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Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

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Original poster

Is it possible to have natural twin births?

89 replies

Caromdoh · 29/03/2007 20:13

I'm 18 weeks preg with twins, due in Aug.
I've had numerous discussions with midwives etc who seem to be of the mindset that a c-section is the most likely scenerio for twin births. This is my 4th pregnancy and the other 3 were a great experience, and as natural as they could possibly be.

help, can someone put my mind at rest!
Caro xx

OP posts:

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Original poster

Caromdoh · 29/03/2007 20:41

My hosp is in Derry, NI...lovely team..but very set in their ways

What can I do to ensure they are in 'optimal' positions?? I feel very wierd asking this ! I do know every birth scenerio is different but ...trying to be a good girl scout...being prepared!!

OP posts:

dingdongjustforyoufg · 29/03/2007 20:42

I don't knwo about quad but I kind of regret my epidural as it was presented as essential but without it I feel I might have been more able to feel what was going on & push effectively, so possibly no forceps - I don't know as they're my only experience of childbirth (I don't want to put you lovely ladies off or anything but suffice to say I didn't want to repeat the experience )

Kelly1978 · 29/03/2007 20:42

after my experience I would say don't bother with the hissy fits for now, because it depends on how you feel later on, and the babies' positions, etc. I was planning a vaginal, then booked for an elective, then on the day the consultant wanted me to had a vaginal again, so I had one almighty hissy fit on the day and eventually got my section later in the day followign a second opinion.

dingdongjustforyoufg · 29/03/2007 20:42

x posts sorry

Kelly1978 · 29/03/2007 20:43

breadandroses - the consultant's reply to me saying I didn't have the strength was 'Oh don't worry we will pull them out if necessary' and stuff along the lines of you've had 2 already, these will just fall out

Original poster

Caromdoh · 29/03/2007 20:43

Thanks girls....was going barmy...hard to find honest discussions x

OP posts:

luckylady74 · 29/03/2007 20:45

there was never any question of a csection unless, as with any other birth, things started to go wrong - and as my consultant pointed out this is statistically more likely with 2 - so i delivered naturally with 14 people in an op theatre - just to be on the safe side - to be honest i didn't care as long as the babies were fine and i don't really care about the mood of the room or anything - i thought i would and i could hear my dh asking if all the people could go and i was saying ' i don't care anymore!'because it was my second birth i think there was none of the shock and a fantastic sense of achievement! if you are inthe uk then the consultant and you will reach a decision if you have a nice one - i don't think the midwives opinion counts if the consultant is there - iyswim

breadandroses · 29/03/2007 20:47

Lol at fall out

Caro thanks I think gen concensus
is don't get any big ideas cos
it's bound to go tits up

Mercy · 29/03/2007 21:01

sorry, have only read OP, but SIL's sister had identical twins who were both breech and she had a natural birth. They are about 7 years old now.

But from what I gather she is a pretty determined lady She does have one much older child which may have had an affect on her approach with whole issue

good luck!

Original poster

Caromdoh · 29/03/2007 21:01

Are we mad?

Probably...shouldn't worry so much, just go with the flow...amazing really as this is my 4th preg, yet its the most worrying, prob bec there's no one in the family nor mates that have twins.

These wierd dreams don't help either, I keep dreaming, that I forget where I've put them down to sleep, but not letting onto anyone! So those poor visiters kep seeing the same baby even thou they are non-idenital! I've seriously gone barmy! Offical now.

OP posts:

Kelly1978 · 29/03/2007 21:03

Oh I had forgotten about that, I had the msot vivid dreams while pg too. Don't worry, you're not going nuts!

Tortington · 29/03/2007 21:03

naturally
6.6 & 7.5

with much drugs

Mercy · 29/03/2007 21:06

Blimey custy your twins were bigger than each of my 2 children!

Original poster

Caromdoh · 29/03/2007 21:06

wish I could stay on here all nite, teenage daughter asking for the computer, joys of motherhood, no peace even to type! but its wee man's beddy byes. Catch youses t'marra. Caro xx

OP posts:

SlightlyMadSpringBunny · 29/03/2007 21:11

I had mine naturally, 2nd was breech too, waved a foot at the Doc, Doc dived in to free the other foot, I shouted ouch, DP LOL'd at teh foot waving out between my legs... Not particularly pleasant for me tho. DTD2 was actually transverse when I delivered DTD1, 50/50 chance of flipping hte right way - she didn't and has been an awkward sod ever since.

Are your twins sharing a sac? If they are I think they would recommend a cs in case they become entangled in their cords. Other than that I think you should be waiting until much later to decide. It will all depend on how they are laying at the end. So long as the first is clearly head down and the head is below the presenting part of hte second I think they are usually the main considerations...

Congratulations and good luck

TinyGang · 29/03/2007 21:13

I had mine naturally too. They were 5.9lb and 5.10lb. It went really well, but ds got a bit stuck and had a ventose delivery. All I had was gas and air.

My consultant was keen for me to have them naturally if possible, and as they were both head down it was ok.

Mind you I was quite prepared to have a c-section if necessary. I was happy to do whatever they thought was best.

milge · 29/03/2007 21:19

My friend had her twin boys vaginally - both were head down, but needed ventouse with #2, due to him bouncing around a now empty womb, doing somersaults. She said it took 3 midwives to hold him down to get him back into the birth canal. I had a planned cs with mine, due to one extended breech and one transverse. AFAIK, in my health authority, if you have given birth naturally before, with no complications, and the twins are in the "heads down" position, you can go naturally. If like me, its a first pg, or not engaged, you are persuaded that a CS is the best option. Good luck!

paulaplumpbottom · 29/03/2007 21:19

My cousin gave bith to her twins naturally with no complications.

dingdongjustforyoufg · 29/03/2007 21:22

milge mine were my first pg and I didn;t feel in anyway that cs was being promoted (I have to say that this is the most positive comment I am able to make about my ante and post natal care!)

rosmerrin · 29/03/2007 22:21

I had my boys naturally - with an epidural (does that count as naturally?) Labour started with my waters breaking at 35 weeks 6 days. I was told when I first found out it was twins that they would strongly recommend the epidural just in case of last min. surprises, but I was quite happy with that as I am a bit of a coward, and I had and I asked for and had an epi again for my 3rd son. For the twins, once I got the epidural I read a book for about 12 hours waiting for 10cms and then the lovely midwife topped it up to the max and told me I could start pushing. I couldnt really feel anything but a slight tightening for the contractions but she watched the monitor and had a hand on my tummy and told me when to start and stop pushing. The second midwife also initially held a mirror up for me so I could see what was happening so I got the idea of how my pushing was working and what I was supposed to be doing. That bit took about 40 mins and the boys were born 7 mins apart, 5lbs each and both head first. They had about 5 days in SCBU but only because there werent enough nurses on the normal ward to keep and eye on us and they needed a little help with feeding.

Hope that is not too much info!

Dottydot · 29/03/2007 22:25

dp's cousin just had her twins naturally a couple of weeks ago - and they were both breech presentations!!

MarsLady · 30/03/2007 10:30

Oh Dotty... I would've loved to have seen that! Sigh...........

piximon · 30/03/2007 12:57

I had mine naturally, well relativley. Induced at 39 weeks and had epidural.
During monitoring DT2's heart rate plummeted so was rushed to operating theatre where everyone was prepped but consultants knew how keen I was for natural so they checked him again and it had picked up. DT1 was smooth sailing but DT2 was assisted out 22 mins later as he'd turned side ways and wasn't in any hurry.
Was home following day as was late by the time we'd all been checked over.

tkband3 · 30/03/2007 13:58

My id DTs shared a sac as well as a placenta which would normally mean an automatic CS, and this was indeed what I was told at my 23 week scan. But when it became clear that they were both firmly settled head down, my consultant told me he was quite happy for me to try for a vaginal birth if I wanted to. He said that if I did go for it, I must make sure that after DT1 was born, someone held onto DT2 until she was ready to come out, so that she didn't turn once she had lots of room .

But he didn't want me to go much beyond 37 weeks (considered term for twins I think) so we booked an elective CS for 37+4 and as I didn't go into spontaneous labour beforehand that was how they were born weighing 5lb7 and 5lb12. No special care required and we just stayed in hospital for a few days to give me a break from looking after DD1 .

I know stacks of mums through the TAMBA message board who have given birth naturally to their twins. It really does depend on their position nearer the time, but well worth making your consultant and midwife fully aware of your preferred birth plan in advance!

Congratulations on your pregnancies .

mummylin2495 · 30/03/2007 14:18

my friend had twins naturally 2 1/2 years ago.they were delivered in theatre though in case she needed to have a c section.as it was, with a bit of assistance baby boys born naturally.

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