Natural Birth
PaprikaBug
member
Homebirth/Natural Birth With Twins
PaprikaBug
member
Hi there!
I was wondering if anyone has had or is planning a natural home birth with twins? I was planning on having a home birth, but after finding out it was twins my midwife said she wouldn't be able to do a home birth. I'm still very determined to have a natural vaginal birth, but everyone seems to think I'm crazy! What are your ideas? Do you know of any books or websites to read up on?
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Re: Homebirth/Natural Birth With Twins
Congrats on your twins!
I've been doing what I can to have a natural birth with twins, but it's definitely more complicated. I found midwives who will delivery twins, but it took some hunting.
There are also some risks involved that would make me more hesitant to have a homebirth than with a singleton.
Because your ute is so overstretched, there's a much higher risk of postpartum hemorrhage. You're also at a greater risk of PTL, etc, so I've been seeing a MFM in addition to my MW. The MW are for me and delivery. The MFM is to make sure my cervix isn't shortening (sign of PTL) and that the babies are growing appropriate (risk of IUGR and twin to twin transfusion if they share a placenta.)
Mine are both breech currently, so that complicates things more.
I really wanted a natural birth with my twins. I did find it difficult to find a lot of good information on natural births with twins. I will say though that I would never consider a home birth with multiples; it's just too high-risk and not worth it. But if you can find an OB who is experienced with twins who will allow as few interventions as possible, that's probably your best-case scenario. I ended up switching practices at 31w because the practice I was with was just too high-intervention, and it took me a while to find a really competent OB in my area who was not so high-intervention. I took in my ideal birth plan figuring I'd need to make a few compromises, and he agreed to almost every part of it.
I did end up having an induction so it certainly wasn't as natural as I'd originally hoped, but I held off on getting the epidural and asked for intermittent rather than continuous EFM, so I was able to walk around and labor in different positions; I was able to deliver in a regular LDR room instead of the OR (though he had an OR team prepped and ready to go waiting out in the hallway just in case); DH got to cut the cords and we did delayed clamping; I got to hold Baby A on my chest while delivering Baby B, got to nurse right away, all newborn procedures took place in the room with us and they delayed most of those for the first two hours for nursing and bonding, etc.
It is definitely possible to have twins naturally at home. There is a great website I found a few weeks ago that is awesome and you should definitely go look at the homebirth videos I found about twins and yes even triplets
Good luck and congrats on your amazing little blessings! Hope this helps!
https://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/natural-childbirth-video.html
I think it is important to make the distinction that homebirth is not illegal anywhere in the US. It is the attendance of a midwife which legally varies from state to state.
I would totally try a NB with twins, but I wouldn't be comfortable with a homebirth (and I have already had one)
Find an OB/MW practice that will allow you to do vaginal twins (even if Twin B is breech) and talk to them and make sure they really will do it.
I think otherwise prepare as you normally would.
GL! Keep us updated.
First of all, Congratulations! I agree with Macchiato. Twin pregnancies are high-risk and I wouldn't consider a home birth. Too much can go wrong. Plus, unfortunately it isn't too uncommon for twins to come early. It is best to be at a hospital with a NICU.
A vaginal birth should definitely be possible. I wanted to have a vaginal birth, but my baby A was breech, so I ended up with a c-section. Best of luck to you!
Thank you for the link! My cousin told me about this site a few days ago and it's encouraging to read.
Thank you all for your encouragement and advice. I have found a midwife who has been around for almost 20 years and has delivered plenty of twins at home, at the birth center and has been at many hospital births as well. I also have 2-3 other Doula's/Midwives who would be willing to attend my birth. The hard part is finding ann OB who is willing to even try to deliver the twins naturally. One of the gals I found only wants to schedule a C-section! I just wonder how in the world women delivered twins hundreds of years ago!?
I'm just very thankful I found a midwife who is encouraging no matter what route we end up taking, and is very experienced as well. My DH is amazing as well. He's been listening to all of my craziness and is getting a education in natural birth along the way. We've been told Homebirth in a Hospital is a good book to read... Have any of you read it?
I'll keep you all posted! Hopefully in 18-19 weeks I'll post an awesome birth story:)
I found out about our twins at my 20-week ultrasound, and was very disappointed to have to give up on my homebirth plans. There are midwives in my area who would attend one, but they just didn't seem as qualified to me, and they were not recommended by the midwives I know and trust. I did find a great midwife who delivers in a hospital, but the hospital is too far from home and now I'm considered too high-risk for a midwife birth.
I would recommend you start doing a lot of research on multiples and continue researching local providers. Your local moms of multiples club might be a good resource. It's good to know of a supportive and experienced OB in case you end up in pre-term labor or need other support that your midwife can't provide. I see a perinatologist and he has been wonderful and thorough -- we know a lot about the health and growth patterns of our twins now, which could help me prove to my OB that a natural birth is reasonable (if baby A will turn head-down, at least).
I hope everything goes smoothly for you and the twins! It can be really tough to go from a supportive caregiver and "normal" pregnancy to one with a lot more potential complications and negativity about your birth options. But take it one step at a time, and as your due date gets closer, you'll know more about what's smart and reasonable to do for your babies specifically.