If you had twins after having singletons, what was your labour like?

[Jojay]

I'm expecting twins in July / August, and already have DS1 - 4 and DS2 - 2.

I'm just curious as to what I might expect wrt twin labour.

I've read the stats about 40-50% being born by c section etc, but was your twin labour in any way similar to that of your singleton?

Ds1 was born weighing 8lb3oz after a long labour. I had a epidural and episiotomy and he was delivered by forceps. He was 6 days late.

DS2 was 3 days early and labour lasted 7 hours - much quicker. I had gas and air and he was delivered naturally weighing 7lb 7 oz. I had a second degree tear though.

What were your experiences?

Hi Jojay- Congratulations!

I have 10 week old B/G twins and DD1 nearly 5. All delivered vaginally and labours v similar tbh. DD1- Induction at 36 weeks for pre-eclampsia and growth restriction- quick labour- approx 5 hrs, no complications- (DD only weighed 3lbs 14oz tho!).

With DT's waters went at 35+4 weeks, they were delivered within 6 hrs again no compications apart from slight tear which didn't require stiches. Only real difference in labours was that second time round i managed to get an epidural just in time (too late with DD1) - i requested one in case of complications really but it certainly helped! DT1 weighed 4lbs 3oz and DT2 arrived 20 mins later weighing 4lbs 6oz.

If you have had no probs delivering vaginally before and first baby head down then no reason not to again! I was dreading it but in fact it was better than my first labour!

HTH

DS1 born in 3 3/4h no pain relief, 41+4

Twin I waters broken due to slowed growth, born in 3h no pain relief
3h after twin I twin II was turned manually, with me on gas and air, born shortly after

Final baby was the hardest, induced at 40+5 due to high blood pressure (but things didn't look favourable) Very hard to break my waters, nothing happened, ended up with epidural (which didn't work) and drip. Once they got me into labour, born 3h later.

DS1 born in 3 3/4h no pain relief, 41+4

Twin I waters broken due to slowed growth, born in 3h no pain relief
3h after twin I twin II was turned manually, with me on gas and air, born shortly after

Final baby was the hardest, induced at 40+5 due to high blood pressure (but things didn't look favourable) Very hard to break my waters, nothing happened, ended up with epidural (which didn't work) and drip. Once they got me into labour, born 3h later.

my singleton was much harder

Thanks everyone, it sound like it might not be too horrific then!

DS1 was a 3 hour labour with gas and air, small tear

DTS was a 47 minute labour with gas and air , small tear

You hear loads of horror stories about twin pregnancy and labour but I found it much easier than my singleton pregnancy and labour

My 2 labours were almost the same with babies back to back! Singleton was definately harder though.
Although DS1 was born at 42 weeks and twins at 37 after induction.
I had long labours with no progress and then everything very quick at the end. Both times going from 1-10cm in the last hour! Caused a bit of panic with twins when I was ready to push and not even in a delivery room with all the relevant people !
Just had gas and air as no time for epidural

If you were happy with your first labour then the second shouldn't be too much different.

I'm pg with twins and am having a cs - there are a number of reason (one being the incompetant mw I had with dd1), but the main thing the consultant was concerned about was the speed of dd's birth.

There is a possibility of inducing me but as it's ID twins they'd rather do a cs. This is mainly based on dd's birth though so if your first 2 births were fine, then all sounds fine. Might be a good idea to push for epidural so you don't have to be knocked out if there is a problem.

Good luck