havoc he is wreaking now.

He moved to Alder Hey I believe.

Anyway, sorry I might have got a bit carried away with my own story there, but the message is twin births can get very complicated very quickly.