Natural Birth with Identical Twins? Please Share Your Experiences.

Hi S.,

I have boy/girl twins and delivered naturally. They are now 3 years old. I was put on bedrest for the last month. Delivery went great. They make you deliver in the OR just in case something happens and they need to operate. There's a lot of people in the room to look after you and then the twins, but you really dont notice them. I delivered my twins 10 minutes apart from each other. They gave me an epidural (I didnt have a choice, because they want you to have this again in case they need to emergently operate for any reason). Although now after having an epidural, i would strongly recommend anyone have one (they're wonderful at taking the labor pains away). congratulations and hope all goes well for you!
B.

I had my 11 year old twin girls naturally at 37.5 weeks. It was perfect, no problems at all, they were 31 minutes apart.

I had my second set via unwanted c-section.

I totally prefer the natural delivery.

I had planned on a natural delivery with my boys, but unfortunately I had to have an emergency c-section, as they decided they wanted to come out early and feet first. I do know other moms of multiples that have had natural births, so it is possible. The main thing that I want to express to you is to do what is safest for your babies at the time of delivery (which I am sure you will!), and don't get your heart too set on a natural delivery, as babies are unpredictable, as is labor. Be informed about all options for delivery so you won't be unprepared if you do end up having to have a c/s. I had refused to even think of having a c/s, as I was set on going natural, and was completely unprepared for the whole thing.

Good luck to you and I hope you are able to give birth in the way you want!

Congratulations S.!!
I didn't have natural-- mine were both Breach-- one was then the other found that position 3 days prior to birth.
So-- go with the flow.
Many and most do natural birth.
They just plan for complications in case things get stressed.
If you're not already involved-- find yourself a twins or mothers of multiples club-- reassure your mind with all their wisdom.
AND-- save a ton in shared and exchanged and inexpensively sold near new equipment!!!
Enjoy the ride-- it will be as it should be.

About me: 49 yo perfusionist, wellness coach also doing a nationwide online biggest loser for $ at challengevictor.com, wife, mom with awesome 8 yo twin girls.

B. j

I have 3 YO twins... not identical though.

I'm confused by your statement "I am not a big fan of invasive, weekly monitoring" . The monitoring that I had was 90% exterior driven (monitors attached to my belly) and therefore not the least bit invasive. Not sure if your doctor is asking you to do something differently or if you just mistakenly used the word. I'd be very interested in hearing if you are being asked to do more invasive monitoring... and what it entails.

RE: 'natural childbirth' .. a friend once told me "all childbirth is natural... it's medicated vs. non medicated" - I LOVE that as it's so true!! My girls were breach so I ended up w/ a C-section. That being said one of my PA's was a former delivery nurse and she told me she couldn't remember the amount of times one baby comes out quick and easy vaginally and the other child who hasn't had an inch of room takes that opportunity to spread out and they had to go in via c-section to get him/her. So you may want to prepare yourself for that!! Best of luck - twins are so amazing and a true blessing!

My twin pregnancy was unique, because I did not have any of the symptoms you would expect for a multiple pregnancy. I did not measure large for dates, I did not have more morning sickness, I only gained 32 lbs, we never picked up a second heartbeat... The pregnancy was not at all unlike my previous pregnancies of singletons.

I carried my babies 39 weeks and had a planned home birth with a midwife. Needless to say, we were very surprised when what I thought was the placenta turned out to be another baby!

Each girl was 5 lbs. 12 oz. and 19" long. The first was born in the tub and the second was posterior and I gave birth out of the tub on hands and knees. These were babies #5 and #6 for me. They were perfectly healthy and the birth was very easy with no complications. They were born 41 minutes apart.

Examination of the placenta revealed that the babies shared the outer chorion sac, but they had their own amnion sacs, so they were monochorionic, diamniotic twins; identical.

They are seven years old now.

S.,
I did not have identical twins, but I did have twins none-the-less! When I went in for my first meeting with the RN, she automatically assumed that I was going to have a C-Section. I told her no. Then she tried to put me down for an epidural...again I said no. She was amazed (and thought that I was losing my mind!) because I was going au-natural! The day came (almost 6 weeks early) and I made it through like a champ! The kiddos were 4 lbs. 11 oz and 5 lbs. 8 oz. Not too small considering the should have stayed put for another 6 weeks! Recovery time was minimal for me... I would do it all over again if given the opportunity!
Good luck to you!
J. L.

Hi S.,

I had my identical twin girls at 34 weeks. It was a c-section as Baby A would have come out first and was very small and they were concerned that B would have a hard time making it out. Plus, they were not growing well anymore. I was so disappointed at the turn the pregnancy took. Everything was great until about week 31 and then it all just spiraled downhill. But they were very healthy for their gestation and are now almost 4 years old and doing beautifully. I can echo the other person who wrote saying that her older child wishes she had a twin. My older daughter often feels that way too!

Best wishes for a continued healthy pregnancy and natural birth!

What is your definition of "natural?" I've heard lots of different answers for that one. Here's my experience: my twins were born prematurely, but without other complications. I delivered them vaginally but my doctor wanted an epidural, just in case she needed to intervene. She was open to just having the epidural placed without anesthesia if I wanted. Baby A had an internal fetal monitor, Baby B was monitored externally. Both had to spend 2 weeks in the NICU because of their prematurity. So if your definition of "natural" means vaginal delivery, that is certainly possible. If you mean "no interventions" that may be somewhat possible, depending on your situation. You probably will get more fetal monitoring, though, as twin deliveries are riskier.

Best of luck to you!
J.

S.,

I had my now 8yr old girl/girl twins naturally. At about 28 weeks I experienced pre term labor and was put on meds, and given a steroid shot to speed up the girls development in case I had them early. I was on partial bed rest until I had them at 36 weeks.

I had my first born naturally as well, but I had planned to get an epidural with this one just in case they had to do an emergency c-section. By the time I was ready for an epi, I was to far along and had the girls naturally with no complications. They were 5 minutes apart.

They twins are so much fun, yes extra work, but a blessing. They have a built in friend, and playmate. My oldest sometimes wishes she was a twin.

Congratulations on your twins, S.! :)

My experience with my identical girls was rather different than I expected. Both were head down, and I didn't want any interventions (epidural, C-section). However, by 36 weeks I was so uncomfortable, I asked them to induce, an intervention I never anticipated. In the end (after 13 hours of productive contractions and 4 hours of pushing - all without pain meds), I ended up with a C-section after all (my first girl was sort of "stuck"). All was well, and they were 6 lbs, 2 oz and 8 lbs, 2 oz, respectively (and I immediately stopped feeling guilty about asking them to induce early!).

My advice is to make sure your doctor/nurses/midwife/doula all know your wishes for your birth plan and are willing to work with you to make it happen. At the same time, be prepared that things don't always go as planned, and you may need to be flexible despite your hopes and expectations.

It will all turn out great. Enjoy your girls!