We're having babies! (Twins In General)

Member Name: Lunah_C

Product:	Twins In General
Date:	16/01/07 (141 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You have a room full of specialists.

Disadvantages: You have a room full of people

Wednesday February 13th. The day had finally come. I was to be induced. I was so relieved that I was not automatically getting a Caesarean. But apparently my local hospital likes to keep their numbers down.

We had to be there at 9am, and after a prompt arrival I was taken straight to the Labour Suite in the maternity Department. I did not get any of the cosy rooms I had seen whilst on the antenatal walkabout. I was taken to a room full of machines and equipment. But as I was having twins I had no choice. As complications were more likely, all the bits needed to be to hand.

I was glad it had happened this way. I had panicked as to whether I would know I was in labour or not, and had heard horror stories of waters breaking in supermarket car parks. This seemed so much better. I knew what was going to happen and when. I was in control.

I changed into an old nightie. A new or fancy one was not advised as it would most likely need chucking away after. (It did!) I then hopped, in the best way I could, onto the bed. My mum had requested to come too, so her and my husband sat either side of me.

Within minutes I was hooked up to a drip. This is the most effective way of starting labour. Gels and suppositories can also be used but they don’t tend to work as quick. A blood pressure monitor was attached to my arm and was set to check at regular intervals. I had a monitor attached to my stomach to detect the heartbeat of baby number 2, and to my complete surprise a monitor was attached to the head of baby number 1 to check his heartbeat. I had had no idea that his head was that close to the outside world. This obviously could only be done by breaking my waters. Though I never saw much it apparently made an awful mess as I was carrying quite a volume.

I was then left to allow the drugs to work. It took about 30 minutes for me to feel any effects, but within an hour of the drip being started I was getting quite strong contractions. They were coming about every 10 minutes, which was close enough for me.

During this time, my mum and husband had continued to sit at my side. One had been doing a puzzle book the other reading, but once the contractions started they had begun to watch me. This began to irritate me after a while. Normally I am a fairly mild person but after a while I could take no more. I began to feel like an exhibit in a zoo. Constant checks on watches would have them poised ready to watch as I panted through the next contraction. At this point I yelled at them. Asking if they had nothing better to do. To be honest that really is the last I remember seeing of the two of them. Not because they left but because things moved quite quickly afterwards. I was given gas and air to help ease the pain but one whiff of that and I was returning my breakfast. I was then offered Pethidine, an analgesic drug, by injection, given in the leg, which I readily accepted. This made me feel quite dopey. The contractions became stronger and closer but on a bit of a high I didn’t care.

Every now and then a midwife would pop in and check how much my cervix had dilated. Each time it was at least a centimetre. All was going as planned. By about 1.30pm, I was pretty exhausted, and in immense pain. Contractions were every minute now. Officially my labour had started at 11am, so I was in my third hour. Most people went for hours and I was beginning to wonder how on earth I would cope. Then there seemed to be a bit more activity. Baby number 1’s heartbeat was a little fast. Baby number 2 was eager to get out and trying to push past Baby number 1 who was taking things easy. They were not happy. I was examined by a doctor and a Caesarean was decided. My consent was asked and I signed a form…..or at least I squiggled something.

Just after 2pm, my midwife appeared with a razor. It was shaving time! As she approached me another doctor appeared. He asked what was going on, and was led to one side to explain. They then disappeared out of the room. A few minutes later the midwife returned. At 2pm the doctors go off shift. The new Doctor had come on, but he did not agree with the caesarean. He wanted me to have an epidural. If this did not work he would do a C section but at least I would be able to be awake whilst having my twins. I was horrified. I was in agony and just wanted to get the babies out. And I wanted it to happen now. I remembered the needle I had seen at my antenatal classes. I had vowed then that I was not going to have one, and was still adamant. The doctor came in. He was not friendly and his bedside manner was obviously still at home. In a loud booming voice he asked me if I really wanted to be cut from one side to the other, with a huge scar forever more. (Don’t panic, I think he was just trying to scare me). As any woman who has given birth will know, your character can change quite dramatically whilst in labour. I had already shouted at my husband and mother and was not going to be spoken to like this. So I screamed back “Yes, I just want them out”.

The doctor walked out at this point leaving the midwife to deal with me. Firstly she apologised for his behaviour but then in a much calmer tone, explained how a natural birth would be much better. I would be able to get up and about quicker and future pregnancies would be much easier. She eventually persuaded me and the anaesthetist was called.

To ease the pain, the drip was slowed down, and in turn the contractions did too. This is a big advantage over the other ways to induce as once going they cannot be stopped. At around 3.30pm, the lovely anaesthetist arrived. I was asked to sit up on the edge of the bed and lean forward. I rested my shoulder on the midwife who was at the side of the bed. I was then woken up as I had fallen asleep on her shoulder. Great stuff that pethidine! But the epidural had been put in. I was asked if I could feel certain areas and after confirming numbness, my drip was put back on full flow, and I was ready to go again.


I looked at the clock staring back at me on the opposite wall, and registered 4pm. It had now been 5 hours. Within a few minutes the contractions had come back. Although I knew I was getting them it was a very strange sensation. To be rather graphic, a bit like when you are doing a poo. You can feel it coming but it doesn’t hurt. (Sorry about that) Not before long the midwife announced I was 10centimetres dilated and ready to deliver. My legs where yanked up, spread apart and put in stirrups in a most undignified way.

It had been planned that whilst my mum present during the labour she would leave when I gave birth. The only reason being was that I really didn’t fancy flashing my bits off to my mum who had not seen them for at least two decades. But I had been asked if it was possible that students could watch as twin births, whilst not unusual, didn’t often happen whilst they were on their rounds. To be honest I wanted to say No, but I also understood that they only wanted to learn and we all need to do that. So I agreed At this point the room had suddenly become full of people and I decided that it wasn’t much point in kicking my mum out at this point.

I never knew exactly who was in the room, but I believe it was 3 midwives, two paediatricians, my mum, my husband, the doctor, the anaesthetist and around four or five students.

At around 4.30pm, a head could be seen. A small cut, called an episiotomy, was made to help prevent me from tearing. The midwives who had been with me all day waited eagerly but at this point the grumpy doctor stepped in and took over. They later told me how disappointed they were at this and I felt very sorry for them. I hope they have managed a twin birth since. I was told to start pushing. One of the worries I did have, from stories I had been told was that as you are numb you don’t know when to push, well, going back to that poo, you know when to push don’t you? So I began pushing and at 4.36pm, my son arrived. He was placed on my stomach for a brief meeting whilst his cord was cut then whisked away to be checked over.

The grumpy doctor, not so grumpy now, reappeared. He examined my slightly flatter tummy and announced that twin number 2 had decided to turn as she now suddenly had so much room. (She was probably trying to free the foot that had been stuck under my rib for months.) A quick shift later and she was on her way, a couple more pushes and she arrived four minutes later at 4.40pm. I was so relieved that I had not had to go into labour again, but I believe from others this is possible.

She was placed at my side, where she looked straight at me and in the clearest voice said “Hello”. We all fell about laughing at this point, and relief was felt all round. Both babies were declared fit and well. Then given a quick clean up and weighed.

Twin number 1, the boy, weighed in at 6lb 1oz. The girl, twin number two came in a bit smaller at 5lb 11oz. everyone was amazed at how I, at 4ft 10 had managed to carry them to full term and agreed it was a story to tell for years to come.

So that is what I have done, told the story. As for advice on birth. Just do as you are told. Whilst you may not agree at the time, the medics do know what they are talking about really. I’m so glad I had the epidural, rather than a huge cut. I was up and about that evening once my legs had got their feeling back. I was a little sore from the couple of stitches I had to repair the cut they had made, but I guess this was nothing compared to if I had had a C section.

Since the birth of my twins, the local hospital has had a large number of multiple births. According to statistics this area is higher than the average. So much so that an antenatal class is now run for mothers expecting multiples. We also have a multiples group which meets monthly to talk, discuss and just have fun.

Hope you have enjoyed the birth.

Summary: What it's like to give birth to twins.