Length of twin labour?

[StayPositive]

Hi!

My thoughts have started to turn to birth now we are reaching the mid 30 weeks! I wondered how long your twin labours were, if they were any easier/more difficult than singletons, comparable pain etc? Probably silly questions asked before but things that are occupying my mind a little at the mo

Particularly interested in vaginal births as I would love one. The gap between babies and what happened etc. thanks!

 

[rooster100]

Not had mine yet but stalking as very curious to the answers too! X

 

[kazzab25]

Hey,

I had a vaginal delivery at 38+1, only had mild contractions and was admitted for an induction, but as I was already 2cm they just broke my waters. As both babies were doing well I laboured naturally for 4 hours until 4 cm , then due to the risks of faucepts and ventouse an even emergency section I opted for a epidural.

Once I had the epi because I couldn't walk around my labour slowed down and I had to have the drip to keep contractions going. I laboured for 18 hours. My little girl was born first requiring vantouse and my boy 9 mins later requiring vantouse and faucepts. I then had a second degree tear and an episiotomy and was stitched! My little boy required and over night stay in the special care due to breathing difficulties but we were reunited the next day.

All in all I wouldn't have done it without the epidural and the next day I felt terrible due to the blood loss and stitches, I felt like my bum was gonna collapse! But with 14 days this really got better, my bleeding stopped after 3 weeks which is better than some singletons! And now I have two beautiful babies, healthy weights of 5.13 and 6.8! There now 4 months!

 

[Meezerowner]

Mine was pretty quick really although I have nothing to compare it to as they were my first babies.

I had induction at 37+1 with prostin pessary.
Waters broke 6 hours after pessary.
Had an episiotomy and delivered 1st baby ~6 hours after waters went.
Only 10 minutes between babies.
No other intervention needed.
Placentas were fused and took over an hour to deliver (consultant basically yanked them out in the end -v.gross!)
I had an epidural (it was recommended for twin deliveries just incase they had to go for emergency csec).

I thought it was all quite quick and not too bad all things considered.

 

[DollPosse]

I had been told twin labours are often quicker. My hospital is across city and I have to have a section. I guess I'll be moving pretty quickly when I go into labour.lol

 

[marymoomin]

I had an emcs but things happened very quickly from my waters going within an hour they were a min apart. The surgical team were waiting for me as I arrived at the hospital.

 

[MommyGrim]

Went into pt labor at 34w and it was about the same pain level has when I had my daughter, I'd put it at about a 3 on a 1-10 scale. I held out without a epi until I was 7 cm which was about 12 hours, though I was practically forced into an epi, so if I could have, I would have held out for longer. Though, my DS flipped around and I went into back labor about 2 hours before giving birth and even with the epi it was EXCRUCIATING! I was screaming it hurt so much! That was the worst part for me out of any of my labors.

 

[StayPositive]

Went into pt labor at 34w and it was about the same pain level has when I had my daughter, I'd put it at about a 3 on a 1-10 scale. I held out without a epi until I was 7 cm which was about 12 hours, though I was practically forced into an epi, so if I could have, I would have held out for longer. Though, my DS flipped around and I went into back labor about 2 hours before giving birth and even with the epi it was EXCRUCIATING! I was screaming it hurt so much! That was the worst part for me out of any of my labors.

Sounds lovely... Even with an epi?! Did you have both babies naturally? How long was the gap between the babies being born? What was your recovery like? Thanks for sharing

 

[~Brandy~]

MommyGrim- You have me scared to death now LOL I am going to pop any second and thats all I can think of now is one flipping and having back labor! haha

 

[MommyGrim]

Went into pt labor at 34w and it was about the same pain level has when I had my daughter, I'd put it at about a 3 on a 1-10 scale. I held out without a epi until I was 7 cm which was about 12 hours, though I was practically forced into an epi, so if I could have, I would have held out for longer. Though, my DS flipped around and I went into back labor about 2 hours before giving birth and even with the epi it was EXCRUCIATING! I was screaming it hurt so much! That was the worst part for me out of any of my labors.

Sounds lovely... Even with an epi?! Did you have both babies naturally? How long was the gap between the babies being born? What was your recovery like? Thanks for sharing

Yea, they tested me 3 times to make sure the epi was working (which it was). They had me laying on my side since I got the epi so I wasn't laying on it, and when I was laying on my side I was in pain but right before I went to push, they turned me on my back and the pain went away. It was really strange.
Yep both were natural, and there was 6 min between them. Corvo was born at 10:50 am and Teagan was born at 10:56 am!
My recovery was fine. I had issues walking/moving for 1 day, was pretty sore for probably 2-3 after that and by day 5 I was fine. They were also in the NICU so I was more concerned with them than I was with me so my recovery was a bit foggy lol.

MommyGrim- You have me scared to death now LOL I am going to pop any second and thats all I can think of now is one flipping and having back labor! haha

Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare anyone! It only lasted a little bit and my doctor said that my babies were born 'sunny side up' which is apparently unusual, so that could have something to with it too. And like I said earlier, once I moved it went away. I'm sure it won't happen to you!

 

[Hevalouaddict]

Waters broke at 3.12am got to hospital for 5ish could feel breech twins feet coming down twins delivered by emcs at 6.55 am

 

[Lola_1986]

35 + 2 - My waters broke whilst I was at home watching tv approx 21:25. I called the hosp and arrived there around 10 pm. My twins decided they wanted out! No pain relief as didn't have time, Twin 1 was delivered at 23:25 and twin 2 at 00:19. So my twins have their very own birthdays......I love this!!
Cut a long story short......pain level was quite ok and although there was a long gap between the 2 of them, twin 2 was monitored by a head clip and was perfectly happy so they left me to go naturally. All in all I couldn't of had a better birth, it was quick and easy for me....no complaints. Wasn't asbad as i had imagined. Twin 1 Laila Grace 5lb 8oz - Twin 2 Max Godfrey 5lb 13oz.
My first birth was a water birth. I delivered naturally with gas and air and labour was 6hrs followed by delivery of a healthy baby boy Lucas 9lb and 13days overdue.
My little prem babies are now 6 months old and Laila is 17lb and Max 16lb and both doing extremely well couldn't be happier.

Good luck for ur journey xx

 

[~Brandy~]

I had a vaginal delivery!! Soooo happy

My twin delivery was much like my other 2 previous singleton deliveries actually it seemed slightly easier! Start to finish it was a little less than 2 hours. Baby A took 3 pushes and Baby B took 2 pushes.... they were 2 minutes apart 12:45pm and 12:47pm

I elected for no cut and I didn't tear at all. I felt almost fully recovered within a day or so.

 

[Ztwins2012]

Hi,
I was induced at 37 + 4 went in on the Tuesday lunchtime and pessary used waters didn't break till Wednesday morning at 0830 then didn't have them till 2345 and 0023. They were too comfy and didn't want to come out! They were both forceps
Twin 1 7lb 15oz
Twin 2 7lb 4oz
They are two next month the time flys by. And they have different birthdays with being born either side of midnight!

 

[Bcinla]

My singleton induction at 39 weeks took 36 hours. My twin induction at 38 weeks took 12 hours. Baby A came out with one push in one minute. Baby B had to be coaxed to come out and took 30 minutes.

 

[zephyr]

I went in for an induction at 38 weeks on the Monday morning. Had gel insertions at 9am and 3pm
got lots of contractions but no progress. Stayed in overnight.
Had gel insertion at 9am tuesday morning and was told this could go on for 3 or 4 days.
there was a mix up with my notes and scan results which they realised at 230pm and they decided to speed things up and stretch the cervix and break waters at around 3pm.
they had my epidural in at 330pm as I have a history of fast labours.
they started the syntocin drip or whatever its called.
didnt feel anything cos of the epi and an ob had to be pulled out of surgery at 850pm to come deliver.
delivered twin a at 8.56pm with a couple of pushes. He was 5lb 13.
they turned my epi off for the second twin who was the bigger twin 7lb 7 and she also came out face up so I was pushing for over 30 minutes
She was born almost 40 minutes after her brother.

no different to a singleton labour and birth for me, just alot more intervention, monitoring and having to push twice.

in my case I dont think having the bigger twin coming second and facing up helped at all. It was the first baby I delivered in that position and it was quite hard.