Tell me about your natural deliveries

[slightlyinsane]

Had an appointment with the community mw yesterday, we don't see her so she wanted to have a catch up. She asked if we had an idea what kind of delivery we were looking at and considering they have both been head down for wks now I can't see them changing, so natural it is eeeeekkkk!!! The mw was highly amusing and role played the ideal natural delivery, which made me realise I no nothing about the process for twins.

I delivered my 3 naturally but feel really unprepared this time. She was talking about drips and how they will try and talk me into an epidural just in case.

Does anyone want to share their story so I have a better idea for writing a birth plan.

Sorry, I don't have any direct experience of natural twin births, my dts were born by c-section due to dt1 being breach. Of the twin mums I know in real life both went for natural deliveries. One, a first time mum, who was induced at 40 weeks at 40 weeks ended up having an emergency section. The other, who already had one natural delivery with her first ds delivered both naturally. She said it was much more 'medical' than her first delivery and they pretty much insisted on an epidural early on, due to the high risk of twin 2 spinning after twin delivering.
Hopefully someone more more experienced will be along soon with better advice.

I'm pregnant with twins and assumed I would have a c section. But after reading up only 30% are apparently! Was your friend induced at 40 weeks? I thought twins were only allowed to go a maximum of 37weeks?

Hi flowery it all depends on the type of twins. In my area id twins don't go past 37 wks I think they let non id go further. If you're having a problem free pregnancy they tend to want you to try a natural birth. Mine are both head down so were looking at natural eeeeekkkkk!

Hi flowery it all depends on the type of twins. In my area id twins don't go past 37 wks I think they let non id go further. If you're having a problem free pregnancy they tend to want you to try a natural birth. Mine are both head down so were looking at natural eeeeekkkkk!

My id twins are nearly 2 I was all booked to have a c section as didn't want induction but was almost at the end of the period the local authority would let me get to 36+6 my waters broke at 3am the day of my booked c section at home boys born at 5:00 and 5:05 about 10 minutes after I arrived at hospital. The surgeon came down to tell me that he could have had an extra hour in bed if he had known

Gosh exciting! How many weeks are you now slightlyinsane?

My id twins were born naturally at 32 + 4. We had laser surgery at 25 weeks which as it was successful it effectively ruled out the chance of acute ttts happening in labour (the main reason ID twins are usually csection)
It was my second natural delivery although it was a bit more dramatic this time around as twin 2 was in distress while twin 1 was being born so I was rushed to theatre for an Emcs - however he had other ideas and popped out in the corridor 2 minutes after his brother!

I delivered naturally at 37+5, albeit with a 'strongly recommended' epidural. It was absolutely brilliant. Much more medical than my first dd, but a breeze due to their 3kg x2 in comparison to her 4kg! It was a beautiful experience, finally meeting the babies after a looooong pregnancy. It turned out there was no spinning around of dt2, or other complications, so no need for the epidural in hindsight, but meant it all went smoothly anyway. That was nearly 12 months ago now, can't believe how time has flown by!
Lots of luck to you, I hope you have as great an experience as I did

As posters have said before depends what type of twins. I have two sets.

Set 1 were MCMA and I was told from very beginning I would have to have a c-section due to all risks involved and would be arranged for around 35-36 weeks. But due to no complications and as I had a totally healthy PG they agreed to arrange the c-section for 38 weeks (wouldn't let me carry longer) however I went into labour at 37+3 with T1 breech. They prepped me for ECS but as we were waiting for on call doctor to arrive to give me the epidural, I had to push. So in the end what went from a planned c-section turned into an unplanned natural birth with no pain relief.

Set 2 (DCDA) was more complicated due to T2's fluids and then size, and then my health. Planned a home birth but agreed hospital natural birth. Which later turned into a planned c-section whenever the time came that T2's fluids got too low. Then went into preterm labor at 29 weeks, managed to stop it and scheduled a c-section for 31+3 due to risks of having both twins alive and strong enough. Went into spontantious labour at 31 weeks exactly and with consent & support from consultant and agreement to have a ECS if twins became distressed they let me deliver naturally, again no meds.

I had tried to plan the births but it all went to pot so my advice is plan the basics; what you want & back up choice but focus on during/after birth plan i.e who you want there, any pain relief, do you want to hold and/or breastfeed straight away before cleaning, do you want placenta/cord saving. And all that jazz :)

I went a homebirth next time - hopefully!

I went into labour at 34 weeks with my MCDA girls. They were both head down and I gave birth naturally.

I was induced at 37+3. Epidural, gave birth in theatre etc etc. It was fine but not particularly natural! I didn't bother with a birth plan but made sure Dh knew what I was worried about and we discussed a couple of "what happens if" scenarios with the consultant. What would really have helped would have been talking to a midwife in advance about what was going to happen, because although I was cons led the midwives did most of the work on the day. Good luck!

First of all, don't worry. As you have had other dcs, you will know that writing a birth plan can be pretty futile as nature tends to take its own course and there are so many variables when the time comes. I didn't bother.
To reassure you, I kind of assumed all twins were born by c section (which I kind of wanted not least so I could make plans for my older dcs if I had a fixed 'date') so was a bit horrified when my consultant laughed and said I would be doing it naturally (2 big dcs born previously and quickly). It was a bit odd as kept asking him what the plans were for my labour and he kept deferring and saying see what happens nearer the time (which I found v frustrating). I eventually demanded to be induced at 37 weeks as babies were huge. Everything was very straightforward, epidural (fantastic), labour in a normal birthing room, 2 midwives with us only, labour 2hrs, babies born 10 mins apart (one which was transverse was turned very successfully even though I had read turning was dangerous and was scared about that). I appreciate I was very lucky, but you could be too! Good luck my dear.

History: DS1 born at 40+6, 7 hour labour, no pain relief, water birth.

So really felt scared about a "medicalised" birth for DTs.

Induced at 37+6 with our b/g twins, both were head down.

Waters broken around 10ish (was 5cm), second stage labour started around 1ish, epidural sited 2ish.

Had a sleep, 2 hours later only 6cm ...

Ended up having syntocin drip slowly increased and eventually was ready to go at about 11pm. During this time I tried to keep as upright as possible whilst being strapped to monitors - midwives brilliantly understanding.

DTS delivered in theatre (bright lights, me in stirrups tons of people around me - soooo different but I shut my eyes and did some hypnobirthing inspired visualisations) at about 23:40, DTD delivered 00:05. No forceps or ventouse required. Recovery was quick and fewer stitches needed. Both around 3.1 kg.

As you have given birth before I think you're at an advantage for a natural birth - you know how to push, you and your body "know" labour. I was cursing the epidural for slowing things down but without the rest it gave me I'm not sure I would have had the strength to push so well.

I know a twin mum (with an older child) who refused an epidural so it can be done without - she requested a spinal block if twin 2 needed moving).

Went into spontaneous premature labour but delivered both naturally. Both were head down, Twin 1 was born after 19 hours but think thats due with me being some kind of oddity because I never had the urge to push (didn't get it in my 2nd pregnancy either - singleton at term) so they were happy for her to just sit there unless she got distressed.

Twin 2 went walkabout though after Twin 1 was delivered and was breech - they thought I might have to have a section but he came out after a couple of pushes.

Did any of you have back to back labours? Mine are head down but back to (my) back - which is not ideal.

However my midwife is not at all concerned - she says they have to fit in there somehow and that back to back is less of an issue with twins (and also because it's not my first preg).

I guess I'm a bit worried that back to back could mean a longer labour and distress to twin 2, and therefore more likely to end up as an emcs.

I had a very good experience with my twin birth. The labour was very similar to my first singleton birth although pushing easier as babies five pounders. Second baby was breech but it was fine. Just had a lot of people in the room for baby two. Lost a lot of blood after birth though and experience on ward looking after two babies all night after labour not good. Wished I had stayed in delivery room with them. Hope it all goes really well for you.

I had unmedicated vaginal birth for my twin boys. All went fine, dt1 was back to back and I really didn't notice. I'd had one baby previously.

I'm following this with interest as I'm hoping to deliver my MCDA twins vaginally. They're head down at the moment, but it's still early days as I'm only 18 weeks pregnant!

Thanks for all your replys. Both are still head down but as yet I'm still to discuss the hospitals procedures for natural delivery of twins. My last few appointments have felt like I'm on a conveyor belt and haven't had the time to talk it through. My next appointment will be the one as I feel as though it's approaching fast, quicker than their scheduled discussion topics for each appointment. God help the student they roll out for my next appointment.

Good luck slightlyinsane. When is your next appointment?

Next one is Monday, getting alittle fed up of going now. It's lovely to see them every 2 wks but the mw and consultant appointments are wearing on my patience now. Dh has taken to being like a naughty school boy while were waiting in between appointments, altering chair heights and swapping things from one side of desk to the other.

Good luck with your appointment today slightlyinsane. I've got a scan today too (19 weeks).

I asked early on for the documentation on the hospital's policies for birth of twins, just to get an idea. I found whoever I spoke to had a different attitude to the relative risks of things. Whoever who is on shift in the day will have different attitudes again, so if you have really strong views on things you would need to make sure someone is being assertive on your behalf.

I had mine 'naturally'. I put that in quotes because t1 was my best birth out of all my children, but t2 was basically an induction, which is vaginal but not natural. The contractions didn't get going at all, so I had a syntocinon drip for 2 hours before we broke her waters, she then came out after a very easy 2 pushes.

I wanted a home birth, but instead decided to stay home as long as possible before transferring. Refused an epidural. I would have been allowed to use the pool if it had been free....I had to discuss that fully and make bargains with them that I would agree to 15 mins monitoring every 2hours, then get out for second stage. All academic in the end because I arrived pushing.

Hello, I was able to have a vag delivery for my twins born at 36 weeks, providing I had an epidural. This was incase they needed to do a c section. It all went very well, no c section required and didn't feel a thing! It was my second delivery, I think I wouldn't have been allowed had it been my first.