Twins

[CJones11]

Hi all. I have found out I am expecting DCDA twins in January. I have 2 other children and loved giving birth. I had two water births and I don't think I would have survived without being in the water.
Obviously this pregnancy and labour will be very different and I can't guarantee I'll be able to have a vaginal delivery, but ideally would like to. I'm looking for birth stories from other twin mamas. Things like being induced, c-section experiences, how to make vaginal delivery of twins calm on a labour ward? How early did you have your babies and what size clothes fit best?

Strangely, this is all feels brand new...

Thanks

My dt were second pregnancy (it was actually easier/less traumatic than first). I was obviously consultant led, I was admitted at 35 weeks induced at 37 weeks. I had to be monitored all the time and because they were monitoring both it was problematic and I couldn't move. So I asked them to sit me upright on the bed and I birthed like that. Just had gas and air. After dt1 was born the Dr rescanned and said OK to go ahead with second but gave a time frame before c- section. Luckily 28 minutes later dt2 was born still in his sac. What they didn't tell me was that after labour 1 contractions stop then when labour 2 starts you don't slowly rev up your in last stages so pain goes from 0-10 very fast. I asked for no onlookers (everyone wants to see a natural twin birth) so just had 3 midwives then two drs who checked in. The hardest part was the placentas as they'd fused together so felt like a third birth. Twins were 6lb4 and 6lb8 had a few issues but none related to being twins. Dt1 screamed until he was put with dt2 so I asked for them to be kept in one cot. Breastfeeding took a bit of getting used to, I tandem fed, woke one so both fed at the same time and kept them on a schedule from day one. It wasn't easy but doable. Congratulations and good luck.

I had cs at 37+1 due to transverse breech. One was 2.5kg and the other 2.9kg. Breastfed both within the hour and tandem within a couple of days. The second night when I had no help, feeding consecutively was so tiring.

The smaller one was in small baby size for maybe a week, then in newborn for maybe another week.

But all good.

Congratulations! My twins are now 7. I had an elective c section at 37 weeks, as they were breech. It was actually a very pleasant experience! I was advised to take peppermint and arnica for wind and bruising and I got off lightly on both counts but that may have been coincidence. Piece of advice; lower your standards. You're going to be very busy and likely sleep deprived so don't try to be mum of the year. We didn't make it out much the first few months, it was mad! But it's the best thing that ever happened to me, and there are no words to describe how joyous and amazing it is to see baby twins interacting. It's just magic. I'm actually jealous that you have this to come! ( Hurries off to watch old videos on my phone of mine as babies)

I had MCDA twins. They were born naturally at 35 weeks.

I had a fairly quick, uneventful labour (about 4 hours). No pain relief.

They put a scalp monitor on baby 1's head. I had a cannula (I think they do that for all multiple births).

After baby one was born, they broke baby two's waters and baby two was born 11 minutes later.

So, it was pretty easy and straightforward.

They weighed 1.8 and 2.2kg and didn't go into special care (but should have!!)

This is really helpful. I'm anxious about being monitored right through and not being able to move around if I'm able to try a vaginal delivery. How did you find the induction? I feel like all I ever hear is horror stories about them.
How long did you manage to breastfeed them for?
Thank you!

How was recovery from the section?

You speak of being a twin mother with such positivity🥹 thank you so much!

How long did you stay in hospital before you were able to take them home?

@CJones11

This, unfortunately, was a real issue. I was in hospital for a week and they 'asked' me to go home - with a 3lb 10oz baby (who hadn't gone into special care).

(I thought the guidelines were a baby had to be a certain weight before they could go home.)

Anyway, disaster ensued and baby (twin 2) nearly died after illness (and more neglect from the hospital).

She made it through though so a happy ending, ultimately.

I breastfed for a year, stopped when I went back to work. I did express to bottle feed one (while bf the other) for when we were out as its just difficult to feed two at once in a dignified way. If you go down the bf route mastitis was a big problem as when they both drop a feed it's a big reduction so I'd express a bit off for a few days slowly reducing.
You never hear much about good inductions do you? It was better than my spontaneous labour and was about 12 hours from Start to birth of second dt. Yes being restricted is harder but they can adapt the beds to be sat upright.

Almost 7 months in, and all my worries vanished the moment they were born.
A wonderful, quick, vaginal delivery with no intervention. B was born breech. Girls came at 35+1 on Christmas Eve, and we were home on boxing day. Still breastfeeding with the occasional bottle of formula.
Absolutely wonderful 💖

It was my first delivery. 39+2 induced delivery. 9 mins between them - shocked mother. babies were ok. One 6.1lb, second 4.11lbs. No specialist baby unit needed but we were in hospital for a week down to me. They were tiny but only for a short time, Hard work feeding and I was shattered ( although we did mixed feeds in the end as I was just too exhausted.) They have just turned 20 and at university.

I had non identical twins, by vaginal birth at 37 weeks.

DD1’s waters had broken already and I had been admitted for an induction at 8 am, the next day. I felt uneasy all night, and had to go to the toilet quite a bit. The midwife looked at me questioningly at about 6 am. I had had so many Braxton Hicks in the last few weeks, I couldn’t tell the difference from labour! I didn’t know what to say, and just said I could be in labour? (I didn’t really think so).

They rushed me off to the delivery suite, where I was about 8 cm. DD1 was born an hour and half later. It was too late for any pain relief except gas and air. I never wanted pethidine. Suddenly the room filled up - there were three midwives either side of me, a registrar doing the delivery and loads of doctors behind him! The registrar broke DD2’s water and they turned up the syntocinon (?) to increase the contractions. DH arrived, but they told him to keep out of the way. The chief midwife held my hand. DD2 was born about 25 minutes later. I only had gas and air, but luckily I remembered all the instructions about breathing from the antenatal classes.

I wanted a epidural; but I had no choice. The advantages of a second natural birth with just gas and air were, there were only a few stitches and no drug after effects!

I never wanted to walk about, as I could barely walk by then anyway. DD1 was 5 lbs 8 oz and DD2 was 7 lbs 4 oz.

They both had IV antibiotics for 5 days, due to the waters breaking early, and as I was breastfeeding I had to stay in too. DD1 quit breastfeeding at 10m, and I weaned DD2 off it at 16m, as I was fed up with the worst of both worlds by then.

That’s fabulous news