how late in pregnancy can a twin turn?

[MamaChris]

I am hoping to avoid a section, but first baby is breech, and has been since about 21 weeks. I am almost 26 weeks now. How late did anyone have a breech first baby turn? Was there any approach you took that you think helped? As her brother is sitting on top of her, I suspect there is less space to allow her to turn than a single baby! Thanks.

My twins were both breech until 32 weeks when the first baby turned. By the time they were born (at nearly 39 weeks) they were both head down so they can still turn quite far along in the pregnancy (somehow, given how crowded they get!)

Good to hear that RMR, thanks

baby 1 was head down throughout entire pregnancy, baby 2 turned constantly, every time i had a scan or midwife appt the little monkey was in a different position.I was told they can turn up until 33 weeks-not mine, born at 39+1 and last turn was at 38 weeks!Not sure how he managed it but he did!!

Mine turned between the 32 and 36 week scan. I was delighted as I really wanted vaginal birth. I had been really stressing about twin 2 being breech and had been swimming a lot etc to try and help make some space in there! However in the end I had a section after 7 hours of labour but it was all absolutely fine. I'd say just be open minded if you can, and that the section was absolutely fine. No problems with anything at all, and I could lift my babies and tandem feed afterwards (which was what I was most worried about).

my girl (twin 1) was head down the whole time until my scan at 29 weeks and she had turned to breech. My boy used to lie accross the top of my bump and hes now head down. Not that worried about her turning as i think im gonna get a section anyway. Im 32 weeks now

thanks. Trying to keep an open mind, but I really do want a normal birth, partly because I can't imagine looking after two newborns and a toddler after a section. Do you think the swimming was helpful superbean? And starshaker, good (for me) to know your girl turned so late, good luck

Hello
In my case, twin 1 was breech throughout the pregnancy, twin 2 kept turning around. I had a section booked for 38 weeks (they didn't mind what twin 2 was doing, but said I def had to have a section if t1 was breech). Had my final scan 10 days before and he was still breech. So went ahead with section as planned, and when they did it, he had turned around and was head down! I hadn't felt it at all.
I didn't want a section either, but the recovery was better than I'd expected - I was home within 48hrs - and I found looking after the twins and a 19 mth old toddler OK afterwards (or at least I don't think the section made much of a difference to how easy I found it!). Good luck xxx

Mine were both breech for the whole pregnancy and then BOTH turned at 33 weeks. Cue much excitement and plan for natural birth. Then they BOTH turned again at 36 weeks!!! So it didn't work out for me but it is possible for them to turn very late.

Having been both head down for the entire pregnancy, twin 2 turned round the night before I gave birth at 35 weeks. God knows how and I didn't even feel it either

oh thanks all. good news re late turning, and also very good to hear that twins and a toddler are not completely incompatible with a section just in case

please keep any stories coming - am tallying them all to try and see the bigger picture

For me twin 1 was breech all the way through and didn't change position and twin 2 was transverse. I was admitted to hospital as i was getting pains, which they did not know why, said it was probably the shear size of me. Twin two turned breech while i was in there and they were finding it difficult to keep finding the heartbeats so i had to have a section the next day. I was 37+4 Both Twins were just over 7lbs each.

I found it quite difficult with my toddler who was 20 months, but i was lucky that i had family come and stay to help me out.

Interesting thread because I am now 28 weeks and my twins are being very awkward! Twin 1 is transverse and Twin 2 is Oblique Breech. I have been told that if they haven't moved by 34 weeks then we will start to discuss a section, but a decision wouldn't actually be made until at least 36 weeks if not later. (so long as I get that far of course!)

Interesting too how many people are talking about breech babies stopping them from having vaginal births. I have been told that the position of the 2nd baby is completely irrelevant (even if it is transverse) as it can hopefully be moved once Twin 1 is out. I have also been assured, that unless there are other complications, I can still give birth vaginally even if Twin 1 is breech. The only positions that will force me to have a section are if Twin 1 is transverse or oblique.

I already have 2 children (5 & 3) and my 5 year old will need to get to school every day which isn't within reasonable walking distance so I will need to be able to drive. I have no family here so a section is really my last resort. (I have said I will agree to it if it is actually medically necessary for the health/safety of me or the babies, but I will not be choosing a section under any other circumstances - our hospital is rather snip-happy I'm afraid!)

2plus - very interesting - my hospital (also snip happy) has been quite categorical that unless first baby is head down, I will need a section. They don't care about position of the second baby, happy for him to be born breech or head first, but were giving me scare stories about vaginal births of the twin 1. We also have no family, and I desperately want to avoid a section. Strange how "evidence based medicine" varies from place to place I will press them again at next appt.

DO MamaChris! My consultant would rather everyone had a planned CS as he (like most consultants) are completely risk-averse and would like everything to be nice and easy and scheduled! I have been seeing the consultant midwife at the hospital as well as the consultant and she has been fantastic! She did acknowledge that they are only thinking about me and the twins in the actual hospital, whereas of course my mindset is coming from thinking about me, the twins, my 2 other children and my husband in the hospital AND at home afterwards! We have a consultation planned for 34 weeks where we will all sit down together (me, midwife & doc) to put together a birth plan we are all happy with. MW has also written a letter to keep in my notes stating that I only want a CS if it is actually medically necessary for the health/safety of either me or the twins. It's been great to have someone medical on my side - perhaps there is someone similar at your hospital who you could meet with?

My thoughts exactly 2plus! It's not the 12 hours of birth that matters (so long as everyone is safe) as much as being able to care for the newborns and my toddler for the next several weeks.

I have met the consultant midwife, and she has been supportive, but not to the extent of breech birth. Am trying to arrange another meeting, so will raise it then. She's also made sure I have a "pro-normality" consultant

37 wks both twins heads down and twin one engaged.

2 days later went in to be induced and twin two was back up above twin one and decided to stay there.

All the way through my pregnancy twin two wandered around in there. He was like a dog going for a nap, turning round and round twin ones feet. Head left, head right, side by side, back up.

I had twin one normal delivery, twin 2 c- section and then carried on my life with them and 18mnth older DD.

My first, who was a singleton turned during labour. We were back to back right up till nearly the end.