Twin vaginal birth experiences

[Glitterbug86]

Hi. Was wondering if any of you who had/attempted a vaginal twin birth would share your experience please?

I was wondering things like (in case of DCDA twins), do you deliver the first placenta before the second baby? With 1 baby they give you something to help that along since the baby is already out, but I guess they can't with multiples? How long did it take to deliver first baby, placenta, second baby? If getting an epidural is that given at 4cm?

I have a 21 month old who I had a vaginal delivery with. Spontaneous labour at 38 weeks, 8cm when I went into triage, no epidural, just gas and air. I did plan to try to go without epidural, but didn't realise I would be so far along when I went in.

I hope to have a vaginal birth with my twins (and that's the hospitals recommendation), but with epidural this time. I'm 30 weeks and the first is head down. The second is somewhat transverse at the moment but was head down before that. I would like to have a better idea of what to expect

Hi, I had my twins many years ago so details a bit vague!
I decided to put myself in the midwife’s hands rather than trying to have a birth plan, and they were very happy with this. I gave birth just a few days before due date, having been in ante natal
for four weeks bed rest. Consultant decided I should have a sweep on the Thursday; midwives said this was so that it could be repeated on the Friday if necessary and I wouldn’t spoil his weekend! Labour was pretty straightforward, I had a sweep at 9am and DD arrived at 3:30 and DS at 3:40. I had gas and air; I was wary of an epidural and they were less commonly offered at that time. DD weighed 5lb 10oz and DS 7 lb. I really don’t remember about placentas; I think they came afterwards, but is that possible??
I think it’s impossible to know how it will go as each labour is different. Good luck! Do you know what you are having?

My babies were both head down so I attempted a vaginal delivery, but it ended up being a forceps delivery as twin 1 had an enormous head and was presenting at a weird angle.
I don’t remember what happened to the order of the placentas, as by that point I was exhausted and a bit out of it. But I didn’t have retained placenta (had this with my first).
Your twin 2 has plenty of time to turn, mine didn’t turn until about 34/35 weeks. Your consultant is likely to recommend having an epidural as it means they can get you sorted in theatre quicker in case of complications.

My twins are now 7. I'm pretty certain both placentas were delivered after. Unfortunately I had forceps in an emergency as one of the placentas had came away from the womb and twin 2 was effectively drowning. Born 4 minutes apart, unmedicated apart from the ibuprofen that was shoved up my bum after. Mine were born at 30 weeks, twin 1 was still feet down just two days beforehand.

I would make sure that the hospital/midwife/obstetrician is very experienced in delivering twins vaginally.

Vaginal birth here, the placentas had fused together so they were delivered at the end. It all went really well (although twin 2 was born breech). Hope this helps.

Also vaginal birth here - but I was 27+ weeks so slightly different perhaps as they were tiny. I would echo what a previous poster said - for me anyway, they were my first babies so I really had no idea what to expect and I kind of just mentally handed my body over to the medical staff - was prepared to do whatever they suggested, whatever method they advised.

Both twins were head down - Twin 1 born, all relatively straightforward, but during that last stage, Twin 2 had turned and was breech. Consultant advised I'd likely need a section, said he'd allow me to try a couple of pushes. Twin 2 co-operated, delivered breech (bottom first) but the consultant and his team were amazing and everything was OK. I didn't have an epidural (I had pethidine but I wouldn't recommend it, I felt drunk). I had about 20 mins between Twin 1 and 2, I can't even remember delivering the placentas.

I went into Labour at 38.5 weeks with twin one head down. Had an epidural and labour progressed well until I was examined at 7cm and the midwife diagnosed vasa previa (blood vessel growing in amniotic sack, potentially life threatening for baby and mum) so I had a section. The blood vessel turned out to be the line where the two placentas were joined so section was unnecessary but they had to be cautious.

5 year old twins, vaginal birth here. Waters broke spontaneously at home at 35 weeks.

When I got to the hospital they scanned just to double check babies positions.

I had an epidural, then after an hour of pushing I was transferred to theatre for episiotomy and forceps (happened in theatre incase I needed sectioned). First one delivered then had the drip to increase contractions for baby 2. Following that the placentas came out but I don't even remember being asked to push for them!

Hi, had my twins at 38 weeks, vaginal birth. Induced. Was advised by midwife to have epidural just in case anything went wrong but I declined preferring to have only gas & air, as I had with my previous 3 births. Twin1 was head down, twin2 was breech but easier birth as No1 had 'paved the way ', so to speak. Twins born 15 minutes apart, no problem

Sorry to hijack the thread but pain wise how bad are we talking?

@Tigerfeet3 was the breech more painful?

Hi, @heartbroken22 my 2nd twins birth was absolutely painless even though he was breech (he was doubled over with his feet by his ears and came out bum first). The midwife said it's very common for the second twin to be th easier as all the stretching was done by the first.

DCDA twins. Induced 38 weeks by breaking waters (previous vaginal delivery).

Water broken 8.30 am. Twin 1 arrived at 6.42pm twin 2 at 6.57pm. Not much memory of placentas but think it was after each birth.

Epidural recommended and given by 11am. Gas and air all the way too.

Twin 2 was breech, came out bum first. Twin 1 was head down, if she wasn't would have needed a cs.

Some stiches.

Twin 1 went to NICU for five days on day 2 as she was too small to feed. She was 5lbs 2 born but went down to 4lbs 13 overnight, twin 2 was 8lbs 2.

I had some pain in weeks after birth, due to muscle stretching and was sorted with steroid injection.

Twin 2 in NICU

Twin 1 8lbs 2

My consultant recommended epidural in advance as twin 2 would possibly need to be manually turned.

No way of knowing in advance as can shift positions after first birth.

Hi, we have 6 children including 2 sets of Identical twins. All vaginal births. Praise God

1st set was spontaneous at weeks; waters broke, contractions started a day later ( althought I thought it was trapped wind being my 1st pregnancy lol) epidural, and they were born a day after that, second baby breech. 5lb10 & 5lb15 1/2

2nd set were induced with pessary at 36 weeks, born following day, epidural and again 2nd was breech however they turned her around before I pushed. 5lb 14 & 7lb 4

my best advice is to meditate during pregnancy, practice your breathing and trust the process. Our divine bodies are made to do this!

Exactly the same for me

I went into labour spontaneously at 36 weeks. Laboured for 34 hours and pushed for about 1hr 30mins. Completely unmedicated and if you're planning to not get an epidural then I'd recommend a pool, helped so much although I did actually deliver them on all fours on the bed. DS was born first and then around 25mins later DD was born. DD was born 'sunny side up'. Placentas were fused so they were delivered after. Good luck!!

Spontaneous labour at 32 weeks with DCDA twins. Waters broke at 4am. Sent home from hospital at 8.30am “you’re not in labour”. Took some paracetamol, back at 11.30am ish (in retrospect clearly in labour, but with strong sense of denial! And mainly general discomfort rather than classic contractions) “you’re 10cm dilated, don’t push” - this definitely had the impact of slowing contractions! Both twins head down. Small panic as I was moved to the operating theatre and 21 health professionals assembled (including resuss team for each baby). Episiotomy and twin 1 born at 1pm. Forceps for twin 2 10 mins later. Placentas were fused and both delivered after twins (am pretty sure, although have no actual recollection of this). Both twins weighed 4lbs and were in NICU for just under 3 weeks without any complications. They’ll be 13 in a couple of months!!

good luck OP!

I gave birth to my DCDA twins in December 2022 via vaginal delivery.

They're my 2&3rd babies and my 1st DC was born at 38+3 also vaginally.

With the twins I was in early labour at 35+5 but gave birth at 36w exactly.

Epidural placed as soon as I went into labour ward (hated the epidural). I had to have it placed incase I needed to go to have a c-section. Epidural failed for me and I just gave birth on gas and air like I did with my son.

My twin 2 was breech but they were born 8 minutes apart and placentas were delivered the same time as them I think.

I didn't have twins but had an undiagnosed breech. Midwife scared me yesterday saying I was lucky that I got to give birth vaginally and not have a c section. Now pregnant again and scared he/she maybe breech and if it's diagnosed I'll have to have a c section. How did you guys ask for your breech twin to be delivered vaginally?

I don’t actually remember about the placenta.

I delivered twin 1 normally (head down) twin 2 had always been breech and was born footling breech. Everything was fine, no tears or anything.

good luck xx

I requested an epidural but there was no time for it.