SIL preg with twins! Need resources!

[be11ydancer]

She's due Feb 15th and has finally gotten through their first trimester. I'm so excited for them as they have gone through several fertility treatments. And they'll be my first neices/nephews. I think they'll be great parents. Anyway... Is a natural, vaginal birth possible with twins? I would imagine so but I don't really know much about multiples. She had a previous surgery 3 years ago and an ovary was removed because of a benign tumor the size of a cantaloupe. Would this increase her chances of having a c/s? Or would her risk of a c/s only increase if labor is induced? Does anyone know of any good books about twins that promote natural birth and breastfeeding? I want to support her through this although she lives in another state, but at the same time, I don't want to be too pushy with the info I give her. I just finished reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and am on quite a proactive high from that. The Farm's birth stats for twins were that 15 sets were delivered all without any noted interventions - pretty amazing. Thanks!

[pamamidwife]

It's totally possible - but is she wanting that?

I'd recommend Elizabeth Noble's book Having Twins. In my state, there are 7 homebirth midwives who have had twins at home themselves! I would recommend her seeing if there are homebirth midwives in her area - if she's not interested in a homebirth, the midwife can offer support and lots of nutritional / herbal information. Perhaps the mw would even do labor support in the hospital! It's definitely worth it to see if there is a supportive one in her area.

[thepeach80]

It's possible to have a vaginal birth definitely. See if she can find a LLL group in her area that has a twin mom. We have one in our group who had her girls at 28 wks I think and still nurses them at age 2 (she also works full time). I can't remember if she had a c/s or not w/ them, but someone like that would help a lot or most cities have a Moms of Multiples kinda thing. That may help her get to hear other experiences and just learn about the twin life in general. Congrats on the babies and I pray she keeps them in there the whole time!

[be11ydancer]

Originally Posted by pamamidwife

It's totally possible - but is she wanting that?

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When I talk to her, she sounds open to the idea and I know she doesn't want a c/s. I don't think she wants birth at home though. I'm doing my best not to give unsolicited advice about any of that unless she asks.

Her perinatologist told her to take a baby aspirin everyday and I can't figure out why that would be necessary. She doesn't know either so she's getting a second opinion. I always thought aspirin was a no-no during pregnancy. She has mentioned that she wants to breastfeed them, as they couldn't afford formula or qualify for WIC.

[2SETSofTWINS]

It is very possible!! I just had my second set of twins on July 18. They were born at 38.4 weeks totally natural weighing 5.10 each. The doctor broke my water at 7-8 cm and I agreed to a hep loc. Other than that no interventions. I found a really great dr. finally when I was 5 months. I read Elizabeth Nobles "Having Twins" book and it was great. My first set were also born totally natural. They are 9.
Kandace