Spontaneous labour

[emma911030]

A little silly of me I'm aware but I assumed I would have my boys by either planned section or induction.. never did I think they could arrive early and actually go into spontaneous labour (no idea why) but after speaking to my consultant this week at my check up I said so I could just go into spontaneous labour like a normal singleton and she was like errr yeah, and looked at me a little funny and laughed. Soooo I'm not worried I'm literally just going to burst any minute (I'm only 27+3) so aware this is unlikely.
My question is those of you who went into labour spontaneously, when did you go into labour?

It's actually more likely with twins than with a singleton! 50% of twins are born before 36 weeks, and Twins Trusts recommends having your hospital bag ready by 26 weeks.

Not had mine yet (just over 31 weeks) but the midwife told me to have my bags packed/cot & carseat ready for 28 weeks just in case. I've got my next appointment with my consultant in a week and plan to ask him what I do if I go into spontaneous labour (have been recommended to have C-Section). In the meantime I assume if anything happens that I call the hospital straight away rather than waiting till contractions are 5 mins apart as I did with DD (singleton)

Sorry that should have said so I'm 'now' worried not that I'm not worried lol.
My hospital bag isn't even remotely ready I don't even have any 'tiny baby' clothes or anything as money has been really tight so kinda need to pay the rent 😕.
Feel so unprepared for these babies it's unreal. I have one car seat from my son but the second is still at the store waiting to be completely paid for and collected. Maybe I should look to pay enough for the car seat and base and then pay for and collect the double buggy a little later as can't envision going too far initially!! 🤦🏼‍♀️ can't believe how rubbish I've been this time round. Maybe I'm still in denial x

You're not rubbish! It's difficult times for everyone at the moment, and preparing for twins is tough too - not a good combination!

For now, just concentrate on getting together the stuff you would need if you went into labour. If the babies do arrive early, they'll be in NICU for a few weeks, so you've got more time to sort clothes and car seats and buggies, etc.

@PowerslidePanda thank you lovely, your comment has actually made me feel a little better. Get to see my little sprouts again tomorrow which will make me feel happy too.
It seems my pregnancies end up falling at such terrible times for personal circumstances it's unreal. If it was 1 I could probably have coped a lot better but being two and knowing they will be really quite small it's the extra little bits for tiny people.
Will definitely take that on board and just focus on myself a little and what I need as like you said they'll not be home straight away.
Thank you

I did a twins antenatal class with 5 others and out of the 6 of us only one went into spontaneous labour at 34+2 - she was due to have them at 36+3 so only 2 weeks earlier than planned.

I agree with PowerslidePanda just get together a few bits for you for now as the hospital can provide some stuff for the babies if they arrive early (although if in NICU they wouldnt be dressed anyway) I didnt take enough stuff with me to hospital and had to borrow some tiny baby clothes from the hospital cupboard - they had tonnes of it.

So in all hopes I had for seeing babies today making me happier which did initially until I saw the consultant afterwards for them to tell me that they are appearing smaller than they would like for their gestational age, they are concerned enough to want me back on Friday and then again next week ☹️ so feeling very worried now but I guess will have to just see what they say on Friday! I'm going to pack my bag this evening when my little boy has gone to bed!

Seconding PPs who say don’t worry too much about getting tiny babies clothes - if they are in NICU they will be just in a nappy, and if they are in SCBU hospitals do have spares - think of all the women that go into labour early for singleton pregnancies and weren’t expecting it, the hospitals have spare clothes you can borrow for just such an occasion. Just pack for you to start with.

If you want to have a couple packed just in case I strongly recommend asking around for donations - I had some preemie clothes from my DD and she only wore them for about 2 weeks, so anyone that had a tiny baby is likely to have clothes that still look nearly new.

Likewise, ask around for car seats. I know you’re not supposed to bu second hand in case it’s been in an accident etc, but if you know anyone that only has 1 kid, there’s a reasonable chance they’ll have hung onto their baby car seat for any other children they have. If you make it clear you’re just looking to borrow for the first year and would give it back sooner if they needed it, you might well know someone who would lend you one.

It’s tough financially finding out you’re having twins. I know I felt all prepared when ttc because I’d got car seat, pram etc. Then finding out I was carrying twins my first thought was “damn! I’ll need a double pram! And how will I get 3 car seats in our tiny car?”. Got to admit I’m sweating buckets over what childcare is going to cost at some point in the future too.

Sorry to hear you had tough news at your scan. I assume they’ve been ok till now? Remember, they’ll have done most of their developing, third trimester is a lot more about gaining fat than getting organs sorted, so being a bit small increases their chances of needing a bit of time in an incubator, but nothing more scary than that. Hopefully you’ll get good news at your next scan.

Sorry to read your update, OP I know it must be a worrying time, but it's good that they're keeping a close eye on the babies - it sounds like you're in safe hands. Keeping my fingers crossed that things go well for you tomorrow.

So I went for my follow up today. The blood flow through the cords are both fine, which is great, however both babies are only estimating at 900g which is apparent a fair bit smaller than they would want at this stage. I have been referred to the specialist in Southampton for a second opinion, but my doctors today have suggested that they are likely going to have to deliver sooner rather than later. I've just had a phone call and my app with the specialist is on Monday so that's something I guess. Very worrying but Im glad I'm being looked after! xx

I had identical girls and went into labour at 34&3

@emma911030 sorry to hear that they’re smaller than you’d hoped for this stage. Glad to hear you’re referrred to a specialist and that things are moving quickly To make sure you and babies are ok.

Fingers crossed for you for Monday.

Remember, you’re far enough along that even if they have to come out early, the doctors will know what they need and how to look after them. I imagine you’re feeling quite nervous, do what you can to distract yourself and stay relaxed.

@emma911030 wondering how you’re getting along?

@crazychemist hi, I'm really sorry I don't get emails anymore for updates on posts I have done 🤦🏼‍♀️.
The appointment at Southampton was fine in the end thankfully. They have put it down to positioning of the babies which is what gave the smaller measurements.
I'm now 33+2. Before my appointment at 32 weeks I had started to lose my plug so they kept me in for a while for monitoring and to have an examination by dr. Thankfully cervix was still closed and quite high? I think is what he said. So no imminent labour for me but the consultant seemed quite concerned which scared me a little.
Anyway next appointment at 34+1 so next Friday for scan and consultant again. I'm hoping some sort of plan will be put into place regards section/induction then. Twin 1 has been head down for a while now and was so far down last time the sonographer had no chance of getting head measurement! I thought I had felt a lot of pressure down there so that would make sense.
How's your pregnancy going? Your a little ahead of me aren't you?
Every day I'm getting lots of braxton hicks which is getting frustrating I'm kinda feeling like if they good enough size now (estimated weight at 32 weeks was 3lb10 and 4lb1) and doing well as they seem to be I'm kinda done being pregnant now, moving around is getting impossible and sleep is like ok so what is sleep? Lol and they're not even here yet! 🤦🏼‍♀️ x

@emma911030 currently cuddling twin 1
At my 34 week scan they found the placenta was failing and the twins had stopped growing, so they had to come out on Halloween (what a birthday!)

Glad your pregnancy is going well. Don’t wish it away - my boys had 10 days in SCBU and it was really tough.

@crazychemist congratulations on your babies! So sorry they had to come earlier than expected due to the placenta! My birthday is the 30th October, my mum used to tell me I should have been born Halloween with how much of a little witch I was.. when I think about it now it was a little harsh of her 😂😂.
Hope they're doing well now! Oh gosh I know I shouldn't wish it away, I think I'm more desperate to meet them now. I have CMW tomorrow not sure why but consultant said last week he wants me to see them this week then if they haven't arrived on their own to have a scan and see him again next Friday and have a preliminary induction date of 7th Dec. Scary but exciting that the end is in sight!
How are YOU doing? Xx

@emma911030 how are you and the little ones doing? Did they end up being 7th Dec in the end?

My boys are doing ok. I’m very lucky that my mum is helping out a LOT. I’m spending a lot of time expressing as boys were poor feeders to start with, which I couldn’t do without help watching the boys and my older DD. Still very hard work!

I was laying watching banged up abroad, got up, pottering around and 10:20pm my waters just went. Daughters were here at 3.06am and 3:09am - emergency c section. Consultant saw me the next day and said "what are you doing here? I saw your name on the board??" And I said "my waters just went like you said they wouldn't" and laughed

Tbh I think when my waters went I went into shock a bit I can't remember much

@crazychemist hi.. sooo sorry for the delay, I haven't been on here much as I weirdly get sucked into the pregnancy page and then get jealous of all the pregnant ladies 😂😂 i need to get out more!
I'm doing well thank you, have struggled a lot at the beginning, but feel like I'm mostly getting there each day now.
I didn't make it to the 7th in the end haha. I had a 'if I'm going in Monday I need to start getting the house together for my partners brother to arrive' so Thursday 3rd I spend all afternoon/evening into later night tidying abs cleaning everywhere hoovered upstairs for the first time in ages and then was up through the night from early with pains, decided to phone hospital at 530 being convinced I was having contractions although nothing to them asin very much bearable and no pattern to them so I went in about 7 and they were here at 12.27 and 12.37 that lunch time.
Twin 1 has struggled with feeding and keeping weight on so he's now on high energy milk for a while after a trip back to hospital and referred to the dietician, he was only 7lb4oz at the last weigh last week where as twin 2 is 9lb and just the chunkiest thing ever lol they're 11 weeks Friday but it's gone really fast.
Glad your doing well and got your mum there to help. I'm gutted I never worked hard enough to try and breast feed when I really wanted to but was too scared to not feed them enough 😩 but it's too late now x

@emma911030 hard to imagine being jealous of pregnant ladies - I’m so glad to not be throwing up any more!!! Nice to hear your twins are doing well and that you’re getting support for the smaller twin.

As far as feeding goes, it’s partly led by laziness! We combi feed, and pumping, washing, sterilising, warming..... god it’s so much easier to just whip out a boob at night! They needed bottles to start with as they weren’t great at feeding, but now they’ve got the hang of it and are stronger they just have 3 bottles during the day so that I know the smaller one is getting enough and someone else can lend me a hand. So it’s not a matter of working hard enough. Don’t feel bad for choices you have made, I don’t feel bad that my twins have some formula, I doubt anyone will ever be able to tell, and they won’t with yours either.