7/24/2019 Giving Birth is Always Amazing

1/2

Giving birth is always amazing. The process for giving birth to twins is doubly

amazing. Here are some of the things that a twin mum will need to consider when

giving birth to her twins.

Babies Positions

The position of the babies will largely determine how the twins are born - vaginally

or by caesarean. About !" of twins are both head down #verte$% at term. another

appro$imately &!" see the 'rst baby #Twin A% verte$ and Twin B breech. Both of

these positions are acceptable to consider a vaginal birth.

(ther positions of the babies li)e two breeches. two transverse or Twin A breech and

Twin B verte$ are usually delivered via caesarean surgery. This is usually )nown

ahead of time with ultrasound technology. However. even twins can changepositions late in the game and even into labour. This is particularly true of Twin B

after the birth of Twin A.

*aginal Birth

+ore than half of twins will be born vaginally. ,hether this option is the right one for

you and your babies is a discussion that should be discussed with your consultant or

midwife. The good news is that even though you have two babies - you only have to

labour once

(nce the cervi$ is open. each baby will have its own pushing stage #second stage%.

This means you will have to push twice. but the maority of the time the second twin

is born much more easily than the 'rst. This is because the 'rst twin has paved the

way. so to spea).

The average time between the birth of the 'rst and second baby is generally about

/0 minutes. However. as long as the second baby is doing well #they will still bemonitoring this baby%. there isn1t much need to speed things along. 2ometimes

during this phase of waiting. you will have an ultrasound to con'rm the position of

the second twin and your practitioner will decide how it is best to deliver him or her.

2ometimes. the second twin simply comes down head 'rst li)e Twin A. this is

handled in e$actly the same manner. 3f Twin B is breech. your practitioner may

decide to allow the baby to deliver breech. to turn the baby e$ternally or internally

or even do something called a breech e$traction #pulling baby out by the feet%.

7/24/2019 Giving Birth is Always Amazing

2/2

4aesarean Birth

,hile having twins does increase the ris) of you having a caesarean. fewer than

half of twins are born this way. ,hile positioning of your babies will play a large part

in the decision as to what type of birth you will have. there are also all of the normal

reasons for caesareans. These include. placenta previa. placental abruption.

maternal indications li)e P3H. active herpes. and labour complications li)e fetal

distress. etc.

3f you give birth by caesarean prior to labour. the date will most li)ely be set

between &0-! wee)s. 3f you go into labour prior to the scheduled date. your

caesarean will li)ely happen then. There is no real di5erence in the surgery or

recovery from a caesarean with twins.

4ombined *aginal64aesarean Birth

This is actually not as common as you might believe. (ne baby being born vaginally

with the second twin being born via caesarean occurs in only about &-" of all twin

births. 7sually this is done for an emergency with Twin B. li)e a cord prolapse #This

is where the cord comes out with or before the baby. thereby cutting o5 the baby1s

o$ygen supply.%. severe malpresentation #li)e a transverse baby that cannot be

moved by internal or e$ternal forces%. placental abruption