Twin labour vs your singleton labour

Incrediblelife · February 2014

Just curious what everyone's experience has been with their twins vs singletons. Did your labour start in the same way? Was your labour longer? Shorter?

I'm 35 weeks now and wondering if I should be watching for the same signs I got with my other kids, or to be on watch for other signs (obviously goes without saying to a certain degree). And, after my last labour was only 3 hours, if I should be prepared for a pretty quick one again!

carrotcake06 · February 2014

Had some similarities in the beginning but with different endings.

Singleton: water broke at 3am, like a slow leak. Contrax started around 6am and slowly ramped up. Got to the hospital around 1030am, got an epi and had him vaginally at 1255pm. I was 37w1d.

Twins: water broke at 445pm at work and gushed. Contrax were immediately 7min apart and strengthening quickly. Got to the hospital around 520pm, found that baby a's cord had prolapsed and had an emergency c/s under general anesthesia at 605pm. I was 34w.

Incrediblelife · February 2014

@Carrotcake06 OMG that was fast!!! Eek!!

Topanga · February 2014

My twins were number 3 and 4. The labor was prettying the same as my 2nd only faster. Be prepared for another fast birth.

TheDairyQueenx3 · February 2014

Mine were similar. Singleton was really quick labor was 7 hours ( I think but I'm not sure because I'm one of those people who doesn't feel pain with contractions) with 15 minutes of pushing. Twins was 3 hours 56 minutes from first contraction (this time she monitored them at the birth center so I knew how long labor was) with 9 minutes of pushing and 3 minutes between each baby. My midwife didn't have to do much work with the twins, haha!

marcobonny · February 2014

My twins were my 3rd and 4th and they were my longest labor....which I totally didn't expect!! My labor with my twins was 22 hours. I was being induced at 35 weeks because Baby A had fluid around her lungs due to TTTS. And ironically I was getting consistent contractions when they sent me over to L&D. But they did need to break my water and give me Pitocin.

With my first my water broke at 39w3d. Was in labor for 18 hours with her.

With my second I was induced at 41 weeks. Was in labor for 14 hours with him.

Just proves that every baby/labor is soo different!! Hope it's not too much longer for you! I'm sure you'll know once you go into labor whether your water breaks or your contractions get stronger and stronger. Good luck!!!

pillowass · February 2014

My water broke at home with both. With my singleton, my labor was 30 hours and had to be augmented with pitocin. With the twins, everything progressed beautifully and they were born within 8 hours of water breaking. I had a 2nd degree tear with both but my recovery was more difficult after the twins - my whole body ached for weeks as my pelvis and ribs went back into place. I also had diastasis recti and went for 2 months of pt to correct it.

Good luck!

hyprgrl777 · February 2014

I've been wondering the same thing. All my labors have been really fast with my last labor being 2 hrs! I'm already scared I won't make it to the hospital in time, but now seeing that all these twin labors have been even faster really frightens me. Maybe I really ought to think about inducing instead of just letting things happen. EEK!

Rachiemoo · February 2014

My water broke at 35 weeks with my twins, with my singleton (first baby), it was broken by the OB when I was around 8 cm dilated at 40 weeks. The labor was much easier with my twins because I got an epidural very early. The pushing was also much easier with the twins because even though there were two of them, they were only about 5 and a half pounds each, where my singleton was 7 and a half pounds. The labor and delivery with my twins was much easier than with my singleton.

Incrediblelife · February 2014

@hypergrl777 I totally hear you! I've been wondering the same! Because I'm figuring that by the time I realise that yes indeed I'm in labour, then get everything organised to go (babysitter for other kids, husband home from work etc) then will I still make it to the hospital or will my twins arrive in the car! Haha Let's hope I go into labour at night while hubby is home

carrotcake06 · February 2014

@incrediblelife Even if I didn't need the emergency c/s, I still dilated to 6cm within 45min. I could tell, though, and was one of the reasons I rushed to the hospital. I'm a big fan of laboring at home as long as possible and this just felt different. And since baby A's cord prolapsed, I'm really glad I did.

MH ended up missing their birth entirely. He didn't even get to the hospital until 625p and they were born 20min earlier. The whole thing was nuts.

shanaynerz · February 2014

This is a great question! I've been wondering the same thing, too. I'd like to be able to have vaginal birth like with DD, too, but things with twins seem so much more up in the air! My labour with DD was only like 7 hours, so I'd love to have another quick labour.

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