Natural Birth with Twins?

moatsie

Hi.  I'm pretty new here.  We are 8 weeks with twins.  I would love to have a natural child birth this times as I did not with my first son.  Is this doable?  Any advice or reading suggestions are welcome.  Thanks!

sschwege

Congratulations and welcome!  I was a nanny for a lady who had twins med-free. They were both head-down so she knew she wanted to have them vaginally.  She had always planned to get an epi, but got to the hospital fully dilated and ended up going without one.  I'm sorry I don't have anymore information than that I just wanted to say that it's definitely doable! 

dulcinea03

I'll say its doable, but the odds are far more stacked against it for a twin birth. As it is twins, many midwives won't (or can't due to regulatory issues) deliver you, it will likely be an OB or MFM. I found an OB who was willing to do a vaginal delivery provided that Baby A was head down; he was willing to deliver B breech if necessary. The hospital did require an epi line be placed in the event of an emergency, but didn't require meds be put into it.

It turned into a moot point for me as A was breech and in distress, so I had an emergency c/s after 7 weeks of bedrest at home and 1 week in the hospital. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is it is possible, but you will need to do your homework for both OB and hospital policies to find what best aligns with your vision for your birth.  I obviously didn't have my 'ideal' birth, but hope to go for a natural birth if we have another in the future.  You may also want to head over to the multiples board, there are ladies there who were able to deliver naturally.

bluerevolution9

It is possible to have a natural birth with twins, I know a few midwives in America who will twin home births.  But there aren't many left out there who are trained how to do it, and certainly most doctors today have no experience with doing a vaginal twin delivery. If you want a natural birth (and yay for you!) then you need to find the best team possible to help you accomplish that goal.  Interview lots of docs/midwives and find a care provider who will work with you and support your plan.  Don't settle for a doctor who says its not possible or safe.  Start now working on nutrition, your best way to help you have a natural birth with twins is to grown them big and strong and full term.  Nutrition is so incredibly important in preventing PIH and preterm labor.  Good luck!

Hallil

As long as you have a team that not only supports what you want, but WANTS what you want as well it is entirely possible. My mom had twin boys 15 years ago med free at 40w 6d. That is pretty much unheard of now, but there's no physical reason it can't be done as long as you and your babies are healthy.

magnolia_femme

Congrats on your twins!

I did a lot of research in the Chicago area and visited 3 offices, but still only found one midwife practice willing to take me, and I'm co-managed by an OB.  That said, the OB is very supportive of natural birth of twins although there are restrictions.

Baby A has to be head down, and the babies have to be within 15% of each others' weights.  I have to deliver in an OR, and I have to have an IV although I don't have to have a spinal catheter.  My OB will deliver Baby B breech if necessary, but if she is in distress I will have to have an emergency c-section and they'll put me under.

Even though I have a supportive OB, I am trying to face the reality that there may be obstacles outside of my control that prevent a natural birth.  Good luck to you!