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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:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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frumpygrumpy · 30/03/2007 15:53

I had one head first, one bottom first. The hospital kept telling me the second one would just fall out which I think was because the first twin would have paved the way and not (I HOPE) because I had something resembling a two-way tunnel between my legs . Congratualtions!

chancery · 30/03/2007 15:55

just fall out ( i laugh heartily) like they ever gave birth to twins.

JodieG1 · 30/03/2007 15:57

My cousin had her twins naturally 20 odd years ago.

TinyGang · 30/03/2007 17:40

Imagine what it would have been like in the old days before scans and suddenly realising that you were having twins only once you were in labour. Yikes!

Kelly1978 · 30/03/2007 17:44

My exh was a twin, and that happned to his mother. She had previously had two sons, and was convinced her third was a girl, but she gave birth to a boy and then they said there was another one in there.
She actually had an agreement with her dh too, that if it was a girl she got to choose the name. She ended up with four boys and he named them all!

Original poster

Caromdoh · 02/04/2007 19:53

piximon, mummylin,

I so hope I'll have it as good as youses.

OP posts:

Plibble · 02/04/2007 19:56

My aunt had twins vaginally 6 years ago. She had a far better birth than I did with a singleton - she stayed mobile on the ball and had a mobile epidural (which worked...). They used a ventouse for one of the twins, but that was the only intervention that she didn't request. I gather there was never any suggestion of performing a c.s..

EllieKthePA · 02/04/2007 19:57

one of the ladies on our Due in April thread has just delivered twins without c/s but she was induced. just as well really as she was 38 weeks and they weighed 6lb 14oz & 7lb 14oz

MadamePlatypus · 02/04/2007 20:03

I'm a twin. We were induced and my mum had an epidural and I think they used a ventouse to get us out, but that was probably pretty 'natural' for 35 years ago.

My mum's memory is a bit hazy, but i think we were both 7lb +

aardvarktwo · 02/04/2007 20:12

I had one twin vaginally, and it was a lovely birth, but then the second (who was breech) stayed right up and his heart beat went down and I had general anisthetic and c-section.

I was induced at 38 weeks and in hindsight wished that I had waited as I think it may have turned out differently. I was just desperate to not be pregnant any more though and made an informed decision to let the hospital induce me.

Both babies were absolutely fine and I recovered quickly and we were home in two days so it worked out in the end but still I think I should have waited till DT2 was ready.

EllieKthePA · 03/04/2007 15:58

oooggs has just posted her birth story

pinkmagic1 · 03/04/2007 16:02

My mum had twins naturally, including one that was breech. The labour wa a pretty quick 6 hours.

Nemo2007 · 03/04/2007 16:05

MY friend had a natural birth for her twin boys in november and she is tiny and they were big for twins who were 5wks early. Think they were 6lb each.

oooggs · 03/04/2007 16:09

Cheers Ellie thanks for the link saves me trying to di it

EllieKthePA · 03/04/2007 16:11

figured it might be tricky one-handed

devondoris · 05/04/2007 08:52

I did natural birth with assisted breach for DT2 (under instruction to use hands only!) at 41 weeks. Weights 7lb 1oz and 8lb 8oz. Great at feeding, routine started very early and everything still going swimmingly. Did a lot of foot putting down in the early ante-natal days though to get what I wanted!

Caroline76 · 05/04/2007 20:48

Thanks for this, was also thinking about this. Just had 25 week scan, twin one has head down, my dt2 is currentlyin breach. COnsultant mentionned that sometimes people give birth nat to DT1 then have CS for DT2, as with youtr Aardvark. Although I dont' need to decide now, I really don't want to have CS for just one, if they aregoing to do it, I'd rather they delivered both in that way. Don't know whetherto risk starting nat for DT1 and hoping DT2 turns?? Alotof you seem to have DT2 breach so this has reassured me reading this thread.

devondoris · 14/04/2007 20:45

Hi! I had my boys in October - DT1 head down, DT2 breach. Natural birth for DT1, then agreed to have assisted delivery for DT2 so long as they only used hands to do it! Was very specific about this.

I read everything I could about birthing twins and the best book was Elizabeth Noble's Having twins. Well worth buying. Also lots of data on the web - look up Radical Midwives UK for breach info and twin info. I found that once my health people realised that I knew what I was talking about regarding the issues with my pregnancy (there weren't many) they were very helpful. I also wrote a very detailed birth plan which I'd be happy to share with you if you'd like to see it.

The only thing that I wish I'd had the energy to do, is to have got off the bed after DT1 was born, so my contractions could have speeded up again and DT2 could have come out by his own volition. It would also have been good to have someone else there who knew lots about twin birth, so they could have had decent discussions with the obs at the time. A doula who's worked with you through your pregnancy would be a good thing. Are you in London? If so MarsLady's kinda local!

HTH!

Harrogatemum · 15/04/2007 07:13

Caromdoh - I had my DTs naturally too so there are plenty of us! I was advised to have an epidural incase a twin turned and endedup having to be induced at 39+5 as they were in no rush to come out........one twin was born and the other followed 12 minutes later.

Twinmummyx2 · 15/04/2007 08:37

For my first set i had c-s as the leading twin was transverse and 2nd breech....

2nd set....everyone was rooting for a natural delivery (exept me...needed to be sterilizes and new i wouldn't come back 6 weeks later)....contractions started at 39+5, went in to hospital, they did a scan and after twin 2 being head down all the way through she decided to go breech....i was like yeah c/s!!! but consultant said 'no nop' natural still' ...anyways....

contraction stopped, next day stayed in hospital, twin 2 sent head down.....and had c section next day as no sign of labour and couldnt let me go over 40 weeks......

couldnt be induced coz i bleed too much!

Voila!

So things can change right up to the last min.....

i am with you about 2ns being delivered by c-section though....maize well do both c/s surely??!?!?!

me.x

sarflondon · 17/04/2007 13:07

Cardomdoh - congrats. Are you at A-n hospital in Derry?The Elizabeth Noble book referred to is excellent.I had a natural birth for my dts and it was my first pregnancy. I blithely thought I would have a cs but obstetrician was great and said a student midwife can deliver twins and absolutely no need to assume section for a twin delivery. I was induced at 39 weeks as they were big - 6.11 and 6.7 in old money when they were born.I told dr I was glad about induction as " I wasn't getting any sleep". Putting fingers in my ears now to drown out derisory laughter from twin mums. (I would happily have shoved DTs back in during first few weeks if it meant getting some sleep). Second twin took their time and there was 40 minute gap. The registrar was fantastic and kept encouraging me to push so avoided cs for no. 2. I had a very good medical leaflet from the Multiple Births Centre at Queen Charlottes on natural twin birth. Perhaps if you showed something like that to your midwives it might ease their concerns.

sleepysooz · 19/04/2007 23:37

I had twins naturally, 1st one paved the way but 2nd one had to be reached for as she was breach, but they are both fine and the birth went fine! 3yo now and don't you know you've got them! DOUBLE PLEASURE' any one that says 'double trouble' just stamp on their head!

moulimoo · 24/04/2007 20:24

yes i had twins naturally, one head first and second one breech. so glad this happened because i was up and about straightaway. just as well with older child to look after as well as the twins....you can do it...!!

Min · 26/04/2007 09:45

I had my twins naturally too although I did feel abit pressurised to have c-section. They were happier about my going for a natural delivery because I had had one already. The first twin was born head down, the second was lying across but they managed to turn her round so she was born breech. They were premature (but a reasonable size 5lb and 4lb) so probably an easier birth than if they waited abit longer but luckily no problems at all. They are now 5.

jenkel · 26/04/2007 09:54

My friend had a natural labour with twins 3 months ago, both of them were in the right position though.

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