Natural delivery with twins - experiences please.

[April241]

Also posted this in multiple births but seen there's not much activity there so am posting here and will ask for my other post to be removed.

I've had my 30 week scan today and both babies are head down, the right baby has always been head down since 16 weeks but left baby has been head down, transverse, breech and now head down again.

I spoke with my consultant today about dates and he said we'll keep scanning every 2 weeks and won't intervene unless something changes and they need to come out but said I'm unlikely to go by 37 weeks.

I've had it in my head that I'll be a planned section and had been planning on discussing this with the consultant however the midwife said today that if they both stay head down its far better to delivery vaginally that to have a section although obviously some births end up in section anyway.

My main reason for wanting a section is that I'm absolutely terrified that once the first baby is out the second one gets into difficulty or changes position etc. I know of someone who had a head down/breech set of twins her whole pregnancy but the hospital pushed for vaginal birth, the second baby remained breech and very sadly didn't make it due to the cord being round his neck. This really scared me, I'd never forgive myself if I didn't push for a section and something dreadful happened.

Are there any twin mums out there who had a natural labour that could tell me a bit about their experience? I'm planning on sitting down with the consultant soon to hear his experiences and statistics etc but I'm not sure it'll be enough to stop the fear!

Hi - congratulations on your pregnancy.
I had a natural delivery of twins 6 months ago. Mine finally turned head down at 37 weeks and I was induced at 37+1. I was pretty lucky waters went at midnight and had both by 10am. I had an epidural which they suggested in case they needed to intervene. I was really well supported with 2 senior midwives, consultant and paediatrics in attendance for actual birth. My 2nd twin didn't descend well after firsts birth but the midwife helped guide her (hand on her head!). I had an episiotomy as well. I was lucky enough to be home in less than 24 hours.
Mine was a really good experience but I had really pushed for a natural birth and my consultant would have been more than happy to do a c section. They said to me basically I could choose whichever I wanted and if you feel more comfortable with a c section you should absolutely push for that. Good luck.

Thanks for your comment, I've still got a good few weeks to go hopefully so obviously it could all change but that's encouraging to hear your story. The quicker recovery with natural is a big plus point too.

Would be lovely if you just knew exactly what was going to happen, a section wouldn't even have crossed my mind if it were one baby but twins and it's thrown it all up in the air!

Hi, I had vaginal delivery. They were swapping around up to about 30 weeks but both stayed head down from then on. When I first found out it was twins, I was so relieved that I had a reason to have a section, having had a traumatic vaginal delivery with my first. In the end, the potential difficulties after a section made me inclined to consider a vaginal birth after all. I was induced and had an epidural this time, by choice after having given birth with just gas and air to my eldest after being induced (and sworn never again!) but also to be prepared for possible section. Did you know that only 5% of twin births end up with the second twin having to be delivered by C section? In my case, Twin 1's head was stuck and there was talk of forceps and a section, but then another doctor came in and managed to turn his head so I could finish pushing him out. His sister came out in a rush shortly after, virtually no effort. Whole thing was a doddle. Minor tear, stitched up by the midwife, hardly felt and easy recovery. Good luck.

I had a natural twin delivery at 36 weeks. Epidural sited in case of complications, plus had to deliver in theatre as opposed to delivery suite. After twin 1 was born, a midwife basically used her forearm to hold baby 2 in position, whilst I delivered the placenta, then twin 2 was born 10 minutes later. No episiotomy or other interventions which I was really pleased about. Recovery was very quick, but be prepared to still have an enormous belly for some time afterwards!

Mine were both head down too and was induced at 38 weeks. Induction was fine - went into hospital first thing in morning, pessary straight away, all progressing well so did not need the hormone drip, born by midnight same day 15 mins apart. I was advised to have an edidural as they might need to hold the second baby to keep head down position or manipulate a bit to speed up second delivery, which can be very painful. This was necessary but I couldn't feel a thing! However did mean I had to be told when to push and I'm convinced that is what led to needing forceps for both and episiotomy. Recovery was pretty quick and straightforward. You will be fine :-)

Thanks so much Mo and Bella' it's fab hearing this side of it. Trying to do as much research as I possibly can before speaking with the consultant.

Did you both get out of hospital quickly and were you able to get up and move around shortly after delivery? The midwife said today if I didn't have a spontaneous labour I'd likely be induced and need constant monitoring so wouldn't be able to walk around as much, she said I'd be able to change position and use the gym ball etc but a pool wouldn't be an option.

Also did your twins need any SCBU or any help? My other worry is that they're in hospital for a few weeks but hopefully if I get to 36/37 there won't be any need for it.

Sorry for the questions, I was set on section and now this has thrown a new direction at me so I'm trying to find out everything I can.

Thanks trampoline

These are all really helping! My Gran had twins naturally and a woman in work also but I've not known anyone else to speak to. I think that one story I heard just totally panicked me and all I can think about is baby 2 having problems. If babies stay head down and a natural birth seems the preferred option I'll just need to get over the fear :)

Hi OP, I'm so glad you posted this as I too am expecting twins and having the same dilemma. Consultant is saying to have natural birth if they are both head down, but also hinted they'd be open to the idea of a section if I really felt I wanted that. It's so hard to know, isn't it?

Everyone I know who has had an elective C section has been very positive about the experience. My fear is trying for a natural birth and then running into problems which would require either forceps or an emergency C section (which seems to have been a common experience for my friends with their first babies). If I'm going to end up being battered and bruised anyway, I'd rather have the calm controlled environment of a planned section rather than have people do stuff in an emergency because they need to get the baby out. On the other hand, if a natural birth went well, I'd have a shorter stay in hospital which is appealing.

I had continuous monitoring, a monitor for each baby so you are quite constrained. However it didn't bother me at all. I sat in bed watching old episodes of the chase while hubby slept until it was time to push!
I know a few people with twins now and most of those who get to 36/37 weeks don't need any scbu time

Alice congratulations, how far along are you? It is really hard to decide, maybe the babies will move into positions that mean a natural labour isn't an option however if the option is there right up till the end I've no idea what I'll do. I work in theatre and would feel really calm in the environment I think, my main concerns with sections are the spinal working and then being scared it didn't reverse but nothing else really. Was worried about the recovery post section as a few of my friends have had bad recovery experiences but just accepted it. I'm going over the same points that you mention too. I wish I had a crystal ball.

Joleyn okay cool, no SCBU is reassuring too and OH and I could definitely find a new tv series to get through ;)

DTs are 25 this weekend.
I made it to 34 weeks, so had to spend 10 days in hospital. The consultant arranged a trainee midwife to babysit DTs so I could leave the hospital for a couple of hours a day. I was spoilt.
Mine were natural vaginal birth. Twin 2 was breech, he actually presented an arm and a leg, so they activated the epidural and turned him. It was not a drama.
As a multiple mum you get the consultant, registrar and the biggest birthing suite. Plus pediatric crash teams just in case.
Epidurals are essential, they don't need to put much in the way of drugs down them unless necessary.
DSis also had twins and twin 2 was delivered by cesarian. Don't panic, the med team were very calm, this was their plan B.
Congrats, they are very hard work at first but well worth it.

Thank you for posting OP. I am expecting twins too, not as far on as you though! Only 18 weeks here. But these issues are on my mind. I know a few sets of twins born in the past few years with varying birth experiences. I was quite surprised to be told by my consultant that I would automatically have an epidural if considering a natural birth, it helps them if they did eg have to go for a section to deliver the second twin etc. But it helps to have as much info as possible! I can't imagine the extra monitoring or being restricted in labour with moving around or not being able to feel things, having had three natural deliveries. Decisions are hard and I don't even have to make them just now!!! Mine are both very much transverse at the moment but lots can change. Thank you for posting and to everyone who has added their experiences. Such a help!

Hi April and Surf, I'm 20 weeks. These are my first babies so I have no birth experiences to draw on.

Hi OP.

My twins were both head down. I was induced at 37+1.

Day 1 - First pessary was given around 11am, second pessary at 5pm....stayed in overnight.

Day 2 - examination showed 3cm and my waters were broken at 6am, contractions started immediately. Around 10am given epidural....unfortunately it didn't work...didn't get to 10cm until 11pm.left for another hour before pushing started at 12 midnight. Just over two hours of pushing, moved to theatre for ventouse delivery.

Once twin 1 was out,the midwives pushed on my tummy to try and prevent twin 2 changing position.

Had my epidural worked I think my delivery would not have been too bad. Recovery wasn't too bad either.

Thanks so much everyone for your stories, they're really helping! It seems vaginal delivery is entirely possible without needing much intervention and really doesn't seem as scary as I'd originally thought :)

Congratulations surf time really starts to fly! I can't believe I'm 30 weeks on Friday (my scans are always at the Wednesday clinic, 2 days before my week changing day so I'm always X plus 5). My next scan is my 32 week scan which is really scary!!! I used to read all the forums when I was 4 weeks pregnant and couldn't even visualise being in the third trimester.

Hi all, reading with interest as i'm currently 36+4. Twin 1 is head down (and has been the whole time) but Twin 2 has gone breech again (she turned between 32 and 36 week scan!).
I am planning vaginal birth with epidural - just went with what consultant & midwife advised. They are showing no signs of arriving yet but induction booked for Bank Holiday Monday

I ha them naturally - first out was fine - second the nurse held her head to stop her turning - I was given an injection to restart contractions - and twin 2 came out half hour later

All fine no special intervention or treatment - stayed in 2 days - up and walking immediately

Glad this is reassuring you OP and others who have joined. We were in 4 days, both babies were absolutely fine. My induction was very quick which helped (I have a suspicion things would have happened naturally soon anyway as my sciatica miraculously disappeared the day before!), but although was continuously monitored and there were a lot of people in the room for the delivery, the whole thing was pretty calm. Epidural was so effective I even had a lovely little nap in the evening.
It's always good to be prepared for all eventualities and you don't have as many options as a single birth, but it's great that your midwife is mentioning things like birthing ball. I was so convinced beforehand that the whole thing was going to be horrendous, medicalised and scary and end up in emergency section that I just tried not to think about it at all. I fazed out in antenatal class completely when they talked about things like active birth and positions. Currently expecting a singleton and finding out things that with hindsight may have helped me not lie flat on my back for so long and this could possibly have prevented needing forceps/episiotomy, but who knows! It all worked out well in the end!

Good luck melly hope everything works out for you.

It's strange because when I thought I was having 1 I was totally fine with a natural delivery, then found out it was two and heard some awful stories and now have the total fear. Even though I'd heard of horror stories about tears and things in singleton births it didn't phase me, I'm more worried about the babies now that I know these stories.

Will speak with the consultant but I'm sure he'll reassure me as you have all done. He's a twin specialist so I'd trust him and would like to hear his experiences too. Thanks so much everyone, you've made a very worried me not so panicked anymore :)