Natural birth w/ twins in a hospital?

[proudmama4]

Anyone else out there hoping to have their twins naturally in a hospital setting? I've hired a homebirth midwife to act as my doula, and I have a OB who used to work closely w/ the local certified nurses midwives group. (The hospital doesn't allow the CNMs to deliver twins) So I feel I've got my ducks in a row. Just hoping Baby A will be head down! (No MD in the area will deliver a breech Baby A vaginally)

It seems like most natural twin birth stories are home births. I think I've only read one online that was in the hospital. Surely there's more out there?

[umsami]

Remember, that in the states... 90+% of the births involve epidurals... so a natural singleton birth is a rare thing. I remember when I gave birth to DS2, my OB called in a bunch of residents because NONE of them had ever seen a natural birth before. Nada. Zero. Zilch. (Of course, that hospital also had a C-section rate above 30%!)

It sounds like you've done everything right. If your OB is OK with it... and Baby A cooperates... then you should be fine!

[VegMomma]

I know plenty of people who have twins. They have all had healthy, natural, vaginal births. (And most were in a hospital, as midwives aren't allowed to attend twin homebirths around these parts.)

[artemis33]

Not me....but when I was pregnant with DD1 a friend of mine had an unmedicated twin birth in the hospital - AND one was breech (I think baby B though I am not certain) - AND both boys were over 8 lbs! OH, and she is a very slender petite woman. She's my hero She had had a previous (single) unmedicated birth in the hospital so I do think that helped her persuade the docs that she knew she could do it.

It can definitely be done and it sounds like you have a good support system line up.

[lovebug]

oh you are so lucky! in Colorado MW are not allowed to birth twins. there are only 2 obs in my whole area that will even 'allow' a twin mom to give birth natural and in order to do that you HAVE to have an epidural and from what i understand they will still push and push for a c-section!

so i think you have your ducks in a row for sure! you are so luck to have an OB that will deliver without drugs. i wish you the best of luck, i know you can do it! i am glad you found an OB that know you can do it too! i hope you give updates!

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Birth and Beyond.

[MamaChicken]

I had a pain-med free vaginal birth in the hospital OR with my twins.

Our story: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...w+william+twin

In our case, the MW caught both boys while the OB stood in the corner "just in case". There is a Parenting Multiples forum here, and lots of the moms there have had natural twin births.

[CharlieToaster]

My L&D nurse delivered twins naturally in the hospital. They made her do it in an operating room but she did delivery naturally.

I LOVED her! Better then any midwife!

[RedOakMomma]

I had a natural twin birth (and the second twin was breech!) at our hospital. No meds. Followed my birth plan. I had to deliver in the operating room, not a cozy room, but they only pushed me in there once I was REALLY pushing. Honestly, I hardly noticed.

It can be done, and I found the nurses (and most doctors) really, really supportive of it...even at a semi-conservative hospital. Just find an OB that respects your choices and will stand behind you...it all falls into place once you have your main caretaker on your side. And be educated about your options!

Best of luck, and have a lovely birth!

[proudmama4]

MamaChicken, your birth story, was the one I had read online! I too plan to use hypnobabies! Your story is inspirational! Thank you!

[kltroy]

A mom in my last DDC had a natural twin birth in the hospital. Here's her story (hope she doesn't mind me sharing) http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=898342

[nia82]

I have heard very often that they will make you take an epidural and deliver in the OR. The epidural they want in case baby B needs a section...
It would be wonderful to not be pressured into any anesthesia you do not want! I think it depends on the hospital policy and the doctor... let us know what happens!

[Gena 22]

There's only one doctor in the extended Washington DC area who would go along with this, so I stayed home and loved it.

My SIL just gave birth in a local hospital and told her OB I had my twins at home. The OB was aghast, and said she'd consider delivering twins vaginally but never had. !!! I knew if I had to fight tooth and nail for a vaginal birth, my chances of going unmedicated were slim. The hospital I liked had an 80% twin c/s rate.

Sounds like things are better where you are. Join your local twin club and see if anyone has first-hand experiences to share!

[Dov'sMom]

One of my best friends gave birth to her twins vaginally in the hospital, but hers was a special case. She was sent to the hospital for overnight monitoring because her blood pressure was a little high, and while the monitor picked up consistent contractions they decided it was just BH because she didn't feel them. Maybe two hours after she got there she asked a nurse for tylenol because her stomach hurt and the nurse saw the contraction monitor and decided to check her cervix first on a hunch -- baby A was crowning.

Seriously.

I think her OB was on board with vaginal birth anyway, don't know what the plans were re: epidural. (I'd guess the reason they push it for twin birth is to facilitate speedy C-section if necessary).