Everything You Need To Know About Giving Birth To Twins

Contrary to what you may have heard, a natural vaginal delivery is possible even when you are giving birth to twins. The possibilities for an intervention-free delivery will depend on two factors: first the mother’s condition during pregnancy and then the children’s position in the womb.

When giving birth to more than one child, the pregnancy does not reach 40 weeks. If the mother has had a normal pregnancy until week 37, the doctor may suggest vaginal delivery as a possible alternative. But in high-risk pregnancies, your midwife can choose a caesarean section. Many specialists prefer this from the beginning to avoid the complications that can occur during vaginal delivery.

The children’s position in the stomach

The position of the twins is also a decisive factor. If both children are lying upside down, your chances of giving birth are naturally much greater.

However, vaginal delivery is still an option when the first baby is lying upside down and the second is lying on his or her back. Once the first baby has come out, there is a chance that the second baby can rotate to the correct position.

But if both children are in an upright position, a caesarean section is the only option. The same applies when both children are in a horizontal position. There are also other conditions that affect whether you have to have a caesarean section. For example, the risks associated with placenta praevia, if the mother has a narrow pelvis, premature loss of amniotic fluid, if the umbilical cord is expelled before the children, and so on.

If the children are born prematurely, a caesarean section is the only option. The same applies when children share the same fetal sac or have congenital birth defects, such as in the case of Siamese twins.

To give birth to twins vaginally

Giving birth to several children vaginally is very similar to giving birth to just one baby. In both cases, the birth begins with contractions or when the mother’s water runs.

In case of pain, the mother can wait until they arrive about every 5 minutes. Once she is in the hospital , she has to wait until she has opened 10 centimeters. If the mother’s water has already passed, it’s ok to wait, as long as the liquid is light in color. If the fluid is dark, she must go to the hospital immediately.

When giving birth to twins, the intervals between the birth of the first baby and the second are between 20 and 30 minutes. The birth tends to be faster because the babies are smaller than in a childbirth. To quickly stabilize the babies, the nurses take them directly to an incubator. After that, the mother will be able to take care of them.

Some recommendations if you are going to give birth to twins

1. Attend a childbirth course. They not only help parents get ready for childbirth, but also let mothers and fathers share their experiences with other expectant parents.
2. Find out the risks associated with having multiple children. This is not meant to give you more anxiety and make you afraid to give birth to twins, rather it is about keeping you informed and being able to avoid as many risks as possible. For example, the complications that can occur if the mother suffers from diabetes or high blood pressure. In these cases, the risk of bleeding is higher. The risk of other common complications such as pressure on the umbilical cord or placenta also increases.
   
   
3. Choose your specialists. Given the increased risk of multiple child fines, it is a good idea to have specialists around you during childbirth. If a problem arises, a doctor will be able to take appropriate action. It is important to have all medical resources at your disposal. In addition, we recommend having two nurses in the room to increase efficiency.
4. Arrange help for when your children are born. The proverb says, “It takes a whole village to raise a child .” The birth of a child means big changes for the family, and this applies twice to twins. Having individuals on hand who can help and support you is important when it comes to taking care of two newborns.

Support from loved ones

Of course, the most important thing of all is that you stay calm and look forward to the birth with a positive attitude. Have your partner, friends and family close at hand to get the support you need both before, during and after your children’s arrival.