How were your multiples born?

[Nomsie]

I was just reading a thread Mamaduke started which was discussing the rise in number of prem babies over the past 2 decades in america, and how this was mainly attributed to c-sections before 38 weeks.

I am interested to know if your multiples arrived Earth-side "naturally" or assisted, as I have been told by my obs and dr that there is a high chance I will have to have a c-section. That part doesn't really worry me, but what does is that I read almost everywhere that most multiples don't make it to 40 weeks (I know full term can be anywhere from 38-42), but are born a few weeks early because they have run out of room.

I am mainly concerned that the article was discussing the major health issues that can be attributed to being born "prem" (even "early prem" which if I remember is before 38 weeks but after 32, will have to double check my facts).


So, where you induced or booked in for an "early c-sec"? Or where you allowed to go into natural labour?


And did you have any concerns with the choices you were given by your care providers?


And were your babies born healthy if they did come "early"? (That is, didn't have to spend any time in ICU, or haven't had any major learning abnormaliites)
Thanks for your help, just trying to investigate all probabilities and scenarios so if the need arises I am informed and can stick up for myself against doctors who think they know better! :)

(Oh, and I will go and find a link to Mamadukes thread incase you are interested... and here it is http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=185664)

[kimmymonster]

Hello,
I had my b/g twins at 37 weeks +1 day. I went into labour on my own and had a completely drug free natural labour. My babies were both healthy and didn't need any speical care.
The OB did try and push me into having a c/s because it is easier for him, when I refused he then told me I would have to have an eppidural which I also refused. I had enough scans to know that both babies were head down and in a good position to attempt a natural birth. I did have a canular(sp?)in my hand if something went wrong and needed an emergency c/s I didn't. I was very informed about the risks but wanted to try and have the type of birth I wanted, I didn't want to have to deal with healing froma c/s and have to look after twins, and I had perviously had a natural drug free birth with my eldest DS and felt I wanted the same again with the twins. I found being in labour and being able to walk around made my labour shorter for me too.
I found the midwives very supportive of my decision not to have an eppidural and they were the ones who told the doctor not to keep mentioning an eppidural as I had made my mind up and wasn't about to change it.
I am glad I got to have the type of birth I wanted. But I do know deep down if I was told that honesty it wasn't going to be possible that I would have been okay with that to. At the end of the day as long as yourself and your babies are healthy that is all that matters.

[twinmum73]

My b/g twins were born at 38 weeks + 6 days, and ended up being an emergency c/s. I was induced by my own choice, with the idea of a natural delivery, however my labour did not progress and the c/s was necessary.
I did have an epidural, which I had decided on early in my pregnancy, which my ob was fine with, as we had discussed the natural delivery, and he was happy with the epidural as back up if we had to go to a c/s. He had warned me that he would not hesitate to jump in there and get them if they were in danger, which sadly they were. I was not dilating at all, and their heart rates were plummeting after each contraction.
I did not have any concerns with my ob, I thought he was wonderful and he never waivered on me about what we had discussed prior to labour, and in the end his decision making saved my babies lives, so I can't really ask for more than that.
My two spent time in SCN due to very low apgar scores and DS had low blood sugar. Other than that, they were fine, very healthy weight born (6lb11oz & 7lb2oz) and no learning difficulties whatsoever.
Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy Nomsie!!

[mayrose1820]

Hi,

I was induced by my own choice at 37 weeks exactly with my ID twins girls.

They were my 2nd PG and with my 1st PG I had an easy VB so although my OB said he prefers a CS with twins due to the risks he was willing to let me try to have a VB.

Both my girls were a good size at 37 weeks and that is the gestation my OB said the placenta starts to not function as well anyway. I was induced with gels on a Monday morning and started active labour at 7pm that night and the girls were born by VB at 10pm that night with a great labour and no issues what so ever.

Both girls scored an apgar of 10 and 10 both times and were as healthy and happy as a full term bub. They were 5lbs14oz and 5lbs8oz and needed no special care, oxygen or anything at all, it was amazing!

I was determined to try to have a VB with my twins because my OB and I had discussed that if anything even looks like it might not be going well with either of the twins I would be wheeled in for a CS anyway and I had an Epi on board so I could have been in theatre if needed in minutes.

Goodluck with you decision and birth of your twins, it is the most amazing experience ever no matter how you bring them into the world!

Mayrose :)

[twinmummee]

Hi,

Our fraternal twin girls were delivered by elective c/s at 37weeks + 3 days as both were in breech position. They had been this way since 4 months and my ob had said that was his preferred delivery method. I was happy with this as being my first pregnancy and twins I didn't want to deliver 1 naturally and then end up needing a c/s for the second.

They were good weights - 3.06kgs and 2.94kgs and apgar scores of 7 then 9 each. They didn't need any special care and the only "problem" was Samantha having bad jaundice and needing phototherapy for 24 hours.

Since then all has gone well and they are putting on weight at a rapid rate.

Leanne.

[JATS]

My twin brothers were born vaginally after a spontaneous onset labour at 39 weeks (I think) 24 years ago. Mum was never offered a C/S or induction, it was just never brought up.

Twin a was head down twin b was breech and she had no problems delivering either. Actually my sister came 3 years after the twins and mum says my sister being a larger baby was a way harder birth than the twins.

[Nemo]

After 2 episodes of prem labour and getting a DVT and Gestational Diabetes during my pregnancy, my waters broke at 35wks 4days at 3pm, I was planning to have a c/s as I had had an emerg c/s with my 1st son.

Things didn't go that way however, Dr told me I was booked for 8am the next morning so that my blood thinners were out of my system. Baby A (girl) had other things on her mind. After telling the midwife a million times that I really wanted something for the pain and being told you're not in labour, I was whisked away to the operating theatre where I gave birth 'naturally' to Baby A at 8.11pm and Baby B (boy) with help from the ventouse at 8.19pm. B needed oxygen after birth. Baby A weighed 5 pounds 14ounces, Baby B- 5 pounds 15ounces.
They stayed in the Special Care nursery until day 5, as my Baby B had jaundice. I was due to go home but then had a pph so I stayed til day 7 and then they came home day 10.

Otherthan that, they have no long lasting issues associated with being born early.
My 1st son was born by emerg c/s at 37weeks, my subsequent daughter after the twins 38weeks and no5 is going to be another c/s at 38.5weeks.
All the best!

[Chunkydunks]

My brother an I were both birthed naturally and in breech position. me feet first and him bum first. Mum was actually over due and went in for a check up where they accidently broke her waters. I was 6 and a half pound and my bro was 7 pound.

[Nomsie]

Oh gawd, I don't think I could do 2 breech! :eek:

[CJJHRA]

I was induced at 37 weeks at OB saying he didnt like delivering twins past this date.. they were rather happy to stay put I for another 2 weeks, as they were sitting pretty high up still and I had to do a lot of pushing (hard when you cant feel a thing though, due to the epidural I had just in case.. wasnt overly fond of having it, but thought it was best for the babies, which I am glad I did, because once it started wearing off, I was on the drip at the time and having piggyback contractions, and the pain... hmm.. I was just going to leave it, but the nurse told me to stop being a hero and top up the epi as it was already all there and all..instant relief lol)

they were both vagianlly born, once the first was born, the 2nd did spread out a bit, and they turned him back to head down, from already um.. being stretched and all from the first bubs (which was slightly bigger than the 2nd) the 2nd just slipped right on out... hardly had to push at all.. THats what they say also, if first is born head first and second breech, the 2nd gets delivered easier. so, if you have one breech then the other, I dont htink you would feel it, and the second does slip out fast.

one of them needed a bit of oxyegen for a couple minutes, other than that, they were good, weights.. I cant remember but I think maybe around 2.3 and 2.1 kg

[mum23boys]

My twins were born at 38.2 weeks. I was already in hospital due to pre-eclampsia and the morning I was due to be induced my waters broke. I was still given the drip to bring on labour and a epidural as Lucas was breech. I didn't want the epidural as my first DS was born naturally with no drugs and it was a great birth and I wanted it to be like that again, but all of the doctors and midwifes advised me it was best to have one as Lucas was breech and they said they may have to turn him once Nicholas came out and that if that needed to be done having an epidural would be best. It turned out once Nicholas came out Lucas just flopped down anyway. It was a little harder to get Lucas out he didn't want to come out and they were just about to interveen when after a few more pushes he came out. Both were perfect, 6pound 10 each with no problems. Stayed in for 2 nights and then we were home.

[~*clairesmum*~]

i no its 19yrs ago but my mum had a drug free virginal birht with me n my brother n we came 10days early, but she didnt no she was having twins.... i was feet first luckly my brother came out first

theres a lady at work who had a c/s at 35wks with her twins

[SuperGranny]

HI , I'm talking of my twin daughters birth that was 26 years ago. Scans were not routine in those days, and I went to 37 weeks thinking I was having only one baby. I went into labour and went to hospital with good contractions and labour well along. My ob/gyn was called and he arrived in time to deliver Candice natural svd. Once he saw Candice was only 5lb7oz he put his hand inside felt Veronicas head, turned her around inuterus, and then pulled her out. In four minutes on the delivery table, I was a mother of twin girls. Veronica weighed 4lb7oz. They were cot rested for 24 hours, so i didnt start breastfeeding as soon as I would have preferred, but other then that every thing was fine. No compllications, I stayed in hospital for about ten days, and then Veronica stayed in for a few more days, because her weight was still under 5lb, but nothing wrong with her just hospital policy. Once I got them home, the hard work began, but I survived and I managed to breastfeed until they were nine months. They are now 26 and have a most special relationship with each other, it is really good. Cheers Marie.

[chrissy m]

i went to 36 weeks with twin boys they were both vagianlly born 1st one all good but 2nd one came out feet frist no drugs 20 mins apart
my sister in law was the same they were both vagianlly born 1st one was head 2nd feet first and 20 mins and the same with my grand ma with my dad and hes sister all 1 head 1 feet and 20 mins so it runs in the family ?????

[kiwi1984]

Hi Nomise.

I had my id twin boys at 34wks 5days.

I went into labour naturally. I was flown to Melbourne because they were so early.

My doctor wanted to do a c/s as they were in the one sac and he was worried they would get tangled up.

J was born at 8.13am and Z at 8.14am.

The umbilical cords were tied in a true knot and twisted up so if I had of had a vb, I would have bled to death, and they would have died too.

1 week in Melbourne in SCN. 1 week in Shepp in SCN. 5 days in Echuca (where I live at the time), and they were home.

They had severe reflux so stayed on formula until they were 14months.

Been fine ever since.
I was told that twins take til just over 12m before they catch up to a single full term baby which Im not sure if its true or not.


Bridg.

[MoonstoneMumma]

Hi Nomsie,

the woman i am helping at the moment has her twins via emergency c/section. she was induced at 37 weeks per her request, but 'failed to progress' (how i hate that term!)

her boys were pretty big, 3.4kg and 3.9kg. one of the boys has a bad neck now due to being so squished, but it is coming good now.

all the best!

[westketeers]

Hi,

my twins were born with 38 weeks (due to high blood pressure only). I was induced around 7.30 am, as my daughter was a stargazer, she took her sweet time and finally popped out at 14.25. weighing 3070grms, 49cm tall, Apgar 10/10. As I pushed the final time she turned and literally launched herself. My boy followed 20min later weighing 2760grms and 50cm tall, Apgar 9/10. My placenta was still good and they could have stayed till the end if my bloodpressure wasn't too high (130/105). Unfortunately I couldn't walk around due to the drip and the bloodpressure which was taken every 10-15 mins(for more than 8 hrs)
No drugs, no tears(as in stitches), no nothing.
We left the hospital 2 days after they were born.

Goodluck and dont be shy if oyu have questions, just ask

[DoubleDelight]

My b/g twins were born at 31+5 via c/s. We knew at 28 weeks that we would be delivering prem due to a condition with the blood flow to Twin 2. It was just a matter of how prem. Our goal was 32 weeks but we fell just short.

DD (Twin 1) was born weighing 1860gms and DS3 (Twin 2) was born weighing 1385gms. They were in NICU for 2 weeks, SCN for two weeks and then home a month before their due date. DD was on CPAP for 8 days and both had treatment for severe jaundice but apart from that our stay in NICU was relatively easy by comparison.

Our neonatologist calls our daughter the "Pretend Prem". She hit her milestones chronologically and at their 2 year corrected assessment was assessing slightly above chronological age. Our son is still a little smaller and has hit milestones at corrected age. At their assessment he was diagnosed with a mild receptive and speech delay and has been doing speech therapy for the last 3 months and is now nearly where he should be for a nearly 3 year old.

[kccmylife]

I was induced at 38wks. I actually begged them to do this from 34wks on LMAO

Anyways I gave birth to my son naturally and was so ready to go again but my daughter had other ideas. She was transverse with arms and legs up unde my ribs. The Dr was unable to grab any part of her to deliver breach, so we were taken to theatre for a C-Section. She was born 43mins after her brother.

[misatok579]

hi i'm new, but i wanted to respond to your post :) anyway, i had my b/g twins at 38 wks via c-section at 1:07pm and 1:09pm because my lil girl had her butt over the canal so my son couldn't get his head through. i was going to go natural but that kinda sealed the deal for us. it was a good thing though because she had the cord around her neck and had to be "stimulated" and he actually needed forceps to help him out as well. my boy was 5lbs 7 ounces and my girl was 6lbs 2 ounces. we had them in the special care unit for a week for jaundice as well but now they're almost 6mths and he weighs 18lbs and she's 15lbs :)

[FiveInTheBed]

My B/G twins were born naturally. I was induced at 39.4 weeks because the visiting OB the following week would only do c-secs.
had the epi 'just in case', but I really could've done it without it.
DD was 5lb15oz and DS2 was 6lb10oz. DD flew out at 1145am and DD2 arrived 17 minutes later with me pulling some weird pushing faces (because i couldn't feel it) had the cord around his neck and need a little bit of oxygen...DS2 was feet down up until 36 weeks, I still can picture the sight of my belly contorting as he turned (I block out the memory of the pain:D)


Best of luck...we are lucky to have all the technology on hand to moniter our babes...just go with the flow and what ever helps deliver two healthy babies.

[catt]

Due to previous pregnancy losses and positive ANA/ACL I was classed a high risk with my ID girls. While I was closely monitored I was doing great when at a routine scan at 34 weeks, my girls had developed acute TTTS. 20 minutes later they were out! I had no time to be shocked or prepared. I had a general due to my blood condition. My big twin was 34 week size and the little one was 28 week size. They spent 4 weeks in special care. We were told 24 hours later and they would not have survived. We were used as a case study for scanning every week and not every 2 for TTTS. My girls are 7 months now and doing very well, although there is a weight difference. I have a lot of praise for my doc, anethetist and nurses who spotted the TTTS quickly and had them out so fast.

[Duchessa]

I was induced due to suspected TTTS with my id girls at 37 weeks. They were both born healthy, 6lb a piece, vaginally. They were fine, and showed no signs of TTTS and didn't spend any time in the nursery.

[BlessedWithBlue]

I had my frat boys at 36 weeks.
I was already in the hospital for PE and my platelets and iron started dropping more than they should so i was indiced via the drip.
I had an epidural as soon as i felt the first contraction, i had a c/s with my first son and a very hard VBAC with ds2 which ended up with the use of the ventouse and i was terrified i would have problems this time too.

The birth of my twins was the easiest out of all my boys, twin a was head down and came out with about 10 mins of pushing. Twin b had previously been breech my whole pregnancy but decided to turn at my ultrasound the day before. He took a little bit longer to come down as he was face up.
Twin A (Jett) was born at 3.40am weighing 2.5kg/5lb 8oz and Twin B (Isaiah) came at 4.12am weighing 2kg/4lb 9oz.

They were both kept in the SCN for 2 weeks due to feeding issues and Jett was a bit weaker than Isaiah even though his birth weight was higher.

[twinmummy2007]

My b/g twins were born at 35 week by c/section. This was due to my DD's growth slowing down. They were 2.2 and 2.99kg born and were in SCN for 10 days but no need for humidicrib only had to be fed by a NGT so that the bf didn't tire them out too much. No problems though and are now 15 months old and meeting all their milestones on time or early! :)

[chazzanule]

My b/g twins were born naturally at 29+ weeks. I went into labour naturally. I was given drugs to try and stop the labour but this didn't work. They spent a total of 8 weeks in hospital. Even though they were born so early, their development has progressed fine. They have achieved all their milestones at the proper times. It was very hard and frightening at first.:)

[chrissy m]

hi i had my twins 7m ago and one was head first and 20mins later 2nd was feet first both were vaginally born at 36 weeks twin 2 went to sc unit for 2 days and both came home 5 days later no drugs (and if i was to have twins again i would do the same all over ) (but i have 4 kids so no ) twin one was 2.7 kgs and twin 2 was 2.2 kgs




me-25
dh-30
dd-7
ds-2 1/2
twins- 7m1 week